Issue - meetings

This report introduces and identifies some highlights from three sources of recent and local information.

The Deputy Director of Public Health introduced this item to the Panel. He informed them that no indicator in relation to children's health and wellbeing for B&NES was significantly worse than the average for England and the majority were better than average.

He highlighted some of the positive trends from the recent SHEU survey for Secondary pupils.

·  More eating fruit and vegetables

·  More pupils reporting they are LGB or questioning

·  Fewer drinking alcohol & smoking

·  More doing physical activity after school

·  Higher aspiration (to go to University)

He also spoke of some areas of development.

·  Having lunch

·  Viewing upsetting images on-line

·  Enjoyment of lessons

·  Thinking school doesn’t take bullying seriously (22%)

·  Self-harm (girls)

Councillor Liz Hardman asked what the financial implications are of maintaining adequate services such as health visiting and school nursing now that the financial responsibility for these services rests with the Council and are any cuts planned.

The Assistant Director of Health Improvement replied that a small reduction in numbers, 500 families, had led to a funding decrease in 2016/17. She added that through the Your Care, Your Way project they were looking to commission a 0 -19 Public Health nursing service. She said that the majority of the health visiting service were mandatory functions and that there was currently no intention to reduce the service.

The Panel RESOLVED to:

·  Note the contents of these profiles and the presentation on child health related behaviours survey.

·  Note that while children and young people in B&NES are generally healthy in comparison to their peers across the county, they nevertheless face many challenges to both their physical and mental health particularly in relation to adopting and maintaining healthy lifestyles and behaviours and in dealing with the stresses that they face at school and at home.

·  Endorse the importance of maintaining adequate services, including universal services such as health visiting and school nursing, through this period of intense pressure on local government finances.