Agenda item

7.1

The Board considered a report of the Leader of Sheffield City Council and the Chair of NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group concerning the Health Inequalities Action Plan. The report sought approval to the plan, which was designed to implement the actions identified in the Health and Wellbeing Strategy during the financial years 2014/15 to 2016/17.

7.2

Dr Jeremy Wight, Director of Public Health, introduced the report and stated that the plan was work in progress, which was subject to adaptation and change. Engagement events had been held, which looked at what the Health and Wellbeing Board could do to tackle health inequalities. The plan would be subject to an annual report of progress.

7.3

The Board was asked to consider several areas, including the identification of leads and reporting mechanisms relating to the actions identified in the Strategy and included in the plan; the identified priority tasks; and the measures of impact. The Board was also asked to consider the addition of the action proposed at paragraph 3.10 in the report to the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and to the plan, which was to promote health literacy and early engagement with health services in disadvantaged communities.

7.4

Members of the Board made comments on the matters contained in the report and accompanying Health Inequalities Plan, summarised as follows:-

7.5

The Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) should take the lead in relation to actions 3.4 (Identify which groups are least able to access services and establish reasons and consequences. Work to improve access, prioritise areas with significant health consequences, and simplify how people access care.) and 3.7 (Commission disease-specific interventions, including a programme to improve the physical health of the severely mentally ill or those with a learning disability).

7.6

The engagement events had been positive and Healthwatch would work with public health colleagues to identify what was and what was not working well. The plan had been changed in light of the engagement events, which included the addition of the action to increase health literacy. Further engagement events would be welcomed.

7.7

The work relating to children with complex needs, special educational needs and disabilities would require more development and would be connected with action relating to children’s mental health, emotional wellbeing and resilience.

7.8

NHS England had ambitions to improve public health services and were keen to work with the Clinical Commissioning Group in relation to implementation in Sheffield through the CCG and the local authority.

7.9

The Health Inequalities Action Plan represented progress and was core business of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

7.10

Health inequalities were a consequence of the inequalities in society at large and the Action Plan included measures to help mitigate those wider inequalities but would also require long term change.

7.11

The identified leads for each action would be notified that they would be responsible for delivery and to report on actions allocated to them.

7.12

Resolved that the Board:

1.    Formally approves the Health Inequalities Action Plan, whilst accepting that further work is required on the detail;

2.    Approves the addition of the action 3.10 to the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and to the Plan, which was to promote health literacy and early engagement with health services in disadvantaged communities;

3.    Requests the identified lead individuals and relevant Groups and/or Boards to implement the Plan; and

4.    Requests an annual report on progress.