Agenda item

To receive an oral update and presentation from the Director on activities, progress made and matters for consideration within Public Health Dorset, and providing an opportunity for consideration of an options paper on NHS Healthchecks. 

The Board received a presentation by the Director on public health activities, how these were being applied and what they entailed.

 

The presentation set out what developments were taking place with:-

·        National Reforms and Policy

·        Public Health Dorset

·        Health Improvement

·        Health Protection

·        Health Care Public Health

·        Local progress with the Integrated Care System changes

 

together with what influence could be brought to bear in their regard and the progress being made in delivering these services to achieve the necessary outcomes.

 

How Public Health Dorset was integrating with the Integrated Care System was explained in particular, and what part it was playing in being able to achieve successful outcomes.

 

A copy of the Director’s presentation is attached to these minutes.

 

As part of this presentation and update the Board were also being asked to give consideration to options for the NHS health checks refresh programme and agree – in principle - the best option(s) for Public Health Dorset to design and further develop the preferred option. Whilst not on the forward Plan, nor being a key decision as yet, this would give an indication to allow Public Health Dorset to design and cost the preferred option for the NHS health check programme to ensure that the relaunched health check was more effective.

 

The Board was reminded that the NHS Health Checks was paused because of COVID-19 restrictions and current vaccination programmes. It was now planned to restart the programme taking into account the current national position and the NHS HC review, where opportunities had been identified, to think about delivering the programme differently i.e what part Public Heath, providers; GP’s, the NHS and pharmacies could all play in this. 

 

The options for consideration were: -

·        Option 1 - Continue the current approach

·        Option 2 - Deliver through primary care with some simple changes

·        Option 3 - Primary Care delivery with added outreach provision via LiveWell Dorset

Continue delivering NHS HC as option two alongside additional outreach provision in targeted areas of higher risk

• primary care will deliver and record all NHS HC data.

• outreach providers will boost capacity

• LWD can reach higher risk communities

• LWD will provide robust behaviour change support for individuals following their NHS HC

·        Option 4 - a universal digital offer with some targeted face to face provision

·        Option 5 - a mixed offer for people to choose

 

In accordance with the conclusion and recommendations in the report – in that initial insights work undertaken with providers and the public suggested that Option 3 was the preferred option, the Board agreed that – in principle – Option 3 would be the optimum course of action to progress - Option 2 also being an alternative consideration - and that this matter would be added to the Forward plan as a key decision for consideration and formal agreement at the next Board meeting in February 2023.

 

The Director was pleased to have this steer and it would give time to phase and scope the necessities of delivering the health checks and, whilst it was hoped that enough data would be available to give to the board at their next meeting in February, it was acknowledged that this would be a progressive and incremental delivery: the Board being able to manage and monitor Public Health Dorset activities more effectively and actively and recognised that, both the Board and the Integrated Care Board/System, would have an intrinsic role to play in meeting public health outcomes going forward.

 

The Board thanked the Director for the update which provided them with a good insight on what progress was being made and how this was being done. The part LiveWell Dorset could play in delivering the necessary outcomes was much valued and would be beneficial to what could be achieved.

 

 

Resolved

That in considering the options for the NHS health checks refresh programme it was agreed that Option 3 to be the best option – with Option 2 an alternative candidate - for Public Health Dorset to design and further develop the preferred option.

 

Reason for Decision

To allow Public Health Dorset to design and cost the preferred option for the NHS health check programme and ensure that the relaunched health check is more effective.