Minutes:
The Chair, Cllr Sandra Samuels OBE reported that the official launch of the “Beat the Streets” initiative had been launched formally at Woodthorne School that morning. She reminded the Board that currently within the city 34.5% of adults and 65% of young people were classed as inactive. The initiative would run for seven weeks from Wednesday 24 February to Wednesday 13 April 2016 and that on-line registration for the scheme would be available from 15 February 2016.
190 Beat Boxes would be fitted across the city and 60,000 cards would be distributed. Up to 30,000 would be distributed to schools that registered for the scheme and the remainder would be available from distribution points which were at a variety of facilities including community centres, leisure centres, Phoenix Health Centre, the Civic Centre and the Wolverhampton Art Gallery. As at Friday 5 February 2016 45 schools had signed up to the initiative.
She advised that maps indicating the location of Beat Boxes were available for inspection together with examples of the fliers which were to be used to publicise the initiative. The objective of the initiative was to encourage children and young people to become active and also to encourage parents out of their cars with children walking to school. The Director of Public Health reported that registration was open to teams and groups as well as individuals. Ian Darch asked whether there was any material available which could be distributed by the voluntary sector.
Resolved:
That a copy of the hyperlink together with a supply of fliers be forwarded to Ian Darch for onward transmission to voluntary sector organisations.
The Chair reported that she had attended, as an observer, a meeting held in January 2016 of the Wolverhampton City Clinical Commissioning Group (WCCCG) where discussions had been held in relation to funding and capital projects. She had raised the lack of General Practitioner (GP) facilities in the Whitmore Reans area. Subsequently, a bid had been made by the WCCCG to upgrade the facilities at the Whitmore Reans Health Centre.
The Chair reported on an outbreak of Novovirus at New Cross Hospital which had affected two Wards. David Loughton CBE Chief Executive of the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust advised that the outbreak had been spasmodic and was now relatively under control. He reported that the opening of the new Accident and Emergency Centre had created sufficient additional bed space to enable Wards to be closed and a deep clean exercise to be undertaken. The Director of Public Health commented that similar outbreaks had been experienced by many Acute Trusts across the country and on the excellent working relationship between the Council and the Trust’s Infection Prevention and Control Team.
The Chair reported that she had attended a meeting of the National Tuberculosis (TB) Board when it had been considered whether the issue of TB should be included within Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNA’s). She advised that treatment was currently available for TB at the Refugee and Migrant Centre. Funding was available for patients to be screened at the Refugee and Migrant Centre with a target of 125 patients being screened from Wolverhampton and Walsall by the end of March 2016. Consideration was also being given to screening for Hepatitis at the Refugee and Migrant Centre.
Resolved:
That the Director of Public Health draw to the attention of the JSNA Working Group the possible inclusion of the issue of TB within the emerging JSNA.
The Chair reported on the problems with the Zika virus and that 3,893 cases which had been experienced in Brazil. A Briefing Note had been prepared by the Director of Public Health to appraise Councillors of the issue and the information was also available to employees. Dr Arko Sen commented that it had yet to be confirmed that mosquitos were the source of the problem. The Director of Public Health confirmed that the cause of the problem had yet to be confirmed and on the need to provide clinicians with the latest information. She reported that the Public Health Team was working closely with the Acute Trust and the Clinical Commissioning Group on the dissemination of relevant information.
The Chair reported on the future governance partnership arrangements for the Black Country NHS Partnership Foundation Trust, following a period of consultation, a combined partnership between the Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust and Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership Trust had been agreed. This was a constructive move that would ensure the sustainability of Mental Health Services across the Black Country and beyond and bring with it both clinical expertise and economies of scale.
At the invitation of the Chair, the Director of Public Health reported on a broad healthy lifestyle survey was being undertaken on a face to face basis with 9,000 residents. The purpose of the survey was to enable a greater understanding of lifestyle choices.
Resolved:
That a further report on the initial results of the survey be submitted to the next meeting.