Agenda item

Purpose: To update on progress in implementing the actions set out in West Berkshire’s Delivery Plan, focusing on the first priority to reduce the differences in health between different groups of people.

Zoe Campbell (Interim Service Lead – Public Health and Wellbeing) presented the Delivery Plan Progress Report for Priority 1 (Agenda Item 12).

Members noted that there had been a large number of actions that had been completed or were now considered ‘business as usual’. In particular, several of the closed actions related to Educafé. This was seen as a Newbury focused initiative which some residents may not be able to access, particularly those living in more deprived areas within Calcot and Lambourn without access to a car. Members stressed the need for caution when deleting indicators.

The Board welcomed actions designed to address cardiovascular disease, but highlighted the need to track their impact. Members highlighted the importance of communicating with patients in relation to programme success stories, since this helped to build trust in initiatives. It was suggested that all partners needed to be involved in CCD prevention and in celebrating success stories.

It was noted that work was ongoing in relation to health inequalities. A needs assessment had been completed and the next step was to look at hidden inequalities, through community participation.

Officers stressed that they were looking to improve in terms of demonstrating the impact of initiatives.

In relation to comms, it was suggested that as well as communicating success stories, there was also a need to improve in terms of providing advice and patient signposting. It was proposed that the Health and Wellbeing Board Engagement Group should be re-established to coordinate this.

Members stressed the importance of joint working with the Integrated Care Board and NHS Foundation Trusts on key messages.

The Board recognised the importance of ensuring that messages were relevant to all communities within West Berkshire. It was suggested that villages could have wellbeing hubs where good news stories could be shared.

Members stressed the importance of using the right language in health messages and finding the appropriate trigger words and motivators to drive desired behaviours amongst residents.

It was felt that community wellbeing hubs could build on the success of the Health on the Move Van and the ‘Be Well This Winter’ outreach programme. It was suggested that hubs should not just signpost people to services such as health checks, but rather they should offer those services.

Officers confirmed that they were looking at existing assets such as libraries, leisure centres, Shaw House, and the museum to see how health could be integrated into people’s visits. It was noted that some parish councils were opening their buildings for warm hubs and over-50s clubs. Village and church halls, schools, community centres and pubs could all potentially be used as hubs. It was suggested that they could also help improve residents’ mental health by reducing isolation.

It was noted that other local authorities had strategies for villages / parish council areas and this could be a way of addressing the Newbury focus of local activities. This could be progressed alongside other initiatives such as family hubs and women’s hubs. It was suggested that this could be discussed at the District Parish Conference to understand what initiatives were already underway and what appetite there was to explore the wellbeing hub concept amongst parish councils.

Action: Raise the wellbeing hub concept with the District Parish Conference organisers as a potential agenda item for the next meeting. 

RESOLVED to:

(a)  note the report and the progress made to date;

(b)  agree the proposed actions;

(c)  agree the actions to be referred upwards to the ‘Place’ or ‘System’ levels; and

(d)  commit their respective organisations to delivering the agreed actions.