HALTON’S innovative ‘community wellbeing’ GP practices are helping people to feel better, says the borough’s health chief.

An holistic approach offering ‘social prescribing’ - practical tips on how to improve wellbeing is now available at all 17 doctors’ surgeries across Widnes and Runcorn.

Halton is the only area in the UK offering each of their 126,000 patients this service.

People are encouraged to connect with their community to create more personal support and take exercise.

Learning something new, taking notice of your surroundings and volunteering your time are also promoted as having positive health benefits.

Halton’s pioneering approach will be celebrated on Wednesday as the biggest ever health engagement event is held at The Foundry in Lugsdale Road.

Around 40 different organisations are taking part as the CCG’s achievements of the past year are reported.

Simon Banks, chief officer of Halton Clinical Commissioning Group, which is led by the borough’s GPs, said: “There is complete passion among our team.

“I love working in this borough. The cohort of clinicians equally have a love affair with excellence.

“Working closely with the local authority on health and social care is getting better outcomes for patients.”

Two new urgent care centres at Halton Hospital in Runcorn and the Walk In Centre in Caldwell Road are set to open in November.

Patients will have access to diagnostic scans, X-rays and ultrasound.

Mr Banks said:”We want to make sure that people only access hospital when it is needed.”

He said campaigns to make people more aware of the early symptoms of cancer, heart disease and strokes have helped to reduce Halton’s historical high rates.

He is now hoping to reach people who fail to respond.

Mr Banks added: “It is very clear to us from the evidence we have seen that 40 per cent of the population who live in the poorest area of the borough have the poorest health outcomes.

“We want to work with the community and go out and find people before they become ill.

“We need to do things differently, get into workplaces and shopping centres to check blood pressures. If people have hypertension they are more likely to have a stroke or heart disease. Identifying this means we can increase survival rates.”