A healthy city strategy three years on—the case of Oxford City Council

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Abstract
There has been a rapid growth in Healthy Cities project initiatives in the United Kingdom since 1984. In the first instance, local authorities in cities such as Sheffield, Lambeth, Leeds, and Manchester renewed their interest in public health, joined later by a wave of activity under the World Health Organization Healthy Cities umbrella. The initiative of Oxford City Council dates back to 1984. Since that time the Council has developed and implemented a local authority health strategy spanning personal, social and environmental health issues. In conjunction with community physicians, the Council is undertaking a continuing health audit of its services. It has launched major initiatives on the prevention of coronary heart disease, AIDS awareness, heating and home safety, and the health of people from ethnic minority groups. Each of these programmes is intersectoral and developed in association with local communities and the voluntary sector. A network of health groups has been established to support and develop the work. This article outlines the origins, development, and potential future of the Oxford city health strategy, the difficulties encountered, and how problems have been overcome. The philosophy of the initiative to date has been activist rather than theoretical. The aim remains to act now in the interest of the city's health, with local communities, the voluntary sector, and the many local groups and individuals who have enthusiastically risen to the challenge of health for all.

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