To provide a update on the implementation of the recommendations of the director of public health annual report 2017 as agreed at the October 2018 health and wellbeing board meeting.

The director of public health provided an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the director of public health’s annual report 2017, as agreed at the 1 October 2018 meeting (minute 167 refers).  The key points included:

Recommendation 1: Strengthen our approach to embedding health in all policies, strategies and commissioned services

Public health had been working with planning, licensing and other areas of the council to ensure that health issues were considered in policy development and decision making.

Recommendation 2: Work with Herefordshire’s health and wellbeing board and other partners to develop a comprehensive oral health plan to tackle issues of poor oral health in children…

The oral health needs assessment was progressing well and should be published at the end of May 2019.

Recommendation 3: Work with Herefordshire’s health and wellbeing board and other partners to develop and implement a healthy weight plan which focuses on reducing obesity in children…

The children and young people scrutiny committee was congratulated on its dental health and childhood obesity spotlight review which had brought together a range of organisations to explore these issues.  Work on the healthy weight plan was progressing, including mapping.  Some targeted weight management programmes were being offered through schools and an assessment of school meal provision was to be undertaken.

Recommendation 4: Work with partners to develop a co-ordinated approach which focuses on what people can do to take care of themselves and build individual and community resilience…

Increased focus on working with communities, including the roll out of ‘Let’s Talk Community Hubs’ and embedding ‘Making Every Contact Count’ across the system, were helping to build community resilience.

Recommendation 5: Work with our partners to develop an ageing well plan, which responds to the findings in the ageing well needs assessment and the deep dive analysis of the problems of cardiovascular disease and hypertension.

This plan was being developed and should be completed by June 2019.

Recommendation 6: Develop the Healthy Living Network (HLN) to enable community and voluntary organisations, businesses, partners and residents to champion actively health and wellbeing improvements in their area.

The HLN had recruited 39 different organisation and 79 people had been trained to date, with further activity planned to support community networks and recruit more members.

Recommendation 7: Work with schools and early years settings to better understand the underlying issues impacting on children’s mental health and self-esteem and embed evidenced based interventions to promote resilience and good relationships.

Alongside other initiatives, a parenting programme was being rolled to promote children’s mental health, build confidence, and provide access to the right support.

Recommendation 8: Develop a sustainable health and social care service in Herefordshire by maximising the opportunities to reduce demand on services in the first instance.

The benefits of the prevention agenda and strengths-based model of working to improve health and wellbeing and reduce demand on social care were noted.  Developments included the multi-agency domestic abuse strategy, locality profiles, and improving the uptake of NHS health checks.

In response to a questions from the chief executive about the use of dental sealants and fluoride varnishes for children, the director of public health acknowledged the ongoing need to raise awareness of and access to this intervention; an undertaking was given to explore the longevity of new products and the potential for professionals other than dentists to apply such treatments.

There was a discussion around the issues arising from recommendation 7, the key points included:

i.           Duncan Sutherland commented on the importance of identifying and treating mental health issues in childhood and ensuring connectivity between settings.

ii.         The director of public health outlined the role of children’s community nurses.

iii.        The director for children and families said that some schools were doing some good work in this area, with pupils acting as champions and points of contact for others.  The director of adults and communities added that schools were excellent at delivering results and, whilst it would be helpful it was part of the Ofsted agenda, there could be opportunities to work in a more collaborative way locally.

iv.        Jo-anne Alner commented on the proposals for the development of children and young people’s mental health care, as detailed in the NHS Long-Term Plan and in the government’s response to the children and young people’s mental health green paper consultation. 

v.         Professor Melton reported on initiatives to tackle stigma and raise awareness of emotional wellbeing, such as the ‘Crucial Crew’ event, and work to support transitions between age groups and services.

Resolved:

That the update be received and the role of the board in taking forward the priorities be noted.