Minutes:
Update on Vaping – Mr Watkins updated the committee on the follow-up actions since the recent discussions on vaping at the committee and full council. Leader of the Council Roger Gough’s letter had been responded to by the Department for Health and Social Care and shared with the committee. It was noted that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) had published the result of its consultation on the environmental impact of disposable vapes. The Prime Minister had made the statement at the Conservative Party Conference and launched a consultation focussed on restricting the flavours and appearance of vapes, restricting the sale of disposable vapes and looking at giving Councils more powers to hand out on the spot fines to those selling vapes to underage people. Mr Watkins said that this was in the direction of travel that the Council had advocated for.
World Mental Health Day – Mr Watkins noted that 10 October 2023 was World Mental Health Day, the theme for this year was mental health as a universal human right. It was said that Kent and Medway Suicide Prevention Team announced 11 new projects dedicated to preventing suicide, saving lives and reducing self-harm. The team had given out grants of between £500 and £1,500 to community initiatives. On 10 October 2023, Mr Watkins attended a roadshow in Herne Bay with Samaritans and other mental health community groups who were raising awareness for mental health. A representative from the Suicide Prevention Team was also in attendance to promote Release the Pressure. Mr Wakins said that Deputy Cabinet Member, Mr Kennedy, spoke at the Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards, on 20 October 2023.
Healthy Start Card – Mr Watkins said that this new initiative would help parents buy healthy food, milk and vitamins. The initiative was the Council supporting the NHS’s Healthy Start Scheme, by supporting low-income parents purchasing essentials. Those eligible, more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4 or under 18 and pregnant even if not in receipt of benefits, would be sent a Healthy Start Card pre-loaded with money that could be used in many UK shops. The would-be worth £1,230 per child, with the money loaded onto the card every 4 weeks. Mr Watkins urged those eligible to apply and to the Committee Members to raise awareness in their communities. More information could be found through the NHS, GPs, health visitors and midwives, and on the following websites:
Kent County Council: Help to buy food, milk and vitamins - Kent County Council
NHS: Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)
Kent and Medway Health and Care Symposium – Mr Wakins said that he had attended, alongside Dr Ghosh and other Public Health officers, the event at Canterbury Cricket Ground, on 20 October 2023. It was an opportunity for partners in Health and Social Care from across the county to come together and discuss progress on the integrated care system and explore new ideas to accelerate progress. It was noted a large number of voluntary organisations were in attendance to give their contributions to improve the health and wellbeing of Kent residents.
2. In response to comments and questions, it was said.
(a) The Chair said that the Healthy Start Card could make a real difference for families.
(b) A Member asked that further details on the Healthy Start Card be circulated with Members so they could support their local communities. Mr Kennedy said that he was very impressed with the large number of voluntary organisations across Kent that were supporting Public Health and mental health with limited funding. It was noted that the network across Kent was extensive, and the Council had a key role in enabling these organisations to continue their work.
(c) A Member asked if there was a directory of these voluntary organisations available as it could be really useful for several residents if they could be pointed in the right direction. It was noted that at this time such a directory does not exist, but Members were working on facilitating this and conducting trails in their division. If these efforts were successful, they could be rolled out across Kent.
(d) A Member said that the tax credit to universal credit change represented a structural change that could pose a significant risk to the mental health and well-being of many Kent residents. Mr Watkin said that the Council and partners would support those people affected by this. Mr Watkins gave details of the services that the Council provided, both reactive and outreach. It was noted that the Integrated Care Strategy (ICS) was the method by which systemic change could be enacted that aimed to tackle health inequalities.
3. The corporate Director for Public Health, Dr Anjan Ghosh, gave a verbal update on the following.
Covid-19 Update – Dr Ghosh said that there had been a slight rise from a very low base in October, but the rate had dropped since with a low case rate in both Kent and England. The current rate was noted as 7.9 per 100,000. Dr Ghosh said that the Chief Medical Officer had noted there could be an increase in cases as part of the risks associated with the winter pressure and Covid-19 and flu vaccinations were key to preventing this. Dr Ghosh encouraged Members to share vaccination information around their communities. There was a concern that the vaccine uptake amongst health and social care staff was very low. Public Health was awaiting the data from the autumn vaccination drive before deciding where to best promote vaccination take up.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Awards – Dr Ghosh said that the awards were just for the East Kent region and noted that all 33 organisations in attendance had won awards for their work. Public Health Kent won an award for the Hope Community
Arts Project, a suicide prevention awareness project.
