Agenda item

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 that update reports on this issue should be brought back to the Board in six, rather than twelve, months’ time.

Tracey Cox stated that it was very important to set out actions to address health inequalities.  She was currently collating commissioning plans for the forthcoming year and was happy to facilitate any cross-referencing as required.

In response to a question from Councillor Tim Ball officers confirmed that wider attendance would be helpful for any future sessions.

Councillor Tim Warren welcomed the work that had taken place and stressed the importance of building on this.  He suggested that a report could be taken to the Public Services Board to update its members on the Inquiry Day.

Bruce Laurence noted that the Inquiry Day had ranged from a very strategic level to hearing individual experiences.  He informed the Board that Universities were very interested in the issue of health inequalities and the work that had been carried out.  It would be important to challenge agencies to consider their role in addressing the issues raised.

Morgan Daly stated that Healthwatch could encourage commitment to this  work.  In the medium and long term it would be important to assess progress against the strategy.  He felt that the outcomes from the day were an excellent piece of work.

Mike Bowden stated that ownership of the issues raised could be shared with the commissioners.

Councillor Vic Pritchard commended the work undertaken and the enthusiasm generated from the Inquiry Day and stressed the need to ensure that outcomes were monitored.

It was RESOLVED:

(1)  To note the work undertaken on health inequalities.

(2)  To challenge partners on the Health and Wellbeing Board, and partnerships reporting to the Board, to demonstrate explicit plans and actions for the identification of and reduction in health inequalities amongst their client groups.

(3)  To receive a report in 6 months’ time on progress since the inquiry day.

(4)  To receive an update in 6 months’ time from the Public Services Board on their work to address local health inequalities.