Agenda item

A report is attached from the Director of Public Health updating the committee on the NHS Health Checks programme in Wiltshire, including how the programme is restarting following the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The committee is invited to input into the development of the community outreach element of NHS Health Checks and how this intends to address health inequalities across Wiltshire.

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Public Protection, Leisure, Libraries, Facilities Management and Operational Assets, introduced the report starting on page 63 of the agenda pack. The cabinet member was pleased to report that Wiltshire’s population was healthier than the English average. However, he stated that further work needed to be carried out to engage with harder to reach groups, highlighting a correlation between people not participating in the scheme and people not taking up a Covid-19 vaccination. Extending the reach of the programme to groups who had not previously received a check-up was predicted to yield the greatest results in reducing health inequalities. He reported that, in order to reach groups that might have been missing out on treatment, GPs had been asked to prioritise individuals with learning difficulties and to offer evening clinics.

Referencing a national report on health inequalities, published in December 2021, the cabinet member explained the need to focus on starting checks at a young age, mental health and reviewing digital services. He then opened the report up to the committee, wishing to draw upon their experience and ideas to help to enhance the proposals. 

During the discussion the following points were made:

• Members thanked officers and the cabinet member for the report, welcoming the focus on vulnerable communities.

• The cabinet member stressed the importance of supporting public health by using the full range of measures available to the council, such as by promoting physical activity in its leisure centres.

• The importance of communicating in plain English was highlighted by members, as they felt that this would help to promote uptake.

• It was also emphasised that encouraging peer-to-peer support in informal settings would be a productive approach, as formal learning settings could deter participation for some. Utilising existing groups would also mean that it would not be necessary to set up new bodies.

• The Director of Public Health noted that a large amount had been learnt through the pandemic and thanked the committee for their comments on peer- to-peer learning. 

• In response to a question about whether previous rapid scrutiny into health inequalities, carried out under the previous council, had been considered, the director confirmed that it had. She stated that they had taken onboard the comments of the committee that remained relevant and had also learnt a great deal during the pandemic.

• Members highlighted the importance of data in determining which interventions had been successful and asked about whether the information collected captured variation in individual wards.

• A public health consultant confirmed that data could be broken down into individual wards and practices. She also stated that lots had been learnt by sharing data between local authorities as it had enabled them to apply lessons for specific groups.

• The cabinet member spoke about the importance of identifying the granularity of delivery as well as the granularity of need and stressed that useful lessons had been learnt from the roll out of the vaccination programme.

• The director stated that a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) was underway and was due to be published in the early summer. She explained that that it was a statutory requirement for the Health and Wellbeing Board to publish this assessment and that Area Boards would also be involved in community JSNAs.

• It was noted that figures, such as smoking rates, could help to identify areas in need of support. The cabinet member also highlighted the need to ensure that communities that did not reside in a fixed location, such as boaters, were also considered.

• Members stressed the importance of reviewing data in the context of wider social issues to help less affluent areas. In response, the cabinet member reiterated his message about being able to join up thinking in areas under the council’s control, such as leisure centres.

• It was noted that the quality of engagement, not just the quantity, was very important.

Resolved

1. To thank officers and the cabinet member for the update report.

2. To invite the cabinet member to note the comments of the committee, in particular its support of the outreach programme and the benefits of peer-to-peer support.

The meeting was adjourned for five minutes at 12:10pm.