Agenda item

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

The Board received an update report from the Interim Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services and Director of Public Health in respect of Enabling Healthy Weight for All, accompanied by a presentation given by the Public Health Strategic Manager, Mick Shannon and Public Health Advanced Practitioner, Kelly Rose (for copy see file of minutes).

The Board noted the County Durham Health Weight Action Plan had five ambition action areas, namely: 1. Healthy at place; 2. Healthy families; 3. Healthy sustainable food for all; 4. Healthy workforce; and 5. Healthy weight – Patient care.  Members were informed of the updates to the Moving Together in County Durham physical activity strategy and the importance of a whole systems approach.  The Public Health Strategic Manager explained as regards the development of a Health Weight Declaration for County Durham and asked the Board how they could support the healthy weight plan priorities within their own individual organisations, as well as those organisations support for a County Durham Healthy Weight Declaration.  He concluded by asking for any ideas to help improve population level healthy weight.

Councillor R Bell noted the impact of the rise in working from home, having increased since COVID-19, and the impact of back-to-back video meetings, with many people’s jobs becoming more sedentary and with less gaps to be able to prepare or pop out to purchase healthy options for lunch.  The Public Health Strategic Manager noted that ambition four referred to Healthy workforce, which included elements relating to office-based jobs, as well as those working in other environments Such as depots and warehouses, as well as working from home.  He explained as regards virtual fitness classes that provided practical activities you can do during the day to help.

The Interim Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services, M Laing noted that it was important to emphasise that there was an economic case for helping employees maintain a healthy weight, to prevent absence from work due to related health issues.  He added there were links to longer term health conditions and noted that the issue was one that was taken very seriously by the County Council.

F Jassat noted the report and presentation was welcomed and noted the need for system leaders.  He noted the role of Government, in terms of food manufacturing and levels of salt and sugar in our food.  He welcomed the support for more local, community support as well as the larger regional and national campaigns and lobbying activities.  He added there was the challenge in terms of changing people’s perception, noting the work of Jamie Oliver in this regard. 

Officers agreed, noting that the Healthy Weight Declaration included elements linking with campaigns and lobbying of Government.  The Director of Public Health, Amanda Healy noted the work of Public Health Advanced Practitioner, Rachel Osbaldeston in terms of alcohol harm campaigns, and the work of FRESH and BALANCE in terms of regional smoking and alcohol harm campaigns.  She noted the work with the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENCICB) and noted NHS colleagues would understand the cost in terms of treatment of the issues associated with unhealthy weight.  She added it was important to campaign and lobby so that the North East Combined Authority and Government each did their part.  The Public Health Strategic Manager noted the work of the Local Authorities in the North East, working together regularly in respect of campaigns and lobbying.

Dr D Dwarakanath noted another important element was food poverty, citing examples in his local area where there was a poor selection of quality food, and explained as regards many people not having access to affordable healthier options.  He asked what influence the Board may have in respect of smaller local traders and any levers to counter cheap offers on unhealthy foods, such as two for one offers on pizzas, as an example.  The Public Health Advanced Practitioner noted that as part of the Poverty Action Plan, there was wrap around support in terms of food poverty.  She noted that there was also support in terms of helping increase knowledge around nutritious food.  She noted a need to build up relationships with those small and medium sized enterprises in respect of such food offers. 

P Sutton noted that he felt there was a need for a national push on the matter, in a similar way to the campaigns highlighting alcohol harm.  He added that many leisure facilities advertised alcohol and chocolate and asked whether there was a need for greater ambition in terms of licensing.  Officers noted the advertising within gyms and the Director of Public Health noted that while it was important to support those wider national and regional campaigns, it was important for Board Members to work within their own organisations, noting on a recent visit to Newcastle Hospital there was a Costa café, serving high calorie drinks.  She added that the Health Weight Declaration help share good practice and noted that unfortunately ‘health’ was not currently a licensing objective.

D L Murthy noted the impact of the increase of people working from home following the COVID pandemic.  He noted there were a number of exercises that could be carried out within the home, or even on a chair such as isometrics or light weight training.  He added that many of the images used depicted people that were at least overweight, with some being obese, adding he felt it was incongruous with the message of healthy weight. 

The Public Health Advanced Practitioner noted that it was important to not stigmatise those with an unhealthy weight and to encourage them to take actions to help reduce their weight.

The Interim Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services noted the importance of making sure people could identify with the message, an example being the Council’s Leisure Centres not advertising with ‘athletes’ and to give examples of ‘normal people’ to encourage uptake.  He noted this was an area with a strong evidence base.

Resolved:

That the Health and Wellbeing Board:

(a) note the progress made towards further development of a whole

systems approach to healthy weight in County Durham over the

previous 12-month period;

(b) approve the Healthy Weight Action Plan and affirm support for:

·        continued close collaboration between Durham County Council (DCC) and key stakeholders to develop a strong, unified systems leadership approach through the adoption of the Local Authority Healthy Weight Declaration in County Durham; 

·        the provision of healthy and sustainable food for all through the

County Durham contribution to the Good Food Local North East programme;

·        a revision of DCC’s advertising and sponsorship policy to restrict promotion of foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt on DCC platforms;

·        the proposed amendment to the National Planning Policy Framework to include specific guidance on promoting healthy and safe communities to support healthy lifestyles, particularly to address identified local health and wellbeing needs;

·        continued partnership working to achieve the actions set out in the Moving Together in County Durham physical activity strategy.