Agenda item

A presentation will be given by Horsham District Council on the work this Council has been doing with respect to health issues relevant to Horsham District Council’s residents.

The Board is asked to:

1)   Note the report/presentation (to be sent under separate cover);

2)   Comment and ask questions on the information received; and

3)   Provide feedback on how the Board and Local Health and Wellbeing Partnerships could support the Health Priorities in Horsham.

29.1 A presentation on Health and Wellbeing in Horsham was given by Horsham District Council’s Health & Wellbeing, Community Safety Manager and Head of Housing and Community Services.  This provided an overview of the health and well-being issues and key priorities that were relevant to residents in Horsham. (Presentation tabled at the meeting and available on the website).

29.2 Board Members were informed that as part of Horsham District Council’s Corporate Plan 2019-2023 a Strong, Safe and Healthy Community was cited as a key priority. The district’s key demographic facts were provided and these included:

·         there was a population of 141,100K (2017)

·         the area had an ageing population 22% of residents are over 65 years of age, higher than the England and West Sussex average

·         Life expectancy was noted as 84.6 (Women) and 82.1 years (Men)

·         The area had one of the lowest teenage conception rates in England.

·         There was a workforce of 67,300k (economically active)

·         An entrepreneurial district – the second highest business start-up rate in the County with 72% of businesses rurally based.

·         The prevalence of underweight, healthy weight and overweight and obese children in Horsham was noted as better than the rates in West Sussex, which was better than in England.

·         Horsham District was noted as having the highest rate of unpaid carers who provided 50 hours or more care in West Sussex.

·         In terms of family the district had one of the lowest rates of children living in relative poverty at 9.1%. The number of lone parents in the region was joint lowest in West Sussex at 4.6% of families against a West Sussex figure of 5.4%.

·         The District had the lowest rate of mental health admissions for 0-16 year olds in West Sussex, in the last recorded year.

·         It was pointed out that the majority of Horsham District had the least deprived area of England (10%) when looking at crime and deprivation, health deprivation and disability but the number of households accepted as homeless and in priority need was above the national average.

29.3   It was recognised that although Horsham District was a great place to live and work it also had key health challenges. These included; health inequalities; an Ageing population; loneliness and isolation and a high number of carers; alcohol related hospital admission remained a concern as did the numbers of smokers and 62% of adults were noted as obese or overweight. 7.6% of homes were classed as fuel poor.

29.4   A key health challenge highlighted was the amount of emergency hospital admissions for hip fractures amongst those aged 80 plus.  In 2016/17 West Sussex had 946 emergency hospital admissions for hip fractures amongst those aged 80 plus. Horsham District Council had linked to the West Sussex Falls and Fracture Prevention Service which were noted as having a team based in Horsham.

29.5   In order to tackle some of the challenges and plan for the future, Board Members heard that Horsham District Council was expanding theirfalls prevention programmes, helping to deliver NHS Health Checks and Stop Smoking by working alongside GPs and Pharmacies and targeting areas of deprivation to improve contact rates.

29.6   Board Members were informed that Horsham District Council had, for the last 20 years, placed a strong emphasis on working in collaboration with other service providers but for the last two years there had been a noticeable reduction in the interest and engagement from several key organisations. In terms of their future planning it had been recognised that there remains compelling evidence that partnership working is more critical now than ever, given reducing budgets. As a result, Horsham District Council was adopting a new Safe and Well PartnershipThis would aim to:

·         Identify the current major issues and concerns that will benefit from collective intervention.

·         Engage and empower partners and communities to take action through time limited task and finish groups.

·         Evaluate and publicise outcomes to inform future responses to issues and concerns.

·         Influence local environments through planning and provide quality, affordable housing

·         Aid healthy ageing especially from mid-life

·         Tackle inequalities in areas of pronounced deprivation, targeting vulnerable groups.

29.8   In receiving the presentation the Board:

·         agreed that smarter ways of working together, producing creative responses involving a wider range of stakeholders and crucially doing a better job of evaluating outcomes to determine what works was key;

·         highlighted that the provision of quality, affordable housing for a positive home environment can positively affect the wellbeing of the population;

·         welcomed outreach work important to those vulnerable groups such as the elderly to combat social isolation and loneliness;

·         praised the Horsham District Council’s work around homelessness and identified that the Board could assist with partnership working between the CCGs and District and Boroughs and other partners on this issue. For example, providing access to a GP;

·         discussed that trips and falls in the region could be more serious as rural communities had to sometimes wait longer for ambulance assistance. The Council was setting up a Community Link Service so that community volunteers could be a first responder to offer a speedy and vital ‘pick up’ service. The use of technology was also discussed as a way of assisting with trips and falls;

·         Recognised that access to Mental Health Services was a key issue across West Sussex with increasing demand impacting on capacity. The Director of Public Health stated that the Board would be requested to provide input on a new Mental Health Trust Strategy, and this was welcomed;

·         explained how the new West Sussex County Council role of, Joint Strategic Director of Commissioning would help to build strong partnerships with the local NHS and provide oversight on how health services are delivered within the County.

29.7   The Chairman thanked the Horsham District Council’s Health & Wellbeing, Community Safety Manager and Head of Housing and Community Services for their informative presentation.

29.8   The Board then Resolved that;

1)   the presentation be noted;

2)   commented and asked questions on the information received; and

3)   provided feedback on how the Board and Local Health and Wellbeing Partnerships could support the Health Priorities in Horsham.