Agenda item

5.05 pm – Progress report attached.

The Assistant Director - Health and Wellbeing presented a report to update Members on the key actions being delivered to improve health and wellbeing outcomes and to address health inequalities in the borough since the previous report to the Scrutiny Committee in May 2018.

The report referred to the positive interventions which the Chesterfield Health and Wellbeing Partnership continued to promote and develop across the borough through close partnership working to enable communities to grow their capacity to deliver positive change.

The Partnership was currently focusing work in the Staveley and Poolsbrook area, which had been identified as being in need of targeted support to tackle social isolation through physical activity.

Following assessments and consultation in Poolsbrook a range of interventions had been started, including junior sport and physical activity sessions, junior art and craft sessions and a weight management programme. A healthy cooking programme would commence in the New Year. Further consultation with the community in Staveley was continuing to direct the most appropriate interventions there.

The report explained the development of Place Alliances across Derbyshire involving commissioners, community services providers, local authorities, primary care, the voluntary and community sector and the public to work together to meet the health and wellbeing needs of local people. The Chesterfield Alliance was now established with the focus of improving health outcomes for the most frail in the community.

Arising from Members’ questions and comments the following issues were discussed:

·        The importance of identifying leaders from within local communities to be able to continue activities beyond the short-term and the difficulty and cost of otherwise bringing in external activity leaders;

·        The possibility of all those involved in delivering holiday activity programmes across the borough sharing their experiences to learn from each other;

·        Whether the attendance at the summer holiday activities at the Healthy Living Centre had been proportionately lower from Poolsbrook and Middlecroft and from academy schools;

·        Patients at Inkersall surgery having to travel to Grangewood if they needed to see a GP.

The Chair suggested the possibility of the Committee considering some of the initiatives in Poolsbrook in greater detail through an appreciative inquiry approach in the New Year.

There were initial indications that usage of foodbanks was continuing to increase, and further detail would be provided to Members of the Committee outside the meeting. It was noted that food was being donated by various suppliers through different groups and schemes, including Fareshare.

The Committee expressed its support for the work being undertaken to improve health and wellbeing and the Chair thanked the Assistant Director - Health and Wellbeing for his contribution to the meeting.

RESOLVED –

(1)      That the ongoing work through the Health and Wellbeing Partnership be supported.

(2)      That the Chair explore with the Assistant Director – Health and Wellbeing the possibility of the Committee considering some of the initiatives in Poolsbrook in greater detail through an appreciative inquiry approach in the New Year.

(3)      That progress on the work to improve health and wellbeing in the borough be considered further by the Committee in March, 2019.