Public Health annual report 2011

In this year's Public Health Report I again address the issue of health inequalities, and in particular some of the factors that cause some people to unfairly experience worse health and wellbeing than most people would expect.

Launch the interactive 2011 Public Health annual report
(this is a large file, it might take a moment to load)

Overall the health of Wakefield residents continues to improve. There are early signs that the health gap between Wakefield and the England average is closing. Fewer local people now live in areas classed as the most disadvantaged in the country. This improvement is amongst the best in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

However, we are not seeing the health gap closing between the most affluent and the most disadvantaged areas within the district. I present data which suggest that an important factor is the wider determinants of health such as educational attainment and employment. The government's proposed transfer of public health responsibilities from the NHS to local authorities in 2013 represents an important opportunity to develop integrated approaches to tackling these challenges.

I hope you find this report interesting and helpful. Please send any feedback to me at:

Dr Andrew Furber
Director of Public Health
NHS Wakefield District/Wakefield Council
White Rose House
West Parade
Wakefield
WF1 1LT

Telephone: 01924 317713
Email: andrew.furber@wdpct.nhs.uk