Agenda item

The Board noted the apologies of the Executive Member for Public Health and invited the Director of Public Health to deliver his presentation.

The presentation included the following points:

•         Public Health South Tees adopted a programme approach to its work covering five programmes, four core approaches and three levels of intervention across the life course.

•         The Protecting Health Programme included the successful mobilisation of the new Teesside Together sexual health service. This was a major multi-agency change programme which had been delivered on time an included four operational hubs. The protecting health programme also included the expansion of the Blood Borne Virus out-out testing at James Cook University Hospital. Local detection rates were higher than national pilots which demonstrated early identification impact. This programme also included progress in the Pegasus and Solaris exercises, Tees Valley Immunisation steering group and allergen sampling. The main challenges to this programme included lack of timely data for immunisation and screening while opportunities included the launch of the National HV action plan.

•         The second programme was the Creating Environments for Healthy Food choices and Physical Activity Programme. Elements of this programme included the Tees Urban Nature Network which was a joint bid by Middlesbrough, Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland Councils and the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust to secure three years of funding to enhance partnership capacity, deepen community engagement, and build a pipeline of greenspace projects. Healthy placemaking also featured in this programme which intended health, and health inequalities, be embedded in major decisions ahead of the Local Plan’s adoption. Socially inclusive football involved a partnership between Public Health South Tees, Cultural Services and Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation which delivered an innovative, socially inclusive football event. This included hosting the first-ever Northern Homeless World Cup trials which attracting 110 participants and selected two players from Middlesbrough to represent England. The Tees Valley Active Schools programme was funded through You’ve Got This and engaged with 10 schools to embed physical activity throughout the school day. Opportunities within this programme included timing and interest of Health Scrutiny, as well as progressing work on advertising policy which contributed towards Healthy Weight Declaration commitments. Challenges included whole Council engagement in the Healthy Weight Declaration. 

•         The third programme was Ill Health Prevention which included BP Kiosks/ Community checks. Over 800 targeted Blood Pressure checks had been completed in community locations through Blood Pressure kiosks and Blood Pressure Community champions. It also included the atrial fibrillation (AF) project. This was a successful collaboration between public health, Holgate PCN and specialist cardiology during which 34 undetected AF cases were diagnosed. NHS Health Checks was a community outreach project, started through the ELM GP Federation. Substance misuse nurses had been trained to support delivery. The cervical screen pilot targeted the declining participation and inequalities in practices across South Tees. For the pilot 104 (46%) patients who had a successful telephone contact attended a screening and 7% had tested positive for HPV. Opportunities in this area included reducing Did Not Attends (DNA) in patients from lower socio-economic groups and addressing access and outcomes. Challenges included increasing the number of health checks in targeted groups and increasing referrals to support services.

•         The fourth programme was Reducing Vulnerability at a Population Level. Activity in this programme included the confirmation that DATRIG had been funded for a further three years, recovery solutions had successfully completed its first CQC assessment and the South Tees individual Placement Service continued to have a very high success rate.

•         The Promoting Positive Mental Health programme included the creation of the New Cruse Bereavement Pathway which was a multi-agency approach because of increased referrals for those bereaved by substance misuse related deaths. The Dementia Friendly Care Home guide had been highlighted in CQC reports as an example of best practice. Opportunities and challenges in this area included the Wellbeing Universal Pathway and Dementia Awareness Training.

•         For the Best Start in Life programme the Council had procured a new 0-11 service for Middlesbrough, and a fluoride varnish programme for schools for some schools. With regards to breastfeeding, the Mamazing campaign had been delivered across the South Tees to promote breastfeeding.

•         Overall challenges in Public Health included a reduction in the DATRIG element of the Public Health Grant which created uncertainty, ongoing cost of living pressures, employer and national insurance increases and the agenda for change pay awards.

The Chair thanked the Director of Public Health for his presentation and invited questions from the Board.

With regards to the Tees Urban Nature Network, and the three-year funding, a Member asked what its objective was. It was clarified this initiative aimed to look at green space in the Redcar and Stockton areas and the useability of those spaces.

It was asked, with regards to sexual health, if instances of syphilis were increasing. It was confirmed that syphilis was a significant issue across the Tees area although it was starting to decline. It was commented that future screening processes would likely be best placed in hospital emergency departments which could then lead to better treatment.

A Member queried the high levels of inpatient detox levels and if this was due to increase drug use. It was clarified this was an intensive treatment and that issues with alcohol and drug use were a long-standing issue in the area. The Member queried if the matter was an increasing problem and was stated the issue was a function of poverty. It was agreed that the Director of Public Health would provide latest data on the prevalence of drug use in the area and share it with the Board.

Clarity was sought around the issue of healthy placemaking and how this could be embedded in health and safety as well as equalities issues. It was clarified that healthy placemaking referred to addressing health inequalities rather health and safety. It was further stated that healthy place making featured in planning considerations such as the Local Plan and health impact assessments for local planning applications.

Regarding Naloxone, it was queried if the training delivered to local pubs could be part of a wider strategic approach that also included training on defibrillators. It was agreed the Director of Public Health would make further enquiries on this matter.

A discussion took place during which it was clarified that a Substance Use nurse, based in the Public Health service had been awarded a bronze award in the British Journal of Nursing awards 2026.

A Member queried the lack of information relating to school immunisation services. It was clarified this service was commissioned at a Tees level and information was not as specific as hoped, although this was improving. It was also clarified the service was the responsibility of schools with no involvement from hospitals.

Clarification was provided about the fluoride varnish programme which, once applied to children’s teeth, helped to protect them from decay especially if they had an infrequent tooth brushing routine.

A discussion tool place around cervical screenings and HPV, during which it was clarified that HPV, while a sexually transmitted disease, could also be a precursor to cancer.

A Member queried what impact additional funding would have on the Headstart programme. It was clarified the programme was funded from several sources and was secure with the funding it had.  Additional external funding would be required for the programme to expand.

Information relating after school physical activities was sought. It was clarified that much of this work was undertaken in partnership with Sport England and the pilot You’ve Got This. While there was some connection between the Public Health service, the focus tended to be on schools. The Director of Public Health agreed to provide further information on this issue.

The Chair queried immunisation rates and if there were any areas of concern. It was clarified that teenage immunisation was a big concern and that disinformation was a contributory factor. An instance of a measles outbreak in the North Ormesby Ward was discussed. It was a commented that, rather than disinformation playing a significant role, there was insufficient communication leading to a lack of awareness about available support. It was also commented that Public Health Teams were promoting immunisation where they could, which included nurseries.

There were no further questions from the Board, and the Chair thanked the Director of Public Health for his presentation.

ORDERED that the Director for Public Health

1.      Provide the latest data on drug prevalence to the Board.

2.      Enquire about a strategic approach to the delivery of training on Naloxone and Defibrillators.

3.      Provide data on what work was being undertaken regarding after school physical activities.