Active Kent and Medway Conference – Dr Ghosh attended the event on 18 August 2023, where Active Kent and Medway launched their 4-year strategy, ‘moving together’, which was specifically targeted at those suffering from inequalities.
Public Health Transformation Programme. Dr Ghosh said that this was still at the stage of reviewing all ongoing work across all commissioned services and 21 templates had been completed that gave details of what was going on in each area. In November 2023 the stakeholder engagement stage would also be completed as part of the review. Following this for two months would look at revised service models and develop options for how to improve services. It was noted that a report would be brought to the committee at an appropriate time.
Start-for-Life – Dr Ghosh said that as part of the Family Hubs work, an evaluation was undertaken with staff on their experience at the two pilot sites, in Millmead and Seashells. A lot of feedback had been provided on the workforce development at the Seashells site provided on the key elements of the Start-for-Life programme. Dr Ghosh said that significant engagement was ongoing on the co-creation of the key elements of the programme and the development of new strategies on infant feeding and parent and infant relationship and perinatal mental health. It was also noted that a 24-hour text line and phone line for perinatal mental health had gone live.
Prevention Concordant – Dr Ghosh said that the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) had signed the prevention concordant on mental wellbeing, one of the few ICBs to do so. The concordant had been approved by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. Dr Ghosh noted that it was a call to action with an action plan on the 5 domains of mental health.
4. In response to comments and questions, it was said.
(a) A Member commended the work of Charlton Athletic in schools.
(b) The Chair asked if the Covid number might have been much higher as many people did not know if they had it. Dr Ghosh said yes it could be possible, as living with Covid strategy meant that testing has dropped. Many symptoms were very similar to the common cold or flu.
Update on Vaping – Mr Watkins updated the committee on the follow-up actions since the recent discussions on vaping at the committee and full council. Leader of the Council Roger Gough’s letter had been responded to by the Department for Health and Social Care and shared with the committee. It was noted that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) had published the result of its consultation on the environmental impact of disposable vapes. The Prime Minister had made the statement at the Conservative Party Conference and launched a consultation focussed on restricting the flavours and appearance of vapes, restricting the sale of disposable vapes and looking at giving Councils more powers to hand out on the spot fines to those selling vapes to underage people. Mr Watkins said that this was in the direction of travel that the Council had advocated for.
World Mental Health Day – Mr Watkins noted that 10 October 2023 was World Mental Health Day, the theme for this year was mental health as a universal human right. It was said that Kent and Medway Suicide Prevention Team announced 11 new projects dedicated to preventing suicide, saving lives and reducing self-harm. The team had given out grants of between £500 and £1,500 to community initiatives. On 10 October 2023, Mr Watkins attended a roadshow in Herne Bay with Samaritans and other mental health community groups who were raising awareness for mental health. A representative from the Suicide Prevention Team was also in attendance to promote Release the Pressure. Mr Wakins said that Deputy Cabinet Member, Mr Kennedy, spoke at the Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards, on 20 October 2023.
Healthy Start Card – Mr Watkins said that this new initiative would help parents buy healthy food, milk and vitamins. The initiative was the Council supporting the NHS’s Healthy Start Scheme, by supporting low-income parents purchasing essentials. Those eligible, more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4 or under 18 and pregnant even if not in receipt of benefits, would be sent a Healthy Start Card pre-loaded with money that could be used in many UK shops. The would-be worth £1,230 per child, with the money loaded onto the card every 4 weeks. Mr Watkins urged those eligible to apply and to the Committee Members to raise awareness in their communities. More information could be found through the NHS, GPs, health visitors and midwives, and on the following websites:
Kent County Council: Help to buy food, milk and vitamins - Kent County Council
NHS: Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)
Kent and Medway Health and Care Symposium – Mr Wakins said that he had attended, alongside Dr Ghosh and other Public Health officers, the event at Canterbury Cricket Ground, on 20 October 2023. It was an opportunity for partners in Health and Social Care from across the county to come together and discuss progress on the integrated care system and explore new ideas to accelerate progress. It was noted a large number of voluntary organisations were in attendance to give their contributions to improve the health and wellbeing of Kent residents.
