Agenda item

[To receive the Public Health Annual Report 2021-2022]. 

The Public Health Partnership and Governance lead gave a presentation summarising the main points of the Public Health Annual report, a copy of the presentation is attached to the signed minutes.

The Chair referred to the high amount of indicators marked in the report as red.  There were indicators marked as red across the City from Tettenhall to Graisley.  The Vice-Chair agreed with how the Public Health Partnership Lead had described the current situation as stark and challenging.  On page 106 of the agenda pack / page 8 of the Annual Report document itself, every indicator with the exception of one was marked as red (worse than the national average).   He asked if there was anything the seven neighbouring authorities were carrying out, which the Council were not, which could be copied to try and improve the indicators marked as red.  He was particularly concerned about coronary heart disease and obesity.  Obesity seemed to have got worse over the last few years, rather than better. 

The Director of Public Health responded that he didn’t tend to look at other neighbouring areas to look at what they did well.  There was a real challenge in Wolverhampton due to intergenerational reinforcement.  He believed there was a way of tackling the problems and before the Covid pandemic they were making inroads.  He wanted people to live a long healthy life, free from disease as far as possible.  There were too many people under the age of 75 who were dying too early, often because of Cancer and Cardiovascular disease.  In the short-term one of the steps, they could take was to try and ensure that everyone eligible received a health check.  The later someone was diagnosed with cancer, the worse the prognosis and the chances of a full recovery.  A health check would help improve health outcomes.

The Director of Public Health referred to screening rates which were in a very poor position in Wolverhampton.  How communities were engaged with was key to ensuring that screening rates improved in the City.  He referred to the success there had been in Wolverhampton in reducing drug related deaths, whereas in other places in the country they had increased.  Reducing infant mortality would also significantly improve the overall life expectancy figures.  There had been success in reducing the number of children starting smoking.  In tackling obesity, reducing barriers to places like leisure centres for families would help with the problem.  He also felt this would help improve emotional wellbeing and mental health.  Addressing population public health, connecting people and addressing the areas that caused people to die early was vitally important. 

The Vice-Chair asked the Director of Public Health if the problem with obesity was solvable in Wolverhampton.  He wanted to see improvements and asked when he would be able to see them, things had only got worse since 2015.   The Director of Public Health responded that there were short term interventions that could be implemented, such as initiatives to help increase the amount of physical activity taking place.  By increasing the amount of physical activity, he strove to improve the levels of obesity in the City.   He hoped to turn some of the indicators to green.  In 2018 they had been the eighth lowest for health checks and this had gone up to the top quartile.  He was therefore hopeful he could turn things around, but problems wouldn’t rectify themselves. 

A Panel Member referred to the difficult national situation and the problems with people being able to afford healthy food and stay warm.  People who were poor and unhappy were much more likely to face problems with their weight.  She wanted enforcement action to be taken against bad landlords.  She added that she wanted the roads to be safe for cyclists, as this would encourage people to use active travel which was heathier for them.  There was inequality in Wolverhampton and this could be seen looking at the ward profiles in the report. 

The Director of Public Health commented that in more deprived areas of the City it was harder to ascertain who was living in households.  Stabilising those households and helping them, meant a high probability of ensuring a healthier life.  

A Member of the Panel referred to generational poverty in some areas in Wolverhampton.  He added that they needed more investment to help them out of poverty this included more education, better healthcare and the children needed better access to the higher performing schools in the City.  A joined-up approach was vital.  Ensuring people that were eligible for a health check were invited to do so was important.  Dental health checks were also important and needed to be monitored.  He asked if there were enough resources in the City to be a City of Sanctuary for people from war torn countries, due to the pressures the City were already facing in areas such as housing.  They deserved to receive full support but he was unsure if the City could provide it due to the pressures it was already under. 

The Director of Public Health spoke on health checks and how they could have an impact on improving population health.  900 people had recently had a heart check at the Mander Centre.  Dementia and gambling problems could also feature as part of health checks.  Dentistry was currently at NHS England level but he hoped the responsibility would soon be devolved to place level, which would give them more control.  Pharmacy he also desired to be devolved to local level from a regional level.  With asylum seekers in the City, they worked with health colleagues and the Home Office as best they could.  It did at times put pressure on the system but they tried to work collectively to help manage their needs working with partners in health and the voluntary sector. 

A Panel Member referred to vaping in School, which he described as an epidemic.  He believed it to be a national issue and one which would continue to get worse unless action was taken.  The Director of Public Health responded that vaping was better than smoking tobacco for adults.  It was worrying when children were using vapes.  Addressing the question of what was driving them to vape was important and addressing the harm.  It was an emerging problem which didn’t really exist ten years ago.  National guidance would help with local plans. 

A Panel Member referred to the Sure Start Programme which was providing support for families but had ceased in 2015.  Youth Centres had also helped relieve pressure on the health sector.  She felt direct lobbying to national government was required to secure funds to help population health.  Food banks were now having to support families, particularly in deprived areas, as supermarket food was too expensive for them.  Demographics were changing which meant support infrastructure needed to be appropriate for the changing demands.

The Director of Public Health responded by emphasising the importance of stability of funding which was essential to programme and risk management.  Outcomes were more likely to be better when there was a long-term approach.

The Chair commented that healthy eating could cost more money and so support was needed to those that were unable to afford healthy food.