- Mr
Watkins, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health,
gave a verbal update on the following:
- Health
Protection- The covid and flu booster
vaccine roll out for autumn and winter 2024 was set to commence
from 1st September 2024. Mr Watkins set out eligibility. Further details
were to be shared with all Members.
- Kent
and Medway Integrated Care Strategy- The
service delivery component was being implemented after receiving
the necessary sign offs.
- World
Suicide Prevention Day- The theme for
World Suicide Prevention Day 2024 was ‘Changing the
Narrative’ with a call to ‘start the
conversation’. The Kent and Medway Suicide Prevention Team
marked the Day by working with local charities and creating a film
to demonstrate the importance of starting a conversation as well as
signposting free access to suicide prevention
training.
- Lifesaving health checks at work trial - Several thousand Kent residents were to be offered
cardio-vascular health checks within their workplace. A
£200,000 government grant had been awarded to locally roll
out the national scheme, which identified individuals most at risk
of cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD was the leading cause of death
and disability in England and 80% of cases were considered
preventable. The trial would run between September 2024 and March
2025 across several sectors including building, transport,
hospitality and social care. The initiative’s aim was for
4,000 Kent residents aged between 40 and 74, to get convenient
checks for heart disease, strokes, kidney disease and some cases of
dementia. Mr Watkins set out what the health checks involved and
what happened next for those found to be at risk. He set out the
pilot’s findings to date, as well as the benefits of
attending the health check if offered.
- DadSpace- This community initiative
gave fathers a safe place to talk, listen and share experiences of
fatherhood. The network was set to expand following a grant award
from KCC. They were seeking volunteers, and KCC would provide
training to ensure individuals had the necessary
skills.
- Sexual
Health- Kent residents at risk of
sexually transmitted diseases have been urged to order a free
screening kit from the KCC website. Kits were delivered in discreet
packaging directly to home addresses (or another named location)
and helped protect the population against rising levels of sexually
transmitted diseases. Those most at risk included younger people,
those who had recently changed partner and those who were part of a
community where sexual health is a taboo subject.
- Dr Ellen
Schwartz, Deputy Director of Public Health, gave a verbal update on
the following:
- Publication of the Lord Darzi Report- The independent investigation into the NHS in England was
published on 12th
September 2024. The report referenced the power of
prevention in reducing the pressure on the NHS and social care. Dr
Schwartz announced the development of a Kent Marmot Coastal Region,
using the eight principles of Sir Michael Marmot, to address the
social determinants of health and reduce health inequalities. This
had been shaped around the coastal areas of Kent and would
initially focus on work and skills for work. It was designed to be
a long-term program with a layered approach, and other social
determinants would be addressed later.
- Development of Healthy Alliances- There were eight Healthy Partnerships in operation across the
Kent districts. They were shaped around the priorities in the Kent
and Medway Integrated Care Strategy and published in the associated
shared Delivery Plan. Other areas were developing alliances, except
in Swale (where there was no need or plan).
- Health
Protection - There had been steady
improvements in uptake of the MMR vaccine across all the primary
care networks. An ICB sub-group was dedicated to improving the
uptake of childhood vaccinations and reducing variations across the
county. In relation to M-Pox (formally Monkey Pox), the UK
Health Security Agency remained in the preparation phase with no
reported cases of the clade 1 subvariant.
- Refugees and Asylum Seekers- There had
been continued support for new reception centres and
children’s homes with advice about infection prevention and
control.
- Diphtheria- The Diphtheria vaccination
program based at the Marsdon Reception Centre was to be stood down
at the end of 2024 due to a change in national
guidance.
- Sexual
Health- A draft of the sexual health
needs assessment, intended to inform the transformation work, would
be ready for internal review within the next month. The reignited
Kent Sexual Health Collaborative would share best practice, with a
focus on optimising women’s sexual health.
- Children, Young People and Maternity - The “Nurturing Little Hearts and Minds” Strategy had
been put forward as an example of excellence to the Department of
Health and Social Care. Workforce training within Family Hubs was
focussing on 0- to 19-year-olds, the improvement of health visiting
services for those 0 to 4 years of age and school health services
for 5 to 19 years of age.
- Oral
Health- Trials of supervised
toothbrushing within some of Kent’s nursery and primary
schools had seen almost 1,000 children brush their teeth under
supervision. When tooth decay was detected, letters were sent home
and there was further engagement with those children. Feedback had
been positive, there was an improved plaque score, and indicators
showed the programme was effective.
- Vaping
Survey for young people - 33 schools
across Kent had been engaged, and just over 5500 people had
completed the survey. The survey aimed to measure the prevalence of
vaping amongst those aged 11 to 18, to understand their attitudes,
and gain some actionable insight from young people. The prevalence
of vaping in Kent would be compared to other
areas.
- Tackling the stigma around Mental Health-
The work aimed to reduce the 30-year life expectancy
gap between those with severe mental illness and those without
mental illness. There had been a slight decrease in suicide rates
(from 12.1 to 11.7 per 100,000 to 11.7), but Kent remained above
national rates therefore it needed to be a continued focus area for
the council.
3.
In response to comments and questions, it was
said:
- Committee
Members Mr Kennedy and Mr Meade were to visit voluntary
organisations around the county for Mental Health Awareness Day
(10th October). They requested that Members share details of
organisations that could be included in their schedule.
- Dr
Schwartz assured members that whilst there had been less cases of
measles in Kent than in other counties, and the uptake of vaccines
had increased, there was still a need to keep the pressure
on.
c.
Asked about standardisation of performance
reporting, as referenced in the Darzi report, Mr Watkins
acknowledged standardisation risked stifling innovation and pulling
some areas down whilst improving others. However, he understood the
report was referring to standardisation across ICBs which he felt
was less concerning.
4.
RESOLVED that the updates be noted.