Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from G. Binning, N. Bradley, C. Briggs, C. Mann, R. Murfin, R. Nightingale, Councillor M. Purvis, Councillor G. Renner-Thompson and H. Porteous.

Minutes of the meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board held on Thursday, 10 October 2024 as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair. 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board held on 10 October 2024, as circulated, be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

Unless already entered in the Council’s Register of Members’ interests, members are required where a matter arises at a meeting;

a.    Which directly relates to Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (‘DPI’) as set out in Appendix B, Table 1 of the Code of Conduct, to disclose the interest, not participate in any discussion or vote and not to remain in room. Where members have a DPI or if the matter concerns an executive function and is being considered by a Cabinet Member with a DPI they must notify the Monitoring Officer and arrange for somebody else to deal with the matter.

b.    Which directly relates to the financial interest or well being of a Other Registrable Interest as set out in Appendix B, Table 2 of the Code of Conduct to disclose the interest and only speak on the matter if members of the public are also allowed to speak at the meeting but otherwise must not take part in any discussion or vote on the matter and must not remain the room.

c.    Which directly relates to their financial interest or well-being (and is not DPI) or the financial well being of a relative or close associate, to declare the interest and members may only speak on the matter if members of the public are also allowed to speak. Otherwise, the member must not take part in discussion or vote on the matter and must leave the room.

d.    Which affects the financial well-being of the member, a relative or close associate or a body included under the Other Registrable Interests column in Table 2, to disclose the interest and apply the test set out at paragraph 9 of Appendix B before deciding whether they may remain in the meeting.

e.    Where Members have or a Cabinet Member has an Other Registerable Interest or Non Registerable Interest in a matter being considered in exercise of their executive function, they must notify the Monitoring Officer and arrange for somebody else to deal with it.

NB Any member needing clarification must contact monitoringofficer@northumberland.gov.uk. Members are referred to the Code of Conduct which contains the matters above in full. Please refer to the guidance on disclosures at the rear of this agenda letter

G. Syers, A. Blair, P. Standfield and S. Williams declared interests in agenda item 4.2 Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment update on the agenda.

The purpose of this report is to update board members on development of our Joint Strategic Needs and Assets Assessment (JSNAA) and discuss the plan for future development.

Cllr V. Jones, Cabinet Member for Tackling Inequalities introduced the report which sought to update board members on development of the Joint Strategic Needs and Assets Assessment (JSNAA) and discussed the plan for future development.  (A copy of the report and powerpoint slides have been filed with the signed minutes).

L. Robertshaw, Deputy Director of Public Health, gave a presentation on the report and highlighted key matters including:

·       There was a unique pattern of health and wellbeing across Northumberland.

·       The JSNAA brought together local data and insights to help better understand current and potential needs of the population and assets that communities possessed.

·       Northumberland had the lowest population density in England.

·       The assessment revealed the unique characteristics of Northumberland’s people and how their health and wellbeing was shaped by individual, social and environmental factors. 

·       The JSNAA pinpointed health and social inequalities across the population, highlighting particular groups and places that were experiencing greater levels of need.

·       The JSNAA helped recognise and harness the strengths and assets that communities already had.

·       Over recent years Health and Wellbeing Board partners had worked together to research, write, and publish 22 topics, which were included on the JSNAA website.

·       Board Members were provided with a snapshot of the new JSNAA website.

·       The website included:         

·  Topics arranged within four main sections; Starting Well, Living Well, Ageing Well and building Blocks for a good life.

·  Each section had a data dashboard displaying key summary statistics and charts.

·  Topic summaries and more detailed information to explore.

·       The new website included the capacity to automatically update the data dashboards as new figures were made available.

·       Information and intelligence from the existing JSNAA had been used to support a range of strategic and operational work in the county.

·       Resources for developing JSNAA chapters needed to come from within the Health and Wellbeing Board as a shared contribution.  Coordination and facilitation support would continue to be offered by the Public Health Team.

·       There had already been some potential areas for the JSNAA during 2025-26, including:

·  Breastfeeding, child nutrition and smoking in pregnancy.

