TACKLING education, the county’s bed-blocking crisis and obesity are among the targets for the county’s new health task force.

The Health and Wellbeing Board was set up earlier this year to improve the lifestyle, achievement and health of people in Oxfordshire.

The group – made up of health officials and county councillors – has given itself until 2013 to improve the county on a number of scores.

It will look at a range of health targets and so-called ‘wellbeing issues’, such as educational attainment, and the gap between rich and poor.

Now they want to hear whether the public think they have got it right.

Dr Stephen Richards vice-chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “We really want to get views on whether the priorities we have chosen are the right ones for the people of Oxfordshire and to let us know if there is anything else that we need to focus on.

“I am looking forward to closer collaboration between the public, the county council and the local NHS as we work together to shape and improve health and social care services going forward.”

The targets for the coming year include boosting the number of young people achieving A*-C in English and maths GCSE, increasing the number of primary schools and secondary schools judged ‘good or outstanding’, and reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training.

Oxfordshire is currently bottom out of 151 local authorities for bed-blocking – so-called delayed transfers of care, which see people staying in hospital beds when they are well enough to leave but the next stage of their care has not been prepared.

By 2013, the group has vowed to boost performance so that the county no longer lies on the bottom of the table.

It also wants to keep childhood obesity at no more than 15 per cent. In 2011 this was 14.9 per cent.

Councillor Arash Fatemian, the county council cabinet member for adult services, said: “We hope as many people as possible will participate in the consultation and provide their views.”

lVisit the consultation website at http://bit.ly/health-wellbeing-strategy or email talking.health@oxfordshirepct.nhs.uk lWhat do you think of this strategy? Write to us at Viewpoints, Oxford Mail, Osney Mead, Oxford, OX2 0EJ, or comment below.