Director of Public Health Annual Report 2021

Foreword

There is no denying that this has been a difficult time for all of us; at an individual level, as a city, nationally and even globally. With the recent emergence of Omicron as the latest ‘variant of concern’ that is now infecting many people it is clear that the situation is far from over. As well as living with this new infectious disease, we are also living with considerable uncertainty about the disease itself and how it changes with each mutation. It is not surprising that so many of us are reporting worsening mental health and wellbeing than before the pandemic.

Throughout, I have been so impressed and proud of the way in which the people of this city have risen to the huge challenges that COVID-19 has brought with it. There are too many groups and individuals to name (and to miss any out would be a disservice) but so many of you have been ‘everyday heroes’ throughout this pandemic, doing what you can to keep others safe and well, both physically and mentally. You may not even realise how important your contributions have been, as I know so many people have just got on and done things without wanting attention or praise. This is my opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you.

From my perspective, my role and those of my fantastic colleagues have changed massively. I am conscious of how quickly and willingly the teams affected have had to change the focus of their work, quickly refining and honing skills to help the city to face COVID-19. It has been absolutely essential that we prioritise this, but it hasn’t been without cost, and many of us have missed the work that we used to do.

COVID-19 continues to pose a particular risk to health inequalities. Some of us might be more prone to serious illness if infected, some of us might be more likely to be exposed through the work that we do or our living conditions, and some of us might be more likely to fall prey to misinformation which might stop us following advice and guidance. Tackling COVID-19 is tackling health inequalities, and so although our formal cycle of an annual focus of Thrive Plymouth has been halted, the city’s work against health inequalities has continued unabated.