To review prevention strategies and outcomes to include NHS health checks and plans for distribution of ‘flu vaccinations for the winter season.

The Committee was invited to review prevention strategies and outcomes to include NHS health checks and plans for distribution of flu vaccinations for the winter season.

A presentation had been appended to the report.  The Director of Public Health (DPH) highlighted aspects of the presentation including the scope of the public health function, the importance of prevention and the 2018/19 service improvement plans.

In discussion the following principal points were made:

·        A concern was expressed that the number of people suffering with flu last year, including staff with the additional costs that that incurred, suggested that prevention measures were not proving effective. 

In relation to the availability of flu vaccine the DPH said she was not aware of a shortage of flu vaccine but would check.

The Deputy Director of Operations, Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (DDCCG).commented that the vaccination programme generally ran from October to November.  Each GP practice had their own schedule.  Priority was given to care home residents and then to staff groups.  Wye Valley Trust had one of the highest levels of staff vaccination levels in England at 75%.  She acknowledged there might be merit in making vaccination a requirement for such staff.  She added that individuals could go to a pharmacist at any time and pay for a vaccination

It was noted that relevant health and social care staff and councillors could go to a pharmacist and receive a vaccination free of charge.  This was because of the wide range of contacts these people had and the consequent potential for spreading the virus.  The DPH commented that the key points were that early notification was being provided to those groups entitled to free vaccination and public health funding was being allocated to seek to avoid spreading the virus and the adverse effect on services and costs if staff contracted flu.

It was noted that a vaccination programme was also delivered through schools and if a parent declined to have their child vaccinated clarification was sought from them.

·        The DPH confirmed that the take-up of the health checks offered to all those aged 40-74 was 47%.  Work was being undertaken to analyse data on take up and to target particular communities to improve take up.

·        Reference was made to the scrutiny of dental health by the Children’s services scrutiny committee and that the information on the return on investment of fluoridation reflected in the slide at page 35 of the agenda papers would be of interest to them.  The DPH commented that an oral health partnership had been established to undertake an oral health needs assessment to enable resources then to be targeted.  Public health guidance governed fluoridation; an oral health needs assessment was required as the first stage of the proscribed process.  Once that had been completed a feasibility study on fluoridating the water supply could be undertaken.  She also highlighted the current variations in the offer of fluoride varnish availability across the county and the work that would be undertaken through the oral health partnership  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22