Agenda item

To receive a verbal update from the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health and the Director of Public Health.

Health Reform

1.            The update by the Leader and Cabinet Member for Health Reform, Mr P B Carter, had already been read out by the Chairman at the start of the meeting.

Public Health

2.            The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, Mr G K Gibbens, gave a verbal update on the following issues:

Return of Public Health to portfolio – he said how pleased he was to have public health in his portfolio once again and wanted to raise the profile of public health issues, particularly smoking cessation and smoking in pregnancy, on Health Reform and Public Health Cabinet Committee and Joint Kent and Medway Health and Wellbeing Board agendas.

12 September - attended Public Health England Conference in Warwick – at this conference, Steve Brine, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health and Primary Care, had announced that public health grants would continue to be ring-fenced until 2021/22.  

Flu jab – Mr Gibbens had had his flu jab on the morning of the meeting and had been photographed having this done, to raise the profile of the annual vaccination programme. He encouraged all Members to have this done. 

Public Health and Mental Health – Mr Gibbens said that mental health support services were a key priority in his portfolio.  10 October was World Mental Health Day, which would raise the profile of mental health issues, through various activities.

3.            Mr Gibbens responded to comments and questions, including the following:-

a)    asked about the importance of social isolation on the Health and Wellbeing Board agenda, Mr Gibbens advised that the Board was following the work of the County Council’s Loneliness and Social Isolation Select Committee with interest and wanted to see the Select Committee’s report when it was ready.  The Select Committee report would also be considered by either the Health Reform and Public Health or Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee.  The issue of loneliness and social isolation was gaining prominence via the work of Tracey Crouch MP and the Jo Cox Foundation, and had cross-party support at Government level. He was keen to see this same level of support all through society; and

b)    the news that that the public health budget was to be ring-fenced for longer was welcomed.  Public health funding had effectively been reduced in real terms, which would cause problems in the future. The Government needed to be helped to understand the importance of public health and the need for increased funding in the future.  Mr Gibbens agreed that public health work had produced many successful outcomes in recent years. 

4.            The Director of Public Health, Mr A Scott-Clark, then gave a verbal update on the following issues:

Flu Vaccination – the flu season for 2018/19 was just starting, and everyone who was eligible for a flu jab and who was concerned about their vulnerability to flu was being urged to be vaccinated, including all staff working in the health and social care sectors.

Measles – the number of outbreaks in Kent continued to be very small and sporadic.  There was no evidence that young adults travelling to music festivals were particularly at risk of catching or spreading measles.  Public Health England and the NHS were both promoting vaccination for children.     

Public Health England Updated Public Health Profile published – this set out statistics about the general health of the UK population, including life expectancy, trends, children’s health and health protection issues. It was suggested that a link to the document be included in the minutes:

https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/health-profiles   

Kent Community Healthcare Foundation Trust (KCHFT) Breast Feeding Friendly Accreditation – the Health Visiting service had achieved Level 2 accreditation for their baby-friendly work, which was welcomed. Health visitors, maternity and neo-natal nurses and universities were all now training to support mothers to breast feed.  A further paper on infant feeding would be submitted to the November meeting of the committee.    

5.            Mr Scott-Clark responded to comments and questions, including the following:-

a)    the report on infant feeding to the November meeting would cover access to consultants for parents whose babies had tongue-tie, and any problems in accessing these services, including complaints received about the service, although there had been few reported complaints;

b)    GPs were being proactive about identifying children who had not had a measles vaccination, as some mis-match of records occurred, for example when a young person left their home surgery to go to university.  Schools also had a role to play in highlighting the need for vaccination; and

c)    as part of the annual NHS campaign, GPs were proactive in calling eligible patients in for a flu vaccination, community pharmacies were also participating and midwives were encouraging expectant women to be vaccinated. A national surveillance programme by clinical commissioning groups monitored the uptake of vaccinations.  Flu vaccinations could be given at any time of year, so it was never too late to have one.

6.                   It was RESOLVED that the verbal updates be noted, with thanks.