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Liverpool City Council’s Director of Public Health has released his latest independent annual report, highlighting a comprehensive programme aimed at transforming public health services to address entrenched health inequalities. The focus remains on enhancing accessibility, improving prevention efforts, and achieving better health outcomes for Liverpool residents. This initiative is described by the council as among the most extensive reforms of public health in the city’s history.
Since April 2020, several key services—including sexual health, drug and alcohol support, tobacco control, infection prevention, and health services for children and young people aged 0 to 19—have undergone redesign. The aim has been to create services that are more user-friendly, better coordinated, and tailored to fit the lives of the city’s population. Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, emphasized the impact of sustained investment and community engagement in this process. He noted, “Our role is to make sure services are effective, fair and accessible, and that they reflect the realities of our communities. We are already seeing results. More people are using services earlier, staying engaged for longer, and having a better experience.”
Professor Matt Ashton, Director of Public Health, described these developments as a fundamental shift in the city’s public health landscape. “Over the past year, we have not just improved services; we have reshaped how public health works for our city,” he said. The report does acknowledge the ongoing challenges Liverpool faces, with significant levels of deprivation affecting over half the population and nearly one in three children living in poverty. Life expectancy remains below the national average, with men living to 76 years and women to 80 years on average, many spending a large portion of their lives in poor health.
The report highlights clear improvements across several services. The 0–19 Healthy Child Programme has been revamped to provide better early years and family support, featuring enhanced community integration, increased face-to-face contact, and targeted assistance for vulnerable families—breastfeeding rates have risen to 72%. Sexual health services, delivered by Axess, have expanded with over 80 access points, digital testing options, and outreach to underserved groups; this transformation has led to a 21% decrease in sexually transmitted infections and improvements in HIV testing and contraception availability. The all-age drug and alcohol service, River, now offers streamlined access to recovery support, and though drug-related deaths remain a concern, treatment completions are rising. Smoking rates are declining as well, now at around 12%, with two-thirds of quit attempts through stop smoking services proving successful, supported by new community outreach initiatives and a ‘Swap to Stop’ vaping scheme. The Liv Life Healthy Weight Service, launched in January 2025, has helped over 1,100 residents lose weight, with 94% seeing reductions and nearly half achieving clinically significant results. Additionally, the Community Infection Prevention and Control Service has enhanced training and outbreak responses, managing 106 outbreaks in the past year with same-day contact.
Liverpool’s authority continues to address broader social determinants of health such as poverty, housing, education, and employment. In recognition of these efforts, the city was granted Marmot City status in April 2025 for its commitment to tackling health inequalities and promoting fairer health outcomes through policy. Looking forward, the report recommends ongoing improvements in specific services, ensuring value for money, embracing evidence-based innovations, and maintaining a focus on community involvement in public health decision-making. Professor Ashton summed up the city’s progress by stating, “Liverpool’s public health system is now a model of partnership and progress. We will keep pushing forward to ensure every resident has the opportunity to live a healthy, fulfilling life.”
Read the full article on Liverpool Express here: Read More
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