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Regional Public Health Observatories were established in 2000 to provide a range of health intelligence functions for the regional Directors of Public Health. The Association of Public Health Observatories (APHO) was established to provide co-ordination of PHOs’ activities. The regional PHOs and APHO are core funded by the Department of Health to deliver these functions, which include:

  1. Promoting and delivering health intelligence to decision makers to improve health and reduce health inequalities;

  2. Acting as advocates for population health information, ensuring that high quality, relevant information is available to a range of stakeholders;

  3. Being a single port of call for those who need such information; and

  4. Developing a skilled health intelligence workforce.

NWPHO is steered by a regional advisory group, which is chaired by the Regional Director of Public Health. We have a range of functions that support both national and regional public health intelligence:


Public Health Intelligence

  • NWPHO is a designated Department of Health ‘safe haven’ for sensitive data items and holds 10-year datasets of hospital episode, mortality and birth statistics as well as a range of geographic and geodemographic classifications. From these we produce an annual small area dataset, used to monitor local trends, health inequalities and regional progress towards national health inequalities targets.

  • We produce bespoke reports using a wide range of health-related datasets and carry out novel analyses and dissemination of new methods for health intelligence; in particular focussing on small area health measures and determining new and novel ways to illustrate health patterns and investigate health inequalities. 

  • As a specialist analytical service, we conduct bespoke and routine analyses for partners and customers and use our detailed knowledge of the local and regional situation for added value. We also provide training, support and advice on methods such as Health Equity Audit, Lifestyle Surveys and Health Scrutiny.

 

Regular Reports

  • We produce synthesis reports that draw together intelligence, policy and evidence on a range of topics such as conducting lifestyle surveys, violence as a health issue and social marketing.

  • Where possible, we link these reports with the production of technical documents produced in conjunction with the APHO and contribute to a series of national ‘Regional Indications’ reports produced for the Chief Medical Officer for England.

 

Local Health Profiles

  • From the health indicators within our annual small area health dataset, we have created an online Health Profiler - just enter a postcode from any area in the North West and obtain a profile of that local community.

  • Working with other teams in the Centre for Public Health, we have produced a range of alcohol indicators for the very first ever alcohol related health profile for local authorities in the North West region.

  • With all other PHOs* in the country, we produce national Community Health Profiles as outlined as a key role of Observatories in the Government White Paper ‘Choosing Health’.
     

Online Data Tools

  • We aim to make all our public health intelligence, routine and bespoke datasets and methodologies available and accessible via a range of interactive web-based tools. Included with these are links to a range of national and international public health tools for access to wider datasets.

  • NWPHO online tools are linked with the production of reports and publications but allow users to access the data in a way that suits them: for example via tables, interactive maps, textual profiles or flexible charts.

  • On behalf of our public health partners across the region, we have developed an integrated public health website, where a range of agencies, public health networks and regional taskforces make their work plans, membership, events, publications and best practice available to the wider public health community.

  • As part of our technical developments, we are constantly enhancing the ability of our users to search across a range of public health resources; this now includes an interoperable website search of the other UK Public Health Observatories.

 

Contact staff in the North West Public Health Observatory (Organisational Chart)


Professor Mark A Bellis, Director m.a.bellis +44 151 231 4511
Dr Karen Tocque, Director of Science and Strategy k.tocque +44 151 231 4506

Stephen Rogers, ICT Project Manager s.rogers +44 151 231 4430
Wayne Murray, Web Developer & Programmer w.s.murray +44 151 231 4388
Joan Olajide, Public Health Analyst o.j.olajide +44 151 231 4552
Neil Potter, Web Developer & Programmer n.potter +44 151 231 4388
Jodie Sharrock, Website Content Coordinator j.sharrock +44 151 231 4454
Steve Timmis, Web Developer & Programmer s.timmis +44 151 231 4155

Helen Carlin, Information Project Manager h.m.carlin +44 151 231 4021
Susan Giles, Social Marketing Intelligence Analyst s.p.giles +44 151 231 4375
Craig Timpson, Research Assistant c.timpson +44 151 231 4115

Dan Dedman, Information Project Manager d.dedman +44 151 231 4430
Karen Murphy, Public Health Information Analyst k.murphy +44 151 231 4552
Mark Robinson, Cancer Intelligence Analyst m.robinson1 +44 151 231 4452
Sacha Wyke, Data Manager s.wyke +44 151 231 4472

Lynn Deacon, Knowledge & Communications Project Manager l.k.deacon +44 151 231 4239
Lindsay Dewa, Public Health Analyst l.h.dewa +44 151 231 4454
Kerin Hannon, Public Health Researcher k.hannon +44 151 231 4552
Beccy Harrison, Public Health Project Officer r.harrison +44 151 231 4445
Jennifer Mason, Public Health Project Officer j.j.mason +44 151 231 4445

Alyson Jones, Research & Business Coordinator a.m.jones +44 151 231 4454
Tom Hennell, Consultant Analyst GONW   +44 161 952 4359
Sharon Schofield, Business and Financial Support s.l.schofield +44 151 231 4507
  All emails are @ljmu.ac.uk