THE ANNUAL report by Coventry’s Director of Public Health has found the pandemic has exposed inequalities in communities across the city.
Covid-19 has also ‘fundamentally altered our lives’ including what is valued, ways of working and the economy.
The document will help form key future decisions and has led to a commitment from the authority and its partners towards working more closely with communities in an honest and transparent way.
The research used statistics, the council’s and partners’ performance reports and evaluations along with interviews with 20 teams and organisations to provide a record of Coventry’s state of wellbeing in 2021/22.
Five recommendations have been put forward following the reports publication.
The council will continue using community messengers, as it did during the Covid-19 response, to link the authorities to those living in the city.
Places of worship, grass-roots organisations and the Community Centre Network were funded to lead the response to the virus and the council hopes to build on that and further understand the roles of those groups.
Relationships between GPs, other health professionals and those at higher risk of poorer health need to be strengthened following the Vaccinating Coventry Programme. Often their situations are caused by inequality, deprivation, ethnicity and underlying health conditions.
The partnership-approach during Covid-19, led by the council’s Public Health working with UK Health Security Agency and in partnership with the wider council and ‘One Coventry’ partners should continue.
‘One Coventry’ partners will work with communities in a bid to bring about a robust and coherent recovery for the city with the aim of building a better future for all.
Liz Gaulton, Coventry’s Director of Public Health and Wellbeing, said she hoped the council could continue to minimise the harm and impact of Covid-19 whilst reshaping the city’s health and wellbeing.
“Our Covid-19 journey across the city has been a truly ‘One Coventry’ response in areas including combating inequalities, vaccinating Coventry, prioritising employment, and supporting victims of crimes such as domestic violence, as well as continuing to focus on building mental wellbeing in our communities.
“This is our chance to imagine a Coventry where decisions and actions are driven through connecting and listening to those in our communities in an honest and transparent way.”
Coun Kamran Caan, the city council’s portfolio holder for Public Health and Sport, said it had been vital they had listened to and engaged with our communities to build trust and support.
“This report aims to set out our approach and learning from the Covid-19 response over the last year and demonstrate the benefit of building strong relationships
“We are continuing to work across the city to bring services together and coordinate action through a joined up One Coventry approach so that people across the city can live long, happy and healthier lives.
“This has already proved to be crucial in our reset and recovery journey – by connecting with communities to make a lasting difference across our society.”
Click here to read the Coventry Director of Health’s full report.