·  Ages and stages skills and school readiness.

·  Oral health.

·  Physical activity.

·  Sexual health.

·  Drugs and alcohol.

·  Vaping and smoking.

·  Complex social needs.

·       Members were asked if there was any further JSNAA topics that they would suggest including in the 2025-26 development plan.

·       Members were also asked what resources or support could organisations offer during 2025-26 to support development of JSNAA chapters.

Following the presentation a number of comments were made, including:

·       The website was very informative and held lots of useful information.

·       The report was thought provoking and highlighted what the JSNAA had to offer.

·       The need to make all aware that the insights from the JSNAA played an important role in providing and tailoring better services to support residents. It helped stakeholders understand what services or investments were needed in the future to improve outcomes for people living in Northumberland.

·       Publishing the JSNAA was a statutory responsibility of the Health and Wellbeing Board and therefore it was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36a

To inform the Health and Wellbeing Board of changes to pharmacy services in Blyth, Cramlington and Alnwick and agree the proposed project plan for production of the 2025-28 Pharmacy Needs Assessment (PNA).

Cllr Veronica Jones, Cabinet Member for Tackling Inequalities introduced the report which sought to inform the Health and Wellbeing Board of changes to pharmacy services in Blyth, Cramlington and Alnwick and agree the proposed project plan for production of the 2025-28 Pharmacy Needs Assessment (PNA).  (A copy of the report has been filed with the signed minutes).

A.Everden, Public Health Pharmacist highlighted the key points of the report.  It was advised that there had been four pharmacy closures and one new pharmacy opening since the last PNA was produced in 2022. The two pharmacy closures in Blyth, especially the one in Newsham had affected pharmacy services in that local area. 

There had been fourteen changes of ownership of community pharmacies since the 2022 PNA was produced.  All Lloyds pharmacies had been sold, apart from the one in a Sainsbury’s supermarket which closed.  Boots had sold four pharmacies and closed three.  The market was volatile with most of the changes occurring as multiples sell stores which no longer met their internal thresholds for size and viability.  

Pharmacies across the country had been reducing their hours of opening to try to remain viable.  Most notably, all of the 100 hour pharmacies had been allowed by NHS England to reduce their opening to 72 hours per week, but ensuring that they stayed open until 9pm, and maintain their Sunday opening hours.

It was advised that a new pharmacy had opened in Cramlington.  In Alnwick an application had been received for a new pharmacy.  However, the Pharmaceutical Services Regulation Committee met, reviewed the application and refused it as it did not meet seven of the criteria for opening of an additional pharmacy.  This decision is currently being appealed by the applicant.  In Blyth the Pharmaceutical Services Regulation Committee met to consider the six applications to open a new pharmacy in Newsham, with the outcome of this still yet to be announced.  

It was noted that the new PNA was currently being worked on and would need to be published by 30th September 2025.

Members were advised of the news being reported today that pharmacies had voted to cut services unless the Government boosted funding for the sector.  Pharmacies could halt a number of services within weeks, including the end of free medicine deliveries, extended opening hours providing emergency contraception and stop smoking services.  It had been reported that Union Members had not wanted to do this but felt as though they were left with no option.

Following the report a number of comments were made including:

·       It was noted that the Alnwick pharmacy application had not been passed due to a number of technical issues.  The decision report was available for anyone wishing to look at the detail.  The applicant had submitted an appeal following the decision.

·       The difference between planned prescriptions and the need for urgent prescriptions and the implications on services for both.

·       The worry that often patients used online services which resulted in them missing medication reviews and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36b

To note/discuss details of forthcoming agenda items at future meetings; the latest version is enclosed.

The Committee reviewed its forward plan for the 2024/25 council year (a copy of which has been filed with the signed minutes).

RESOLVED that the Forward Plan be noted.

The next meeting will be a Development Session held on Thursday, 12 December 2024 at 10.00 a.m.

RESOLVED that the next meeting will be a Development Session held on Thursday, 12 December 2024 at 10.00 a.m.