Public Health Annual Report (PHAR)

The Director of Public Health is the foremost advisor on health for the city.

The Annual Report of the Director of Public Health is a statutory function and forms an element of the strategic planning process for improving population health and reducing health inequalities together with the JSNA process and the Health and Wellbeing Strategy process.

Public Health Annual Reports can be comprehensive or may focus on a particular theme and usually present a set of recommendations for future action.

Annual report for 2024

This year's Public Health Annual Report focuses on Health in Cities, featuring Liverpool's contributions to tackling urban health inequalities. Liverpool faces considerable health challenges, with some of the worst health outcomes in England. The State of Health in the City: Liverpool 2040 report warns that without intervention, these outcomes could worsen. In response, the city has strengthened its commitment to collective action, in making the city fairer, healthier, and stronger for all.

Visits from key public health leaders, including Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Michael Marmot, have further highlighted the city's efforts and ambitions, including its pursuit of Marmot City status. The report showcases the innovative ways Liverpool City Council and its partners are working to embed health in all policies, transform local services, and empower communities.

The report also sets out recommendations to drive continued improvement, reinforcing Liverpool's dedication to building a healthier future for everyone.

Read the annual report for 2024 — A fairer, healthier, stronger city

Previous reports

• Public Health Annual Report 2023 — Culture and Communities
• Public Health Annual Report 2022 — Living safely and fairly with Covid-19

• Public Health Annual Report 2022: Living safely and fairly with Covid-19 (PDF)

  Download this document: Public Health Annual Report 2022: Living safely and fairly with Covid-19 (PDF) (PDF: 1011 KB)

• Public Health Annual Report 2021: Liverpool's Journey through 2021 (PDF)

  Download this document: Public Health Annual Report 2021: Liverpool's Journey through 2021 (PDF) (PDF: 7.5 MB)

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• Public Health Annual Report 2020: Liverpool's Covid-19 Journey (PDF)

  Download this document: Public Health Annual Report 2020: Liverpool's Covid-19 Journey (PDF) (PDF: 6 MB)

  This report tells the story of the pandemic in Liverpool, makes recommendations for improvement in the future and highlights the local impacts of Covid-19.

  First published: 29/03/2021

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• Public Health Annual Report 2019: We Mind The Gap (PDF)

  Download this document: Public Health Annual Report 2019: We Mind The Gap (PDF) (PDF: 2.4 MB)

  The focus of the 2019 annual report are the health inequalities that exist within Liverpool in comparison with England.

  First published: 29/03/2019

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• Public Health Annual Report 2019: Recommendations and actions (PDF)

  Download this document: Public Health Annual Report 2019: Recommendations and actions (PDF) (PDF: 186 KB)

  Our 2019 PHAR focused on health inequalities, setting out 13 recommendations to take a whole city approach to prioritising and tackling this important issue that is intrinsically linked to the social determinants of health. Since then, the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened pre-existing inequalities, many of which have influenced the unequal impacts of COVID-19 in the first place.

  First published: 18/05/2021

• Public Health Annual Report 2018: Our Health Protection Challenges (PDF)

  Download this document: Public Health Annual Report 2018: Our Health Protection Challenges (PDF) (PDF: 1.9 MB)

  The 2018 annual report is a review of our top health protection challenges for Liverpool.

  First published: 29/03/2018

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• Public Health Annual Report 2017: The Impact of Austerity on Health and Wellbeing (PDF)

  Download this document: Public Health Annual Report 2017: The Impact of Austerity on Health and Wellbeing (PDF) (PDF: 3.2 MB)

  The focus of the 2017 annual report is a review of the health impacts of austerity and welfare reform measures have had on our residents.

  First published: 29/03/2017

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PDFs may not be fully accessible. If you require further support or an alternative format, please email publichealth@liverpool.gov.uk.