Agenda item

Focused on the West Sussex Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2019-2024, this item will further contribute to identifying priorities for the Board’s workplan for 2022/23 to tackle issues locally, to improve the health of the population and reduce health inequalities across West Sussex.

19.1   The Board received a presentation (copy tabled at the meeting and  appended to the agenda available on the website) on the Board’s Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2019-2024, including the impact of Covid-19 and health inequalities, the role of the Health and Wellbeing Board, and the development and implementation of the Integrated Care System (ICS) for Sussex and how it will interface with Health and Wellbeing Board’s to identify priorities for each place within the ICS.

19.2   In discussing the presentation the Public Health Priorities 2022/23 (West Sussex Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2019-2024) were considered and the Board;  

·       requested data on progress with health matters, taking the pandemic into consideration, such as access to clinics for pregnant women and social isolation, to provide the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) with a clearer overview.  It was agreed that Performance Indicators could feed into  qualitative work on outcomes.  Evidence was starting to emerge that there was a sharp increase in childhood obesity last year, late diagnosis of Cancer and increased levels of mental health needs.

·       noted that Public Health performance data on measures such as healthy weight and vaccination rates were regularly reported to the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee.

·       pointed out that the Health and Wellbeing Board Strategy required an update with respect to the Cost of Living crisis so that support work is able to progress. It was agreed that as the Strategy was written 3 years ago it was right to consider new relevancies.

·     agreed integrated working is necessary to reflect the priorities in the community according to their demographic and tackle health inequalities. This place based work was being carried out but it was noted that West Sussex had unique structures, different workstreams and multiple layers of communication. The Director of Public Health assured that Public Health were working with District and Boroughs and NHS colleagues to tackle health inequalities. Five clinical areas were under review, looking at the health outcomes for  the most deprived areas in West Sussex and the associated vulnerable population groups including diagnosis of Cancer, mental health, health outcomes for ethnic minorities and carers.  

·     assured that Public Health, together with partners, had a good reach into communities with well established Primary Care and Local Community Networks.

·     highlighted the need for monitoring outcomes on life expectancy as a clear indicator of health disparities. It was agreed that quality of life as well as its longevity was the priority.

·     reflected on the ‘Cost of Living’ crisis and noted that the demand for the Household Support Fund grant from Central Government was still there. Preventative action and developing strategy to get ahead of the crisis was seen as a key priority. It was recognised that all partners were already undertaking huge amounts of work in an effort to tackle and support those experiencing hardship.

·     agreed a Health and Wellbeing Board Seminar in September would be useful to review the Health and Wellbeing Board Strategy in terms of Homelessness and Cost of Living.

19.3   Resolved – that

                   i.        input be provided on the delivery of the Health and Wellbeing Board’s priorities identified within the West Sussex Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2019-2024; and

                       ii.         progress of the Board’s priorities to best meet the health and wellbeing needs of the local population and tackle health inequalities, taking into account national public health policy and current public health priorities, including the impacts of the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, be discussed.