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City of York Council |
Committee Minutes |
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Meeting |
Health, Housing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee |
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Date |
23 April 2024 |
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Present |
Councillors D Myers (Chair), Vassie (Vice-Chair), Baxter, Runciman, Smalley, Steels-Walshaw, Wann, Wilson, B Burton (Substitute) and Melly (Substitute) |
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Apologies |
Councillors Kelly and Rose |
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In Attendance |
Councillor Coles (Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care) Councillor Pavlovic (Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities) [until 18:06] |
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Officers Present |
Peter Roderick, Director of Public Health Phil Truby, Public Health Specialist Practitioner Advanced |
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39. Declarations of Interest (17:32)
Members were asked to declare at this point in the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interests or other registerable interests they might have in respect of the business on the agenda, if they had not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests.
In respect of agenda item 4 (Tackling Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease: York's Healthcheck Programme) Councillor Vassie noted that he had a family member who was currently receiving cardiovascular care.
40. Minutes (17:33)
The committee considered the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 27 March 2024.
In respect of minute item 38 (Work Plan) it was noted that the Homelessness Resettlement Pathway report was not on the agenda for the present meeting as had been requested. The Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities was in attendance and explained that the report was undergoing revisions before being presented to the Executive, and should be available for consideration next month.
Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 March 2024 be agreed as correct record and signed by the Chair.
41. Public Participation (17:36)
It was reported that there had been one registration to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme, but that the speaker was not in attendance.
42. Tackling Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease: York's Healthcheck Programme (17:37)
The committee considered an update on the statutory NHS Healthcheck programme in York. Officers provided an overview, noting that cardiovascular and metabolic diseases were leading causes of death in York. The Council had a contract with Nimbuscare for delivery of 2000 checks annually over five years. As the eligible population of those aged 40-74 in York was far larger, a proactive invitation was targeted at residents with relevant risk factors. Healthchecks could be reinforced by a ‘follow on’ pathway through the health trainer service.
Members enquired about provision for harder-to-reach groups, including the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community, and people with substance misuse issues, and how barriers to accessing healthchecks were being removed. It was noted that although budegtary restraints posed a major challenge, work was being done to move towards a more person-focused approach, including improving the accessibility, format, and language of invites and offers being made in British Sign Language and Braille, while an NHS-funded version of the offer existed for those with severe mental illness or learning disabilities.
The committee discussed community outreach. It was confirmed that NHS Health Kiosks which measured key health metrics had been installed at three sites in York. Attention was drawn to the level of use of the kiosk at Tang Hall Community Centre, and to the successful ‘How's Thi Ticker’ blood pressure check campaign run by Barnsley Council which made use of sites such as barbershops and markets; the possibility of offering healthchecks at community events was also discussed. It was noted that while many people could identify ways of reducing high blood pressure, getting the idea of regular checks into the public consciousness would take some time.
Members enquired about the accessibility of digital health checks. It was noted that these were being trialled nationally rather than locally following a pilot scheme in Cornwall last year. It was envisaged that digital checks would complement rather than replace the existing local authority offer.
With reference to those with complex conditions, it was noted that the proportion of population with multiple conditions was increasing substantially, and that a sensible approach was needed to avoid duplication of tests as far as possible.
The committee also enquired about an equivalent offer to prisoners, who were not eligible for the programme. It was confirmed that nationally Public Health England commissioned an equivalent scheme for those serving sentences of two years or more, while those serving shorter sentences would be picked up through the local authority programme.
Members enquired about air pollution as a background indicator for cardiovascular illness and asked about work being done with colleagues across the council in reducing air pollution and encouraging active travel. It was confirmed that air pollution was a contributory factor in around 90 deaths annually in York, and that the council was bringing forward an Air Quality Action Plan in which the Public Health team was playing an active part.
The Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care was in attendance and noted the importance of repeat offers being made to marginalised groups, and of clear communication about the programme beyond those being invited for checks.
Resolved:
i. To note the report.
ii. To recommend that officers review the targeting criteria for the Healthcheck programme to include further accessibility for harder-to-reach groups, including the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community, and people with substance misuse issues.
iii. To recommend that officers review Barnsley Council’s ‘How's Thi Ticker’ blood pressure check campaign and other similar community public health engagement programmes and events.
iv. To recommend that officers review the use of the health kiosk at Tang Hall Community Centre.
