Agenda item

Report of Director of Transformation and Partnerships – presented by Jane Sunter, Public Health Portfolio Lead (Drug and Alcohol), Public Health, Adult and Health Services.

The Chairman introduced the Public Health Strategic Manager for Living and Aging Well, Jane Sunter who was in attendance to speak to Members in relation to progress of recommendations from review activity on Alcohol and its Demand on Emergency Services (for copy see file of minutes).

The Public Health Strategic Manager noted her new role had a larger overview of the work of Public Health (PH), looking at the work of partners in achieving PH goals. 

The Public Health Strategic Manager reminded Members that this was the third time she had presented information to the Committee on this topic, since 2016.  She explained that there had been a slight downward trend in alcohol admissions.  Members were reminded that the demand of the emergency services was high in the region, though County Durham had the third lowest in the region, though the issue was still very important.  The Public Health Strategic Manager noted that the work of BALANCE, the local alcohol charity, was very important regionally.

The Committee were reminded that originally a Working Group had been set up with the then Vice-Chairman of the Committee, former Councillor T Nearny, as the Chairman of the Working Group, he having presented the report from the group at Cabinet in November 2016 and subsequently at the SDP. 

She explained that a number of recommendations had been made by the Working Group and they were set out at Appendix 2 to the report.  She explained that there was ongoing work in relation to those, maintained and monitored by the SDP’s Drug and Alcohol Strategy Group, chaired by the Public Health Strategic Manager.

Members noted in terms of Recommendation 1, sharing findings of a cumulative impact assessment with the Office of the Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner (PCVC) and potential further work, the information had been shared.  It was added that in spring 2016, further work was undertaken in terms of the impact of alcohol in relation to a “5^th Licensing Objective”.  It was noted that the data produced did not provide any conclusive outcome in terms of cause and effect that could influence Licensing Committees.  The Public Health Strategic Manager noted this could be revisited in 2018/19 by PH and that there would be continued lobbying of Government in relation to a 5^th Licensing Objective.

The Public Health Strategic Manager reminded the Committee of the amalgamation of the Alcohol Harm Reduction and Drug Strategy Groups in 2017, with the new Alcohol and Harm Reduction Strategy Group utilising a new alcohol CLeaR (Challenge, Leadership, Results) tool.  It was explained that CLeaR was a holistic, evidence-based system improvement model to help prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm at a local level.  Members noted there would a be a peer-review in July 2018 and review findings would follow in October 2018, with the Public Health Strategic Manager noting County Durham was very advanced as regards strategy.

Councillors noted that Recommendation 2 stated that an education video be included within the events organised by the SDP and partners, utilising a video produced by the PCVC.  The Public Health Strategic Manager explained that the harms of alcohol had been highlighted in the training partnership arrangement between Durham Constabulary and Lifeline, the then provider and the PCVC video was available to be utilised as a training tool.  Members noted this recommendation had been achieved in 2017/18 and would be maintained in 2018/19, with the provision of a bespoke training team having been stipulated within the specification for the new Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service, launched in February 2018.

It was explained that Recommendation 3 referred to joint campaigns, and it was noted that to maximise the use of funding, the message of increased demand on emergency services over the Christmas period was linked to the wider alcohol harm reduction campaign timetable, with any separate campaign requiring a funding stream to be identified.

The Public Health Strategic Manager noted Recommendation 4 referred to the information within the Home Office’s Modern Crime Prevention Strategy and asked for consideration of further work on information sharing, especially between the blue light services, for example using the Cardiff Model.  It was explained that PH and Durham Constabulary met with the NHS Foundation Trust, and the Trust undertook internal scoping activity to look at data collection.  It was added that once assessed, it had been noted that local Cardiff data indicators were not of adequate quality to provide a comprehensive indicator of all the activity undertaken in accident and emergency.  Members noted the PCVC was visiting Cardiff in July and would look to see what elements of their model that could be used or adapted.

The Committee noted Recommendation 5 related to the SDP Board sharing the report with local MPs to raise awareness of issues including drink-driving and minimum unit pricing, and that this action had been completed. 

In relation to Recommendation 6, there was continued lobbying in terms of minimum unit pricing, with this being led in our region by BALANCE.  The Public Health Strategic Manager noted that Recommendation 7 had been to share the Working Group’s report with the Local Government Association’s Safer Communities Board, this action had also been completed.

The Public Health Strategic Manager reminded Members of the re-procurement of the Drug and Alcohol Services, with more focus on outreach in our communities that should help to impact positively on the alcohol demand on the emergency services.  Members were reminded of work with Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), hospitals and mental health organisations in terms of “frequent attendees” and specific alcohol interventions, including a fast track for “blue light drinkers”.

The Chairman thanked the Public Health Strategic Manager, noted this had been a review where Overview and Scrutiny had added value, and asked Members for their questions and comments.

Councillor S Iveson asked for some further information as regards BALANCE.  The Public Health Strategic Manager noted it was a unique and valuable service in the north east, being separate from Local Authorities and the NHS.  She explained how funding was provided from the Local Authorities in order for regional campaigns to be produced, maximising their impact.  Members noted that the BALANCE’s aim was for young people to have lives not harmed by alcohol by 2020

The Overview and Scrutiny Officer noted that as this was the third review of the recommendations the Committee was asked to confirm that they were happy to sign off the review of the recommendations as being completed.

Resolved:

(i)        That the report be noted.

(ii)        That the review of the report recommendations be noted as completed.