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Population Health

Swansea Bay University Health Board has a corporate responsibility for improving the health and wellbeing of its population. We know that people’s experience of health and wellbeing is not the same across the population and that for those living in the Swansea Bay UHB area, there are significant and concerning differences in health outcomes that need to be addressed.

What is population health?

We define this as:

“...an approach aimed at improving the health of an entire population. It is about improving the physical and mental health outcomes and wellbeing of people within and across a defined local, regional or national population, while reducing health inequalities.”

To understand this reference, please follow this link to the 'A vision for population health: towards a healthier future' page on the King’s Fund website.

Swansea Bay UHB’s Population Health Strategic Plan

In 2022/23, the Swansea Bay UHB Public Health Team collaborated with partner organisations to develop Swansea Bay UHB’s Population Health Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan was approved by the Health Board in March 2023 and provides a strategic framework to guide the whole organisation in taking action to improve the health and wellbeing of local people and reduce inequity.

This Strategic Plan is integrated into Swansea Bay UHB’s Organisational Strategy: A Healthier Swansea Bay, with the eight Marmot Objectives forming Strategic Objective 1: People of Swansea Bay live healthier, fairer and more prosperous lives. The actions within it are supported by the Welsh Government’s legislative and policy environment, the Future Generations Office, and local partnership efforts.

Follow this link to our 'A Healthier Swansea Bay' page for more information on this strategy.

The focus is on prevention and tackling the ‘causes of the causes’ of ill-health. To do this requires whole system, multisectoral action and provides an enabling framework to act as a bridge between the evidence base and practical action.

Population Health Strategic Plan objectives:

Objective 1: Give every child the best start in life.

Objective 2: Enable all children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives.

Objective 3: Create fair employment and good work for all.

Objective 4: Ensure a healthy standard of living.

Objective 5: Creating healthy and sustainable places and communities.

Objective 6: Strengthen the role and impact of ill-health prevention.

Objective 7: Tackle racism, discrimination and their outcomes.

Objective 8: Pursue environmental sustainability and health equity  together.

In addition, the plan identifies four areas for action where the health Board has the power to improve population health:

  • As a healthcare provider, we can directly influence health outcomes by delivering safe, effective, equitable healthcare to thousands of patients each year. We aim to focus on prevention and early intervention in ill-health.
  • As an employer, we play a critical role in the local economy, directly employing over 12,500 people. We are committed to creating a supportive, inclusive, and healthy working environment, and working with our employment services, schools, colleges and universities to ensure highly trained and skilled workforce for the future.
  • As a major local organisation and part of a regional economy, our influence stretches beyond health care from service industries, supply chains, to research and development and energy infrastructure. The health board impacts on economic stability, community wellbeing, and social progress through responsible stewardship of resources and active engagement in local development.
  • Finally, as a productive partner, we collaborate closely with a wide range of organisations, public bodies, and communities to undertake joint initiatives, including research and innovation with our councils, universities, businesses, social enterprises and voluntary sector to improve health and wellbeing.

Follow this link to read our 'A better future for all: Swansea Bay’s Population Health Strategy' in word format. 

Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth a galwadau ffôn yn y Gymraeg neu'r Saesneg. Atebir gohebiaeth Gymraeg yn y Gymraeg, ac ni fydd hyn yn arwain at oedi. Mae’r dudalen hon ar gael yn Gymraeg drwy bwyso’r botwm ar y dde ar frig y dudalen.

We welcome correspondence and telephone calls in Welsh or English. Welsh language correspondence will be replied to in Welsh, and this will not lead to a delay. This page is available in Welsh by clicking ‘Cymraeg’ at the top right of this page.