Minutes:
1. Dr Anjan Ghosh, Director of Public Health, reported on recent local and national events he had attended, along with Dr Ellen Schwatrz, Assistant Director of Public Health. He advised that the events focused on work and health, as well as the links between planning and public health, and that he had contributed to a panel discussion on how planning could support healthier places and improved health outcomes.
2. He advised that Kent continued to be a training site for future public health consultants and that a recent visit from training programme directors had provided positive assurance regarding the breadth and quality of work being undertaken.
3. Dr Ghosh outlined early work with Kent universities to explore the development of a centre of excellence for public health, aiming to strengthen research, innovation and national recognition.
4. He highlighted the forthcoming Marmot Coastal Region launch on 13 March 2026 as a key milestone in Kent’s commitment to addressing health inequalities.
5. In terms of other updates, Dr Anjan Ghosh, Director of Public Health, advised that the Kent Public Health Observatory had developed a new alcohol licensing tool in collaboration with partners. He explained that the tool brought together data on hospital admission rates, mortality, deprivation scores, and the proximity of off?licences, pubs and schools, and would support more informed decision?making in relation to alcohol licensing. He confirmed that public health continued to have a role within the alcohol licensing process.
6. In preparation for the launch of the Kent Marmot Coastal Region Programme, Dr Ghosh reported that analysis had been undertaken on inequalities between coastal and non?coastal areas. He noted that this was a complex and nuanced issue, but highlighted a key finding that life expectancy in coastal communities was, on average, 2.1 years lower than in non?coastal areas.
7. Dr Ghosh advised that Kent Public Health had worked with colleagues across the Integrated Care System to produce an updated set of mental health indicators, strengthening the shared evidence base to support system?wide planning and improvement.
8. The Board was informed that, as part of work focused on older adults, Ashford and Gravesham had applied for and been formally accepted into the UK Age?Friendly Communities Network. Dr Ghosh explained that age?friendly communities aimed to support people to age well and to live healthy, independent later lives.
9. Dr Ghosh reported that the former postural stability and falls prevention service had been subject to extensive consultation and redesign. The re?imagined service, now known as Forever Active, was an evidence?based programme supporting Kent residents aged over 50 to remain active, mobile, strong and independent, and was showing early signs of success.
10.It was further reported that health alliances had now been established across all districts and boroughs. Dr Ghosh highlighted that Canterbury Health Alliance had recently received a Healthwatch Award for Excellence in Integrated Working at Local Level, in recognition of targeted work. He advised that this demonstrated how a hyper?local neighbourhood model could operate effectively in practice.
11.Dr Ghosh also advised that work was continuing to prepare for the opening of the Discovery Centre sexual health clinic in Dover later in the month.
12.RESOLVED that the Director of Public Health’s verbal update be noted.