Agenda item

To consider the Public Health update report detailing what has been achieved over the past three years and future priorities.

The Commission considered the report from the Public Health Team which highlighted past progress and future priorities.

It was highlighted the team had been working for 18 months in their current format across East Berkshire in a hub and spoke model, a shared team across East Berkshire, managed by Bracknell Forest Council and included a commissioning lead role. Members of the Panel were informed the Public Health carried out roles and services which were not mandated, as well as those that were mandated by Government.

Arising from the discussion the following points were made:

• School nurses drop in visits had increased as a survey showed this was what users and schools wanted. The service was planned to be re-tendered next year, possibly across East Berkshire.
• The Public Health Team gave advice and support in terms of health emergency planning but were not involved in access issues, such as attendance at Brants Bridge Urgent Care Centre. It was agreed Heema Shukla, Deputy Director Public Health would ask NHS colleagues how access to Brants Bridge was being publicised and circulate the response following the meeting.
• Child measurement programmes carried out in Reception and year 6 served two purposes. Firstly, it provided surveillance on obesity and height which would be accrued at a national level. Secondly, parents/carers locally received letter about their child’s measurements. The letter included advice about where to receive support, if necessary, or they may be offered a meeting with the school nurse. This included support to parents/carers of underweight children.
• Children’s oral health was checked by Health Visitors at pre-school level and parents/ carers received advice on weaning and healthy diets. However, it was noted there used to be a national survey on dental care of children, but this was not always the case now as it was not a mandated requirement for Public Health nationally. Last year Bracknell Forest Public Health Team worked to support parents/carers in areas where oral health was poorer but this year’s priorities included a whole school approach to look at every aspect of health rather than fragmented interventions.
• The revised Bracknell Forest Health and Wellbeing Strategy had been published and two of the priorities were being discussed at the Health and Wellbeing Board on 7 September. The priorities included setting up a more robust governance for 0-5 year old children’s services.
• The capacity of adult weight programmes to tackle obesity had been increased due to 600 people being on the waiting list. Bracknell Forest Public Health Team had recently commissioned Southampton University to look at a whole system wide approach to tackling obesity and the first meeting of a group convened to look at this had taken place, which included businesses and the voluntary sector. A briefing about this project had been delivered to Councillors recently.
• Winter planning included a vaccination programme as well as warm homes and food security. The team were working to ensure health was considered in all policies/procurement in the future and grants had been given to the welfare and housing teams to see what could be done for low income and asset rich/cash poor families, especially for help to access grants for gas and electricity price increases. The team were also looking at how to increase food share and food larder projects across Bracknell and had been working with providers, such as Silva Homes, to see if they had a food larder which residents could access. It was noted it was not just the amount of food, but the quality, that was important. There were also apps which people could download to support food reaching those who needed it most.
• A ‘warm hub’ or ‘warm bank’ initiative was discussed as options to help create warm spaces for residents struggling to heat their homes this Winter. The team were also looking at options for venues in the borough to teach younger people how to cook on a budget. Wokingham and Bracknell College, Children’s Centres and Libraries were suggested as place which could accommodate this type of project.
• It was agreed the Deputy Director would liaise with Cllr Tina McKenzie-Boyle about attending a meeting of Crowthorne Parish Council to discuss potential ‘warm hub’ ideas.
• It was agreed the discussion about ‘warm hubs’ or ‘warm banks’ should form part of the agenda for the Climate Change Advisory Panel and the Vice Chair of the Panel agreed to raise it at the next meeting.
• Due to an increase in parents requesting support with mental health issues the team were looking at a similar programme to Homestart, a mentor type scheme, as well as starting up several groups for mothers to help tackle this issue.
• Support for children and young people who struggled with their mental health was available in schools, but it was recognised more targeted support was needed in all schools across the borough to support children and young people as well as teachers/support staff providing support.
• It was recognised more targeted support for some families was also needed and the team were working with family hubs where Health Visitors were located and with Frimley Integrated Care Board to achieve this.
• The Community Map had been updated following the Covid-19 pandemic and there was a new platform which should make it easier to use.
• Young Health Champions had informed the team they would like more physical activities available to support with mental health issues. The team were looking at how to increase physical activities outside school and how to increase peer support.
• Currently, Social Prescribers only worked with adults, but they were liaising with Kooth, Sporting Mind and voluntary groups to see what could be expanded to children and young people.
• In response to a question asked about a wellbeing pamphlet distributed around the borough it was confirmed the information contained in the pamphlet relating to serious reactions was correct. Heema Shukla, Deputy Director Public Health agreed to circulate figures regarding yellow card notifications to Councillors and to check the pamphlet had been circulated to all wards.