Issue - meetings

To receive a verbal update from the Portfolio Holder for Health and Adult Social Care.

Councillor Clowes, Portfolio Holder for Health and Adult Social Care, updated on the following matters:

      The Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy had been approved by the two Clinical Commissioning Groups and would be submitted to Cabinet on 17 December;

      There would be a statutory responsibility to carry out health checks as part of the Council’s public health role.  Dr Grimbaldeston explained that this service would be provided through primary care and discussions had been held with the 2 Clinical Commissioning Groups around how the service would operate.  As well as general checks, there would also be a targeted approach based on local needs.  The health check system would enable the Council to have a greater understanding of the health of its population and would contribute towards achieving the priorities in the Health and Wellbeing Strategy;

      The Clinical Commissioning Groups were progressing towards authorisation with another stage having been completed;

      Draft Terms of Reference for the Health and Wellbeing Board were still in preparation and awaiting further guidelines which were expected in January;

      The Health and Wellbeing Board Launch had taken place on 7 November; it had been well attended and had received positive feedback;

      Interviews had been held for the contract for the local Healthwatch with 4 organisations being interviewed.  Each tender was now being evaluated.

In discussing the item, the following issues were raised:

      How would GPs be helped to ensure that health checks were carried out for harder to reach people?  In response, the Committee was advised that methods would include holding health checks in areas where people were already attending, such as a football ground.  There was also work taking place within the Council regarding engaging harder to reach groups and GPs could link in with this work;

      It was important to ensure focus was put on wellbeing rather than just health.  The Committee was advised on work that had been started about 10 months ago where council departments, such as environmental health, were asked to identify where health and wellbeing was being embedded in services, the outcome of this work was expected shortly.

RESOLVED: that the update be noted.