Bristol has seen mixed results across health and well-being. Data is only available up to 2020 and so does not include both years of the pandemic but mortality from causes considered preventable, including premature deaths from cancer, has varied little since 2015.

Bristol is encouraging good health and wellbeing by working with other organisations to invest in leisure centres and exercise facilities across the city.

Life expectancy in Bristol has changed little between genders since 2010, and the difference between people in the most and least deprived areas remains similar to the 2015 statistics. The number of people reporting below-average mental wellbeing rose between 2017 and 2021, rising to 20.5%. The majority of the increase since 2020 is likely due to the impact of the pandemic on mental health and wellbeing.

What Bristol is doing

Health and wellbeing in Bristol is overseen by the One City Health and Wellbeing Board, and made up of public health experts, community organisations and key NHS teams. The priorities for the board are informed by intelligence drawn from the annual Joint Strategic Needs Assessment. The Health and Wellbeing Board’s strategy runs from 2020 to 2025 and focuses on the themes shown in Figure 5. Many of these themes cut across other SDGs, demonstrating the importance of the holistic partnership approach adopted by all One City boards.

Working with partners

Bristol is encouraging good health and wellbeing by working with other organisations to invest in leisure centres and exercise facilities across the city. In conjunction with charities such as Thrive Bristol, the city is helping to make mental health support more accessible for everyone and arranging a mental health summit to engage key local stakeholders in improving Bristol’s mental wellbeing.

One particular approach is the Are You Ok? programme run through the Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership. This partnership, involving Bristol City Council, the NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group and Avon and Somerset Police, aims to safeguard vulnerable adults and children and create safer neighbourhoods. The project strives to encourage people to attend to the wellbeing of others. It was established to support those who might be struggling as the city exited from lockdown.

Drug misuse

A growing issue in Bristol had been deaths resulting from drug misuse. As a result of a partnership between Bristol City Council, Bristol Drugs Project, The Loop (a drug testing service) and the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft (a community organisation), Bristol has launched the first Home Office licensed regular drug-checking service in its city centre. The recent drug and alcohol strategy, as well as initiatives such as Safer Bristol, is also helping to improve support for those involved in substance abuse.

HIV

In 2019, Bristol signed a declaration to become a Fast-Track City, committing it to help end new cases of HIV by 2030. The supporting partnership involves Brigstowe, the University of Bristol, Public Health England, Unity Sexual Health, North Bristol NHS Trust, Terence Higgins Trust and members of the public working across all Bristol’s communities to enable sexual health support, facilitate testing and treatment and challenge public misperceptions about HIV. With new incidences of HIV in Bristol falling, the data suggests the project is already making progress.

Clean Air Zone

In addition, Bristol’s Clean Air Zone will be introduced in 2022. The zone will help improve air quality by reducing harmful levels of pollution caused by traffic, ensuring everyone benefits from a healthy and natural environment. Bristol City Council has launched a package of financial support for residents and businesses to adapt to the changes and has worked with partners to develop and communicate the new measures. This support has been designed to make sure the poorest will not be hit financially the hardest by the new Clean Air Zone.