Agenda item

The Board received a joint report of Director of Public Health County Durham, Adult and Health Services, Durham County Council, the Deputy Director of Health Protection, North East Public Health England and the Consultant in Health Protection, North East Public Health England that set out the means by which the Director of Public Health was assured that the health of the population is protected. In doing this, it lays out the statutory duty placed on Local Authorities for health protection and outlines the role of the Director of Public Health (DPH). It also presents the health protection plan on a page which draws together key health protection programmes and identifies where assurance has been sought in this area of key responsibility. Finally, the paper will identify areas where this assurance could be strengthened (for copy see file of Minutes).

The presentation highlighted the following points:-

·         Statutory responsibilities/ mandated functions of the Director of Public Health

·         The key elements of health protection

·         Health Protection in practice 2017

·         Health Protection – draft plan on a page

·         Assurance Dashboard

·         Screening and Immunisations – good news and issues

·         Prevention and Management of Communicable Diseases – good news and issues

·         Emergency planning, resilience, response and recovery – good news and issues

The Deputy Director of Health Protection, North East Public Health England shared further background information to the Board on the day to day jobs where the team were continually responding to outbreaks, raising the profile of the work carried out and providing an assurance process. Strong relationships had been built up with partner organisations and the involvement of the Environmental Health teams were considered to be a critical part in helping to protect the public.  National priorities including eliminating TB, tackling anti MR resistance, air quality and the impact on public health.  These were very difficult challenges. Some technical developments had occurred with genetic sequencing and understanding the recent flu season, which  would help determine the vaccines required for the future.

Councillor Allen asked if there were any plans to communicate with the public on the health protection issues and was advised that this was part of the national communications service division.  He added that flu messages would come out nationally and anything urgent would go to the press with intervention being delivered locally.

Dr Smart was concerned that young women were not presenting for cervical screenings and felt that this may be partly attributable to them thinking they were immunised following the HPV vaccine at school.

As this was dealt with by a separate team the Chairman suggested that a representative be invited to a future meeting.  The Director of Public Health, DCC added that there were mixed messages and that further clarity was required.  Healthwatch were undertaking a survey to look at why women did not come forward.

Councillor Gunn welcomed the report and presentation but would like to receive further details at a future meeting.  She was pleased that the importance of the Environmental Health team had been outlined.

The Chief Clinical Officer, DDES CCG enquired about the flu vaccine used by GPs this year and was informed that there would be a change for 2018/19.

Resolved:

(i)            That the report’s content and development of the surveillance dashboard and health protection plan on a page be noted;

(ii)          That the areas of assurance and further action be acknowledged.