The Public Health Annual Report (PHAR) is the independent annual report of the Director of Public Health and is a statutory requirement. The 2020/2021 Report, Building Back Better for Everyone describes the enduring health inequalities in Wirral, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these differences in health outcomes and recommended actions that we need to take collectively to improve everyone’s health.

The Public Health Annual Report is an important vehicle to identify key issues, flag up problems, report progress and inform local inter agency action. The purpose of the PHAR is to draw attention to local issues of importance which have an impact on population health. Since the Council took back responsibility for Public Health in 2013, we have published six reports on:

• Social isolation
• Healthy schools and children
• Domestic violence
• The roles of the Council and NHS in promoting health and wellbeing
• Problem gambling
• The role of culture in health and wellbeing

These reports have led to action in the reduction of people smoking in the borough to levels below the national average; increased support for people who were feeling socially isolated plus significant activity across a range of partners to highlight and reduce the damage caused to our communities from alcohol abuse and gambling.

The 2020/2021 Report seeks to direct action that we need to take together to reduce the impact of health inequalities on our residents and improve health for everyone in our borough. It will also inform our local recovery and renewal plans in response to the pandemic and influence action for the future.