Agenda item

Report of the Director of Public Health

Helene Denness, Consultant in Public Health, introduced the report highlighting partnership activity that promotes the health of babies, children and young people in Nottingham, specifically focussing on efforts to reduce:

(1)  the proportion of women smoking in pregnancy, which is significantly higher than the England average and the fourth highest among statistical neighbours;

(2)  the proportion of year 6 children who are obese which is significantly higher than the England average and the third highest among statistical neighbours, and

(3)  the percentage of mothers who breastfeed their babies at 6-8 weeks in Nottingham, whilst better than the England average is not improving and a local study indicates that breastfeeding rates are lower in younger, white women in the most deprived areas of the city.

The following points were raised during the discussion which followed:

(a)  the Council Plan has ambitious targets to make reductions in all these areas, as did the last Council Plan and Children and Young People’s Plan (CYPP). Funding will be sought and, if secured, dedicated smoking in pregnancy posts created, alongside training for staff and engagement with young people;

(b)  schools often reward attainment and good behaviour with unhealthy food such as cakes and sweets, and this culture can be difficult to change, particularly as the Council’s relationship with schools has changed. Examples of good alternative practice should be shared;

(c)  parents can be offended when they are informed that their children are overweight or obese in writing following the National Childhood Measurement Programme. Some vulnerable parents will be unwilling to seek the suggested help and less willing to engage;

(d)  some food cooked in classes at school is unhealthy and could be swapped for healthier alternatives;

(e)  arguably, the Council has more control and power over certain aspects of the obesogenic environment, such as licensing, advertising and sponsorship.

The Board was particularly interested in the perspective of the Youth Cabinet, given their current experience of the provision of food in schools and colleges.

The Board then split into three groups to discuss each of the three areas, and where improvement could be made. At the end of discussion each group summed up their main findings as follows:

(f)  childhood obesity – different communities’ attitudes to food, preparation and mealtimes could be better shared, which could start at Primary Parliament. Also, community gardens could be used as a resource to teach children and young people about healthy eating. Early intervention is key;

(g)   breastfeeding – more focus could be on young women and stigmas around breastfeeding, along with wider body image issues. A peer support model with a celebrity or locally prominent community member could be used;

(h)  Smoking in pregnancy – Small Steps Big Changes could be used to test and learn. Support could be put in place for those who wish to swap from smoking to vaping. A peer support model would also be good here.

RESOLVED to

(1)  note the contents of the report and progress on health and wellbeing outcomes in the Nottingham City Children and Young People’s Plan;

(2)  continue to support the activity to improve health and wellbeing of children and young people in Nottingham;

(3)  continue to prioritise health outcomes for children and young people in their strategic priorities and commissioning plans.