University of Brighton researchers lead on Health Counts Survey 2024 as it launches in Brighton & Hove

Health and wellbeing surveys can play an important role in helping to shape public health policy and planning. Similar public health surveys have been run in Brighton & Hove each decade since the 1990s providing robust data reflecting changes in health, health behaviours and health inequalities as well as highlighting emerging issues.

Health Counts 2024 launches on 18 March 2024 and is led by the University of Brighton, in partnership with NHS Sussex, HealthWatch and Brighton and Hove Federation.

GP practices across Brighton & Hove will be inviting their patients to take part via text alerts, and the survey will also be promoted through community engagement activities to include people who are digitally excluded, marginalised groups, and those who may not be registered with primary care services.

The confidential online survey asks questions about the health and lifestyle issues local people experience in different parts of Brighton & Hove. The results will be a determinator in informing decisions about the future health and wellbeing services that may be required to meet residents’ needs.

Please use the link below to take part in the survey

Professor Nigel Sherriff, Professor of Public Health and Health Promotion, and project lead, said: "In England, we have robust public health data collection, but there is often a gap in terms of fine-grained data which sheds light on the health needs and inequalities within local populations. By gathering this data, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the local picture, which is vital for informing both local public health policy and health service planning.”

One of the survey's most important outcomes is highlighting long-term local trends, which could be an indicator of changing local public health requirements. Positive trends from previous Health Counts surveys include increased physical activity and consumption of five-a-day and lower levels of long-term disability or illness among the local population. However, potentially negative takeaways included less contact with neighbours and rising obesity levels.

Alistair Hill, Director of Public Health at Brighton & Hove City Council said: “The Health Counts survey has been running since 1992 in the city. It provides important information on the health and wellbeing of our residents and is used to help the local council, NHS and voluntary and community services plan how best to support people to live long and happy lives.”

The University of Brighton project team is led by Professor Nigel Sherriff with Dr Catherine Aicken, Senior Research Fellow, and includes Professor Kate Galvin, Professor of Nursing Practice; Professor Jörg Huber, Professor of Health Sciences; and Dr Alex Sawyer, a Principal Research Fellow in the School of Sport and Health Sciences; as well as Brighton and Sussex Medical School's Professor Carrie Llewellyn.

Residents of Brighton & Hove, including students living here during term-time, as users of local services are eligible to take part in the survey. Residents without internet access can visit their local libraries to go online. Paper copies are also available and can be posted to you on request – please email the team at healthcounts@brighton.ac.uk. If you live in the city, do take part.

The survey closes on Sunday 28 April 2024.

Visit the Health Counts Survey web page to complete the survey.

If you have any queries about Health Counts 2024, please contact the team at healthcounts@brighton.ac.uk.

Health Counts is being led by the University of Brighton, together with NHS Sussex, Healthwatch, Brighton and Hove Federation, and Brighton and Sussex Medical School. The survey is funded by the Public Health team at Brighton & Hove City Council.