Key achievements highlighted in Director of Public Health Walsall’s Annual Report

It celebrates the huge progress made in health and public health over the last 100 years and outlines the challenges and opportunities ahead.

By working collaboratively with public health service providers and local partners in the community and voluntary sector, housing, the NHS, and local workplaces and educational settings, the council has made substantial strides in tobacco control, promoting good food and increased physical activity, and increasing access to support for alcohol use over the last year.

Stop smoking offers have recently been enhanced through the smoking in pregnancy service, the A&E department at Walsall Manor Hospital, alongside a new digital stop smoking offer. In addition, Trading Standards have successfully seized over 360,000 illegal cigarettes and vapes, curbing the trade of illicit tobacco.

In collaboration with the Soil Association’s Food for Life team, the Children and Families Healthy Eating Programme continues to support 76 settings, with the potential to positively impact over 19,000 children and their families.

Through Crowdfund Walsall, over the last year, the Tackling Inactivity Fund has pledged £33,286 to eight projects, with a total project value of £106,739. Eighty nine percent of grant beneficiaries reported increased physical activity.

The Beacon – Change Grow Live service, which provides alcohol and drug treatment, relocated to a central location in Walsall town centre at the beginning of 2024. In addition, the service has reported a 17% increase in the number of people receiving treatment for alcohol use. A new referral pathway has also been established between the service and Be Well Walsall, the council’s wellbeing service provider, to facilitate brief alcohol interventions.

The report also highlights a number of local challenges around decreasing levels of healthy life expectancy, and the scale of the challenge we have to reduce the biggest causes of ill-health and mortality: smoking, unhealthy food/drink, physical inactivity and alcohol misuse.

The Director of Public Health report sets out several recommendations, including the importance of creating environments where people can thrive, supporting individuals, and ensuring access to help and support services.

Councillor Gary Flint, Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing at Walsall Council said: “I welcome this report on how we can add life to years in Walsall and maximise the time people spend living in good health.  

“Our We are Walsall 2040 plan reflects our ambition to create a healthier future for all. This includes addressing health inequalities and improving outcomes across the borough.

“As we work towards our ambitions for Walsall, I encourage residents, and organisations to think about how they can take action to help reduce the risk of ill-health and early death. We need to find ways of improving the health for the whole population, whilst making improvements for those in most need the fastest.”

Nadia Inglis, Interim Director of Public Health at Walsall Council said: “This report celebrates the progress made in health and public health over the last 100 years, and outlines some of the key challenges we face today, but also the opportunities for us to help improve health outcomes for the whole population.

“Creating the right environment for people to thrive, giving children the best possible start in life, tackling illnesses that can be prevented and protecting mental health are some of the things we can all play a part in. Let’s work together to create a healthy and prosperous borough.”

The full report can be found on the Council’s Committee Management and Information System (CMIS).