The Director of Public Health has a statutory duty to write an annual report on the health of the local population on a topic of their choice. This year’s independent annual report focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Director of Public Health has a statutory duty to write an annual report on the health of the local population on a topic of their choice. This year’s independent annual report focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Your Health Matters Survey sought to understand health behaviours at a local level following the pandemic.
Around three million people in England and Wales report using drugs each year, putting themselves at risk and driving a violent and exploitative supply chain including through so-called ‘recreational’ drug use. Most ‘recreational’ users are sheltered from the social consequences of the drugs trade – the serious violence, human exploitation, severe addiction and crime – which are often felt by those living in more deprived parts of our country or overseas. This is part of a harmful cycle where drug use is normalised; adults using drugs socially often live relatively typical and otherwise healthy lives and may not recognise their role in fuelling the drugs trade or influencing and damaging the behaviour of others, including children.
People experiencing homelessness (PEH) face significant inequalities in health outcomes and in access to healthcare services. Co-occurring needs and health conditions are common amongst this group and often overlap with additional risk factors which act to compound disadvantage and inequalities in outcomes. As one of society’s most vulnerable and socially excluded groups, significant attention is needed to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities amongst PEH.
The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Summary - which provides a brief run through of the health and wellbeing issues at county level, highlighting the various reports we’ve produced over the year, such as detailed needs assessments relating to specific subjects or communities, evaluations of new local programmes or activities, local surveys, a range of briefings and other ad hoc analyses - can be downloaded below. We’re currently working on this year’s JSNA Summary, ready for publishing later in the year.
Homelessness is an experience that drives social exclusion and inequalities in outcomes. Amongst people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness, co-occurring health and care needs are common, as are overlapping or prior experiences of social exclusion and disadvantage, such as substance misuse, mental ill-health, time spent in prison, domestic abuse, poverty and adverse childhood experiences.
This all-age public mental health needs assessment is part of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA). The JSNA is a statutory requirement for the Health and Wellbeing Board that looks at the current and future health, wellbeing and care needs of local populations to inform and guide the planning and commissioning services, this may include strategies, action plans and frameworks for delivery. This needs assessment is designed to be used as a commissioning tool to inform mental health and wellbeing services and support, this is not a strategy, action plan or framework for delivery. This report informs and guides future work and is intended to support health and care partners across West Sussex on this important agenda.
Alcohol misuse is a major risk factor for early death in England and contributes to many health conditions that can lead to illness and disability. However, the prevalence of risky drinking and the harms connected with alcohol consumption are not spread evenly across society. A Health Equity Audit (HEA) is an approach to exploring how fairly resources, opportunities and access are distributed according to the needs of different groups of people.
The West Sussex Suicide Prevention Framework and Action Plan for 2023-27 sets out how key partners in West Sussex will work together to reduce the risk of suicides.
This report forecasts future co-morbidity prevalence and dependency of older people from 2022 to 2035 by applying findings from a UK study (the Population Ageing and Care Simulation study, Kingston, A. Comas-Herrera and C. Jagger, “Forecasting the care needs of the older population in England over the next 20 years: estimates from the Population Ageing and Care Simulation (PACSim) modelling study,” The Lancet Public Health, 2018. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(18)30118-X/. [Accessed 12 February 2024]) to the local population.
These data packs were produced by the three Public Health Intelligence teams across Sussex and NHS Sussex Business Intelligence team. They include summary information on demographics and key health and wellbeing indicators.
These data packs form part of the JSNA and include information on population and population characteristics, the major disease burden in West Sussex, deprivation and health outcomes throughout the life course. Drafted in April 2023, they are provided as powerpoint slides.
The first three in a series of briefings derived from data in the 2021 Census are available now. These describe various aspects of the West Sussex population.
The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Summary - which provides a brief run through of the health and wellbeing issues at county level, highlighting the various reports we’ve produced over the year, such as detailed needs assessments relating to specific subjects or communities, evaluations of new local programmes or activities, local surveys, a range of briefings and other ad hoc analyses - can be downloaded below. We’re currently working on this year’s JSNA Summary, ready for publishing later in the year.
The Director of Public Health has a statutory duty to write an annual report on the health of the local population on a topic of their choice. This year’s independent annual report focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic.
The West Sussex Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) has now been published.
Whilst we know that not all children whose parents/carers use alcohol will experience significant harm, there is compelling evidence to show that children within these families are at greater risk of poor outcomes. We know from evidence that drinking any amount of alcohol during pregnancy can cause difficulties such as increasing the risk of low birthweight, stillbirth, premature birth, and long-term conditions including fetal alcohol syndrome. We also know that children of parents who use alcohol are at higher risk of poor outcomes such as abuse, neglect, unintentional injuries, and emotional symptoms.
This needs assessment is a summary of the sight loss pathway and the provision of low vision services.
Understanding & Reducing Drug Demand: Bognor Regis Analysis 2021 is the first report of its kind to be conducted in West Sussex. It aims to understand the drivers and implications of drug demand on the locale of Bognor Regis, recognising the impact on resources and communities.
Last year’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Summary - which provides a brief run through of the health and wellbeing issues at county level, highlighting the various reports we’ve produced over the year, such as detailed needs assessments relating to specific subjects or communities, evaluations of new local programmes or activities, local surveys, a range of briefings and other ad hoc analyses - can be downloaded below. We’re currently working on this year’s JSNA Summary, ready for publishing later in the year.
The misuse (or excessive use) of drugs and alcohol have been linked to a range of negative impacts for individuals, families and communities, including early death, long term health conditions, reduced quality of life and economic opportunities, and increased social issues, including homelessness, violence and exploitation, which require interventions from state and community-level service provision. National guidance and government policies outline potential actions for improving outcomes related to substance misuse. A necessary component for such action is a local-level examination of the facts, in the form of this health needs assessment.