This year’s Public Health Annual Report looks at three important health issues across Portsmouth and South East Hampshire: inequalities in health, communicable diseases and environmental hazards. The reasons for choosing these topics are threefold.

Firstly, inequalities in health are large and increasing. Although the past 20 years have brought a marked increase in prosperity, major advances in medical care and substantial reductions in mortality to the people of Portsmouth and South East Hampshire as a whole, the gap in health status between the rich and the poor has widened. The root causes of such inequalities are linked to socio-economic factors such as income, education, and employment as well as to the material environment in which people live, and their lifestyles. Previous annual reports have looked in detail at the influence on health of factors such as income, education, employment, and housing. This year we look at the effects on health of lifestyle and access to health care. The results of the recently published 1999 Health and Lifestyle Survey shed light on variation in lifestyle and health service use across social classes, localities and primary care groups.

Secondly, communicable disease is an important public health issue affecting significant number of people each year. Emerging issues include the rise in the incidence of meningitis, and the growth in resistance to antibiotics due to its excessive and inappropriate use.

Thirdly, environmental issues are of increasing concern to the public, local authorities and the government. The impact of environmental factors on health is becoming clearer and the report reviews some of the key environmental hazards relevant to the Portsmouth and South East Hampshire population.

Most of these issues cannot be tackled by a single agency. They require concerted action by local authorities, the Health Authority, NHS Trusts, primary care groups, and the voluntary and private sector in partnership with the local population. As such, they are of prime relevance in informing the development of the Health Improvement Programme.

I hope the report will promote better understanding of the factors affecting the health of the people of Portsmouth and South East Hampshire, and lead to improved collaboration between local agencies in addressing these issues.

Dr E A Jorge

Director of Public Health & Strategy

August 1999

Produced by Ann Edmeades, IT Services, Hampshire County Council
for Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority
© Copyright Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority 1998
Last Updated 1st September, 1999