Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Public Health, which reviews progress against the overarching priorities identified in the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Devon 2020-2025.

The Board noted the Report from the Director of Public Health, on the performance for the Board, which monitored the priorities identified in the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Devon 2020-25.

The indicator list and performance summary within the full report set out the priorities, indicators and indicator types, and included a trend line, highlighting change over time. 

The latest Health and Wellbeing Outcomes Interactive Report, along with this paper, was available on the Devon Health and Wellbeing website.

The Report monitored the four Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2020-25 priorities, and included breakdowns by local authority, district and trends over time. These priorities areas included:

·          Create opportunities for all

·          Healthy safe, strong and sustainable communities

·          Focus on mental health

·          Maintain good health for all

The indicators below had all been updated since the last report to the Board:

Children in absolute low-income families (Under 16s), 2019/20

The percentage of children aged under 16 living in absolute low-income families in Devon was 12.5%. This was significantly lower compared to the England rate of 15.6%. Across Devon, all districts, except for Torridge, were significantly lower compared to the England average. Torridge was significantly higher compared to the England average (17.3%).

Estimated Dementia Diagnosis Rate (65+), 2021

In Devon, the estimated dementia diagnosis rate of persons aged 65+ was 56.3%. This was significantly worse compared to the national target of 66.7%. Across Devon, there was some variation across the districts. Mid Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge Torridge and West Devon had rates that were significantly worse compared to national average. The East Devon, Exeter and North Devon rates were statistically similar to the national value.

Fuel poverty, 2019

The percentage of households in Devon that experience fuel poverty in Devon was 10.7%. The England average was 13.4%. Across Devon all districts were statistically similar to the national average.

The Board’s discussion covered:

-       the level of dementia diagnosis rates in Devon;

-       the time lag in the data not reflecting the impact of COVID over the last year, and predictive modelling; and

-       that a self-harm and suicide update was planned for the January Board meeting.