To consider the draft Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Central Bedfordshire and comment as part of a public consultation.

The Committee received a report from C Shohet, Assistant Director of Public Health, that set out the draft Health and Wellbeing Strategy (HWBS) for Central Bedfordshire.  C Shohet outlined the nine priorities contained in the HWBS and emphasised the importance of improved outcomes for those who are vulnerable, early intervention and prevention and improving mental health.  In addition C Shohet outlined some of the feedback that had been received to the consultation, which included:-

1.      Respondents had been very supportive of the priorities.

2.      That whilst people understood why teenage pregnancy should be reduced it was important to recognise that some teenagers had good parenting skills.

3.      Respondents supported “promoting independence” but not if it resulted in an increase in social isolation.

4.      The importance of recognising the role of carers.

In response to the issues highlighted in the report the Committee discussed the following issues, which were to be provided as a response to the consultation on behalf of the Committee:-

·        In addition to the HWBS identifying what we will do in the future it should also identify what we already do.

·        The Committee queried whether there was an effective mechanism for reporting on progress and delivery in light of many of the indicators being delivered in partnership and the difficulty this created for determining outcomes.

·        The HWBS needs to emphasise the role of parents in taking responsibility for and supporting the three cross-cutting priorities.

·        The Committee felt that data needed to be shared between GPs and schools in relation to the height and weight of pupils so as to support the reduction of childhood obesity.  The Committee was made aware of issues in relation to data protection but supported the Health and Wellbeing Board in encouraging as much access to information as possible.

·        The Committee supported the provision of care in peoples homes and enabling carers and support workers to spend longer with patients in their home.  However, there would be an additional cost relating to this approach and the Committee was not clear how this would be funded.

·        The HWBS needed to stress the importance of identifying future need so that appropriate services could be provided in the future.

·        The Committee supported the commissioning of additional Village Care Schemes and that the feedback from these schemes be used in determining commissioning intentions in the future.

·        The HWBS needed to recognise good practice in relation to domiciliary care and how this good practice could be used elsewhere by a range of partners.

·        Terminology contained in the HWBS relating to the commissioning of Village Care Scheme  should be amended to make it clear they were commissioned via the Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity.

·        The Committee supported the use of ‘time-banks’ as a means of empowering communities.

·        The HWBS needed to take into account the importance of managing the transition between childhood and adulthood.  The strategy also needed to provide a definition of the ages related to both adulthood and childhood.

·        The HWBS needed to support adaptations and homes for life.

·        The HWBS should encourage social care staff to signpost people who use services to other services and sources of information that they may find useful.

·        The importance of the HWBS supporting and developing an understanding of mental health issues and the problem of loneliness.

·        The importance of the HWBS supporting and improving patient experience in relation to hospital discharge.

·        The HWBS would benefit from a glossary.

·        In connection with the HWBS the Council should consider how its Tenancy Strategy could address the immediate right to a home for teenage parents as a means as a means of supporting reductions in teenage pregnancy.

RECOMMENDED

1.      That an item be received at a future meeting of the Committee providing feedback on village care schemes.

2.      That following the approval of the Chairman the comments of the Committee as detailed in the body of the Minutes be provided as a response to the consultation on the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.