Agenda item

Lesley Wyman introduced the item which updated the Board on the progress being made towards priorities within the current Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

The report focused on quarters one and two of 2014/15. Appendix one contained the completed data set to accompany the report. The report considered what was being done locally to meet national indicators. Lesley Wyman continued by giving a summary of the main issues.

Reducing Childhood Obesity

·         The National Childhood Measurement data for 2013/14 was published in December 2014.

·         2013/14 data coupled overweight and obesity figures together.

·         In reception the rate had gone up slightly from 18.9 to 19.3%.

·         Trend data within the report showed that West Berkshire was below the national rate regarding obesity.

·         For year six the rate had decreased slightly which was very encouraging.

·         It was important to note that a different cohort of children were being measured each year and therefore variations were expected year on year.

Rachael Wardell queried if it was possible to compare the reception rate for the current year six children to see any changes overtime. For example, this would show if those at reception were still overweight or obese when they reached year six. It was confirmed that it would be possible to provide this data, once it was available nationally.

Councillor Keith Chopping was concerned that just under 30 percent of children in year six were overweight or obese. Lesley Wyman reported that there were numerous programs of work taking place to try and bring this figure down. Dr Lise Llewellyn stated that generally parents did not take their children to the doctors for being overweight. Weight was measured by Body Mass Index (BMI). There were different graduations including overweight, obese and morbidly obese and for children these were measured using national growth charts.

Supporting those over 40 to change lifestyle behaviours detrimental to health and wellbeing

·         Adult smoking prevalence had dropped in West Berkshire from 18.76 percent to 15.4 percent, which was significantly below the national average.

·         The number of those quitting smoking at four and 12 weeks had improved compared to 2013/14.

The successful completion of drug treatment for opiate users

·         This was a measure of the percentage of opiate drug users who left drug treatment successfully and did not represent to treatment within six months.

·         There was a significant drop in this measure from 2012 to 2013 and the quarter two figure for 2014 had risen slightly from a low of five percent in quarter one.

·         Part of the reason for the fluctuation was due to small numbers in West Berkshire. Therefore only a small number was required to change the figures significantly.

·         The drug and alcohol service had been tendered out in the latter part of 2014 and Public Health and Wellbeing would work closely with the new providers once in place.

Councillor Marcus Franks queried Primary Care’s involvement in this area. Lesley Wyman reported that Primary Care were involved through the Shared Care Contract. Dr Bal Bahia stated that Primary Care also played a key role in signposting to services.

The percentage of adults achieving 150 minutes of physical activity per week

·         This figure had dropped slightly from 2012 to 2013 and West Berkshire was now below the national average.

·         Lots of work was taking place locally within the Public Health and Wellbeing Team.

·         A Physical Activity Co-ordinator had been appointed, who was working across the district with partners to run physical activity initiatives

·         Stronger links needed to be made to Leisure Centres where there was often significantly less to do for the over 50’s.

Councillor Franks queried if exercise was still prescribed by GPs. Lesley Wyman confirmed that exercise on prescription was still available.

Councillor Gwen Mason stressed that the cost of gym membership needed to be looked at as this was often very expensive.

Dr Barbara Barrie reported that a ‘Beat the Street’ campaign had been implemented in Reading. Dr Lise Llewellyn reported that this was quite an urban campaign and would need to be adapted to suit more rural areas. Lesley Wyman reported that the campaign was currently being evaluated and therefore they were awaiting the outcomes of the project.

Improving the self reported emotional wellbeing scores of adults

Lesley Wyman reported that this measured individual/subjective wellbeing based on a number of questions regarding how happy or less happy they were with their lives.

The percentage of eligibly population being offered and receiving the NHS Healthcheck

·         This was the main area of underperformance within the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

·         Quarter one figures were 30% lower for invites and quarter two, 26% lower for completed checks in 2014/15 compared to the previous year.

·         The target for West Berkshire was 20% of the eligible population to be invited for a health check each year and for 50% of those invited to have a Healthcheck completed.

·         There were a number of reasons responsible for the underperformance.

·         GPs were the main providers of Healthchecks. The Public Health and Wellbeing Team attended meetings with practices to try and address the issue, however were aware of the capacity issues faced.

·         It was possible that in the future, third sector providers would be sought to carry out the health checks.

Councillor Franks noted that all those invited for a Healthcheck in 2009 could now be re-invited.

Councillor Mason felt that Healthchecks were an important preventative measure and queried if enough was being done to educate the public of the benefits of having one of these checks. 

Lesley Wyman reported that publicity and promotion of Healthchecks was a difficult area. If there was suddenly an influx of people wanting Healtchecks, the GP practises would struggle to balance the demand.

Dr Llewellyn reported that Public Health would most likely look to community pharmacies and supermarkets for delivering Healthchecks in the future. The rate of cardiovascular disease in West Berkshire was rising and Healthchecks played a key part in early diagnosis. Many health issues were identified though Healthchecks including  the early onset of dementia.

The Rate of cardiovascular disease in the under 75’s considered preventable

·         The rate of this had decreased steadily up until 2008-10 however, from this point over the last 2 years the rate had begun to increase.

·         It was vital that everything possible was done to bring this rate down.

Breastfeeding rates

·         This indicator was considered a valid and important measure for public health and was therefore included in the Public Health Outcomes Framework.

Lesley Wyman reported that no data had been received for this measure, which was something she needed to look into.  Dr Barrie confirmed that the data for this measure had been collected in the past and therefore was unsure why it was not available. The data was collected as part of the six week check system.

Rate of domestic abuse reported to the Police.

·         The rate of this had risen very slightly.

Councillor Franks reported that the Safer Communities Partnership had a target to increase reporting.

Rachael Wardell reported that there had been a homicide in West Berkshire relating to domestic violence.

Domestic violence was a significant factor across many areas including Looked After Children, attendance behaviour and performance at school. If increased reporting was viewed as positive then Racheal Wardell stressed that this needed to be matched by how these cases were dealt with.

Councillor Franks, welcomed comments from Susan Powell (Safer Communities Team Manager) who stated that this was one measure for a very broad area of work. Domestic violence was also included within the Local Children Safeguarding Board’s Business Plan which would be reported to the Board later on the agenda.

Lesley Wyman agreed that they needed the local indicators that sat beneath the measure.

Emotional wellbeing of looked after children

·         This indicator was based on the average difficulties score for all looked after children aged five – 16 who had been in care for at least 12 months as of 31 March.

·         The score for West Berkshire had decreased from 2010 to 2013 however, average scores for the south east had improved.

Lesley Wyman stated that more local indicators were required from Children’s Services to underpin the indicator.

Lesley Wyman continued by drawing the Board’s attention to the Suicide Prevention Strategy under Appendix two. The Government had announced recently for the attention of the NHS, that suicide was preventable. A pilot of work was taking place in Liverpool around this and a dramatic decrease had been seen.

RESOLVED that The Suicide Prevention Strategy and Audit to be placed on the HWBB Forward Plan for June 2015.

Adrian Barker stated that he found the data very useful however, found it difficult to identify how the Health and Wellbeing Board had made a difference. Lesley Wyman explained that it was hard to know if an area of work being carried out at present was working. An up to date list of indicator, including local ones from the relevant areas would make a difference.