www.wiltshire.gov.uk
Healthier Wiltshire key targets
Key Targets
Introduction
As part of the LPSA baseline setting exercise, and to give the Healthier Wiltshire project lifestyle information, it was agreed to instigate two major surveys:
- All Year 10 pupils in LEA schools in Wiltshire
- All Public Sector employees in WiSB* and other Wiltshire based health service organizations.
Methodology
In order to keep the surveys as simple as possible and thereby gain maximum participation, it was agreed to make the surveys:
- Web based
- Yes/No answers
- Confidential
The services of the research unit within Corporate Services of Wiltshire County Council were utilized to upload the questionnaire on the County Council’s web site and to analyse the results on SNAP survey software.
The Project Director and Project Assistant established contacts with:
- The Wiltshire Association of Secondary Heads (WASH) and individual schools
- WiSBEx* and individual public sector organizations
The Steering Group agreed the questions which focused on lifestyles in relation to smoking, alcohol consumption, diet (5 a day) and exercise, with reference to relevant Government targets/guidelines.
- Note – WiSB is the Wiltshire Strategic Board –the Local Strategic Partnership across Wiltshire . WiSBEx is the Chief Executive group supporting WiSB.
Results
The surveys took place in June 2005 for the schools, and July/early August 2005 for the public sector organisations.
Organisational participation was as follows:
- 13 out of 29 schools – 44.8% (target 50%)
(At least 40 pupils participating with valid responses) - 14 out of 15 public sector organizations – 93.3% (target 80%)
The number of individuals responding within participating organisations were as follows:
- 1,602 out of 2,521 Year 10 pupils in participating schools – 63.5% (target 60%)
- 4,087 out of 16673 public sector employees in participating orgs – 24.5% (target 40%)
Total response rates, ie. including non participating organizations were:
- 1,779 out of 5,043 Year 10 pupils in all 29 schools – 35.3%
- 4,087 out of 16818 public sector employees in all 15 organisations – 24.3%
The overall results cannot easily be compared with other comparable available information although there are some national available indictors as well as Government targets and expectations. The only other similar exercise in Wiltshire relates to People’s Voice and Future Voice surveys, although questions vary and the target audiences are different.
The prime purposes of the survey were:
- Encourage active participation in the Healthier Wiltshire project (eg. to become exemplar organisations)
- Provide baselines for LPSA discussions
- Provide baselines for overall project objectives
These objectives have been met.
Implications for LPSA
Negotiations with Central Government departments have reached a conclusion and the following baselines (2005) and “stretch” targets agreed (2008) with reference to:
- The percentage of school children aged 15 who smoke (2005 = 22.7%; 2008 target = 18.7%)
- The percentage of public sector employees who smoke (2005 = 13.3%; 2008 target = 11.3%)
- The percentage of school children who eat 5 or more portions of fruit/vegetables per day (2005 = 57.0%; 2008 target = 62.0%)
- The percentage of public sector employees who eat 5 or more portions of fruit/vegetables per day (2005 = 64.8%; 2008 target = 69.8%)
- The percentage of school children who do on average one hour of moderate intensity physical activity per day (2005 = 82.3%; 2008 target = 84.3%)
- The percentage of public sector employees who do on average half an hour of moderate intensity physical activity per day (2005 = 47.6%; 2008 target = 50.6%)
It is also proposed that each target is given equal weighting and that any reward funds are distributed on an apportioned basis.
Contact Details
By Post
Project Manager
Healthier Wiltshire
Room 241B
2nd Floor, County Hall
Bythesea Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8LE
By Email
By Telephone
01225 757520
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
