Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor T Henderson and L Hall, Dr J Carlton, D Gallagher, S Jacques, L Robertson, L Taylor, C Cunnington Shore and F Jassat.

There were the following Substitute Members: G Curry for S Jacques; J Todd for L Taylor; S Burns for D Gallagher.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

The minutes of the meeting held 22 November 2023 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Interim Strategic Manager – Partnerships, Julie Bradbrook noted that since the last meeting, a motion had been passed at Full Council, seconded by Councillor C Hood as Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board and Portfolio Holder for Adult and Health Services, in relation to the Director of Public Health responding on behalf of the Council in respect of the Government’s consultation, supporting the age of sale proposal for tobacco, and on vaping, proposing that evidence based measures to tighten the promotion, packaging, branding, pricing of vapes to reduce appeal to children and young people are taken.

The Director of Public Health, Amanda Healy noted that the results of the ‘Stopping the Start’ consultation would be published later in the month and added that it was important to maintain the focus on the issues such as increasing the age of sale and work to combat illegal vape sales.

The Health and Wellbeing Board agreed to write to MPs outlining the work taking place and seeking their continued support.

Report of the Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services and the Director of Public Health, Durham County Council.

The Board received a report and update presentation from the Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services and Director of Public Health, presented by the Public Health Strategic Manager, Jane Sunter, Public Health Advanced Practitioner, Yusef Meah and the Associate

Director - MH/LD Partnerships and Strategy, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV), Jo Murray on the Mental Health Strategic Partnership (MHSP) Plan (for copy see file of minutes).

The Public Health Strategic Manager noted that the MHSP Plan had been reported at the Health and Wellbeing Board previously, and that the plan had been agreed by the MHSP Board.  As part of an interactive poll, Members of the Board were asked to think of a word that came to mind when thinking about a time they felt their life was at a low, responses included: bereavement, divorce, stress, anxious, sadness, menopause, lonely, financial pressure, and family pressure.  The Board were asked to think of a word that came to mind when thinking about what things helped in terms of mental health resilience, responses included: family, exercise, friends, nature, purpose, holidays, fitness and walking.  The Public Health Advanced Practitioner thanked the Board for their responses and noted that it was important to understand the impact of low-level mental health challenges and what in our lives helped to build resilience and strength, and to provide opportunities to help contribute to others health and wellbeing. 

The Public Health Strategic Manager explained that this exercise helped to illustrate that broader population mental health and wellbeing is not just about services for those with severe mental health issues.  She explained the importance of data in helping to identify issues, noting the use of a Mental Health Dashboard, using Power BI, and reminded Members of the five priority areas: children and young people; suicide prevention; urgent care; dementia; and the resilient communities group.  The Public Health Strategic Manager noted that Mental Health Strategic Partners had co-produced delivery plans, and that an issue that had been highlighted was that of the benefits of physical activity on mental health.

The Associate Director - MH/LD Partnerships and Strategy, TEWV noted that she was the Co-Chair of the Strategic Board and explained as regards Community Mental Health Transformation work, including ensuring there was ‘no wrong door’ and that interventions were needs based.  She explained that the main issues that could lead to mental health issues remained similar to previously reported, namely: relationship breakdown; bereavement; financial issues; and housing issues.  She noted that there were many challenges, with mental health being a complex issue, and it was important that training in ‘making every contact count’ in respect of mental health issues was across all sectors and that expectations were managed.  She concluded by noting that the call to action was: ‘We will work together to make County Durham a place where Mental Health is a priority for all’.

The Chair thanked the Officers and asked the Board for their comments and questions.

P Sutton noted recent articles that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Report of the Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services, Durham County Council.

The Board received an update report from the Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services, Jane Robinson on the Adult Social Care Assessment Framework – Self Assessment (for copy see file of minutes).

The Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services noted it had been 12 years since the last Adult Social Care Assessment and noted a self-assessment process was used to give a truthful and accurate picture.  She thanked all that had given their feedback via surveys.  The Board noted that the key headlines included:

•              the collaborative approach to understand the market position,

•              joint management arrangements across health and social care,

•              transitions from child to adulthood,

•              the relationship with Public Health objectives,

•              the strong relationship with the voluntary and community sector,

•      the importance of workforce development, support, and staff engagement.

The Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services noted that there was still more to do and drew attention to the strengths and areas for improvement for four key areas: leadership; providing services; working with people; and ensuring safety, as set out within paragraph 28 of the report.

The Chair thanked the Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services and asked if there had been any change since the three pilots last year in terms of inspections.  The Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services noted that it was rumoured the next three pilots would be announced, however, no information had come forward at this point, she added it was usually three Local Authorities every two weeks.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.

Report of the Head of Economic Development, Durham County Council.

The Board received an update report from the Head of Economic Development, presented by the Regeneration Policy Team Leader, Glenn Martin on the Inclusive Economic Strategy (IES) Deliver Plan (for copy see file of minutes).

The Regeneration Policy Team Leader reminded the Board that the process in terms of the IES had begun around two years ago, and that a lot had changed in that time.  He noted the consultation that had taken place during lockdown with ‘The Big e-Conversation’, with the impact of health on the economy brought into focus due to the pandemic.

In respect of the Economic Statement, the Regeneration Policy Team Leader noted that it was at an early stage, with elements including looking at the impact of long-term sickness on the economy sometime known as ‘hidden unemployment’.  He explained that in April 2022 there had been over 3,000 responses to the consultation.  He noted that East Durham College had helped with the consultation, in encouraging responses from young people, which in addition to the good response from residents and businesses represented a good sample of responses.

