Agenda item

Mike Gogarty, Interim Consultant in Public Health, was in attendance for this item.

1. Dr Anjan Ghosh introduced and gave an overview of the progress of the Integrated Care Strategy (ICS). Dr Gosh gave details of a workshop, organised with Cabinet Member Mrs Bell, that all Members were invited to, which would allow them to give feedback on the ICS which would then be inputted into the next iteration of the strategy, this would take place June 13, 2023. Also, an All-Member Briefing, on the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, chaired by the Leader would take place on 11 July 2023, the Chair of the Integrated Care Board Cedi Frederick and the Chief Officer Paul Bentley would be in attendance. Dr Ghosh noted that the Inequalities Prevention and Population Health (IPPH) committee, which would sit below the Integrated Care Board, had recently had three sub-committees formed which would drive the work forward, and the challenges and areas of focus had been agreed upon. 

2. Mike Gogarty gave an overview of the paper. It was noted that the upstream determinants of health were not improving or detreating, which made greater the challenge of supporting the health of the population. The Integrated Care Strategy would act as a single system-wide approach to health improvement. Member's input was not being encouraged to inform the strategy going forward. Work was ongoing with various partners to support the rollout of the strategy and inform action plans to improve population health. 

3. In response to questions from Members, it was said:

(a) A Member thanked officers and NHS staff but noted the decline in health and life expectancy and the difficulty of access for residents to GPs and dentists. It was said that there was evidence of an increase in child poverty in Kent, greater than that seen in the rest of the country and that there were a number of key challenges related to the upstream wider determinants of health including loneliness, education, income and lifestyle choices. It was noted that skills and recruitment challenges were of key concern in primary care. There would also need to ensure that resources were properly allocated, with the right care targeted at the right places. 

(b) Asked for a graph on declining life expectancy, area-by-area, in the next paper to inform the Members and the public. It was said that Kent Public Health does have resources available mainly in West Kent but would try to make available more granular data county-wide. It was noted that interested Members and residents should view the Kent Public Health website. It was confirmed that there had been a drop in life expectancy across the OECD but further and faster in the UK, the drop had started before the Covid-19 pandemic. A change in life expectancy takes many years to show in the data. 

(c) A Member noted the importance of consulting parish and town councils as they can make a key difference. But they would need support and guidance going forward.  

(d) Asked about community pharmacies and the impact of the closure of Lloyds pharmacies in Sainsbury’s stores on pharmacy provision. Also, was there any reason behind recent pharmacy closures. It was said that a pharmaceutical needs assessment was part of the statutory responsibilities of the Health and Well-being Board every 3 years. This document informed decisions of when a pharmacy could be closed and if adequate provision was available. Dr Ghosh noted that the pharmacy closures that were being referred to were a commercial decision but that it had not impacted pharmacy provision in that local population. 

(e) It was noted by a Member that prevention measures, for example, dementia cafes and walking groups could be done with limited funds. 

(f) Dr Ghosh informed Members that a Health and Wellbeing conference was being organised for Parish Councils and would be held online on 17 July 2023. 

Please find a link to the conference here: Health and Wellbeing Conference 2023 Tickets, Mon 17 Jul 2023 at 09:30 | Eventbrite  

RESOLVED to consider and comment on the report.