Agenda item

To receive a verbal update from the Leader and Cabinet Member for Health Reform, the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health and the Director of Public Health.

Mrs V Tovey, Senior Commissioning Manager, and Ms S Bennett, Consultant in Public Health, were in attendance for this item.

1.            The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, Mr G K Gibbens, referred the committee to the contract monitoring report on the Health Visiting service which had been considered at the 22 November meeting but for which Members had had no time to ask questions. He summarised briefly that the report had set out the performance of the service, which was good overall, with targets for developmental reviews having been achieved, set out the innovative partnership approach of the County Council and the service provider, the Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) and the development of the new infant feeding service. He explained that he had wanted to give Members the opportunity to ask any questions they had about the health visiting service.

2.            Members made the following comments:-

a)    concern about staffing levels, often expressed previously, was repeated, as the shortfall and vacancy levels across the whole NHS was an ongoing problem. Reassurance was sought that sufficient new staff were coming into the service and being trained to the appropriate level to support the service effectively. Mrs Tovey explained that the shortage of health visitors was a national problem as places had been cut centrally by Health Education England.  Kent was addressing the challenge in a number of ways, including development of a conversion course for existing nurses to be qualified to take on a Band 5 role within the team. She emphasised that staff being trained as health visitors were experienced nurses rather than new graduates.  Funding would be offered to help relocation costs, to encourage staff to take on a role in Kent, and incentive payments would be offered for areas where there is less demand to work and higher vacancies. These initiatives seemed so far to be working well to increase workforce capacity in addition to work to maximise public-facing time with clients, for example, by reducing staff travel time. Some health visiting services were now delivered in children’s centres and parent feedback indicates satisfaction with this approach as this would give them the chance to meet other new parents; and 

a)     concern was expressed that reduced funding for children’s centres would have an impact on this arrangement. Mr Gibbens clarified that there had been no cuts to children’s centres but changes had been made to the way in which they were commissioned. He emphasised that the health visiting service dealt with all families with a child under the age of five and was concerned with children’s development.  It affected no other area of health care.

3.            The Deputy Director of Public Health, Dr A Duggal, gave a verbal update on the following issues:-

Association of Directors of Public Health Annual Conference – this took place in early December and included a drive to encourage associate membership. All the County Council’s consultants were encouraged to become associate members. 

Public Health Ringfenced budget for 2019/2020 – agreement needed to be achieved on how the 3% rise in salaries for NHS staff delivering public health would be funded, and the Director of Public Health was consulting the Government about what effect this might have on the County Council’s public health budget.  The County Council may also need to cover increased pensions contributions due for these NHS staff.  This issue would be addressed in more detail in the Budget report later on this agenda.

Sustainability and Transformation Programme (STP) Prevention update – the NHS 10-year plan had now been published and its effect on the delivery of the STP prevention workplan could be assessed. STP preventative work was continuing, and meetings would be taking place shortly to address its implementation, working with other County Council directorates.

Increased local and national influenza activity – the number of cases in Kent had risen and the Chief Medical Officer had agreed that GPs be allowed to prescribe antivirals for ‘flu cases. It was still possible for vaccinations to be given for this winter. 

4.            It was RESOLVED that the verbal updates be noted, with thanks.