The Public Health Wales Observatory assists local and national partners by providing meaningful information to address public health issues, to improve health and health services and to reduce health inequalities.
We aim to provide information, signposting and guidance at the appropriate contextual level. We also work with others to improve the quality of information available on health and health services in Wales
Our products include:
- In-depth publications
- Reports on specific health topics
- Profiles of health status
- Guides
- Maps
- Signposting to existing resources
- Literature searches
- Rapid reviews
- Evidence updates
- Briefings
- Support to projects and programmes
Local support to Directors of Public Health, the seven health boards and twenty two local authorities within Wales.
Examples include:
- Profiles of health status
- Support to planning
- Ad hoc requests
At the national level the Observatory undertakes specific pieces of work required by Welsh Assembly Government. Examples include:
- In depth reports on specific health topics
- Monitoring child poverty targets
- Feasibility study e.g. for a standardised approach to childhood height and weight measurement in Wales and subsequent support to national surveillance programmes
The Observatory also supports public health academia, programmes and schemes including clinical networks, Stop Smoking Wales, The Congenital Anomaly Register and Information Service. Work includes the evidence base for critical care network and cardiac service equity report.
We are also constantly developing ways of reviewing, producing, quality assuring and presenting information and intelligence. We work with others to improve the quality of information available on health and health services in Wales
- Contributing to national processes e.g. Welsh Information Governance and Standards Board
- Advising on specific developments e.g. 'intelligent targets for
- The development of the Observatory website to improve access to health intelligence resources.
The Observatory draws up a work plan covering both data and evidence based support. This is used to plan workload and is part of the annual review process with the Welsh Assembly Government. This is therefore a live document and alters as needs change. The Observatory workplan for 2009/10 includes examples of large pieces of work. However, we do support ad hoc requests from others as appropriate.