Extra support is planned for those in most need of care

The plans have been approved by Derbyshire County Council to provide extra help for people who are most at risk of ill health.

Three existing areas – help to stop smoking, weight management and the council’s successful ‘health trainer’ programme – will be combined to offer people one point of access for health and wellbeing support.

A team of ‘wellbeing workers’ will head up the new service providing a range of advice and support and pointing people in the right direction for help from other services when they need it.

Cabinet member for health and communities Councillor Dave Allen said: “By providing more services through a single contact we aim to cut the risk of people slipping through the net.

“It will also make it easier for people to get advice on a range of health and wellbeing issues.”

Recently published health statistics for Derbyshire highlight places where low household incomes are causing people to suffer poor health.