Place-based Health: A Position Paper

6 Jan 2016 11:31 AM

There is broad recognition of the importance of wider determinants of health – where only 20 per cent of health outcomes result from clinical treatment and the remaining 80 per cent determined by factors such as lifestyle choices, physical environment and social networks. By reimagining health as place-based, we seek a system that opens out the definition of health from clinical care to one that encompasses these wider determinants. How can the services and resources that already exist be better aligned to contribute to place-based health?

This position paper by NLGN and Collaborate sets out some of the challenges in achieving a fundamental system shift in practice, citing new evidence from health and local government professionals. The paper sets out the potential of reimagining health as place-based, and lays out the challenge for the Place-Based Health Commission, chaired by Lord Victor Adebowale. The Commission will report in March 2016 and recommend practical steps to make a fundamental shift towards an integrated system that puts people at the heart of it.

Click here to read the paper.