Agenda item

Annual report of the Director of Public Health

The Director of Public Health submitted a report (previously circulated) to share with Members the 2017 statutory annual report of the Director of Public Health (also previously circulated).

The Annual Report of the Director of Public Health Darlington 2017 was the fourth annual report following the transfer of public health responsibilities from the NHS to local government and highlighted that the life expectancy gap between the richest and poorest wards in Darlington was almost twelve years.  The annual report also explores the breadth and extent of those ‘health gaps’ and proposed measures to narrow that gap.

The recommendations contained in the report were set out with the intention of addressing inequality whether at a geographical level or the health inequality which is experienced across protected characteristics including ethnicity, gender, age and sexual orientation.

Dr Moffatt, Public Health Registrar gave a presentation on the Director of Public Health’s 2017 report which highlighted the life expectancy for men and women by Ward; and the recommendations of the report within Darlington to address the inequalities across the life course being the Best Start in Life, Living and Working Well and Health ageing and there link to wider determinants such as housing, income, education, employment and environment.

Dr Moffatt also referred to the Health and Wellbeing Plan for Darlington 2017-2022 which has a strong focus on the need to address inequalities and the importance of doing so through ‘upstream’ activity and addressing the wider determinants of health following the Starting Well, Living Well, Ageing Well life course approach.

RESOLVED – (a) That the 2017 Annual Report of the Director of Public Health be noted.

(b) That Dr Moffatt be thanked for his interesting and informative presentation.