Directors of Public Health have a statutory requirement to write an annual report on the health of their population. The Director of Public Health Annual Report is a vehicle for informing local people about the health of their community, as well as providing necessary information for decision-makers in local health services and authorities on health gaps and priorities that need to be addressed.
2022- Health and the high cost of living in Warwickshire
The theme of this year’s report is health and the high cost of living in Warwickshire. The report includes an overview of the health and wellbeing of the Warwickshire population and information on progress with the 2020/21 recommendations.
There is evidence that the rising cost of living is already starting to impact on the health and wellbeing of residents across Warwickshire. The rising cost of living is something that is affecting everyone; however, it holds the risk to exacerbate some of the health inequalities which already exist in Warwickshire. This is because those who are already disadvantaged are more likely to experience difficulties with the increasing costs, which may impact on the ability to keep their home warm, eat nutritious meals and travel effectively.
This year’s report is vital to raise awareness of the impact that wider determinants of health, such as income and expenditure, employment, education and the built environment can have on the health and wellbeing of Warwickshire’s residents. The Annual Report highlights the breadth of activity taking place, both nationally and in Warwickshire, to mitigate against the impact of the rising cost of living.
The report concludes with a set of recommendations from Director of Public Health, Dr Shade Agboola. The recommendations are framed around the themes of housing, food, and transport in order to address the causes of poor health and wellbeing. Implementation of the recommendations will rely upon the concerted efforts of key partners across health and care and the wider determinants of health.
- The full report, 2022 - Health and the high cost of living in Warwickshire is available for download (PDF, 5.2 MB)
- References, 2022 - Health and the high cost of living in Warwickshire (PDF, 144 KB)
The aim of this report is to highlight how the increasing cost of living impacts on the health of residents across Warwickshire. Case studies have been used to illustrate the support that different partners have already been providing to residents and these demonstrate the barriers that people have faced, as well as the benefits from accessing services. Volunteers and users of food banks and community pantries have shared their experiences in a short film developed to complement the information within the Annual Report.
Previous Years
2020/21 - COVID-19: Impact in Warwickshire, an exceptional year
This 2020/21 report focused on Warwickshire residents and their experiences of living through the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to understand how it impacted on their health along with other challenges they have faced and where they have found support. The 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.
COVID-19 Stories
To accompany the report an online gallery, ‘COVID-19 Stories’, shares stories from Warwickshire residents about their experiences through the pandemic. Photographs from across the county have been captured to illustrate the case studies.
Monitoring Health Inequalities
An online dashboard called ‘Monitoring Health Inequalities’ is published alongside the report and 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.
Health Equity Assessment Tool (HEAT)
Coronavirus (COVID-19) has not only replicated existing health inequalities, but in some cases, has increased them, through its disproportionate impact on certain population groups. Action on health inequalities requires improving the lives of those with the worst health outcomes, fastest. The Health Equity Assessment Tool (HEAT) aims to empower professionals across the health and the wider system landscape to do this. It supports the user to identify practical action in their work programme or service to address health inequalities and consequently improve health outcomes.
PHE has also recently developed the Health Equity Audit Guide for Screening Providers and Commissioners.
This guidance is designed to be used in conjunction with the full or simplified HEAT tool, but has been tailored to be more specific to issues of relevance to screening services.
2019 - Working for Wellbeing in Warwickshire
This year’s report includes an overview of the health and wellbeing of the Warwickshire population, a focus on the theme of this year’s report; work, health and wellbeing, and progress with the 2018 recommendations.
- Annual Report 2019 (PDF, 11.2 MB)
- References 2019 (PDF, 44 KB)
- Support for businesses - Health and Wellbeing information resource (PDF, 166 KB)
2018 - Eat, Sleep, Selfie, Repeat: Growing up in Warwickshire with social media
This year’s report includes an overview of the health and wellbeing of the Warwickshire population, and a focus on the theme of this year’s report; the impact of social media on young people's health and wellbeing, together with information on progress with the 2017 recommendations.