Agenda item

[To receive the Public Health Annual Report 2019.]

John Denley, Director of Public Health presented the Public Health Annual Report 2019 and highlighted salient points. It was outlined that the Director of Public Health’s Annual report was a professional statement about the health and wellbeing of their local communities and a statutory requirement. The report aimed to inform both professionals and members of the public about key issues in the City, identify current priorities and highlight required action for the improvement and protection of the health of the local population. It was noted that the report had been produced in line with the aims and priorities that ran through the Public Health Vision 2030, Wolverhampton Council Plan 2019 – 2024 and the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2018 - 2023.

It was highlighted that emphasis had been placed on using what had been successful in the last Annual Report and building on ways to further improve this year’s report.

The Annual Report outlined the themes of Starting and Developing Well, Healthy Life Expectancy and Healthy Ageing, with the underlying theme of System Leadership. It included what challenges had been faced and what plans were in place to address these challenges. To illustrate place-based health, an infographic profile of each ward had been produced which provided a red, amber, green rating and a brief, concise narrative explaining what the statistics for each ward meant for its residents. 

It was noted that the focus concentrated on conditions that resulted in poor health or making unhealthy choices and addressing them as early as possible to ensure a healthy progression through life. It was important to gain an understanding of why healthy lifestyles and life expectancy differed throughout the City and how health inequalities could be overcome.

It was highlighted that the next steps would be to focus on partnership working, build upon work already ongoing and work on all areas that could be influenced.

Poor quality housing was thought to be a contributing factor in terms of issues such as damp in properties causing respiratory and other health problems, for example. Obesity was also highlighted as an issue that may perhaps be attributed to poor education on making healthy lifestyle choices.

It was noted that a correlation existed between wards with highest outcomes in age and life expectancy and dissatisfaction with their neighbourhood area and it was queried why this should be.

In response to poor quality housing in the private sector, it was thought to be of great concern and it was queried by Councillor Wendy Thompson whether private landlords were being held to account and whether Serco had become involved. It was noted that they had in some cases however Councillor Ian Brookfield offered to investigate this and respond.

It was noted that the information represented would prove useful in future for the primary care networks as they developed. It was felt the information was well-represented and offered a clear understanding of the health of the population rather than just outlining the delivery of care.

It was noted that links had been found with certain health issues and black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups and it was queried whether future reports could include how resources could be focused on groups of people as well as areas. It was noted that the information could be represented in many different ways and this would be taken into account for future reports.

Resolved:

That the publication of the Public Health Annual Report 2019 be approved.