Public health and wellbeing

There is a lot we can do as individuals to stay healthy and well, but the Council also has a role to play.

Our public health team is made up of professionals, led by the Director of Public Health, whose role it is to improve and protect the health of local residents. The team focuses on preventing ill health and early deaths, as well as protecting people's health in major emergencies, including prevention and control of local coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and providing expert advice and support on outbreak management.

The team works closely with other colleagues in the Council and key partners across the Borough - NHS, businesses, pharmacies, hospitals, schools, the community and voluntary sector and local people to make sure that health is a priority in every area of life, and that everyone has access to the support and services they need to be healthy.

Why is it important to stay healthy and well?

Healthy people tend to have a better quality of life, more independence, are able to make more of their own choices and have better life chances.

A healthy lifestyle can help prevent you from developing long-term conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and high blood pressure. Simple changes like eating healthily, regular exercise, drinking sensibly, being smoke-free, practicing safe sex and managing your stress levels can all help to keep you in good health.

Additional information and key documents

The work of the public health team is driven by the Council Plan and the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, which is informed by the Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNA).

Read the Director of Public Health Annual Report 2023-2024 (PDF, 2 MB).