Researchers at the University of Brighton and BSMS have been commissioned by the Public Health team at Brighton & Hove City Council to run Health Counts 2024, a health and wellbeing survey of Brighton and Hove’s adult residents.
Health and wellbeing surveys can play an important role in helping to shape public health policy and planning. Similar public health surveys have been run in Brighton & Hove each decade since the 1990s providing robust data reflecting changes in health, health behaviours and health inequalities as well as highlighting emerging issues.
Health Counts 2024 launches today and is led by the University of Brighton, in partnership with BSMS, NHS Sussex, HealthWatch and Brighton and Hove Federation.
GP practices across Brighton & Hove will be inviting their patients to take part via text alerts, and the survey will also be promoted through community engagement activities to include people who are digitally excluded, marginalised groups, and those who may not be registered with primary care services.
The confidential online survey asks questions about the health and lifestyle issues local people experience in different parts of Brighton and Hove. The results will be a determinator in informing decisions about the future health and wellbeing services that may be required to meet residents’ needs.
Professor Carrie Llewellyn, Head of Primary Care & Public Health at BSMS, said: “I'm delighted to be partnering with the University of Brighton and our local authority public health colleagues on this important piece of work which will help us to better understand the needs and concerns of Brighton & Hove residents and will have real local impact."
Professor Nigel Sherriff, Professor of Public Health and Health Promotion at the University of Brighton, and project lead, said: "In England, we have robust public health data collection, but there is often a gap in terms of fine-grained data which sheds light on the health needs and inequalities within local populations. By gathering this data, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the local picture which is vital for informing both local public health policy and health service planning.”
One of the survey's most important outcomes is highlighting long-term local trends which could be an indicator of changing local public health requirements. Positive trends from previous Health Counts surveys include increased physical activity and consumption of five-a-day and lower levels of long-term disability or illness among the local population. However, potentially negative takeaways included less contact with neighbours and rising obesity levels.
Alistair Hill, Director of Public Health at Brighton & Hove City Council said: “The Health Counts survey has been running since 1992 in the city. It provides important information on the health and wellbeing of our residents, and is used to help local Council, NHS and Voluntary and Community Services plan how best to support people to live long and happy lives.”
The survey closes on Sunday 28 April 2024.
take the survey here >