Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Public Health

Further to Minute No. 74 of the Cabinet meeting held on 26 March 2015, the Council considered the annual report of the Director of Public Health for 2014, which provided details of key health issues affecting the Sefton population.

It was moved by Councillor P. Dowd, seconded by Councillor Maher and

RESOLVED:

That:

(1)       the annual report of the Director of Health be received; and

(2)       it be noted that the report would be published.

Report of the Director of Public Health

The Cabinet considered the annual report of the Director of Public Health for 2014, which provided details of key health issues affecting the Sefton population.

The Chair referred to the improvements made in the life expectancy for both men and women across Sefton detailed within the report and the widening gap in life expectancy between different areas in Sefton which highlighted the inequalities in health within Sefton. A Member of the Cabinet also referred to the need for public health issues to be taken into account during the consideration of any development proposals and planning applications.

Cabinet Members also referred to the forthcoming retirement of the Director of Public Health, Dr. Janet Atherton and expressed appreciation for the work she had undertaken in Sefton during the last 13 years to improve the quality of health and extended best wishes to her for a happy and healthy retirement.

Decision Made:

That the report be received and be submitted to the Council for publication.

Reasons for Decision:

The report is the statutory independent report of the Director of Public Health.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

Report of the Director of Public Health.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Public Health on the 2014 Public Health Annual Report that focused on a key issue, reviewing progress and highlighting future challenges. The production of an annual report, highlighting the health of the local population, was a legal requirement by the Director of Public Health.The 2014 Public Health Annual Report, focused on one of the key objectives of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, that of giving every child the best possible start in life.

The report included chapters relating to key areas, namely health needs in Sefton; Sefton as a place to thrive; school readiness: getting the best start in education; pregnancy in Sefton; emotional wellbeing; protecting mothers and babies: antenatal and newborn screening; health visiting and family nurse partnership; healthy lifestyle choices; and keeping children safe.

Two additional Appendices to the Public Health Annual Report were circulated for consideration by the Committee.

Dr. Janet Atherton, Director of Public Health, explained that the Public Health Annual Report was currently in draft form in order that any amendments made could be incorporated into the final version.

Dr. Atherton gave a presentation on the Public Health Annual Report 2014. The presentation outlined the following:-

Overview

·         Focus on 0-5s:

o   Giving children the best start in life;

o   Commissioning of Healthy Child Programme for   0-5s becomes council responsibility from October 2015; and

·         Comprehensive overview of Public Health (PH) Outcomes Framework and Child Health Profile.

Since 2002:

·         Three years longer life expectancy;

·         Heart disease death rates halved;

·         Teenage pregnancy rates at their lowest;

·         Immunisation rates at their highest;

BUT

·         Inequalities need a sustained concerted focus.

Overview of report:

·         Health outcomes – focussing on children 0-5;

·         Sefton as a place to thrive;

·         School readiness;

·         Pregnancy;

·         Emotional wellbeing;

·         Protecting mothers and babies - screening and immunisation;

·         Healthy lifestyle choices – smoking in pregnancy and breastfeeding;

·         Keeping children safe; and

·         Overview of PH Outcomes Framework and Child Health Profile.

Key messages:

·         Healthy start critical to health throughout life;

·         Children need healthy families, communities and places to thrive;

·         Healthy Child Programme – universal services with additional support for those who need it; and

·         National policy important – poverty, food, physical activity.

The Chair queried whether the Annual Report should be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children's Services), in view of the focus on 0-5 years of age.

A Member of the Committee referred to the fact that this was the final Public Health Annual Report produced by Dr. Atherton and congratulated her on the work she had achieved during her time as Director of Public Health.

The issue of health inequalities was also raised and Dr. Atherton indicated that although this issue featured the wider determinants, preventative work and much of the work undertaken by the Clinical Commissioning Groups had achieved a great deal.

RESOLVED  That

(1)       the Public Health Annual Report 2014 be received; and

(2)       the Director of Public Health be requested to submit the draft Public Health Annual Report 2014 to the Chair  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60