What influences healthy outcomes for our population?

The conditions of living model, shown below, maps the relationship between the individual, their environment and health; demonstrating that health and wellbeing is influenced much more than access to health and wellbeing services.

• Individuals are placed at the centre and surrounding them are the various layers of influences on health – such as individual lifestyle factors, community influences, living and working conditions, and more general social conditions.
• Medical care is estimated to account for only 10-20% of the modifiable contributors to healthy outcomes for a population, the rest is related to conditions of living. These conditions of living are highlighted within the model, which are influenced by councils, NHS and partners.

If as a system we can improve these aspects, then we give people the protective factors to live longer and healthier lives and we remove the risk factors that create the burden of illness and disease.