Agenda item

10.45 am

This is the fourth Annual Report by the Director of Public Health (DPH) for Oxfordshire. It provides OJHOSC members with an opportunity to listen to and question the Director. Recommendations are made in the Report for all organisations and for the public. A copy of the report is attached at JHO6.

The aims of the Annual Report are:

1.                  To report on progress made in the last year and to set out challenges for the next year.

2.                  To galvanise action on five main threats to the future health, wellbeing and prosperity of Oxfordshire; and

3.                  To emphasise two strongly emerging threats to public health; namely those posed by dementia and alcohol abuse.

The five main long-term threats are:

• Breaking the cycle of deprivation
• An ageing population – the ‘demographic challenge
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Increasing obesity
• Fighting killer infections

The threat posed by dementia is described in the chapter on an ageing population.

The threat posed by alcohol abuse takes its place as the sixth long-term threat to health.

Progress will be monitored in future reports. Long-term success will depend on achieving wide consensus across many organisations.

Dr McWilliam presented his fourth Annual Report (JHO6).

The aims of the Annual Report were:

1.                  To report on progress made in the last year and to set out challenges for the next year.

2.                  To galvanise action on five main threats to the future health, wellbeing and prosperity of Oxfordshire.

3.                  To emphasise two strongly emerging threats to public health; namely those posed by dementia and alcohol abuse.

Dr McWilliam set out progress made in relation to the five main long-term threats which were:

• Breaking the cycle of deprivation
• An ageing population – the ‘demographic challenge’
• Mental Health and wellbeing
• Increasing obesity
• Fighting killer infections.

The threat posed by alcohol abuse took its place as the sixth long-term threat to health. Progress would be monitored in future reports. Long-term success would depend on achieving wide consensus across many organisations.

Dr McWilliam made reference to the speech made by the Secretary of State for Health the previous day which had highlighted the need for a stable Public Health service at national and local level and the need to judge by outcomes. He added the following:

• His concern for the public health function within Oxfordshire in the light of the government cuts and legislation changes, some examples being uncertainty around the future of this Committee and partnership changes;
• His hope for the future that the NHS, Public Health and Local Authorities will work together in partnership with a clear agreement on the prevention agenda; together with machinery in place to monitor measure and scrutinise. He emphasised the importance of the alliance between the OJHOSC and Public Health as an example of this, in that each were concerned with the population of Oxfordshire as a whole.

The two additional emerging threats to public health were welcomed by members of the Committee and, during the question and answer session which followed the following issues were highlighted:

-                      Many of the issues cited in the report entailed a behavioural change, for example, the combating of obesity;

-                      The importance of a good diet and exercise – Dr McWilliam agreed but commented on the lack of skills, time and life-style to grow and cook nourishing food as the nation did in the war-time period;

-                      The need for drugs abuse to be included with that of alcohol  - Dr McWilliam responded that drugs issues had not emerged as a pressing concern in Oxfordshire – they were also illegal;

-                      Concern about alcohol promotions – Dr McWilliam agreed that price was certainly key with regard to the extent of the problem. Moreover, to be effective, a decision would have to be made by the Government at national level as to whether to grapple with the issues. Binge drinking was a big concern for this county and there was a need to do more on this;

-                      The question about the needs of people with more severe mental health problems when currently the PCT do not run rehabilitation or day care services. Could the Keeping People Well services be maintained or improved on a budget of £3 – 4k? Dr McWilliam responded that the mental health of the population did feature strongly in his report, together with an assertion that its ‘cinderella service’ reputation should be avoided. He added that if he continued to hear enduring messages and recommendations from bodies such as the OJHOSC, then action taken by Public Health on recommendations would be included in next year’s report for the Committee and others to scrutinise;

-                      Spending on family support should increase, given that two wards within Oxfordshire were included within the top 10% of the most deprived in the country. This is marked as only ‘partly met’ within the report. Dr McWilliam responded that family support was part of cornerstone working being undertaken with individual families by Children, Young People & Families. It was intended that more of this work would be undertaken in the future;

-                      The report did not address how Oxfordshire compares with other area with regard to the numbers in the population who have given up smoking and comparisons with regard to superbug control. Dr McWilliam responded that this county compared well with others with regard to the smoking statistics and there had been a significant improvement with the national average level regarding superbug incidence. He added that that the levels could be improved and that work must be ongoing;

-                      Members asked how the Committee could assist , given the  alliance between the OJHOSC and Public Health. Dr McWilliam responded that the Committee should continue to scrutinise Public Health, share goals and align work programmes. He thanked the Committee for its continued interest in Public Health.

The Committee thanked Dr McWilliam for his excellent report and for his presentation. It was AGREED that this Committee should receive a tracking document on a regular basis giving details of outcomes in priority areas, to enable monitoring to take place.