In Victorian times local government used all its public health tools to prevent ill health caused mainly by severe poverty. They cleared the slums and built better quality housing, ensured the water supply was cleaned up and built parks, leisure centres and theatres to promote peoples' wellbeing.

In today's world we face a different set of public health issues – yet the same approach and tools can still make a difference. The importance of ageing well, increased obesity leading to other health issues and growing mental ill health are leading to a modern day health crisis. Unitary and district councils have got to step up to the plate and become more than the sum of their parts.