Agenda item

Mrs G Smith, Campaigns and Communications Manager, was in attendance for this item.

1.            Mr Scott-Clark and Mrs Smith introduced the report and emphasised that campaigns formed a large part of the public health workload. They then responded to comments and questions from the committee, including the following:-

a)    it was pointed out that parish councils could be a useful ally in promoting health improvement campaigns to their local communities, and some of the online tools had been tried by local groups, with the encouragement of their local Member. People were more likely to engage with, and remember the information in, a campaign if there was a light-hearted, interactive or quiz element to it. Some media coverage of campaigns might not be seen and read by the intended audience. Mrs Smith welcomed this information and explained that the team tried to use as wide a range of media and formats as possible, with the aim of tailoring the approach to the target audience. Social media, spotify and Kent online were all used. For some people, a lighter approach would engage their interest sufficiently to draw them in, while others needed a harder-hitting message, but avoiding a ‘nanny’ tone.  To reach parish councils, campaign information was being sent out via the Kent Association of Local Councils (KALC);

b)    asked why the current campaigns did not include any mention of gambling addiction, Mr Scott-Clark explained that the current report was looking back at the activity and performance of campaigns which had been running for some years; new activity would appear in future reports;

c)    asked about the retention of personal and contact information of people taking part in online campaigns, and how such data was safeguarded, Mrs Smith explained that health and lifestyle questionnaires on any ‘kent.gov’ website did not record and retain any identifying data from those taking part.  Mr Scott-Clark reassured Members that programmes which appeared to ‘remember’ a user on a subsequent visit did so by using cookies which allowed the user’s computer and the County Council computer to ‘speak to’ each other electronically.  This was the standard method of running any website and computer programme so was quite normal;

d)    the ‘Change 4 Life’ programme had good local publicity and was welcomed as it included nutritional information and advice on healthy cooking, something which did not seem to be taught in schools now. Mrs Smith clarified that ‘Change 4 Life’ was a national campaign which had been adopted locally and had run successfully for many years. As PH England tended to refresh the programme each summer, Kent had opted to run its own local ‘Change 4 Life’ programme in January, using social media and signposting, to tie in with people making New Year’s resolutions to get fit and live more healthily;

e)    asked about the take-up rates of the flu vaccinations, Mr Scott-Clark undertook to circulate this information to the committee after the meeting and this was subsequently done;

f)     there were local initiatives around the county which encouraged families to cook and eat healthily, for example, ‘Summer Kitchen’ in Thanet, which sought to feed children healthily over the summer holidays and reduce the use of sugar and salt, and ‘Sheppey Matters’ on the Isle of Sheppey.  Recipes used by the latter would also be shared with the committee; and

g)    the establishment of a working group to look at a campaign to improve air quality around school gates was welcomed.

2.            It was RESOLVED that the progress and impact of public health campaigns in 2019/20 be welcomed and endorsed and the information about flu vaccinations and healthy eating recipes, referred to in paras e) and f) above, be circulated to the committee.