To consider a presentation from the Principal Public Health Intelligence Analyst.

The Public Health Intelligence Lead delivered the presentation to the Board. The presentation covered the aims of the census from 2021 and how data can be used to shape questions around public health in Trafford. The Public Health Intelligence Lead highlighted what the census covered, including data on population demographics, health, and education, and spoke about how important this was in helping to plan and deliver services. The Board were asked to note the useful features including its high response rate (98% at Trafford level), methodology, and geography. Resources from the Trafford data lab were shared and the Board were made aware of the limitations of the census, one being that it only offered a snapshot of the status of the population, which made it difficult to use the data to determine cause and effect. The data was self-reported, which meant people answered questions in different ways. The Public Health Intelligence Lead mentioned that it was important not to over interpret data. 

The Public Health Intelligence Lead informed the Board of two approaches for how to use census data to inform public health. One example of how the data had been used effectively was in examining how many disabled people within each ward were affected by their disability on a day-to-day basis. The Public Health Intelligence Lead then offered observations and questions which could be taken from the data and spoke to the Board of the importance of asking questions of data to ensure conclusions were not based upon mere observations of the data. 

The Public Health Intelligence Lead then presented questions that the board could help the public health team with and asked if the Board had any suggestions as to how the census data could support the work of the health and wellbeing board.

The Trafford Integrated Network Director agreed that the census data was a powerful tool when used in conjunction with the information held by services using the neighbourhood model.

The Trafford Community Collective Representative relayed his interest in using the data around inequality to see changes from 2011 to 2021, and how this could help to inform the approach for tackling inequalities within Trafford. The Corporate Director Adults and Wellbeing added that it would be interesting to look at how the borough had changed across the decade particularly with regards to the ageing population within the borough.

The Housing Strategy and Growth Manager asked how the data could be used to monitor the role of housing, and its impact on public health. The Corporate Director for Adults and Wellbeing added that it would be interesting to looking at the impact of the affordability of housing within the borough.

The Director of Strategy at MFT asked whether there was scope to look at acute hospital data and data from other sources to form broader insights. The Public Health Intelligence Lead replied that using data from multiple sources was a powerful tool. However, you had to be certain that the data could be used for those purposes and that you were not breaching GDPR.

The Chief Executive of Trafford Leisure asked what steps had been taken to get around the challenges of language to achieve such a high completion rate. The Public Intelligence Lead responded that the Office for National Statistics had gone to great lengths to address language barriers but there were still areas and demographics with lower return rates than others. 

RESOLVED: That the presentation be noted.