Reason: To support work to reduce health inequalities and the burden of cardiovascular disease in York.
43. Update on Vaping in York (18:27)
The committee considered an update on vaping in York. Officers provided an overview, noting that vaping required a nuanced public health approach as while there was strong evidence that e-cigarettes were the most effective tool for helping smokers quit, there was also concern about the increase in children and young people taking up an addictive new habit.
Members discussed issues around public protection in relation to underage sales and illegal vapes. It was noted that Public Health had funded a retailer vaping scheme to remind all retailers of their responsibilities. One in eight recent test purchases for underage sales had been successful and led to prosecution, and over £13,000 of illegal vapes had been seized from two shops in March. Enforcement was intelligence-led; the Citizens Advice website was the best way to report information to Trading Standards. Samples could be sent for testing if there was suspicion around the content of vapes although this was not routinely done. It was also noted that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill would increase the responsibilities of local trading standards teams.
The committee enquired about the Council’s Health Trainer service, which offered four weeks of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) or e-cigarettes alongside behavioural support to support residents in quitting smoking. It was noted that the service had the fourth-best quit success rate in England. The Public Health team was looking to extend the offer beyond four weeks and to embed the service into communities across the city.
Members also discussed vaping amongst children and young people in York. It was noted that data from the latest School Health and Wellbeing Survey carried out by the Public Health team suggested that a quarter of those aged 12-17 had tried vaping, up from a fifth in 2021, whilst 100% of secondary/sixth form children who took part said they did not know where to get help to stop smoking or vaping, despite a youth offer within the Health Trainer service. New Ofsted duties and the risk behaviours strand of the recently commissioned Healthy Schools Programme should lead to this figure improving over the next two years; it was noted that children and young people were not typically able to point to relevant services but that good pastoral support would link to these. A resource pack was being promoted at all secondary schools, including printed materials and a presentation designed to be used in PHSE lessons, and similar packs aimed at primary schools were being considered, although NRT was only licensed for those aged 12 and over. The possibility of using the next survey to engage young people in disseminating accurate information about smoking and vaping was also discussed, including the use of film media.
Resolved:
i. To note the report.
ii. To recommend a review of the smoking and vaping resource packs supplied to secondary schools with a view to similar packs being produced for use in primary schools.
iii. To recommend that officers work with councillors and community partners to promote the work of the Health Trainer service.
iv. To recommend that the next School Health and Wellbeing Survey be used to engage with young people to get their help in communicating accurate information about vaping.
Reason: To support the ambition of ending smoking in York and promote the two strands of the public health approach to vaping in the city.
44. Work Plan (19:25)
The committee considered its work plan for the remainder of the municipal year. It was noted that officers had suggested the item on Reablement scheduled for May be withdrawn as there was no change to report since the last update the committee received on this subject.
With reference to work planning for 2024/25, it was suggested that the committee consider a draft work plan for the new municipal year at its next meeting in May. Reference was made to several items which could be available for consideration at the committee’s June and July meetings, including:
· the Homelessness Future Resettlement Pathway report;
· an update on the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust improvement plan;
· an item on pharmacies to include contributions from health partners;
· an update on breastfeeding-friendly culture previously requested by the committee, potentially to tie in with the Yorkshire and Humber Infant Feeding Discussion Day at York St John University in July to which committee members had been invited.
The committee also considered the suggestion of a joint committee with the Children, Culture and Communities Scrutiny Committee to look at issues around healthy weight and weight management.
Resolved:
i. That the item on Reablement scheduled for May be withdrawn from the work plan.
ii. That the committee consider the Homelessness Future Resettlement Pathway report at its June meeting.
iii. That the committee consider updates on the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust improvement plan and breastfeeding-friendly culture, as well as an item on pharmacies including contributions from partners, at its July meeting.
iv. That a fuller draft work plan for 2024/25 be considered at the May meeting of the committee.
v. That the suggestion of a joint committee with the Children, Culture and Communities Scrutiny Committee to consider weight management issues be approved, and that the Chair and Vice-Chair liaise with their counterparts and Democratic Services to organise this.
Reason: To ensure the committee maintains an appropriate programme of work.
Cllr D Myers, Chair
[The meeting started at 5.31 pm and finished at 7.37 pm].