Agenda item

This item presents the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2024-2029 for approval.

Dr Nicola Lang (Director of Public Health) presented the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2024-2029 for approval. Dr Lang explained that producing a Health and Wellbeing Strategy was a key function of the Director of Public Health and a statutory duty for the local authority. She talked about the work undertaken to ensure the strategy was informed by the latest data and residents – including oversampling groups that didn’t normally have a voice like new immigrant communities.

Dr Lang highlighted the Strategy’s four priorities:

• Address key health issues innovatively and proactively so that people stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible
• Amplify community strengths and capabilities to tackle health inequities
• Cultivate the conditions necessary for people to flourish and build their resilience
• Eliminate the barriers to information and mitigate misinformation

Councillor Alex Sanderson thanked Dr Lang and commended the strategy.

Councillor Natalia Perez thanked officers for the report. She then asked if officers were satisfied by the level of community engagement achieved, or if there were areas to improve on. Dr Lang said the work done for the Strategy was the start of a continuous process of engagement and listening to communities across the borough. She gave the example of two recent awards of NHS inequalities funding of £30,000 for conversations with Muslim groups to lead their own work around awareness of immunisations and cancer screening and £10,000 for gym memberships for care experienced children.

Councillor Perez asked if children’s mental health was a priority, particularly the negative impact of social media. Dr Lang said it was a key issue and Public Health worked closely with colleagues in Education on this issue. Jacqui McShannon noted that this was one of the advantages of a unified People’s department that combined Children’s Services, Adult Social Care, and Public Health. Councillor Sanderson noted that Fulham Boys School had recently banned smart phones for younger pupils and was interested to see the impact.

Sue Spiller praised the Strategy and asked if thought had been given to how to publicise the strategy and reach the people that needed it. Dr Lang said that the department had learned a lot about engaging different communities during the Covid-19 pandemic. For example, some groups preferred to receive messages via WhatsApp rather than Facebook or other platforms. The team were also trying new things such as producing a video on the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine in various community languages that was directly shared with mothers. They listened to groups and tried to do what they said was most effective.

Councillor Sanderson asked what the next steps were for the Strategy. Dr Lang explained that once it had been agreed, it would be published, then work would continue on the priority areas.

Councillor Perez asked about the timeline for reviewing priorities and if emerging needs could be incorporated. Dr Lang said the team would come back to report on progress against the action plan annually. She ensured the Board that emerging issues could be incorporated in-year.

RESOLVED

1. That the Health & Wellbeing Board approved the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2024-2029.