The South West Public Health Observatory (SWPHO) is an NHS organisation created in 2005 as a result of a merger between the existing Public Health Observatory (Public Health Intelligence Team (PHIT)) and the South West Cancer Intelligence Service (SWCIS). It incorporates the Drug Treatment Monitoring System of the South West (NDTMS).

What we aim to do:

• make it easier to access data and information about public health in the region
• provide support and help to people wanting to use such information in appropriate ways
• provide analysis in order to improve our understanding of health, and the factors which influence health, within the region.

For more general information about Public Health Observatories and what they do, see The Core Role and Functions of Public Health Observatories.

For the latest news, see also our quarterly newsletter, SWPHOcus.

The geographical area covered by the SWPHO includes Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Isles of Scilly - the same as the South West Government Office Region - with a population of 5 million and, in the case of the South West Cancer Intelligence Service, includes Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, giving a total population coverage of 6.6 million.

Public Health Observatories were officially launched by the Chief Medical Officer on 15th February 2000 to support the Government's strategy for improving health and reducing health inequalities, as set out in the Saving lives: Our Healthier Nation

There are 12 Public Health Observatories (PHOs) working across the five nations of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The nine Public Health Observatories in England work together through a single work programme which contains both national and local elements. We produce information, data and intelligence on people's health and health care for practitioners, policy makers and the wider community. Our expertise lies in turning information and data into meaningful health intelligence to support decision-makers.

On behalf of the Department of Health, the SWPHO works in partnership with the NHS, local authorities, researchers, national agencies as well as agencies in the South West, such as the South West Observatory, Department of Health South West and Health Protection Agency South West. The SWPHO's national lead areas are sexual health and injuries. The SWPHO is currently hosted by Southampton University Hospitals Trust and NHS Bristol.

SWPHO priorities are set strategically over a 5-year period and annually in the annual business plan. These long-term priorities, annual objectives and work plan are reviewed by the Public Health Intelligence Advisory and Cancer Intelligence Steering Groups, who are also consulted in their planning. They are signed off and monitored by the Regional Director of Public Health.

Membership of the Steering and Advisory Groups is as agreed in their Terms of Reference and members represent key stakeholder groups within the health service, public health, related professions and regional organisations.

For more information, see the: Public Health Intelligence Advisory Group and SWPHO Cancer Intelligence Steering Group .

See also the South West Public Health Observatory five-year Business Strategy 2008/13 and SWPHO 2009/10 Business Plan.