Agenda item

To present “From the Ground Up: Annual report on the health of the people of Blackpool 2017” the Director of Public Health’s latest annual independent assessment of local health needs, determinants and concerns.

Prior to consideration of this item, the Chairman circulated to the Board a press release from the Council that provided details on the launch of a  new mental health campaign, ‘Get Vocal’ that focussed on promoting ways in which individuals could improve their mental wellbeing.  He emphasised the campaign’s link to the issues outlined within the Public Health Annual Report 2017.  The launch date had coincided with World Mental Health Day.

Dr Rajpura, Director of Public Health, Blackpool Council, presented the Public Health Annual Report 2017.  He reported on the improvements in a number of key health indicators in the last 10 years which included a reduction in early deaths from heart disease, cancer, suicide and teenage pregnancies rates.  He highlighted emerging challenges in relation to self-harm and drug and alcohol abuse. There had been an increase in drug related deaths over recent years and Dr Rajpura advised the Board on a number of initiatives being undertaken to reverse the current trend.

The Board was referred to Section 2 of the Report that provided a detailed analysis of the impact of housing on health indicators. The emerging picture from the analysis showed that low cost housing accommodation was driving inward migration of less healthy and less educated members of the population and outward migration of healthier people.  Dr Rajpura welcomed the Council’s future Housing Strategy which would included a restructure of the current housing stock.

Following Dr Rajpura’s report, the Board held a lengthy discussion on mental health provision and noted the rising rate of self-harm and suicides which was significantly above the national average. It also noted the new ‘Get Vocal’ campaign and acknowledged the need for the campaign message to be spread as widely as possible throughout the local community.  The Board considered the issue timely and linked to the Public Health Annual Report 2017.

The Board acknowledged the need for further interventions in the local community to address mental health issues prior to crisis point and noted the increased pressure on partner organisations as a result of the current mental health service provision. Further pressures included the increased demands for mental health services from an ageing population. Board Members further discussed the need to fully understand the scale of the problem and the need to develop a comprehensive mental health pathway.

The Board also discussed the engagement of Lancashire Care Foundation Trust at a strategic level and in particular the attendance of its representatives at Health and Wellbeing Board meetings.  It also noted the recent appointment of a Minister for Suicide Prevention. It agreed that a special meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board would be arranged to discuss mental health provision, with a need to ensure representation from all partner organisations and in particular Lancashire Care Foundation Trust.  It was also agreed that an invitation to the meeting would be forwarded to the Minister for Suicide Prevention.

Resolved:

1.To note the Public Health Annual Report 2017.

2.To endorse the report’s headline statements namely:

·         To welcome the forthcoming Blackpool Housing Strategy and to note that the key to success would be to deliver all the actions identified within the strategy, at scale and pace.

·         To note that Blackpool Council had experienced amongst the highest budget cuts of authorities across the country and this had been especially challenging given the high levels of need and transience within the town. Although the Council had been very creative in managing these significant challenges, it was important now to recognise the need for future funding formulas to fully incorporate the high level of need and address the root causes of ill health locally.

3.      To agree to hold a special meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board to consider mental health provision and to invite the Minister for Suicide Prevention to the meeting.