Issue - meetings

23.1     The Board considered the Annual Report of the Director of Public Health for 2018/19.

23.2     In response to questions from the Board the following key points were raised:

• In order to try and equalise health outcomes across East Sussex, the CCGs and Public Health Team may commission providers to offer more support to individuals from more deprived populations. This is due to the increased likelihood that they will have co-morbidities and be less likely to seek assistance proactively. For example, they may be offered the opportunity to access additional services when they receive an NHS Health Check.
• Housing has been part of the public health remit in the past and housing clearly has an impact on health outcomes, for example, whether the housing is properly heated and mould-free; whether the house is located in an area of high crime; and whether it is located within walking distance of amenities can all have an impact on health outcomes. The Director of Public Health has shortlisted housing as a topic to be looked at in depth as part of next year’s Report.
• Air Quality also plays a factor in health outcomes both outside and within buildings. Outside air can cause long-term health issues through pollution and short term issues during heatwaves, particularly on those with respiratory issues. Air quality within buildings is also important because people spend more time inside; lack of proper ventilation and the presence of damp or mould can cause issues to people’s health. More work will be done with colleagues in the district and borough environmental health teams and the Environment Agency to develop ways of tackling the issue, in consultation with the public.
• More investment is needed in preventative services across the health and care and wider public sector, for example, preventative services provided by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service such as Home Safety Visits, can be very cost effective and successful in reducing accidental deaths.  Generally, however, it is difficult to commit funding to preventative services when outcomes for such services are often measured over a long period of time; and because several different activities may have an impact on a health outcome, proving return on investment for a particular preventative activity is very difficult. The Public Health Team will be calculating the return on investment of the services it commissions over the next year to determine whether more funding should be put into preventative services.
• The Public Health Team is currently looking into the reason for the sudden spike in the rate of admissions to hospital for alcohol specific conditions in under 18 year old girls in Hastings with the assistance of a whole range of partners.

23.3     It was RESOLVED to

1) note the report; and

2) congratulate on the style and content of the Annual report of the Director of Public Health 2018/19.