Agenda item

Johnathan O’Sullivan, Director of Public Health, introduced the report that sets out the quarter 3, 2023-2024 progress against targets for those performance indicators that fell within the Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care outcome area.

The following was noted during the discussion of this agenda item:

• Vaccination for children remained as an important focus although there were challenges around increasing vaccination uptake.
• It was noted that there was an issue with the data available due to data quality and upload requirements of the national system. However, the Committee was advised this issue had now been resolved and Q4 report would provide the most updated data.
• The NHS Healthy Start was a national scheme which financially supported families on a low income to buy fruit, vegetables, pulses, milk, and infant formula. It was advised that to qualify for the scheme, beneficiaries must be at least ten weeks pregnant, or have at least one child under the age of four. The Committee noted that extra funding had been received to ensure that all four-year-olds had access to the Health Start scheme.
• It was noted that smoking was the biggest cause to health inequality in the borough. However there had been an increase in referrals through stop smoking services delivered through community pharmacies and GP practices.
• In terms of NHS health checks, it was noted that this programme assessed the risk factors associated with non-communicable disease including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. It was also noted that there had been in increase in undiagnosed hypertension post Covid.
• Regarding substance misuse, the Committee was advised that there had been an increase in the number of people starting treatment through Islington’s integrated drug and alcohol treatment service. It was also noted that the funding for the service had also increased as part of the national strategy. Quit rates remained steady as there had been success in supporting people in treatment for longer.
• Islington Public Health also commissioned a service called SWIM (Support When It Matters), which provided culturally competent, holistic support to men of Black African or Black Caribbean background, who were in contact with the criminal justice system and who had non-opiate substance use needs. It was noted that this group were over-represented in the criminal justice system, but under-represented in treatment, and this offer was important to help address inequality, as well as ensuring that those that required structured treatment were actively supported.
• The Committee queried about why rates of MMR vaccination uptake was lower in Islington compared to other London local authorities. In response, Officers advised that there had been a long-term decline in MMR and historically Islington had had higher number of MMR nationally and this had reduced overtime. Some of the reason discussed included concerns around the safety of the vaccination, people now questioning immunisations and fear of autism. It was also noted that in Islington, the earlier the vaccination is provided, the more the uptake.
• In response to a question regarding data around sexually transmitted infections, it was noted that there were some challenges on reporting data on a quarterly basis and key points would be presented in the annual report to the Committee. It was also noted that Islington had high number of sexually transmitted infections and provided high level of testing. Officers advised that CNWL (Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust) provided services and advice on testing and treatment for issues related to sexually transmitted infections.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee to note the report.