Issue - meetings

(3.45pm- 4.05pm)

To receive a Presentation on the Director of Public Health’s Annual Report.

The Director of Public Health for Cheshire East, Dr Heather Grimbaldeston, presented her first annual report (Living Well for Longer in Cheshire East), since the responsibility for Public Health across England and Wales had transferred from the NHS to Local Authorities in April 2013.  She was required by law to write an annual report on the health of the local population. This was an independent report which described a number of key aspects of local health, highlighted areas of excellence and concern and set out headline recommendations to tackle these issues.

In June 2013, Public Health England published “Longer Lives”, which described premature mortality (defined as deaths under the age of 75), by local authority area. It broke down premature deaths by the top four killers; cancer, heart disease and stroke, lung disease and liver disease. This report focused on premature mortality within Cheshire East. National comparisons revealed that Cheshire East had relatively low levels of premature mortality, ranked 38th out of 150 local authorities. The number of premature deaths locally had also fallen over the past nine years by 22%. It was considered that there was a lot to celebrate, however, it was noted that further improvements in health and reductions in premature mortality were possible as :-

·         Over 1,000 people die before the age of 75 each year.

·         Nearly 800 of these deaths were avoidable.

·         More men died prematurely than women in Cheshire East, though the number of men dying prematurely has been reducing since 2001.

·          The reduction in premature deaths in women has stalled since 2005-2007.

·          There were wide variations within Cheshire East, depending on where people lived, on your risk of premature death.

It was noted that the data started to illustrate local health inequalities and the potential impact of the wider determinants of health on early death. These issues had been highlighted by The Marmot Review, Fair Society Healthy Lives, published in 2010. This report linked poor health outcomes with lower socioeconomic standing and highlighted that ‘the link between social conditions and health is not a footnote to the ‘real’ concerns with health – health care and unhealthy behaviours. The Marmot Review highlighted that to reduce health inequalities it was not enough to focus just on the most disadvantaged, but that action should be taken across a community with ‘an intensity that is proportionate to the level of disadvantage’ This was the significant challenge for all who lived and work in Cheshire East.

It was noted that in addition to the four top causes of premature mortality highlighted in ‘Living Well for Longer’, consideration would also be given to issues around mental health and premature death.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted and that it be submitted to future meeting of the Board, to enable Board members to give more detailed consideration to the report, before making comment and considering appropriate public engagement.