Agenda item - Health Counts

Presentation by Kate Gilchrist (Head of Public Health Intelligence) and Professor Nigel Sheriff (University of Brighton) on the initial findings of the Health Counts survey (verbal)

54 HEALTH COUNTS

54.1 This item was presented by Kate Gilchrist (Head of Public Health Intelligence) and Nigel Sherriff (Professor of Public Health and Health Promotion in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Brighton). Slides were presented to the Board. Nigel stated that Health Counts take place every 10 years and provides a wealth of helpful local information and data and provides a data source for inequalities in the city, as well as providing a detailed picture of health and wellbeing in Brighton and Hove. The gap between surveys allows for time-based comparisons. Over 26,014 responses were submitted, representing 11.2% of the over 18 resident population.

54.2 Kate Gilchrist presented some of the key findings to the board. This included the way in which different demographics were represented in the data. It was noted that the data revealed that there has been a drop off in the number of people regarding themselves as being in good to excellent health. Low happiness scores across the city had increased with anxiety scores also increasing, effecting different parts of the city to greater and lesser extents. Self-harm instances were noted as being particularly high among 18–24 -year-olds, those in temporary accommodation, and people identifying as trans, non-binary, or intersex. Smoking has almost halved since 1992. Further such findings were detailed.

54.3 Regarding community at the cost-of-living crisis, Kate Gilchrist revealed that there was a small decreased in those satisfied with their local area as a place to live, as well as a small decrease in those who stated they felt they belonged in their immediate neighbourhood Kate further revealed that 86% of people stated they were taking some measures to protect against the cost of living. It was further revealed that less people across the city feel ‘very safe’ compared to 2018.

54.4 Kate Gilchrist stated that there will be a city level briefing in January 2025, with are profiles by March 2025. There will also be an equalities profile in 2025/26. Evidence is being incorporated across the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA).

54.5 Due to time constraints, board members were asked to direct questions directly to Kate and Nigel outside of the meeting. The Chair thanked the presenters.

54.6 RESOLVED – That the board agree to note the report.