Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Public Health

The Council considered the report of the Director of Public Health which incorporated his independent annual report on the health and wellbeing of the population of Sefton highlighting key issues. The annual report had been developed through collaborative working with a range of Council and external partners and it considered the root causes of health inequalities across Sefton, what actions are already being undertaken locally to address these issues, as well as recommendations for future actions on nine key areas, which are:

·       The best start in life

·       Healthy schools and pupils

·       Helping people find good jobs and stay in work

·       Active and safe travel

·       Warmer and safer homes

·       Access to green and open spaces and the role of leisure services

·       Strong communities, wellbeing and resilience

·       Public protection and regulatory services

·       Health and spatial planning

It was moved by Councillor Maher, seconded by Councillor Grace and

RESOLVED: That

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

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

Report of the Head of Health and Wellbeing.

Further to Minute No. 4 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 25 May 2017, the Committee considered the report of the Director of Public Health which incorporated his independent annual report on the health and wellbeing of the population of Sefton highlighting key issues. The annual report had been developed through collaborative working with a range of Council and external partners and it considered the root causes of health inequalities across Sefton, what actions were already being undertaken locally to address these issues, as well as recommendations for future actions on nine key areas, which were:-

·         The best start in life;

·         Healthy schools and pupils;

·         Helping people find good jobs and stay in work;

·         Active and safe travel;

·         Warmer and safer homes;

·         Access to green and open spaces and the role of leisure services;

·         Strong communities, wellbeing and resilience;

·         Public protection and regulatory services; and

·         Health and spatial planning.

The Public Health Annual Report was a statutory independent report of the Director of Public Health and identified key issues affecting health in the Sefton population.

Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health, was in attendance to present the report and to respond to questions put by Members of the Committee, and he gave a presentation that outlined the following:-

·         Life expectancy in Sefton;

·         Health and wellbeing indicators in Sefton 2016;

·         General socioeconomics, cultural and environmental conditions;

·         The best start in life;

·         Healthy schools and pupils;

·         Helping people find good jobs and stay in work;

·         Active and safe travel;

·         Warmer and safer homes;

·         Access to green and open spaces and the role of leisure services;

·         Strong communities, wellbeing and resilience;

·         Protecting the health of the public;

·         Health and spatial planning; and

·         The Public Health Annual Report 2017/18.

Members of the Committee raised the following issues and a summary of the responses provided is outlined below:-

·         With regard to data provided within the Public Health Annual Report and infant mortality, the figure in Sefton was worse than the average elsewhere in England.

Whilst it was acknowledged that the figure was worse, it was not significantly higher and was categorised as Amber. Infant mortality was classed as ages 0 to 12 months and included sudden infant deaths. Disability and conditions developed since birth could also play a role. The death of any child was investigated for learning, both across Merseyside and nationally.

·         How were the calculations made within the data table, to indicate “worse”, “similar” or “better” in comparison to the England average?

Significance was measured as one standard deviation from the mean. Where a difference was less than that, then it was not statistically significant.

RESOLVED:

That the content of the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Public Health

Further to Minute No. 4 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 25 May 2017 the Committee considered the report of the Director of Public Health which incorporated his independent annual report on the health and wellbeing of the population of Sefton highlighting key issues. The annual report had been developed through collaborative working with a range of Council and external partners and it considered the root causes of health inequalities across Sefton, what actions are already being undertaken locally to address these issues, as well as recommendations for future actions on nine key areas, which are:

·       The best start in life

·       Healthy schools and pupils

·       Helping people find good jobs and stay in work

·       Active and safe travel

·       Warmer and safer homes

·       Access to green and open spaces and the role of leisure services

·       Strong communities, wellbeing and resilience

·       Public protection and regulatory services

·       Health and spatial planning

The Cabinet had resolved that the annual Public Health report be received and the Council be recommended to approve the publication of the report.

Attached as an Appendix to the report was a copy of the statutory independent report of the Director of Public Health.

Charlotte Smith, Specialty Registrar, Public Health presented the Annual Report and highlighted issues associated with health data for Sefton; the general socioeconomic, cultural and environmental conditions affecting the   wider determinants of health; life expectancy in Sefton; and the health and wellbeing indicators in Sefton in 2016. 

Ms. Smith focused on issues contained in the report relating to children and young people and In particular drew attention to:-

·       The importance of the best start in life for a child as early life experiences help to shape future habits, behaviours and attitudes to the world around us. This means that positive early experiences, both with our family and in early years education settings, can provide children with better life chances and more chance of being healthy

·       The importance of healthy schools and pupils as helping each child and young person reach their full potential at school provides them with better life chances and it can also help them to live a longer and healthier life

·       The importance of warmer and safer homes as living in a home that is warm, safe and in a good state of repair is fundamental to keeping ourselves well, whatever our age or circumstances. When our housing meets our needs we are better able to access services and

·       build relationships with people living in our local community

Ms. Smith concluded by detailing the aims of the Annual Report for 2017/18 to include a proposed topic regarding the mental health and emotional wellbeing of young people; and that the report would take a multi-media approach using film and social media.

Members of the Committee raised the following issues:-

·       there was no mention in the report of illegal drug use

·       perceived anomalies in the statistical data comparisons of Sefton to the England average

·       the high numbers of deaths caused by dementia

·       the large variances  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4

Report of the Director of Public Health

Further to Minute No. 4 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 25 May 2017, the Board considered the report of the Director of Public Health which incorporated his independent annual report on the health and wellbeing of the population of Sefton highlighting key issues. The annual report had been developed through collaborative working with a range of Council and external partners and it considered the root causes of health inequalities across Sefton, what actions were already being undertaken locally to address these issues, as well as recommendations for future actions on nine key areas, which were:-

·         The best start in life;

·         Healthy schools and pupils;

·         Helping people find good jobs and stay in work;

·         Active and safe travel;

·         Warmer and safer homes;

·         Access to green and open spaces and the role of leisure services;

·         Strong communities, wellbeing and resilience;

·         Public protection and regulatory services; and

·         Health and spatial planning.

The Public Health Annual Report was a statutory independent report of the Director of Public Health and identified key issues affecting health in the Sefton population.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Public Health

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Public Health which incorporated his independent annual report on the health and wellbeing of the population of Sefton highlighting key issues. The annual report had been developed through collaborative working with a range of Council and external partners and it considered the root causes of health inequalities across Sefton, what actions are already being undertaken locally to address these issues, as well as recommendations for future actions on nine key areas, which are:

·         The best start in life

·         Healthy schools and pupils

·         Helping people find good jobs and stay in work

·         Active and safe travel

·         Warmer and safer homes

·         Access to green and open spaces and the role of leisure services

·         Strong communities, wellbeing and resilience

·         Public protection and regulatory services

·         Health and spatial planning

Decision Made:

That the annual Public Health report be received and the Council recommended to approve the publication of the report.

Reasons for Decision:

The report is a statutory independent report of the Director of Public Health and identifies key issues affecting health in the Sefton population.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None