Agenda item - Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy: Living Well

Report of the Interim Director of Public Health (copy attached).

51 JOINT HEALTH & WELLBEING STRATEGY: LIVING WELL

51.1 This item was introduced by Caroline Vass (Consultant in Public Health, Brighton and Hove City Council) and supported by Laura Wood (Health Development Specialist) and Katy Harker (Consultant in Public Health). Laura Wood presented an update to the board on the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy with a focus on Living Well, showing comparative data and metrics. These metrics look comparatively at how Brighton and Hove is doing versus the national averages and data from across the region and how it is doing now versus previously. Brighton and Hove was similar or better than the English average (barring smoking prevalence in adults, where Brighton and Hove was worse) and, in most metrics, Brighton and Hove had improved versus previous data sets (barring: self-reported wellbeing, smoking prevalence in adults in routine and manual occupations, and workers walking for travel, which had all worsened). STI diagnosis, drug misuse deaths, and the suicide rates had also increased.

51.2 Katy Harker presented slides on the cardiovascular disease prevention plan for the city. Developing a cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention plan was a year 1 Shared Delivery Plan (SDP) milestone for Brighton and Hove. In March 2024, a list of the activities being delivered to reduce the impact of CVD in Brighton and Hove was taken to the Health and Wellbeing Board. Based on feedback from the board, NHS Sussex and Brighton and Hove City Council Public Health have worked together to develop a CVD prevention plan.

        There were 5 key areas for the plan that were focused on:

•             NHS Health Checks

•             Tier 2 Weight Management

•             Smoking Cessation

•             Hypertension and Hyperlipidaemia

•             Healthy Communities

Katy Harker presented further details within each of the 5 key action areas. Focus across each of the points were placed on deprived areas and towards targeted groups to improve engagement.

51.3 Laura Wood presented slides on outcomes and campaigns, specifically on Workplace Health Champions. This is a scheme open to organisations to work on health improvement and achieve health outcomes for staff. Medium business were targeted to signpost staff to the appropriate clinics to promote health and wellbeing. There are currently 105 workplace champions, with 32 being citywide, 37 being in schools and nurseries, and 36 being with Brighton and Hove City Council.

51.4 Councillor De Oliveira asked how the programme is promoted. Laura Wood responded stating that the team will go out to workplaces and host exhibitions and events to get the message out.

51.5 Tanya Brown-Griffith (Director for Joint Commissioning and Integrated Community Teams at NHS Sussex) asked how Workplace Health Champions are made aware of within the workplace and how they work together to connect staff and recipients with what’s available. In response to how workplace health champions are made aware of in the workplace and work together to connect with what is available, there are newsletters distributed and various levels of support.

51.6 Stephen Lightfoot (Chair of NHS Sussex) made a comment on cardiovascular disease as to who is doing what and asked about the prioritization process. In response to this question, all activities are run at the same time and are all priorities. A commission has been in service in hospitals. There is a real challenge in areas of high smoking. The priorities will continue to be based on areas that the Board has asked to be prioritised.

51.7 Councillor Miller commented, referring to the language used on page 70 of the report, is the wording around the low happiness score referring to a percentage of the population with a low happiness score? The response is that this is self- reported score and is a percentage. This is statistically similar to other areas of England and has worsened in the area. The Councillor also commented that some of the evidence from the report should be informing Councillor’s decisions more broadly. Katy Harker responded that on a couple of the indicators, the city is doing quite well, particularly around physical activity where collaboration with council colleagues has been very strong and shown very strong results. There have been workshops and engaged people across many backgrounds. While it is not all as joined up as it could be, there have been plenty of positive steps and collaboration seen.

51.9 Councillor Burden asked a question around walking as physical activity. In response, the table within the report shows that residents are walking and cycling at least 3 times a week with the highest rate in the country.

51.10 A question was asked around workplace health champions and how this will tie in with mental health first aid. In response, it was said that having more than one workplace health champion is welcomed and encouraged, especially across organisations with multiple sites. Mental health is also covered on this course for workplace health champions.

51.11 Lester Coleman (Healthwatch) asked a question on point 2.19 on page 73: should adult prevalence be included when considering the smoking rates? In response, it was stated that this would be explored and brought back to board.

51.12 Councillor Miller asked if work is being done with universities which is where mental health issues occur. In response it was confirmed that universities and schools are receiving support.

51.13 RESOLVED – that the report be noted and approved.