Public Health inquiry: Committee visits Coventry Council

Purpose of our visit

The visit was a case study to see how Coventry City has implemented the six policy objectives of the Marmot report on health inequalities, since the Council became a Marmot City in 2013.
 
After public health responsibilities were transferred to local government in 2013, Coventry committed to delivering rapid change in health inequalities by 2015 and was one of seven cities in the UK invited to participate in the UK Marmot Network and become a Marmot City. The Council is pioneering an approach to Health in All Policies (HiAP) which is at the centre of WHO Europe's health strategy Health 2020 to which all 53 member states are signatories. 

Why Coventry?

Since Coventry became a Marmot City there has been progress in outcomes across health and across society. There have been improvements in school readiness at age 5, health outcomes, life satisfaction, employment and reduction in crime in priority locations. A number of innovative projects and initiatives have been set up which are starting to yield positive results for the people of Coventry.  The visit was an opportunity for the Committee to see the different initiatives tackling health in all policies. 

Who we met

The Committee spoke to a range of partners and public health practitioners delivering front line public services including:
 

• Child and maternal health services
• Young people's substance misuse and early intervention service
• Physical activity programmes
• Age Friendly Cities
• Police
• Service users
• Members of the public involved in designing public health projects
• Fire service
• Local school
• Local workforce initiatives
• Local mental health initiatives 
   

Further information

• Public health post-2013 - structures, organisation, funding and delivery
• Coventry City Council Public Health
• WHO Europe's health strategy Health 2020
• Marmot Review
• About Parliament
• Visiting Parliament
   

Image: Parliamentary copyright