Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Associate Director of Public Health, Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust, on health inequalities.

The Committee considered a report on health inequalities; a health inequality could be described as a gap or variation in health status, and in access to health services, between different social and ethnic groups and between populations in different geographical areas.  The report gave an overview of health inequalities and the actions taken in partnership to address these.

The report outlined that there was extensive knowledge of health inequalities informed by the Annual Public Health Report and Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.  The Local Strategic Partnership Health and Wellbeing Thematic Partnership was established in September 2009 as the lead partnership for facilitating actions to support healthier lifestyles and tackle the wider determinants of health. 

A Cheshire East Health Inequalities Statement of Intent Charter was due to be published which was a short summary of the major challenges in relation to improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities in Cheshire East.  It would make recommendations for GP commissioners, the LSP; local communities, public health; local authorities and Health and Well being Boards (proposed in the NHS White Paper).  The aim was for partners to sign up to this Statement of Intent and agree and set the future direction of travel including new ways of working such as an asset approach to supporting healthy communities. 

There was also to be a conference on Friday 12 November bringing together key stakeholders under the banner “Living Well in Cheshire East – a call to action to reduce inequalities”.  There would be a number of high profile speakers who would set out the future challenges and how partners could support work to improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities.  There would also be an opportunity for partners to sign up to the charter.  All Members would be invited to the conference.

RESOLVED:  That the report be received and the future work outlined, be supported.