Active Norfolk among those chosen to give evidence to Healthy Ageing Inquiry

Earlier this week, the Health and Social Care Select Committee heard evidence from representatives across the Active Partnerships network, to support the Healthy Ageing Inquiry.

We’re thrilled to report that our very own Head of Programmes & Partnerships, Ryan Hughes, was amongst those chosen to give evidence at the House of Parliament, and explain why considering healthy ageing at a planning stage is so crucial in supporting people to remain active later in life.

Discussing the impact of physical activity on older adults

Healthy Ageing: Physical activity in an ageing society

The inquiry is being held in response to England’s population becoming older on average, more people spending their later years in ill health, and activity levels decreasing, according to the 2023 report by Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty. 

Throughout the session, the Committee heard evidence for, and explored opportunities for greater collaboration between health, local government, voluntary, leisure and sport services in local areas, and looked at examples of best practice. 

A call to commit to prevention at a strategic level

Acknowledging the existing model in place for healthy ageing, Ryan said: “Both the Ageing Well strategy and a health inequalities framework for action. Both have been proactive in building physical activity into that, and they have also commissioned into physical activity to develop the Active NoW programme.”

However, Ryan warned of the potential fragility of this system, stating: “When we go through change, prevention is one of the first things to go,” further cautioning that the upcoming changes to the Norfolk Integrated Care Board could contribute to physical activity being deprioritised as a strategic priority.

When asked what National Government’s role in this was, Ryan answered that he’d like to see: “National Government would be about holding the delivery of Integrated Care Systems to account, and ringfencing some of those budgets within Integrated Care Systems into prevention and physical activity, so they can’t be moved and shifted into other areas.”

To watch the full video of the meeting, click the link below.