Meeting documents
Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee (DCC)
Monday 10 January 2005
Meeting: Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee (County Hall, Durham - Committee Room 1a - 10/01/2005 10:00:00 AM)
Item: A7 Child Health Conference
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10 January 2005
Child Health Conference
| Report of Head of Overview and Scrutiny |
Purpose of Report
1. To provide information about the Child Health Conference held in November 2004 and to suggest a monitoring process.
Background
2. Following the investigation into Child Health in County Durham, a conference was organised on 15 th November 2004. This was attended by over 80 representatives from a wide cross-section of public sector organisations in the County.
3. There were three main themes of the conference:-
- Breast feeding with a workshop led by Peterlee Surestart
- Protection of children from second hand smoke with a workshop led by Iain Miller of Durham and Chester-le-Street PCT
- Obesity with a workshop led by Dr. Tricia Cresswell of Durham and Chester-le-Street PCT
4. Each of the workshops produced suggestions for progress in relation to each theme which are set out below.
SMOKING
(Despite the recent White Paper from the Department of Health indicating an intention to introduce a limited ban, this will not apply for a number of years - accordingly, local action is still important)
- Signing up to the Charter for Smoke Free Areas in the Achieving Smoke Freedom Toolkit produced by ASH. www.ash.org.uk (Three District Councils in County Durham have already adopted the Charter).
Support the Smoke Free Award Scheme.- Employers should support employees to attend 'quit' groups
- Support for the smoke free homes campaign to encourage parents not to smoke in the home where there are children.
BREASTFEEDING
Working with schools and engaging with school governors and children to promote the healthy schools initiative.- Contributing to a directory of leisure opportunities for children and their families.
- Restricting vending machines in public buildings to stock healthy options.
- Using public sector assets to the maximum to improve children's health.
- Making physical activity more attractive to children.
6. The role of Health Scrutiny is to act as a catalyst for improvement and to monitor progress. Accordingly, it is suggested that the Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee should monitor the following issues in about six months’ time.
Smoking
Which public sector organisations in County Durham have adopted the smoke-freedom toolkit and support the smoke-free north east initiative. More importantly, organisations will be asked how this has increased protection for children in the County.
Breast Feeding
Which public sector organisations have adopted and implemented a breast feeding policy in respect of their workforce and premises. In addition, what evidence can they produce to show increased participation in breast feeding as a result of their actions.
Obesity
Which public sector organisations have adopted the obesity strategy and what evidence do they have that their actions are reducing obesity.
Recommendation
7. You are recommended to agree that the Health Scrutiny Sub Committee carries out a monitoring role as suggested in paragraph 6 above. This will require a monitoring report in approximately six months time.
| Contact: Ian Mackenzie Tel: 0191 383 3506 |
Details of the Charter and the Award Scheme are available from Iain Miller, Health Promotion Specialist, Durham & Chester-le-Street PCT. E-mail: iain.miller@durhamclspct.nhs.uk
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