Agenda and minutes

Cllr David Loades declared an interest as he was a Member of the North Staffordshire Patient Congress, a Shadow Board Member and Vice Chair of the County Council.

An apology for absence was received from Cllr David Beckett.      

Minutes of the meeting held on 17 April to follow

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 April 2013 were confirmed as a correct record. 

The Head of Business Improvement and Partnerships stated that there were significant changes taking place in health at the present time.  Whilst the County Council had the main responsibility for the public health function, it was impossible for one organisation to be able to carry out the delivery of health entirely on their own.  He stated that infant mortality rates were higher than the English average and 17-20% of pregnant women smoked in Newcastle.  The number of young people in the Borough was reducing.  One in five children lived in poverty, rising to 36% in the Knutton and Silverdale areas. Private Housing conditions were better than the English average.  Within the Borough there were pockets of high levels of people claiming job seekers allowance (JSA), with youth unemployment, smoking, drinking and obesity higher in parts of the Borough than the national average.  An average of 22% of people smoked across the Borough but in certain places within the Borough it could be as high as 32%.  There was increasing levels of higher risk drinking and there had been an increase of 8% in hospital admissions for 2012/13 (compared to a 1% rise in England).  Adult obesity was increasing and the level of physical activity was reducing, which was especially true in children. The Borough had higher than average levels of infant mortality and diabetes.  There was also a lower than average level of life expectancy in females. 

The Head of Leisure and Cultural Services stated that there was an aging population within the Borough which was more ethnically diverse and had a lower life expectancy than the national average.  There were more part time workers and there was a high level of youth unemployment.  There were problems to overcome in housing and the homeless, and fuel poverty was increasing which had partly been a consequence of rising utility bills.  There were challenges to face in health which included the move towards a higher level of early intervention and prevention.  The majority of the NHS budget supported the minority with severe disease, which ultimately was financially unsustainable.  The two key priorities were inequality and common causes of death.  There were eleven areas for action which were, parenting, school readiness, education, NEET, In Care, alcohol, drugs, lifestyle and mental well being, dementia, falls prevention and the frail elderly.   Each priority area would have an indicator attached to it in order to be able to measure success.  The Newcastle-under-Lyme Health and Well Being Strategy was currently in the final draft stage.  It focussed on the areas which the Borough Council could have a direct effect.  Action plans were being developed and it was hoped that significant resources could be moved into prevention. 

Members asked the Head of Leisure and Cultural Services how the Council intended to implement any action plans.  In response he stated that the Council were engaging with partners, stakeholders and the wider public through consultation.  Action plans would then be developed. A Member stated that it was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

• Newcastle under Lyme District Profile 2013
• Newcastle Borough Council. Enhanced Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2012
• Local Healthwatch, Health and wellbeing boards and Health Scrutiny

The Chair referred to the number of supporting documents that had been sent with the agenda, which included the Newcastle-under-Lyme District Profile 2013, the Newcastle Borough Council – Enhanced Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2012 and a document from the Centre for Public Scrutiny. 

The Chairman reported that Stage 2 of the Consultation on Mental Health Services had been implemented.  The Foundation Status and the potential for amalgamation would continue to be monitored as the future was still unclear.   

The UHNS, Accident and Emergency Centre had been visited.  It was still apparent that they had some four hour target issues.  The Cardiac Rehab at Jubilee 2 was going well at Jubilee 2.  The Health and Well Being Strategy was to be presented to the Health and Well Being Board on the 13 June. 

The Chair stated that Cllr Frank Finlay had been to visit the Borough Council and would be contacted before each Board meeting to ensure that the views of the NUBC were fully represented at the Board meeting.

Prescription medication which was currently on the work plan could now be deleted as the matter had been fully considered by the Committee.  An update would be given on infant mortality at every Health and Well Being Board meeting.  The Chair stated that he still had some concerns from the Francis Report about incorporating the recommendations at District level.   

The Chair stated that Cllr Hilda Johnson would represent the Borough Council at a County level on the issue of Suicide Prevention. 

The Chair referred to the document from the Centre for Public Scrutiny which had been circulated with the agenda.  Within this document there were a number of suggested areas for Scrutiny, these were to be found on pages 128 and 129 with the agenda document.          

To consider any business which is urgent within the meaning of Section 100 B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business within the meaning of Section 100 B (4) of the Local Government Act 1972.