Agenda item

Report of Alison Challenger, Director of Public Health

Gayle Aughton, Commissioning Manager, presented the report which informs the Committee of the outcome of the ward-level research and recent consultation on the health profile of Nottingham’s citizens to ensure that commissioning of Public Health Services will appropriately and most effectively meet the health needs of the local population.

Consultation included gathering information on the preferences of citizens with regard to venues and time of day to contact and access services. This feedback has proved very valuable and will be applied to future commissioning of health services by Public Health.

Internet links are provided in the report to a variety of Public Health statistical and commissioning information:

The health profiles can be found on the Nottingham Insight website:

https://nottinghaminsight.org.uk/f/96676/Library/Public-Health/

The Adults Healthy Lifestyle Strategic Commissioning Review may be accessed here:

http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/business-information-and-support/commissioning-contracting-and-procurement/commissioning-contracting-and-procurement-latest-news/

The report also included a summary of each Area Committee findings from the consultation, the questions of which included:

(i)  How can we support citizens to access services which will help them to have a healthy lifestyle?

(ii)  What are the barriers /gaps?

(iii)  What enablers can help overcome these barriers?

(iv)  How can we make services more attractive to hard to reach groups?

(v)  What works well in your area?

The report also noted how Councillor local knowledge and input has contributed to shaping the new model of ‘Adults Healthy Lifestyles’ and a summary of the Nottingham City Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

A ‘you said, we did’ response has been taken to feedback from the consultation.

The Public Health team is keen to develop a mutually beneficial relationship with Area Committees for information sharing of what does and doesn’t work, why services may not be performing as expected for citizens and how to improve access and services.

The main benefits of Public Health engaging with Area Committees includes:

·  increasing efficiency, saving officer time in undertaking community based questions with citizens;

·  Improved quality of engagement with a wide and diverse range of stakeholders

·  Increasing effectiveness, supporting evidence of services being developed to meet the needs of citizens, or requiring amendments.

The next steps to strengthening the link between Public Health and Area Committees includes:

·  investigation into linking Area Committee priorities with up and coming strategic commissioning reviews;

·  considering what would be the most effective and efficient way of communicating to Area Committees Public Health updates and key information.  

The low uptake of Flu Vaccinations has been raised as an issue of concern by Area 1 Councillors. It is possible that citizens had in part lost confidence in the flu jab as last year it was found that the vaccination did not protect against all of the main strains of flu. A briefing note on the uptake of city-wide vaccinations was compared with national uptake, circulated at the meeting and uploaded to online agenda following the meeting. Generally the Nottingham uptake in most categories was lower but still similar to the national figures with the exception of pregnant women where 34.8% were vaccinated in Nottingham compared to a 42.3% national uptake. It was noted that averages across the city could mask local uptake figures which could potentially be significantly lower than the city average of 34.8%.

Councillors suggested an investigation into the reasons why uptake had been low. The suggestion by Gayle that the CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) is requested to consider recording and presenting flu vaccination uptake statistics in the same way as MMR vaccine uptake was welcomed by members of the Committee.

The attitude of different generations towards visiting Doctor’s Surgeries needed to be taken into consideration as some older people are reluctant to visit the surgery unless they absolutely have to. In addition, other citizens may be deterred from booking a vaccination due to the reputation of appointment difficulty, so some committee members suggested that a temporary ‘drop-in flu vaccination clinic’ in the town centre would be beneficial.

It is noted that flu vaccinations have been available at most Doctor’s Surgeries since the end of August.

The Committee’s questions were responded to as follows:

(a)  with regard to national health alerts and advice, a communication link to Public Health would be helpful. Work is on-going to identify the best communication methods;

(b)  there are several health issues within the area such as child and adult obesity and the low take-up of bowel screening. Knowledge of the local population and successful engagement methods are being sought to try and address this. The ‘New Leaf’ van has been successful in making casual contact with citizens from where broader information and messages can then be distributed as part of a more holistic approach.

Heidi May, Head of Neighbourhood Management highlighted that in wards where there were specific health issues to be addressed, there was capacity to include information in the Neighbourhood Newsletters which is to be ward specific and delivered to every household.

Celia Knight, Neighbourhood Development Officer suggested that if health awareness/promotion events were to be held in the town centre then the Neighbourhood Team, who are in contact with multiple community organisations, should be made aware to help promote events, direct interested citizens and maximise resources. In addition, if NDOs were aware of specific health focus promotions, such as the Older Person’s Event at Bulwell Riverside on 29 September, 9.30am to 12.30pm, Public Health could, if appropriate, be invited to have an information stall.

RESOLVED:

(1)  to note the approach and work undertaken to date towards improving the health of citizens;

(2)  for members of the Committee to forward to the Commissioning Manager:

(a)  any further suggestions to ensure that Area Committee Plans are in line and supportive of the Council’s priorities and responsibilities for improving the health of citizens;

(b)  any further knowledge or support they would require to progress their work on the Public Health and Wellbeing agenda within the area;

(3)  for the Commissioning Manager to forward to Ward Councillors and Neighbourhood Development Officers the local information and promotion of flu vaccinations for distribution to community groups and at events.