The government is to undertake a major consulation exercise on how to improve the nation’s health and wellbeing. Health Secretary John Reid has unveiled “Choosing Health?”, a document that sets out wide-ranging questions on how the country might tackle health problems like obesity, smoking and sexually transmitted infections.It will form the basis of a nationwide consultation over the next three months, designed to engage the whole population in debate. 

The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) is highlighting work done by three local authorities - Gateshead, Wandsworth, and Kingston-upon-Thames - as examples of life-changing council service delivery. 

This advice from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister explains the merits of incremental partnering, in contrast to the large and complex strategic service delivery partnership deals adopted by a few large councils. Studies of incremental partnerships by the ODPM show that they have a low risk stage-by-stage approach, allowing confidence in the partnerships to be built up before moving to the next level.