Agenda and minutes

To note that Mr A Ridgers has filled the vacancy left by Mr I Thomas and Mrs A D Allen has filled the vacancy left by Mr M J Northey.

It was NOTED that Mr A Ridgers had joined the committee to fill the vacancy left by Mr I Thomas and Mrs A D Allen had joined to fill the vacancy left by Mr M J Northey.

To receive apologies for absence and notification of any substitutes present

Apologies for absence had been received from Mr K Pugh.

Mr D L Brazier was present as a substitute for Mr Pugh.

To receive any declarations of interest made by Members in relation to any matter on the agenda.  Members are reminded to specify the agenda item number to which their interest refers and the nature of the interest being declared

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider and approve the minutes as a correct record.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 8 July 2020 are correctly recorded and a paper copy be signed by the Chairman when this can safely be achieved.  There were no matters arising.

1.            The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, Mrs C Bell, gave an update on the following issues:-

Digital support for quitting smoking and reducing alcohol – two new apps had been launched to help people track and reduce their alcohol consumption and support them to quit smoking. The existing Better Health campaign encompassed several health improvement initiatives, addressing drinking, smoking and healthy eating.

Forthcoming Public Health campaigns - the next round of public health campaigns would target workplace health and mental health and wellbeing for young people, with resources aimed at a range of age groups.

Flu vaccination – the winter flu vaccination campaign would be launched on 22 September, encouraging people to take up their invitation to have the vaccination as soon as possible.   

World Suicide Prevention Day – this would be on 10 September, and resources available, as part of the Release the Pressure campaign, would include a free mental health text service. There would be focus on the effects of the covid-19 pandemic as this had brought new anxieties for many people.

2.            The Director of Public Health, Mr A Scott-Clark, presented a series of slides and gave an update on the response to covid-19, including the following:-

Infection rates – although rates had risen, Kent was below the national average of cases. Clusters were being identified, for example, suspected cases in schools and among travellers returning from abroad.

Testing – the national testing programme had reached ‘pillar 2’ of regional and postal testing, and demand was outstripping capacity, but the latter would necessarily be limited by laboratory capacity.  Emphasis would be on encouraging the public to persevere with booking a test but only if they had symptoms of raised temperature, new persistent cough and loss of taste and/or smell. More test sites were being established, for example, at the University of Kent at Canterbury, to serve students arriving for the new academic year, and new walk-in sites in Gravesend, Folkestone and Thanet.  

Contact tracing – the south east performed well in terms of tracing and south east local authorities were keen that the more local control of contact tracing be passed to them and that they were able to set up local systems.

Safe events – the County Council was working with district colleagues and the police to establish a way of managing public gatherings and events safely, following Government guidance about social distancing.  

Winter pressures – the usual winter pressures on health services would be more difficult to manage this year as the usual increase in bronchial and respiratory illness would be exacerbated by covid-19.  

Outbreak control plan – this was being stress-tested and was being managed with Public Health England. Generally, Kent was managing relatively well but he emphasised the importance of continuing to observe guidelines – frequent and thorough hand washing, wearing face coverings and social distancing – to manage and control the spread of infection.

National Institute of Health Protection - this new organisation had been established and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 118.

1.            Ms Mookherjee introduced the report and highlighted key issues, including the availability of alcohol and illegal substances online and the studies undertaken during lockdown of its effects on people who used such substances. Use of cocaine and the rate of drug deaths had both increased in recent years and the age group most at risk of opiate addiction were now older people. The link between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and addiction in later life was well established.   Ms Mookherjee responded to comments and questions from the committee, including the following:-

a)    the clarity and frankness of the report, and its presentation, were welcomed;

b)    a view was expressed that many people who became addicted to drugs or alcohol had no trauma in their background and were, for the large part, ‘ordinary’ people. Ms Mookherjee acknowledged this and highlighted the breadth and complexity of factors which might lead someone to drift into addiction of one sort or another; and

c)    asked to what extent the cause of someone’s addiction would be investigated and analysed, Ms Mookherjee advised that the immediate crisis of addiction and its affects would be treated and addressed first but that investigation of its cause would follow.      

2.            It was RESOLVED that the information set out in the report be noted, with thanks.

1.            Ms Tovey introduced the report and advised that the service was being reviewed before the current contract was extended.  Services’ quality ratings were generally good, and Kent achieved better outcomes than the national average, for a lower spend than the national average. Case studies were helpful in illustrating the difference which the service could bring.  It was intended that, given the good performance of the current contract and the potential for disruption to vulnerable individuals, the current contract be extended for an initial period of twelve months beyond its current end date of 31 March 2021, with a further extension taken up to 2023 if recommendations following the review were implemented or in the process of being implemented. The committee was being given the opportunity to comment on the findings of the review.

2.            Asked about the inclusion of tobacco as a drug, Ms Tovey advised that smoking was a major cause of health inequalities in Kent. Support to quit was included in a number of services including One You Kent and promoted via campaigns including Stoptober, as well as an app launched recently to help people to quit.  A report on smoking and tobacco control would be presented to the committee’s November meeting.

3.            It was RESOLVED that the information set out in the report be noted, with thanks.

1.            Ms Tovey introduced the report and advised that service delivery was being reviewed as services recovered from covid-19 restrictions, with a blend of face to face and virtual options and a need for flexibility of approach. 

It was RESOLVED that the information set out in the report be noted, with thanks

It was RESOLVED that the performance of Public Health commissioned services in quarter 1 of 2020/21 be noted, with thanks.

1.            The Democratic Services Officer advised that the committee’s future work programme had been adjusted to reflect the review and restart of services following covid-19 restrictions. The programme of contract monitoring reports, tackling one subject at each meeting, had been restyled as a series of ‘response, restart and recovery’ reports. 

2.            It was RESOLVED that the planned work programme for 2020/21 be noted and agreed.