Welcome to the annual DPH report for 2021 to 2022
The theme of this year’s report is Extraordinary Times, Extraordinary People. The last few years have been like no others. The COVID-19 pandemic took so much from so many; loved ones lost, school days halted, lives forever altered. Yet amongst this, across Bath and North East Somerset we have seen communities rise to the challenges we have faced, with services and individuals coming together to support each other and the most vulnerable in our communities.
The first chapter of my report outlines the actions that were taken to provide testing, vaccination and wellbeing support. It tells the story of COVID-19 in the voices of local people who worked at the front line of the response in schools, the NHS, charities, essential services and care homes. It has been a privilege to work with such skilled and passionate people who have given everything and more to keep others safe and connected.
The second chapter of the report focuses on children, young people and families. As we move towards living safely and fairly with COVID-19 still circulating, we want to highlight the importance of investing in supporting children and families. Our children have spent a large proportion of their lives living in lockdowns and missing out on vital education, social interaction and play. The report gives examples of valuable projects and programmes that enrich lives and that provide early support to families when needed.
Finally, we explore at the importance of making our local places healthier spaces to thrive and live long and healthy lives. We know that access to spaces with clean air and accessible walking and wheeling routes can improve both physical and mental health. Together with nutritious food and safe homes, these are the building blocks to healthy communities. I am pleased to highlight the work we are doing with our partners to further strengthen our health and wellbeing through developing the places in which we live.
Drawing all this together, at the end of the report I make a series of recommendations for colleagues and partnerships across the council, health sector, Third Sector and beyond. The pandemic has demonstrated new ways of working together which we can learn from as we rise to face the challenges ahead.
Becky Reynolds
Director of Public Health and Prevention
Bath and North East Somerset
On Screen and Printable version of the report of the Director of Public Health 2021-2022
Previous versions
On Screen and Printable version of the Report of the Director of Public Health 2019-2020
On Screen version of the Report of the Director of Public Health 2017
On Screen version of the Report of the Director of Public Health 2016
On Screen version of the Report of the Director of Public Health 2014
On Screen version of the Report of the Director of Public Health 2012
