Agenda item

Cllr Mercer invited the Director of Public Health, Jane Bethea to provide a brief introduction to the Health and Wellbeing Strategy Update.

The Director of Public Health noted that the strategy before members was a fundamental part of Public Health activities. The purpose of the strategy was noted as being to:

·       Provide a context, vision, and overall focus for improving the health and wellbeing of local people and reducing health inequalities.

·       Set out a list of shared priorities and outcomes for improving local health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities.

·       Support effective partnership working that delivers improved health outcomes.

·       Provide a framework to support innovative approaches which facilitate necessary change given the evolving needs of local communities

Work had been undertaken to establish what else the service could do in regard to factors that caused ill health and health inequality, with areas for initial focus identified as smoking/vaping and keeping active. Other areas for consideration were children and young people, mental health and wellbeing and financial resilience. 

Acting Consultant in Public Health, Pippa Williams then provided additional information to the panel, with it being noted that a prioritisation process had been undertaken in conjunction with key partners including elected members, the Integrated Care Board partnership, Local Area Partnerships and voluntary and health and wellbeing providers to get establish five key priorities for the Health and Wellbeing Strategy. A decision had been made by the Health and Wellbeing Board in adopting a phased approach for each of those priorities, with three key stages to each; preparation, key aims and objectives followed by an implementation phase.

It was heard that the smoking/vaping priority had now reached the implementation phase, whilst keeping active had come forward for initial discussion at the recent Health and Wellbeing Board meeting to return at the next meeting with a delivery plan. The children and young people priority was currently in preparation ahead of the next board meeting.

Details of the governance and reporting structure for progression of the strategy was provided to the meeting. It was heard that a strong structure would assist in reviewing progress and overcoming any challenges to implementation with the programme and sponsor leads attending the Health and Wellbeing Board. It was noted that monthly meetings were held to review progress and discuss challenges raised by programme and could act as an escalation platform to the Place Delivery Board.

It was reported that place-based partnerships were key in terms of implementation, and an example of the smoking/vaping strategy programme was provided to the meeting as an indicative example.

Four workstreams aimed at reducing the prevalence and inequalities of smoking in the North Northamptonshire population were detailed as follows:

1.          To increase the number of residents supported to stop smoking through the Local Authority and NHS services

2.          To provide targeted support to population groups with higher prevalence of smoking

3.          To implement prevention activities focussed on smoking and vaping in children and young people

4.          To disrupt the sale of illegal tobacco and vaping (e-cigarettes) products and reduce underage sale

Examples were provided of work with Tresham College and local secondary schools, while re-establishing a working group with the Fire Service and Community Safety team was also a priority. Specific Trading Standards issues included illegal and underage sales of tobacco and vape products.

The Director of Public Health noted that Corby had previously had the highest rate of smoking in the country, however a significant level of work to reduce prevalence had been undertaken with some success, although the impact had not been equal, with areas of deprivation seeing significantly smaller reductions in smoking. It was heard that should a successful programme be developed for Corby it could be robustly evaluated before being rolled out to other areas of North Northamptonshire.

Co-Chair, Cllr Gill Mercer referred to the partnership approach of the strategy and the need for measurable outcomes, noting success in reducing rates of smoking in pregnancy.

Cllr Ken Harrington questioned preventative measures in place to prevent young people from smoking and vaping in the first place. It was noted that there were social norms regarding smoking and vaping with price and accessibility being a driver, combined with vapes being actively marketed at young people. It was therefore vital to have the right support and education measures in place to reduce take-up.

Members also asked questions in relation to the smoking cessation services offered by the Council and illegal use of nitrous oxide.