Agenda item

1. Mr Watkins, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, gave a verbal update on the following:

One You Kent – The Cabinet Member highlighted the service which would support residents adopt healthier lifestyle changes, 1-1 support was available with a lifestyle advisor who would help overcome barriers, maintain motivation and make manageable changes. 

MMR vaccinations – Mr Watkins noted that recent data had shown that the rates of measles had increased. It was said that parents were being urged to ensure that their children were up to date with their MMR vaccines and review their child’s ‘red book’ Personal Child Health Record. In Kent 89.6% of children had received their first dose and dropped to 85.2% for their second dose, it was noted that the Government’s advised rate was 95%.   

Start For Life Funded Breastfeeding Grants – Mr Watkins noted that the grant programme for small businesses and community organisations to support their customers and service users with on-premises breastfeeding facilities would be extended until Wednesday, 31 January 2024.  

2. In response to comments and questions, it was said:

1. A Member noted that there was a shortage of 2500 midwives nationally and that without addressing this issue delivering on breastfeeding support and perinatal mental health outcomes would be difficult. Dr Schwartz noted that workforce was a key area of the Integrated Care Strategy but it was said that service provision around the birth of the child was very good in comparison to peers. 

2. It was agreed that the data on the capacity and scale of demand for One You Kent would be shared after the meeting. Mrs Tovey noted that overall, One You Kent had the capacity but waiting lists for certain programmes had been introduced for a time-limited period, such as stop smoking and weight loss programmes. 

3. Dr Ellen Schwartz, Deputy Director for Public Health, gave a verbal update on the following:

MMR Vaccinations – Dr Schwartz said that much Public Health work had gone into identifying target groups including the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) community.   

Integrated Care Strategy – It was said that all the partners of the ICP, Kent County Council, Medway Council and the ICB, had agreed on the strategy. It was noted that the strategy was being redesigned for a wider launch at the end of 2024 and would formally embed the preventative agenda and focus on the wider determinants of health and health inequalities going forward. 

Substance Misuse – Two stakeholder events on drugs and alcohol were held in December 2023 which were well attended and received positive feedback. Awareness was being raised for contaminated cocaine and heroin. 

Children, Young People and Maternity – Dr Scwartz noted that the development of two co-created strategies was included in the minimum requirements from the Department for Education for the Family Hubs programme. Providers were commissioned and these had been developed. They were:

• Infant feeding strategy for Kent and 
• a Perinatal Mental Health and Parent-Infant Relationship strategy for Kent.

These would be presented for public consultation from the 8 February 2024 for 8 weeks and would be brought back to a subsequent committee meeting for Members to consider before the decision to approve and adopt the strategies was taken by the cabinet member. 

It was also said that a 24/7 phone and text service for perinatal mental health was due to be launched. 

Sexual Health – Dr Swartz noted that a national contract to provide oral contraception through pharmacies commenced in December 2023.  

Oral Health – A supervised toothbrushing programme had been launched in primary schools and early years settings. A wider promotion of oral health across the system had been commissioned by Public Health.  

GRT Communities – Dr Schwartz informed the committee that a Health Needs Assessment (HNA) was now available through the Kent Public Health Observatory website. The second phase of the HNA had been launched and a research coordinator had been appointed. 

The GRT HNA can be accessed at the following link: https://www.kpho.org.uk/joint-strategic-needs-assessment/health-intelligence/population-groups/ethnicity#tab1 

Ageing Well – It was said that Public Health was working with the ICB to shape a Kent and Medway ageing well strategy, which would prioritise prevention such as physical activity and social connectedness. 

Adult Social Care Prevention– It was noted that Public Health was working with Adult Social Care to better understand the data on the demographics in Kent and the risk of how many residents will require the highest levels of social care. This would be used to model different models to reduce demand. 

4. In response to comments and questions from the committee, it was said: 

1. A Member asked what percentage of GRT children had received both doses of the MMR vaccine and highlighted the risk that measles posed to pregnant women. 

2. It was said that NHS oral health and dentist provision for adults and children in Thanet was very low. 

3. A Member recommended that all colleagues receive briefings on the wider determinants of health.