Agenda item - Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Annual Update: 2022-23

Report of the Director of Public Health (copy attached)

RESOLVED – that (1) the Board notes the annual JSNA update; and (2) that the Board agrees to the re-establishment of a Steering Group to review and develop the JSNA structure and the proposed three year programme of in-depth needs assessments for 2023-24 and 2025-26.

8.1       This item was presented by Caroline Vaas, Consultant in Public Health. Ms Vaas explained that the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) is used as an evidence-base to develop strategies and inform commissioning decisions, identifying gaps and under or over provision of services. The JSNA consists of a number of individual Needs Assessments, which vary considerably in size and complexity. The current JSNA format has served the city well, but in light of major developments in health and care systems (e.g. the launch of Integrated Care Systems: ICS), the way that the JSNA is delivered needs to be reviewed. To this end, there is a proposal to reconvene the City Needs Assessment Steering Group to review the JSNA and to agree a long-term (3 year) programme of needs assessments.

8.2       Responding to a  question from Cllr Bagaeen on census data, Ms Vaas told the Board that needs assessments would be reviewed to reflect emerging data from the 2021 census.

8.3       In response to a question from Cllr Robins on why this was largely a report to note, Rob Persey told members that there is a lengthy process to follow in the creation of strategies or complex assessments of need. In order to keep the Board up to date on the progress of these matters, and to enable members to inform their development via comments, the Board is periodically asked to note recent developments or plans for further work. The current JSNA report is to note, but a future report will ask the Board to approve a needs assessment programme.

8.4       Cllr Hugh-Jones asked a question on the contribution of wood-burning stoves to the negative health impacts of poor air quality. Ms Vaas did not have this information available at the meeting, but agreed to provide a written response. The following response was subsequently received: The council’s draft Air Quality Action Plan has recently been out to consultation

https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2022-05/7434%20Air%20Quality%20Action%20Plan%20pages%20and%20doc%20combined%20r3.pdf

and the results will be reported to September ETS Committee.

The plan refers to airborne pollution being a strong contributor to the 170 early deaths that occur each year in Brighton & Hove and be a factor in the onset of certain diseases or conditions.  This is often linked to long-term exposure.  There is a section on air quality and health and one of the plan’s priority areas is to reduce smoke/emissions from buildings, and this includes wood burning in stoves or fireplaces.  Pages 33 and 34 refer to domestic burning.  Further work would be  required to determine the contribution domestic burning has on local air quality. 

The council’s webpages include clear advice about woodburning:-

https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/environment/noise-pollution-and-air-quality/using-solid-fuels-safely-and-legally

It is a seasonal activity and therefore increases in winter months.   

Media reports can also highlight the impacts of woodburning from time to time, including the impacts on indoor air quality:-

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/01/avoid-using-wood-burning-stoves-if-possible-warn-health-experts

8.5       In response to a question from Cllr Hugh-Jones on smoking, Ms Vaas told members that city smoking rates were falling, but remained higher than the national average; in some part this links to deprivation and to city demographics. Some vape products are now being used for harm reduction in smoking cessation services. There is also work ongoing to discourage general vape use, particularly amongst younger people. 

8.6       Cllr Hugh-Jones asked a question about relatively low vaccination take-up in the city. Ms Vass responded that is a priority area, and that learning from the success of the Covid vaccination programme is being used to inform the development of the Child Immunisation Programme to be launched in November 2022.

8.7       In response to a question from the Chair on suicide and self-harm, Ms Vaas told members that there was a good deal of work ongoing in these areas: suicide and self-harm feature in the Mental Health Needs Assessment work, and also have links to work on homelessness and on substance misuse. The Sussex Suicide Prevention Strategy is also being developed currently. The Mental Health Needs Assessment will be presented to the HWB, potentially at the November 2022 Board meeting.

8.8       RESOLVED – that (1) the Board notes the annual JSNA update; and (2) that the Board agrees to the re-establishment of a Steering Group to review and develop the JSNA structure and the proposed three year programme of in-depth needs assessments for 2023-24 and 2025-26.