Public Health Annual Reports

The latest Director of Public Health Annual Report titled 2021/22 PHAR: Tackling health inequalities in Southampton and the Addendum: Potential indicators to measure progress in core local policy priorities to reduce health inequalities are available below.

The report is an update on Southampton’s COVID-19 response so far and our priorities for the future and is available below.

This report focusses on drugs that are used illegally, the harms they cause and evidence-based ways to improve health and wellbeing. It does not discuss the harms caused by alcohol, tobacco, or when prescription medication is used illicitly.

Childhood obesity is a serious problem confronting both the current generation and also future generations, since the consequences of childhood obesity impact both on the individuals affected, and also on the wider society as we battle to make our stretched healthcare resources work effectively. Obesity harms children’s physical and emotional health in their childhood and is likely to go on to harm their adult health, cutting short lives and placing further strain on our health services. There are things that everyone can do to improve the situation – this is a problem that will need the coordinated actions of central and local governments, schools, food producers and providers, employers, and not least parents and children.

“Start well, stay well” could sum up our approach to improving health and reducing inequalities. It is also where the evidence tells us we should go if we are serious about making a difference to the lives of Southampton people. While the health of residents continues to improve and we are living longer, not all of these extra years of life are lived in good health or free from disability. Some health indicators in childhood show that we are not yet succeeding in our aim to give every young person the best possible start in life. There has also been limited progress in narrowing the health gap between the wealthy and those who are on low incomes, and many challenges remain or have increased in significance. This report focuses on the first 1,000 days of life; the lead up to conception, pregnancy and the first two years of life. This period is critical to future health and wellbeing and is the time when there are huge opportunities to influence outcomes for the better.

In this report we look again at the extent of health inequalities in Southampton and also explore a range of issues that will help to lay the foundations for better health for future generations. Topics examined include fitness in young people, building mental resilience in young people, accident prevention, air quality, dementia and long term conditions and high blood pressure (hypertension). Improving the public's health and tackling these challenges can only be done by working in partnership across our city to make Southampton "a healthier city - a place which is safe and healthy and where all people thrive".

This is the first report since Public Health responsibilities transferred from the NHS back to Local Authorities. The report considers the state of Southampton's health, underlying trends and future challenges. Southampton is a great city, whether you live here, work here or are a visitor. Many health indicators are moving in the right direction - life expectancy is improving, deaths from heart disease and stroke are falling and cancer survival rates are improving. However, there has been limited progress in narrowing the health gap between the wealthy and those who are on low incomes, whilst many challenges remain or have increased in significance. This year's report continues to examine the four domains from the Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF) with a particular focus on housing, violent crime, smoking happiness, sexual health, common infectious diseases, diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

The 2012 Annual Report comes at the end of an era....as public health functions move from the NHS into local government. This signals recognition that the health and wellbeing of the population is influenced by more than just the health service. Thus this year's report is entitled 'Health is everyone's business' and it looks at case studies from around the city where different organisations and agencies are working on projects that will impact on the health and wellbeing of Southampton residents. The report also considers the new Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF), and how Southampton performs in each of it's four domains; improving the wider determinants of health, health improvement, health protection and healthcare public health.

The 2011 Annual Report examines three key issues from the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) which profiles the health and social care needs of the local population, highlighting areas that require particular attention. These are lung health, suicide and fuel poverty. The nature of each topic is discussed in conjunction with national data and evidence, followed by a focus on the local context and the relevance to the people of Southampton.

The 2010 Annual Report sets out the context and aims of the wide-ranging changes to the public health system in England. It also highlights some of the key issues from the JSNA which we need to work harder to address if we are to see more people enjoying better health. Specific topics focused on in this report include mental health, smoking, obesity, alcohol, disability and long term conditions. In addition, data for each of Southampton’s 16 electoral wards is presented, highlighting differences and inequalities within the city.

The 2009 Annual Report is split into four chapters. The first chapter takes stock of health inequalities in the city following Professor Marmot's Strategic Review. The second chapter deals with health and employment and the effects of the global economic recession, whilst the third chapter addresses men's health in Southampton, taking a broad look at different aspects of health, illness and health inequalities. The final section of the report describes the three new localities in the city that have been identified to lead the way on Practice Based Commissioning (PBR).

The 2008 Annual Report has been written during the 60th anniversary year for the NHS, which has seen an acceleration in the implementation of measures designed to deliver better health for the community. This report summaries the findings from the first ever Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) for Southampton, published this year, bringing together evidence and the views of professionals and local people to identify the health and social care needs for the city.

The 2007 Annual Report has been used to engage local stakeholders in the development of Southampton's Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for health and well-being. This document is a full professional assessment of need in the city and will become a legal requirement for those organisations with a formal responsibility for planning and arranging publicly-funded provision of health and social care services.

The 2006 Annual Report presents some of the early findings from the Southampton Women's Study (SWS) and looks more generally at women's health in the city. The report also focuses on mental health and explores a range of issues where more can and must be done to reduce the stigma of mental illness, and limit the devastating impact it can have on individuals and their families. Finally the report considers the health of ethnic minority groups in the city, along with the environment and global warming which is increasingly important to the public and politicians.

The 2005 Annual Report highlights some of the challenges we are working on that could make a real difference to health in our city. Giving all children the best possible start in life is probably the most important priority if we want to reduce health inequalities and is a key focus from this report. Other areas covered include dental health, independence and wellbeing for older people, poverty, disadvantage and exclusion, communicable disease control and housing and health. The major health issues for each of Southampton's localities is also presented.