Public health - annual report

Public Health is the term given to the work we do to improve people's health; improve health services; reduce inequalities in health; prevent illness and disease; and improve life expectancy of our residents.  

Our work includes promoting healthy lifestyles; identifying and targeting the greatest health needs of our communities; commissioning evidence-based services and interventions; and detecting, preventing and responding to infectious diseases. 

Annual Report of the Director of Public Health 

The Director of Public Health Annual Report describes how we work together collectively to improve the health and wellbeing of our communities. It highlights the different experiences of health and illness across the county and the key challenges we face.

Speaking on the publication of the 2021 Annual Report the County Durham Director or Public Health, Amanda Healy said, 'In my first Annual Report four years ago, I set out seven priorities to promote and protect the health and wellbeing of the people of County Durham and I have focused on a selection of these priorities in each of my subsequent reports. This year I have completed this work with an update on the last three priorities, which are promoting positive behaviours, high quality drug and alcohol services and better quality of life through integrated health and care services.'

All of the Director of Public Health Annual Reports are available to download from the Durham Insight website where they sit alongside the publicly available intelligence and population data for our county that informs the reports.

Health and wellbeing across County Durham

The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) in County Durham builds a picture of current and future health and wellbeing needs of local people. It's a suite of resources locally that helps to inform the planning and improvement of local services, and guides us in making the best use of funding available. We use it to shape joint commissioning priorities to improve health and wellbeing as well as reduce health inequalities in our communities.