Agenda item

To consider the draft Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2015-2018. The strategy was launched for a 3 month consultation at the Health and Wellbeing Board on 13^th January 2015.

Dr. Jeanelle de Gruchy, Director of Public Health, informed the panel that it was the statutory responsibility of the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) to publish a Health and Wellbeing Strategy and a Joint Strategy Needs Assessment (JSNA). 

Dr. de Gruchy advised that the HWB had launched a programme of activity to review and refresh Haringey’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy for 2015 to 2018. It was noted that an analysis of need in Haringey (the JSNA) had been undertaken in addition to a review of the current strategy through a series of meetings and workshops with key stakeholder groups, including focus groups of the voluntary sector and residents organised by HealthWatch and HAVCO.

The panel was informed the review had highlighted Haringey residents were becoming overweight and obese from an early age and were developing long term health conditions at a relatively young age. In addition, the panel noted there were significant numbers of people across the borough with mental health issues. Dr. de Grunchy advised that these issues contributed to significant health inequalities in the borough.

In response to questions, Dr. de Gruchy informed the panel that the review had informed the development of the draft strategy for 2015 to 2018. It was noted that the draft strategy had three priorities:

-       Reducing obesity

-       Increasing healthy life expectancy

o   Particular focus on people with a long term condition 

-       Improving mental health

o   Particular focus on enablement           

The panel was informed the purpose of the new strategy was to enable:

-       All parties to be clear about the HWB’s agreed priorities for 2015-2018

-       All members of the HWB to embed these priorities within their own organisations

-       Key agencies to develop joined-up or integrated commissioning and delivery plans

-       The HWB to hold member organisations to account for their actions towards achieving the priorities within the strategy

Dr. de Grunchy advised the panel that:

-       The new strategy would have a strong synergy with the council’s Corporate Plan.

-       The purpose of the consultation was to obtain views on: (i) the proposed priorities; (ii) the focus of the three priorities and ideas of how to deliver outcomes and (iii) how organisations and individuals could contribute to the delivery of the outcomes.

-       The consultation, launched in January 2015, would last for three months with the strategy/ delivery plans being considered by HWB in June/July 2015.  

-       The Council had recently appointed a Healthy Public Policy Officer to influence and assist policy development across all areas including licensing, planning, transport, housing and regeneration.

During discussion the panel considered how they could add value to the development of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy. It was agreed, with childhood obesity in Haringey being high in comparison to London and nationally, that input from scrutiny in terms of prevention, early intervention, and ensuring all stakeholders (not just those on HWB) were addressing issues relating to childhood obesity would be a useful scrutiny project for 2015/16. This was supported by Dr de Grunchy. 

RESOLVED:

1.    That the report be noted.

2.      That subject to further discussions with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the panel agreed childhood obesity should be included in the scrutiny work programme for 2015/16.