2. In response to comments and questions, it was said.
(a) The Chair said that the Healthy Start Card could make a real difference for families.
(b) A Member asked that further details on the Healthy Start Card be circulated with Members so they could support their local communities. Mr Kennedy said that he was very impressed with the large number of voluntary organisations across Kent that were supporting Public Health and mental health with limited funding. It was noted that the network across Kent was extensive, and the Council had a key role in enabling these organisations to continue their work.
(c) A Member asked if there was a directory of these voluntary organisations available as it could be really useful for several residents if they could be pointed in the right direction. It was noted that at this time such a directory does not exist, but Members were working on facilitating this and conducting trails in their division. If these efforts were successful, they could be rolled out across Kent.
(d) A Member said that the tax credit to universal credit change represented a structural change that could pose a significant risk to the mental health and well-being of many Kent residents. Mr Watkin said that the Council and partners would support those people affected by this. Mr Watkins gave details of the services that the Council provided, both reactive and outreach. It was noted that the Integrated Care Strategy (ICS) was the method by which systemic change could be enacted that aimed to tackle health inequalities.
3. The corporate Director for Public Health, Dr Anjan Ghosh, gave a verbal update on the following.
Covid-19 Update – Dr Ghosh said that there had been a slight rise from a very low base in October, but the rate had dropped since with a low case rate in both Kent and England. The current rate was noted as 7.9 per 100,000. Dr Ghosh said that the Chief Medical Officer had noted there could be an increase in cases as part of the risks associated with the winter pressure and Covid-19 and flu vaccinations were key to preventing this. Dr Ghosh encouraged Members to share vaccination information around their communities. There was a concern that the vaccine uptake amongst health and social care staff was very low. Public Health was awaiting the data from the autumn vaccination drive before deciding where to best promote vaccination take up.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Awards – Dr Ghosh said that the awards were just for the East Kent region and noted that all 33 organisations in attendance had won awards for their work. Public Health Kent won an award for the Hope Community
Arts Project, a suicide prevention awareness project.
Active Kent and Medway Conference – Dr Ghosh attended the event on 18 August 2023, where Active Kent and Medway launched their 4-year strategy, ‘moving together’, which was specifically targeted at those suffering from inequalities.
Public Health Transformation Programme. Dr Ghosh said that this was still at the stage of reviewing all ongoing work across all commissioned services and 21 templates had been completed that gave details of what was going on in each area. In November 2023 the stakeholder engagement stage would also be completed as part of the review. Following this for two months would look at revised service models and develop options for how to improve services. It was noted that a report would be brought to the committee at an appropriate time.
Start-for-Life – Dr Ghosh said that as part of the Family Hubs work, an evaluation was undertaken with staff on their experience at the two pilot sites, in Millmead and Seashells. A lot of feedback had been provided on the workforce development at the Seashells site provided on the key elements of the Start-for-Life programme. Dr Ghosh said that significant engagement was ongoing on the co-creation of the key elements of the programme and the development of new strategies on infant feeding and parent and infant relationship and perinatal mental health. It was also noted that a 24-hour text line and phone line for perinatal mental health had gone live.
Prevention Concordant – Dr Ghosh said that the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) had signed the prevention concordant on mental wellbeing, one of the few ICBs to do so. The concordant had been approved by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. Dr Ghosh noted that it was a call to action with an action plan on the 5 domains of mental health.
4. In response to comments and questions, it was said.
(a) A Member commended the work of Charlton Athletic in schools.
(b) The Chair asked if the Covid number might have been much higher as many people did not know if they had it. Dr Ghosh said yes it could be possible, as living with Covid strategy meant that testing has dropped. Many symptoms were very similar to the common cold or flu.
(c) The Chair asked how vaccination uptake could be encouraged. Dr Ghosh said that only certain groups were eligible. Dr Scwartz said that when encouraging vaccinations, it should be for both Covid and flu.
vaccinations, it should be for both Covid and flu.