Issue - meetings

The Board is asked to consider the attached report and:

·  note the work on health inequalities

·  challenge all partners on the Health and Wellbeing Board, and partnerships reporting to Board, to demonstrate explicit plans and actions for the identification of and reduction in health inequalities amongst their client groups

·  receive a progress report in twelve months on follow up from the inquiry day

·  receive a update report in twelve months from the Public Services Board on their work to address local health inequalities.

Paul Scott and Becky Reynolds presented feedback on the Health Inequalities Inquiry Day which had taken place on 11 May 2016. 

·  The event had focussed largely around the findings from the 2010 review of effective action to tackle health inequalities in England led by Professor Sir Michael Marmot.

·  There had been good feedback from the day.  People had enjoyed the opportunity to work across different service areas.  They had also been very positive about hearing experiences from a local GP and local service users.

·  There was excellent feedback about the workshop format from attendees.

·  Concrete outcomes from the day were felt to be important.

·  Some people had completed pledge cards and these would be followed up in six months’ time to find out if actions had been carried out.

The event had involved six Marmot evidence based themed workshops and the following priorities had been identified by participants:

·  Pregnancy and Early Years – it was important for agencies to join up children and adult services and also to strengthen emotional health and wellbeing.  Wiltshire currently used a tool to assist with improving emotional health and wellbeing and this would be investigated for the BANES area.

·  Education and Life-Long Learning – Children receiving free school meals were much less likely to be “school ready” in their first primary school year.  It was also considered to be important to encourage uptake of free nursery provision available for two year olds from disadvantaged circumstances.

·  Fair Employment – It was important for BANES and its partners to agree the definition of a quality job and to work with public sector partners to use combined leverage to create and monitor delivery of quality jobs.

·  Healthy and Sustainable Communities – The availability of affordable housing in the BANES area was an issue for many people.

·  Ill-Health Prevention – There was a need to improve access to transport in the area especially in rural locations.  A transport review was suggested along with improved co-ordination of transport services. It was also important to be more creative about accessing funding schemes through outside agencies.

·  Inequality in Access to Health Services – An asset based community approach was required taking into account the strengths of the local population.  The difficulties of seeing a GP were acknowledged and it would be advantageous to view GP practices as a hub providing a range of different services.

The following other issues were also identified on the day:

·  Having a shared vision to reduce inequalities across all services and organisations.

·  Better join-up between different agencies.

·  More proactive and tailored support.

·  Building on strengths and assets within communities.

·  Making every contact count.

·  Employers working together.

Dr Orpen stated that he had found the day inspiring with a great deal of energy in the room.  Health inequalities were a very important area and this was everyone’s responsibility.  The role of the Health and Wellbeing Board was being reviewed and its strategy being defined more clearly.  Health prevention was an important role for the Board.  He felt  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20