The Regeneration Policy Team Leader noted that in terms of the Economic Partnership, it had been very clear that there had been a lack of opportunities and connectivity, especially for young people.  He noted that the draft strategy had stated ‘more and better jobs’ and referred to ‘five Ps’: People; Productivity; Places; Promotion: and Planet, with all to be delivered through Partnership.  He noted that it had been encouraging to see mental health of their staff emerge as a key priority for many businesses.  He explained that, with the backdrop of reducing resources for Local Authorities, there was a need for a partnership approach, with links to other agencies and organisations.  He noted there had been a number of thematic groups, based upon the ‘five Ps’, with an addition group looking at Innovation.

The Regeneration Policy Team Leader explained that there had been 160 activities identified, not just for the Local Authority, but also including partners, and there was reference to funding, including the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF).  He noted the Delivery Plan was for the next few years, rather than across the whole of the Economic Strategy, to reflect the changes that would impact in the next few years, the national and local elections and national spending reviews.  He noted that one of the main issues would be funding moving forward.

The Regeneration Policy Team Leader explained that there had been engagement with health colleagues at an early stage and very good working relationships had been established.  He noted that the Delivery Plan had been adopted by the Economic Partnership in October 2023, and by the Council in November 2023.

The Board noted the integration with Durham Insight, and it was explained that there would be a need to see an improvement across all of the county to be able to say the strategy was working.

The Regeneration Policy Team Leader noted that in respect to wellbeing,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Report of the Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services and the Director of Public Health, Durham County Council.

The Board received an update report and presentation from the Director of Public Health on the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2022-2025 (for copy see file of minutes).

The Director of Public Health noted the combination of the Community Pharmacy County Durham and Community Pharmacy Sunderland to create the Community Pharmacy North-East Central, with Greg Burke as the Chief Officer, and noted that the PNA ran for three years, up to 2025.  It was explained as regards the work of community pharmacies, noting the reduction from 100 hours to 75 hours and the impact this had especially in the context of pharmacies taking on additional roles. 

She added the NENCICB noted that currently they felt there was enough capacity and the pharmacies we had be of a high quality, it was approaching a ‘tipping point’ and therefore any future closures or changes to pharmacies would need to be looked at in-depth.  She noted new services being offered via pharmacies included blood pressure checks, contraception, flu-vaccines amongst other roles that helped to take the pressure off GPs and Accident and Emergency.  She noted that funding was a challenge and emphasised that it was critical to support our local pharmacies as they understood our local communities. 

G Burke noted that some services provided by local pharmacies were classed as essential and therefore mandatory, with some advanced services being optional.  He noted that the coverage in County Durham was very good and that Pharmacy Services North East (PSNE) Limited had been established across five Local Pharmacy Committees to help streamline commissioning of services and provide a single point of contact for pharmacies within the area.  He noted recent developments included the National Think Pharmacy First Services and relaunches of the national hypertension and contraception services.  The Board reviewed a video highlighting how local pharmacies would transform to be a key doorway into the NHS, offering a wider range of services and more clinical care and management of long-term conditions, working collaboratively to provide better value for the NHS and public.

Councillor R Bell noted the vison was very positive and asked how we would better promote the offer of our community pharmacies with local residents.  G Burke noted that there was a lot of work to do in both promoting the services offered, as well as managing expectations.  He noted national campaigns relating to annual vaccines, relaunch of the blood pressure testing and contraception services, as well as pharmacy finders and the Think Pharmacies First.  He noted that Healthwatch would be invited to attend meetings in respect of many issues, including on the issue of communications.

Councillor R Bell noted issues relating to funding and noted that some parts of the NHS seemed to ‘pick up the slack’ and asked as regards any replication or repetition of services.  G Burke noted that this was an issue for Community Pharmacy England to raise with Government, noting that £645 million had been noted as new funding, but noted that this was for additional services on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Report and Presentation of Joint Head of Integrated Strategic Commissioning / Director of Place, NENC Integrated Care Board and Durham County Council.

The Board received an update report and presentation from the Strategic Commissioning Manager, Sarah Douglas on the Carers Plan on Page - Adult Carers, Parent Carers and Young Adult Carers (for copy see file of minutes).

The Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services thanked the Strategic Commissioning Manager and all the carers involved in producing the plans on a page, noting that while it was useful preparation for any Care Quality Commission assurance visit, it was also important to have such in place for our carers in County Durham.  K Burrows thanked the Strategic Commissioning Manager and noted that it was so very important to amplify the voices and noted the contribution of the CVS within this area.

Resolved:

(i)     That the report and Carers Plan on a Page be noted.

(ii) That the Health and Wellbeing accept updates on the work to support   unpaid carers in County Durham as required. 

J Robinson left the meeting at 11.22am

Report of the Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership Independent Chair (for information).

The Chair noted the report was attached to the agenda papers for Board Members’ information.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.

Report of the Durham Safeguarding Adults Partnership Independent Chair (for information).

The Chair noted the report was attached to the agenda papers for Board Members’ information.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.

Resolved:

That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Report of the Director of Public Health, Durham County Council.

The Board considered a report of the Director of Public Health which presented a summary of Pharmacy Applications received from NHS England in accordance with the NHS (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013 (for copy see file of minutes).

Resolved:

That the report be noted.