“Significant achievements” of Health Improvement Commission hailed in its annual report

Wednesday 19 June 2024

The Health Improvement Commission has been building on its work to help everyone lead a healthier life.

Its annual report details initiatives it has been involved in, including helping people be more active and to maintain healthier weights.

"Measuring the effectiveness of health improvement strategies and programmes is notoriously difficult and tends only to become evident over long periods of time," said chair Mike Bane.

"Even then, measuring what you've prevented and the attribution of cause and effect are difficult.

"Nevertheless, it is very good to see that the focus of the Commission's work over the last six years has coincided with some notable improvements in population level health in Guernsey."

One of these markers is the levels of unhealthy weight among children.

The 2023 Guernsey Childhood Measurement Programme showed moderate-to-strong evidence that the level of excess weight for children in Year 5 is reducing (now 25.9%). This is the lowest level recorded since the programme began in 2013 and compares to 31% in 2014.

The range of HIC's work is shown in the report.

The commission employs 12 people directly and has five seconded from the States.

It is a charitable organisation that is mainly funded by the States health improvement strategies.

"I am delighted to be able to present another year of significant achievements by the Commission and am confident that the many strands of the Commission's work and the strength of our team will continue to benefit the health of our community."

Highlights from 2023 include:

• 350 people referred to Bailiwick Social Prescribing which is now available through all primary care practices.
• New accessible opportunities for adults to be active through eight Island Games Physical Activity Legacy grants awarded to community groups such as Wheels for You, Guernsey Employment Trust and Guernsey Basketball.
• Community-wide information campaigns on vaping and low-risk drinking.
• Engaging early years and schools in advancing their whole school approach to nutrition and physical activity, providing training, grants, and bespoke support.
• School active travel supported with new bike shelters, cycling clubs, 'walking buses' and bike playground markings.
• Continued success for individuals and families benefiting from the HENRY and Counterweight programmes.
• Successfully embedding healthy eating, active travel and alcohol alternatives in the Island Games

Work in 2024

Among its work this year is a review of how successful the Bailiwick Social Prescribing pilot has been since it was launched in 2021.

Bailiwick Social Prescribing links people to free or low-cost non-medical support.

It was launched in 2021 and data up to the end of 2023 is now being analysed to see how effective it has been.

The Commission is also rolling out physical activity in healthcare and Be Active at work programmes, while the Breastfeeding Welcome scheme is being re-launched.

Work has also begun on understanding how the Guernsey food system shapes our opportunity to access nutritious, affordable food.

"I am confident that the many strands of the Commission's work and the strength of our team will continue to benefit the health of our community.

"At a strategic level I am particularly looking forward to the development of our project analysing the food system in Guernsey. We are being guided by a team of globally-recognised experts from Cambridge University with invaluable input from local retailers, food producers, schools, charities and government.

"We are very grateful for their freely given input. This work is at the leading edge of health improvement and should benefit all of our strategies."