Agenda item

Purpose: To review performance against the health performance indicators for West Berkshire and to be informed of the new revised targets for 2011.  Jeremy Speed (Public Health Locality Lead, NHS Berkshire West) will present this item. 

Mr Jeremy Speed (Public Health Locality Lead, NHS Berkshire West) presented an update report in relation to the health performance indicators for West Berkshire (Agenda Item 5). 

He described the 3 main priorities for health as listed in the former Local Area Agreement (LAA) targets.  These were around circulatory diseases (NI 121), alcohol related hospital admission (NI 39) and obesity in primary school children in year 6 (NI 56).  He explained how although the LAA was no longer in existence these public health issues remained key concerns. 

Mr Speed described the significant reduction in people dying from cardiovascular disease and how numbers had more than halved in a 15 year period.  This was attributable to advances in technology and public health interventions such as a reduction in smoking rates and adult obesity.

He described the cardiac rehabilitation programme for those who had a diagnosed heart condition.  He also mentioned the exercise referral scheme “Activity for Health” which offered primary prevention to people at risk of diabetes or hypertension as well as the important links with the Council’s Trading Standards Service to restrict young people’s access to tobacco. 

Mr Speed outlined the numbers of hospital admissions as a consequence of alcohol related harm.  He described how there was an upward trajectory since 2002 and an LAA target had been set inline with this. The latest figures had shown a reduction in the anticipated number of cases. 

Members felt it would have been helpful to have the data broken down by age to understand more about young people’s drinking.  Mrs Bev Searle confirmed that the admissions figures for young people in relation to alcohol related harm were low but it was possible that higher numbers of attendances at Accident & Emergency Departments might be seen. 

Members raised the issue that there might be a correlation between changes to the alcohol licensing laws in 2003 and the increasing trend of alcohol related hospital admissions. 

Mr Speed explained the early screenings for hazardous and harmful drinking through opportunistic interventions at GP surgeries and in other health settings.  The numbers screened were significantly higher during Q1 and Q2 of 2010/11 than the previous figures for the whole of 2009/10.  This was seen as a positive in terms of people being identified and treated sooner.  This equally applied to Tier 2 alcohol services and where Turning Point, were reported as achieving good results locally.      

The need for early intervention was identified several years ago and Members were pleased to see greater GP awareness and how this process had been better systematised and embedded.

Childhood obesity figures had changed little from 2005 to 2010.  In order to achieve a more marked difference targeted interventions would be required with specific individuals and communities.  The current interventions had a focus on encouraging fitness and healthy living as well as greater education for primary school children around cooking healthy meals. 

Members discussed the branding issues of intervention programmes to avoid any stigma associated with being from a low income family.

Members also asked for reasons as to why the rates of obesity were static and whether this was a reflection that interventions had been unsuccessful or the lack of availability of places on schemes.  Mr Speed responded by explaining how uptake of the schemes was low in the first few years but this had now improved. 

Mrs Searle explained that childhood obesity rates might continue to increase in the next few years.  She stressed that importance of childhood patterns in influencing adult behaviour.  Starting interventions with very young children was necessary in order to see long-term change in the adult population. 

Members welcomed the work underway at the Children’s Centres to promote healthy eating with children from the age of 3 and their parents.

RESOLVED that the update on performance against health related targets in West Berkshire be noted.