A LOCALITY FOCUS ON HEALTH FOR WOLVERHAMPTON

Between October 1993 and May 1994, a pilot study was undertaken to exp lore ways of enhancing community participation and empowerment in heal th-related issues in the south-east region of Wolverhampton. The study was commissioned from the Centre for Health Services Studies at the U niversity of Warwick by Wolverhampton Health Executive. During the stu dy period, 129 interviews were conducted with health professionals, lo cal authority and voluntary workers, and local residents. Interview te xts were subjected to detailed analysis, and the most pressing preoccu pations of respondents were identified and quantified. Interview data were supplemented and validated by the use of 1991 census data by enum eration district, and by information about the characteristics of loca l neighbourhoods supplied by 49 local residents and workers. Significa nt differences in attitude towards health issues between health profes sionals and local residents were found, which resulted in barriers to accessing services. On the basis of what was learned during the course of the pilot study, a model has been devised for continuing the work of the Locality Focus on Health in other parts of the borough.