RESIDENTS are being invited to help form a health strategy for the next five years.

Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) wants to hear residents views on factors that impact on their health and wellbeing as it works on its key priorities.

The final draft strategy, being drawn up by the council and its partners Healthwatch, Vale Royal Clinical Commissioning Group, West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS England, will go before CWAC’s health and wellbeing board for approval in April.

There will then be a further a 12-week public consultation period.

Clr Brenda Dowding, executive member for adult social care and health and chairman of the health and wellbeing board, said: “For the past 40 years public health has been based within the NHS until responsibility passed to local government last year.

“Working with our healthcare partners, we now have a unique opportunity to improve the health and wellbeing of our population, ensure that we tackle what is important to our residents and prioritise and target funding to where it is needed most.”

She added: “I would encourage all residents to have their say on the services they use, have used or need and help shape our health and wellbeing provision for the next five years.”

A Health and Wellbeing Summit will take place on Thursday, February 6, enabling residents and key decision makers to identify the priority issues and discuss the ways in which the resulting actions can be delivered.

For more information visit wellbeingmatters.org.uk.