Agenda item

The Committee considered the Annual Report of the Director of Public Health that focused on the importance of good work with a specific emphasis on our mid-life population (age 40 -70 years) (for copy see file of minutes).

The Director of Public Health thanked Gill O’Neill for carrying out the report during her Interim role.  She advised that a presentation would come to a future meeting focusing on the health needs and the future challenges and priorities.

Further to a question from Councillor Bell about what the figures on the bus ride diagrams indicated within the report, the Director of Public Health explained that they were an overall measure of how long people could live.  This would depend upon the different conditions people may have and highlighted that there were many bumps in the road and that one size did not fit all.  She offered to bring back an in depth review into these figures at a future meeting.

Referring to the support structures being championed, Councillor Darkes asked why the lack of stroke services had not been championed, as there was a lack of continuity of the service.  The Director of Public Health advised that they were working very closely with colleagues in social care taking a look at how to prevent strokes.  Councillor Darkes further asked if there was an action plan in place dealing with strokes and was advised that the care would be included in a pathway and was assured that the service were looking at this with colleagues in social care.

Councillor Smith asked how improving health at work was marketed to business, especially small businesses without occupational health.  The Director of Public Health informed her that Business Durham were involved with this area and the link to small businesses would include better health at work.  A report was being developed and would be utilised at the Big tent Event.  She added that next year they would challenge how this had been implemented.

Resolved:

(i)            That the Annual Report of the Director of Public Health be received;

(ii)          That the recommendations within the report be endorsed and championed by the Committee.