Agenda item

(indicative timing 3:15 – 3:45pm)

In attendance for this item were:

·       Karen May, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Health and Wellbeing

·       Kathryn Cobain, Director of Public Health

·       Steph Simcox, Head of Finance

The Head of Finance provided a summary of the Council’s Public Health function, which, nationally, had transferred to local authorities in 2013. The Council received an annual Public Health Ring-fenced Grant (PHRFG) of approximately £30m, with a typical increase of 1% over recent years. Attached to the Grant were some very strict criteria and specific mandatory requirements of a preventative nature, including:

·       open access sexual health services

·       NHS health checks 5 yearly for those aged 40-74

·       weighing and measuring of children

·       Healthy Child Programme

·       public health advice service

·       protecting the health of the local population

The budget announcement for 2022/23 was awaited, and the annual increase totalled around £30,000, although this was not sufficient to cover pay increases and inflationary uplift in contracts. The budget of approximately £30m was allocated at the start of the year against strategic functions, which included preventative work in Adult Services, Children’s Services and some in Community Services, with examples including support to trading standards in preventing disease and the role of libraries in helping people to interact. Additional funding received for Covid-related activities had enabled a more rounded support to be provided.

The Chairman invited questions and the following main points were made:

·       A 1% increase in the PHRFG had been typical of recent years although increases in other financial years had been 2-5%.

·       When asked how the typical increase of 1% was managed since it did not match inflation, the Officers explained that an overall view was taken of planned activity and priorities, and that some contracts had zero inflation.

·       Regarding the impact of the Covid pandemic on Public Health, the Director explained how in the early days responding to the pandemic had been the overriding need, and the staff from Public Health had been mobilised to boost workforce capacity. Over the past six to nine months, there had been a return to business as usual. Staff had been very stressed but had absolutely risen to the challenge and the additional funding had really helped.

·       The Cabinet Member with Responsibility (CMR) for Health and Wellbeing praised the Council’s phenomenal response to the pandemic, of which she was very proud, and whilst no one would want to go through the experience, there had been important learning points to take forward.

·       In terms of which services were of most concern, the Director explained that obesity was an area of concern  and needed more focus and that a whole system approach was important. It was noted that consultation was due to start on the new Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

·       The HOSC requested the opportunity to review the new Health and Well-being Strategy at a future meeting.

·       There had been no specific prevention services which had seen funding decreases but some had been increased.

·       It was explained that the Supporting People grant had been phased out some time ago, which had been planned in liaison with district councils.

·       Regarding the predicted underspend for 2021/22 and whether money could be allocated to relieve predictable pressure points, for example to tackle fuel poverty, it was explained that a three-year plan for reserves was being developed.

·       Public health needs assessments for Worcestershire included working with the public to ensure there was a good evidence base.

·       When asked whether work could be done around food poverty and wider inequalities, the Director and advised this was likely to be part of looking at the broader system. The Government Spending Review gave more focus to family hubs and another source of funds could be those provided to elected members to spend in their communities.

·       It was confirmed that Youth Support was the same as Positive Activities and the Director advised that support for this age group was being reviewed.

·       There was a proposal in place to pump up funds for One Worcestershire.

·       The Chairman highlighted a concern raised by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust, that take-up for Covid-19 booster jabs in Worcestershire was lower than it had been for the previous vaccinations, and the Director confirmed the Council’s commitment to work with the Clinical Commissioning Group so that booster delivery was as effective as possible ahead of winter.

·       The CMR stressed the importance of people getting flu jabs this season.`

·       A member praised the work carried out to vaccinate rough sleepers against Covid

·       Everyone acknowledged the tremendous amount of work undertaken by both Public Health and NHS colleagues, and the importance of using assets in the best way.

The following actions were agreed:

·        HOSC asked the Director of Public Health to work with Health colleagues to promote the Covid-19 booster

·        Health & Well-being Strategy to be brought to a future meeting.