Agenda item

To consider a report by the Lead Member for Health and Well Being for the North East (Outer) Area Committee which outlines the action being taken to discharge the Statutory responsibilities of Leeds City Council, to lead and deliver the public health agenda, raise awareness of the Area Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing, inform the Area committee of the current position regarding public health work in the Outer North East Area Committee and set the scene for future progress.

(Report attached)

The Lead Member for Health and Well Being for the North East (Outer) Area Committee submitted a report which outlined the action being taken to discharge the statutory responsibilities of Leeds City Council in leading the delivery of the public health agenda, raise awareness of the Area Lead Member for Health and Well Being, inform the Area Committee of the current position regarding public health work in the Outer North East Area Committee and set the scene for future progress.

Appended to the report was data on activities from last year along with an update on public health data (Appendix A)

Lucy Jackson and Liz Bailey, Leeds Community Health Trust  presented the report and responded to Members comments and queries

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices which included:

·  Overarching Indicator – Life Expectancy higher than average but Wetherby East, Thorpe Arch and Walton and Moor Allerton had shorter life expectancy and a number of more pressing health issues.

·  People would live longer and have healthier lives – Premature Mortality

(Cancer/Circulatory disease and Respiratory disease) mortality rates were below the rates for the deprived areas of Leeds, and on a downward trend. However, circulatory disease and cancer in Moor Allerton were higher than elsewhere across the Area Committee and  respiratory disease in Wetherby East, Thorp Arch and Walton. Women living in this area had a particularly high respiratory mortality rate, which was higher than that of deprived Leeds, but not reflected in the recorded rate of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or smoking in the area.

·  Choosing Healthier Lifestyles and access to screening – Recorded Prevalence

·  Diabetes prevalence in Moor Allerton was almost as high as deprived Leeds. It was positive that more people were being identified and managed, but preventive work needs to be prioritised in future. ZEST health for Life is contracted by Public Health to deliver healthy eating and lifestyle work in this area and discussions will take place to see how this might be targeted

·  Alcohol related admissions to hospital were still high in Wetherby East, Thorp Arch and Walton, particularly for women. Some work had been delivered and more was planned to help address this

·  Best Start – Child Obesity. The trends are difficult to interpret, but figures suggest that in Outer North East, more children are starting school obese or above a healthy weight, but by year 6 the proportion of obese children had reduced.

·  People’s quality of life would be improved by access to quality services improving peoples’ mental health is a priority across the whole of the ENE area and a Changing MINDS course has been delivered in partnership with Northcall, which is now continuing with a second course. Further work was being planned. 

·  East North East Public Health Area Specific Activity 2012/13 (As described in Appendix A of the submitted report)

Councillor Procter said he was aware that many GP Surgeries sent out letters to their patients inviting them in for a routine medical check-up. Was there any data on the rate of up take on these invitations and could Members be made aware?

Officer confirmed such data was available and would be supplied to Members.

RESOLVED –

(i)  To note the changes in terms of Leeds City Council’s responsibility around public health

(ii)  To recognise and support the Area Lead Member for Health and Well Being

(iii)  That data on the up take of routine medical check-ups be supplied to the Area Committee