Agenda item

To consider the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee Workplan 2017-2018, together with any suggestions that Members may wish to make for scrutiny review topics.

Members were referred to the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Workplan for 2017-2018, a proposed scrutiny review on Breastfeeding peer support for their consideration and progress with the Implementation of Recommendations.

The proposed review on Breastfeeding peer support had been suggested by Councillor Vikki Singleton, using the Scrutiny Selection Checklist form. The proposal outlined the value of breastfeeding to babies and mothers, the perceived benefits of the service and why it was felt peer support was still needed. This had followed the termination of the peer support contract in June 2017 which had been delivered by the Star Buddies organisation.

The Council’s Public Health Department, which was responsible for commissioning  the contract, had provided information summarising breastfeeding benefits, contract provision and what had been achieved. The information included ongoing and proposed work and partnerships as part of a wider health offer to support people. A chart of infant feeding support routes had been provided.

Mr Neil Jack, Chief Executive was present as the Better Start Partnership Board’s Deputy Chair. He explained that current work and plans in development were aimed at a wider holistic community-based approach to infant health (diet and nutrition) rather than focusing solely on breastfeeding. There would still be opportunities for breastfeeding support. He added that previous support had not secured significant long-term improvements in breastfeeding rates and that progress had declined in recent years.

He explained that the long-term Better Start Programme for young children (and also the Head Start Programme supporting the emotional resilience of older children) was aimed at developing and trialling innovative approaches which could be based on international research. He added that better outcomes would be achieved through taking risks, challenging and reviewing impact and using more resources where appropriate.

Mr Jack added that methods needed to be tailored to meet the needs of different wards especially the most deprived. He proposed continuing to build the Better Start Partnership work which would be monitored by its Board. Progress could be reported to the Committee in a few months (middle of 2018).

Ms Merle Davies, Director, Centre for Early Development referred to a paper which was due to be considered by the Better Start Executive. She explained that families had been consulted and they did not want to be directed by professionals but wanted an inclusive approach. Families had also rated breastfeeding peer support as a relatively low priority. She outlined the scope of the Better Start Partnership work referring to health visitors and midwives providing increased early support to families. She added that people acting as ‘Community Connectors’ would be able to offer local support.  She mentioned that NHS England was supportive of the work.

Members queried the timing of when Better Start work would take effect in terms of impact and referred to the apparent current void in breastfeeding peer support. Dr Arif Rajpura, Director of Public Health referred to various alternative options currently available and that the Better Start work would provide more holistic support and better outcomes.

Members referred to needing to work in partnership and making best use of all resources. They requested that Star Buddies’ experience was not lost and that they were included in the partnership work.

Councillor Amy Cross, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health and Safeguarding stated that the previous contract had not provided good value for money. She added that the proposed ‘Community Connectors’ would provide local support.

Councillor Singleton, as the proposer of the review, acknowledged that previous breastfeeding peer support services had not been fully effective but advised that there remained a gap in provision and that peer support was still required. She accepted that the proposed approach of providing peer support through Better Start aimed to fill any gaps and that there was therefore no need for a Scrutiny review at this time.

Members recognised the ongoing Better Start work and wider holistic approach and determined that significant additional value would not be achieved through a scrutiny review.

The Committee agreed:

1.       To approve the Scrutiny Workplan subject to adding a progress report on the

          Public Health / Better Start work, for supporting families and children during

pregnancy and early stages of childhood, to the Committee’s July 2018 meeting.

2.       To note the ‘Implementation of Recommendations’ table.