Heads Up 26 March 2021

HEADS UP

Director of Public Health Annual Report

On behalf of Dr Shade Agboola, Director of Public Health:

As Warwickshire’s new Director of Public Health, I am delighted you are reading my first annual report. The core purpose of a Director of Public Health is independent advocacy for the health of the population and leadership for its improvement and protection. As part of my role I have a statutory duty to produce an annual report on the health and wellbeing of the population. I am excited to share with you my first Director of Public Health Annual Report entitled COVID-19: Impact in Warwickshire: an exceptional year on the one-year anniversary since the first national lockdown. 

This year’s report uses a case study approach to share residents' experiences of testing positive with COVID-19 and living through lockdown. This report is a vital tool to raise awareness of the impact of the pandemic in our communities, highlighting what we must put in place to support everyone to recover from the pandemic, improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities. Read the full report at: warwickshire.gov.uk/publichealthannualreport 

The press release to announce the launch of the report is available here https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/news/article/1863/highlighting-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-warwickshire-residents  

This year’s report uses a case study approach to share residents' experiences of testing positive with COVID-19 and living through lockdown. The report is a vital tool to raise awareness of the impact of the pandemic in our communities, highlighting what we must put in place to support everyone to recover from the pandemic, improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities. 

The current pandemic has affected everybody’s health and wellbeing. It has shone a light on the health inequalities which already existed in Warwickshire - for example, life expectancy is 8.2 years lower for men and 5.7 years lower for women in the most deprived areas of Warwickshire than in the least deprived areas.   

To accompany the report an online gallery sharing residents COVID-19 Stories; and an online dashboard ‘Monitoring Health Inequalities’ has been produced to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on health inequalities has been produced:  

  • COVID-19 Stories is an online gallery that shares additional stories from Warwickshire residents about their experiences through the pandemic. Photographs from across the county have been captured to illustrate the case studies. To view the gallery visit https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/covid19stories  

  • Monitoring Health Inequalities is an online dashboard which considers health data over time at various geographies. The data relates to a range of themes covered in the report, including the wider determinants of health and inequalities and will continue to be added to as more data is made available. To view the dashboard visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/publichealthannualreport  

Reflecting on the key challenges highlighted in the report, I have made several recommendations to improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities in Warwickshire which require a concerted joint effort across the health and care system if they are to be achieved.  

I would welcome your feedback, please send any comments to katiewilson@warwickshire.gov.uk. Please share the press release through your communication channels as you see best - https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/news/article/1863/highlighting-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-warwickshire-residents 

 

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