Agenda item

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health and the Director of Public Health.

Mr W Gough, Business Planning and Strategy Manager, was in attendance for this item.

1.            Mr Gough introduced the report and explained that campaigns were an important part of the public health strategy. Campaigns took three forms – service promotion (eg breastfeeding), education and awareness raising (eg HIV and flu vaccination), and social marketing to change behaviour (eg smoking in pregnancy).  Mr Gough and Mr Scott-Clark responded to comments and questions from Members, including the following:-

a)    the annual number of deaths from suicide and undetermined causes, presented in the report, showed a higher prevalence in West Kent than in other areas.  Mr Scott-Clark explained that this was because the figures listed were the actual numbers of deaths rather than a rate or percentage, so a larger geographical area would tend to show a greater number of cases.  If the figures were to be adjusted to show rates, the picture would be quite different.  Mr Scott-Clark undertook to look into rates;

b)    asked if there was routine investigation to identify any mental health problems, or other underlying causes, amongst people committing suicide, Mr Gough explained that the County Council’s suicide prevention strategy, currently nearing sign-off, would cover these issues, and undertook to send the questioner a copy of it; 

c)    there had been a very small increase in the number of HIV diagnoses undertaken, but the level of late diagnoses of the condition, ten years or more after infection, still presented a challenge. Mr Gough added that it was hoped that more detail would be available for future reporting to the committee;

d)    it was suggested that the Fire and Rescue Service be engaged to help with a ‘stop smoking’ campaign by emphasising the danger this posed in terms of house fires;

e)    the increased risk of flu to pregnant women, and the low take-up of flu jabs amongst this group, was a cause for concern.  Mr Scott-Clark explained that Public Health England and NHS England had both done much work with midwives to encourage pregnant women to take up the flu vaccine.  The take up rate, however, had been slow to increase;

f)     asked how pregnant women who were most at risk, eg those with a rare blood group or some other condition, would be targeted for a flu vaccination, Mr Gough explained that patients in the most at-risk groups would be contacted by their GP and offered a vaccination;

g)    many pregnant women worried about taking medicines of any sort during their pregnancy and would need to be reassured that the flu vaccination posed no risk to them or their unborn baby.  Mr Gough added that an NHS registrar colleague had had the flu vaccination while pregnant, to demonstrate to others that it was quite safe. Over 40% of eligible women had taken up the offer of the vaccination, so it was hoped that it would soon come to be viewed as a social norm to have it each year and more people would be encouraged to take it up;

h)   a view was expressed that some people might be put off taking up a flu vaccination, or were at least not convinced of its value, as the strain of flu that might come each year could not be predicted, and there was therefore some doubt as to how effective a vaccine might be that year.  Mr Scott-Clark explained that global surveillance of flu viruses had improved much in recent years and, although precise predictions may not be possible, this should not be seen as a reason for not taking up a flu vaccination; and

i)     it would be helpful to be able to measure which medium was the most successful and offered the best value for money in spreading health messages to the people of Kent, so money could be spent most effectively.

2.            The Cabinet Member, Mr Gibbens, thanked Members for their comments and support of campaigns and asked that any Member who wished to contribute an idea to any of the public health campaigns contact him or Mr Scott-Clark’s team. He reiterated the points made at the Local Government Association conference about ‘public health’ referring to the public’s health and emphasised the role of local authorities in promoting this idea. He added that a focussed campaign would accompany the launch of the suicide prevention strategy in the autumn of 2015.  To be successful, public health campaigns needed to be both dynamic and relevant to the people of Kent.

3.            RESOLVED that the progress and impact of public health campaigns in 2014/15 be noted, and the programme planned for 2015/16 be welcomed.