Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Officer for Communities, Public Health, Environment and Prosperity, presenting the Public Health Annual Report for 2017/18, attached.

The annual report is a separate document and is available at https://bit.ly/2ES2xoo

(Councillors Biederman, Dewhirst, Hannaford, Hodgson, Greenslade and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Chief Officer for Communities, Public Health, Environment and Prosperity, presenting the Public Health Annual Report for 2017/18, which was available at https://bit.ly/2ES2xoo

The Annual Public Health Report was the eleventh in a series of annual reports on the health of the population of Devon which began in 2007-08.  Over that period, there had been extraordinary improvements in the health of the population of Devon.  The pattern of disease had changed over the years – while life expectancy had increased, as modern medicine developed new techniques and treatments, so had the prevalence of long-term health conditions, such as diabetes, heart and lung disease, arthritis and dementia.  The health of the population of Devon generally compared favourably with other parts of England and Wales with the exception of some aspects of mental health, and deaths from skin cancer, strokes and falls.

This Public Health Annual Report considered the health and wellbeing of children and young people. As children grew up, research had shown that early influences on health could have life-long effects. Investing in the health and wellbeing of children would result in long-term population benefits and the Report acknowledged that growing up in a loving, nurturing and safe family environment was part of the child developing into a healthy, happy adult. Conversely those on the receiving end of harmful adult behaviours (such as substance abuse or domestic and sexual violence and abuse) could themselves replicate those behaviours and continue the cycle. Feedback from such people cited a lack of early recognition and support, highlighting the importance of prevention and early intervention. To quote Frederick Douglass ‘it is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men’.

Last, the Report focussed on the long-term impact of poverty and disadvantage on the health and wellbeing of children, and to wider society, which was one that had a financial as well as a human cost.

In debating the Annual Report, Members acknowledged the state of health of children

and young people in Devon and welcomed the recommendations to improve the health and

wellbeing of the next generation.

The recommendations within the Report covered a range of matters including reducing the number of children living in poverty / poor housing, improving the health of women before,

during and after pregnancy, increasing breastfeeding rates, improving communication skills, promoting healthy eating, improving oral health / dental hygiene in children, increased levels of physical activity, promoting good emotional wellbeing, ensuring access to quality sexual health advice / services, ensuring that personal, social and health education (including relationship issues) was provided to all children, reducing the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs, ensuring all children benefited from immunisation, preventing accidental injury and harm, improving the care of children with long-term health conditions, supporting adults in tackling behaviours that were associated with harm to children, reducing the attainment gap between people  ...  view the full minutes text for item 180

Report of the Chief Officer for Communities, Public Health, Environment & Prosperity (attached) accompanying the tenth Annual Public Health Report prepared and published by the Director of Public Health reviewing the state of health of the population of Devon and setting out health and wellbeing priorities for Devon (enclosed separately).

[NB: The Annual Public Health Report may be viewed at: http://www.devonhealthandwellbeing.org.uk/aphr/2016-17/]

(Councillors Atkinson, Connett and Hannaford attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the summary Report of the Chief Officer for Communities, Public Health, Environment and Prosperity alongside the Tenth Annual Public Health Report reviewing the state of the health of the population of Devon and setting future health and wellbeing priorities for the local population. 

In welcoming the Annual Report, Members acknowledged that the pattern of disease had changed over the years and while life expectancy had increased as a consequence of modern medicine developing new techniques and treatments, so had the prevalence of long-term health conditions, such as diabetes, heart and lung disease, arthritis and dementia; the  main area of concern in terms of local trends and the position of Devon relative to other areas was mental health.

The 2016/17 Report explored the importance of the health of the public in society and the  relationship between different aspects of place and health and wellbeing – how the concept of place and community affected peoples’ health and wellbeing (e.g. how and where people lived) - and the various roles of public sector bodies with responsibility for health and care systems to ensure continuing fairness, equality and justice in improving people’s health and wellbeing. 

Members acknowledged that while the health of the public in Devon was broadly favourable (as compared with national indicators or similar geographical areas) there were challenges and areas of concern particularly around the need for a continued focus on giving children the best start in life and maintaining health and wellbeing throughout adolescence and adulthood into older age. Those had been encapsulated in the priorities and recommendations set out in the Report’s Executive Summary, reflective also of the County Councils’ strategic objectives.

Members noted that the Annual Report also recorded achievements against recommendations contained in the previous year’s report, the majority of which had been fully

achieved.

It was MOVED by Councillor Croad SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

RESOLVED that the Report be welcomed and published.

[NB: The Annual Public Health Report may be viewed at: http://www.devonhealthandwellbeing.org.uk/aphr/2016-17/]