This report updates the Committee on the partnership work undertaken to develop a Wirral Health Protection Strategy. The pandemic has heightened the profile of health protection, and whilst a challenging period it has provided us with significant learning, and important lessons that Wirral’s Health Protection Board need to build on moving forward. As we recover and learn to live with COVID-19 now is the right time to refresh our local strategic and collaborative approach to health protection in Wirral.

An effective local approach to health protection is vital to improve health and wellbeing, protect the local economy, and reduce health inequalities. The Strategy sets out our collective approach to ensuring we have a resilient health protection system in Wirral.

Resolved - That the Wirral Health Protection Strategy 2023-2027 and Delivery Plan be approved and the Director of Public Health be requested to report back after six months of implementation and six months prior to completion as well as annually to monitor progress.

This report provides an overview of the Health Protection Strategy and Delivery Plan for Wirral which places collective responsibility for local system partners to align policy, strategy, and resources wherever possible to protect and improve health of local residents.

Strategic planning helps local system partners work together to establish a clear vision, prioritise resources, determine a clear direction of travel, and to set goals and outcome targets. We could have not developed a local strategy; however, the absence of a post-pandemic plan could exacerbate the burden of ill health, impacting negatively on health outcomes, inequalities, system pressures and the local economy.