Public health

Responsibility for public health transferred from the NHS to the council on 1st April 2013, under government reforms.

The role of public health is to improve the health of local residents, prevent risks to public health and reduce health inequalities to help people live longer, healthier lives.

Public health is responsible for the delivery of a wide range of services including:

• Stop smoking
• Alcohol support and drug misuse services
• Public health services for children and young people
• The national Child Measurement Programme
• Weight management
• NHS Health Checks
• Accidental injury prevention
• Dealing with health protection incidents
• Sexual health services
• Community link workers.

Public health annual reports

All directors of public health in England are required to produce an independent annual report on the health of their population, highlighting key health risks and opportunities for people in Wigan. It also makes recommendations for action that local organisations, communities and individuals can take to improve health and wellbeing over the coming year.

Public health annual report 2018

The 2018 report consists of four chapters.

• Home Is Where The Heart Is - Chapter 1 (external link)
• Home Is Where The Heart Is - Chapter 2 (external link)
• Home Is Where The Heart Is - Chapter 3 (external link).

Public health annual report 2017

The 2017 report consists of four chapters and recommendations and progress on last year's report.

• "Getting Wigan Borough on the Move" - Overview (external link)
• "Getting Wigan Borough on the Move" - Full video (external link)
• Background information.

Public health annual report 2016

• Intro (external link)
• Start Well (external link)
• Live well (external link)
• Age Well (external link)
• Epilogue (external link)
• Background information.

Earlier dates

• Healthwatch Wigan and Leigh (external link)
• Public health annual report 2008 - 2009.