Agenda item

An annual update of the NHS Health Check programme in Wiltshire. 

Councillor Ian Blair-Pilling – cardiovascular disease remains main cause of mortality, national programme commissioned in Wiltshire to seek to address risk and early signs of problems, fitting in with early prevention and intervention, came to Committee in March 2022 when Covid recovery was in its infancy, big changes in data since then.

Introducing the next item on NHS Health Checks, Councillor Ian Blair-Pilling noted that cardiovascular disease remained the leading cause of mortality, with a national programme commissioned in Wiltshire to address the risks associated with it and recognising early signs of potential cardiovascular problems.

Gemma Brinn noted that the Health and Social Care Act 2012 made it mandatory for local authorities to make arrangements for provision of NHS Health Checks to their eligible population (residents aged 40-74 without certain pre-existing conditions) once every five years. She also added that the standard of quality assurance was very important. She said that there was an encouragingly quick pick-up in health check numbers post-Covid, and that the number of completed health checks has continued to rise, albeit with some fluctuation.

Describing the model from April 2024 onwards, Gemma Brinn explained that there would be no change in delivery, but that it would address the universal population, with a 5+5 years contract model. A new outreach provider was intended to reduce health inequalities and take checks into the community and use a contract for 3+2 years. Outreach provision would aim to reach and engage with population groups unlikely to otherwise engage with primary care and would also include out of hours checks and covering areas where GPs do not deliver.

Market engagement began in September 2023 with good attendance and interest from providers, with a contact awarded in January 2024, where a mobilisation plan was required from the successful bidder upon awarding of the contract. Councillor Blair-Pilling noted that the system allowed for financial wiggle room to ensure the best effect is achieved across the two contracts for primary care and outreach provision.

Councillors enquired about whether the model incorporated remote work and the potentially beneficial lack of specificity in the contracts, with Councillor Blair-Pilling also advocating the use of the heart rate monitors available on loan from Wiltshire Libraries.

Kate Blackburn, the Director of Public Health, took this opportunity to note the recent national government initiative on a smoke-free generation, in which the legal age of smoking would annually increase by one year. She explained that this would have a massively positive impact on the disease profile in which tobacco and obesity and the main drivers. She noted that additional funding amounting to approximately £500,000 had been ringfenced for smoking cessation services and that the government initiative presented an important opportunity for capitalisation regarding protecting children and young people from the harms of smoking. She added that consultation was live until 6 December 2023 and that the government was encouraging responses.

The Committee responded with unanimous positivity towards the initiative, also commenting on the future risks posed by vaping and the potential for further engagement in the community to go alongside it.

Resolved:

·       To note the presentation on NHS Health Checks.

·       To request an update of provision in 2024.? 

·       To provide a responseto the Smoke-Free Generation consultation.