North Yorkshire County Council

Care and Independence Overview and Scrutiny Committee

8^th December 2022

Director of Public Health Annual Report 2021-2022

Report of the Director of Public Health

1.0      Purpose of report

1.1 The purpose of this report is to introduce the Director of Public Health Annual Report 2021-2022: Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.

2.0      Background

2.1       The Director of Public Health has a duty to write a report, whereas the authority’s duty is to publish it (under section 73B(5) & (6) of the 2006 Act, inserted by section 31 of the 2012 Act). The content and structure of the report may be decided locally.

3.0      Issues

3.1       The Director of Public Health Annual Report for 2021-2022 considers the following:

• Health in North Yorkshire today

• Continuing the COVID-19 response

• Impact of COVID-19

• Lessons learned

• Recommendations

• Progress on past recommendations

3.2       The report considers the lessons we, and others, have learnt over the last two years, with a focus on the impacts of the pandemic and how we will continue to improve and protect the health of our population. We reflect on the key timeline events throughout the pandemic from policy changes to infection rates, and how we responded locally.

3.3       Throughout the report, we have included summaries of community conversations and examples of people’s creativity.  Community engagement was a major element of the research for this report, carried out with a broad range of organisations and community groups, plus consideration of engagement undertaken during the pandemic.  

3.4       There are also four ‘Spotlight’ pieces to accompany the main report, going into more detail on:

· People’s ‘three wishes’ for the future (illustration)

· People’s creativity in response to the pandemic

· People’s experiences with Community Support Organisations

· Historical examples of infection prevention

3.5       The report has been published on the North Yorkshire Partnerships website and publicly launched via a press release: Director of Public Health annual report 2022 | North Yorkshire Partnerships (nypartnerships.org.uk)

4.0       Financial implications

4.1       Whilst there are no specific financial implications in the report, it is intended to inform and influence commissioning decisions for the health and social care system.

5.0       Legal implications

5.1       The authority has a legal duty to publish the Director of Public Health Annual Report, as outlined in ‘Purpose of report’ at 1.1 above.

6.0       Climate change implications

6.1       The report includes consideration of the environmental impact of the pandemic on health, specifically the temporary reduction in road emissions, the importance of access to green space, and of indoor air quality.

7.0       Equalities implications

7.1       The report includes consideration of the unequal impact of the pandemic on communities and the ways in which this has exacerbated already existing health inequalities.

8.0       Recommendation

8.1       That the Committee notes the content of the Director of Public Health Annual Report 2021-2022.

Louise Wallace

Director of Public Health

County Hall

NORTHALLERTON

29 November 2022