Agenda item

Director of Public Health Annual Report 2021/22

 

To receive the Director of Public Health’s Annual Report for 2021/2022.  The report focuses on ensuring all children in Northumberland can maintain a healthy weight.  The report will be delivered by Gill O’Neil, Interim Director of Public Health, Inequalities and Stronger Communities. 

 

Members of the Family and Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee have been invited to attend for this item.

 

Director of Public Health Annual Report 2021/22 

 

Members received the independent Director of Public Health Annual Report for 2021/22 which focused on healthy weight in children and highlighted the importance of creating the conditions to enable all children to be a healthy weight.  

 

The report was introduced by G. O’Neill, Executive Director of Public Health, Inequalities and Stronger Communities, and a presentation made by K. Marynissen, Public Health Trainee.  K. Herne, Senior Public Health Manager was also in attendance.  A copy of the presentation and report has been filed with the signed minutes.

 

The key points of the Annual Report were highlighted:

 

·       Healthy weight was incredibly important for physical and mental health being associated with lower rates of anxiety and depression.  Children were more likely to do well at school.  Economically, there were huge benefits as obesity was the second highest burden on the NHS after smoking.

 

·       In Northumberland in 2020/21, 26.7% of children aged 4-5 years were overweight or had obesity and 40% by the age of 10-11 years.? 2021/22 figures were very similar.  Covid did have an effect with a national trend of increased obesity and there was still an increase on pre-pandemic figures.

 

·       Obesity was more likely to affect boys, particularly relating to severe obesity.  The Northumberland trend was following the national trend.

 

·       Poorer households were disproportionately affected by obesity.

 

·       It was now believed that obesity was not just individual responsibility but also caused by environmental factors.  

 

·       Poorer households had to spend almost half of their disposable income to eat healthily, whereas it was only 11% for the wealthiest fifth of households.

 

·       The cost of living crisis was creating increased use of food banks.

 

·       Breastfeeding rates were increasing in Northumberland over the last three years but was still below the national average.

 

·       Reliance on takeaway food had increased during the pandemic and this trend was continuing.  Advertising also tended to be for more unhealthy food.

 

·       Barriers to physical activity included access to equipment, confidence and skills.  Northumberland was a car dependent culture due to its rurality.

 

·       Schools were trying to add physical activity in the daily routine and provide healthy and nutritious food.

 

·       There was an issue for some families which were not eligible for free school meals but could not afford to provide a healthy lunch.

 

·       There was still a lack of recognition of weight issues amongst parents and healthcare professionals and a lot of stigma surrounding weight.  This made it difficult to breakdown some of the barriers.  

 

·       Northumberland County Council had recently signed the Healthy Weight Declaration and the Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy and there was a lot of good work ongoing.

 

·       Recommendations of the report were:-

 

·       Reframing our approach – moving from an individualistic approach to look at supporting children to live health, active lives through schools, the home, communities and healthcare systems.

 

·       Communication and sharing good practice – clarifying what support was available to help families achieve and maintain health weight and how to access the support.

 

·       Collaboration – develop a healthy weight alliance to build on the good work already being done bringing communities and agencies together to ensure a coordinated approach.

 

·       Strategy development and implementation – healthy weight to be a core priority in strategies such as the Northumberland Food Insecurity Plan and Northumberland Physical Activity Plan.

 

·       Using data and local insights – make best use of data to inform plans and prioritise future work to target areas where they are most needed.

 

The following comments were made:-

·       Members welcomed the Annual Report.

 

·       Members detailed some of the ways they were supporting local projects to help improve the offer available in their wards.

 

·       The cost of living crisis was further impacting on healthy eating choices.

 

·       The approach of healthy weight not just being an individual responsibility was welcomed.

 

·       The cost of gym memberships and the need for these to be more accessible to all.

 

·       Could there be an opportunity to build upon Active Northumberland and create a leisure offer that was free for residents.

 

·       The high cost of school meals and that of breakfast clubs.

 

·       Growing restrictions and financial implications placed on those trying to run clubs in local communities which had resulted in less sport and social opportunities available for children and adults.

 

·       The worrying levels of obesity especially in children.

 

·       Childhood healthy weight needed to be a core priority in new and existing strategies including the Northumberland Food Insecurity plan and the Northumberland Physical Activity Plan, to ensure there were steps in place to improve the opportunities for Northumberland’s children to stay healthy. 

 

·       The good work achieved in schools including the walk to school initiative.

 

·       Healthwatch would be happy to work with officers on the recommendations within the annual report.

 

·       The need for free and safe physical activities within communities.

 

·       The problem of easily accessible fast food and ready meals and the sheer number of fast-food outlets within towns.  It was noted here had been no instances of Northumberland County Council refusing permission for new hot few takeaways in areas where there were high numbers of children and young people.  The policy had been in place since March 2022 and was yet to be tested.  

 

·       Should free school meals be available to all primary children to ensure all children had access to a filling and nutritious lunch regardless of income or background.

 

·       The need to educate people on ingredients to allow them to make better choices.

 

·       Promote Northumberland.  The county had beaches, countryside and some already established cycling and walking routes that were all free to use.

 

·       The need for a joined-up approach across all departments to help deliver the recommendations detailed within the report.  

 

·       To look more widely at the ways in which our homes, communities, schools and healthcare systems could better support children to live healthy, active lives.

 

·       To work with partners to tackle the issues identified and bring about real change.

 

·       Confirmation that the DPH Annual Report would be used to inform local people about the health of their community, as well as providing necessary information for commissioners and providers.

 

Members thanked officers for the excellent DPH Annual Report for 2021/22.

 

RESOLVED that the report and comments made be noted.