PEOPLE in Kirklees are facing an increasing number of health challenges, says the final report of the area’s director of public health.

Dr Judith Hooper, who retires from Kirklees Council this month, uses her last report to highlight what needs to be done to improve the health of the public.

Councillor Viv Kendrick, the council’s cabinet member for public health, said: “Dr Hooper’s final report highlights a number of increasing health challenges facing Kirklees. Although our financial resources are decreasing, the report highlights how people can build their confidence and personal resilience to become healthier, with a greater emphasis on quality of life and wellbeing.

“We need to do all we can to make public health everyone’s business and it’s essential that we support people to help themselves by giving them the information they need at the right time.”

Dr Hooper said: “Due to the challenges facing the public sector, with rising levels of need, expectations and shrinking resources, we need to rethink the relationship between the state and the citizen. This report is part of the rethinking.”