Agenda item

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development providing the Scrutiny Board with an update on the transition and transfer of Public Health responsibilities to Leeds City Council from April 2013. 

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which provided the Scrutiny Board with an update on the transition and transfer of Public Health responsibilities to Leeds City Council from April 2013.

In attendance to answer Members’ questions was:

-  Cllr. Lisa Mulherin (Executive Board Member for Health and Wellbeing) – Leeds City Council

-  Dr. Ian Cameron (Joint Director of Public Health) – NHS Airedale Bradford & Leeds / Leeds City Council.

The Joint Director of Public Health – NHS Airedale Bradford & Leeds / Leeds City Council addressed the Board congratulating the Council on the positive reception for NHS staff and services being transferred over from the Primary Care Trust (to be formally abolished on 1 April 2013).

Members of the Board were informed that a number of Public Health services / functions would be formally transferring to the Council from 1 April 2013, including a number of prescribed / mandatory functions, such as:

-  Sexual health services

-  NHS Health Check programme

-  Local authority role in health protection

-  Public health advice

-  National Child Measurement Programme.

In addition to a number of non-prescribed / discretionary services/ functions, including:

-  Obesity

-  Physical activity

-  Substance misuse (drugs and alcohol)

-  Stop smoking services and interventions

-  Children 5-19 public health programmes

-  Nutrition initiatives.

It was outlined that approximately 90 public health posts, including vacancies, would transfer to the Council from 1 April 2013, along with the responsibility to manage around 100 contracts at an approximate value of £28M.

The Board was also informed of an uplift in Leeds’ Public Health grant allocation for 2013/14 and 2014/15, as detailed in Appendix 3 of the report.

The Executive Board Member for Health and Wellbeing – Leeds City Council outlined some the issues associated with the transition for Public Health staff and the Council, but highlighted the significant opportunity this presented to the Council, and  specifically the role of Elected Members.

Members queried the different roles of new/ emerging NHS bodies, and it was confirmed that the NHS Commissioning Board (through its local area teams) would take responsibility for commissioning some services previously the responsibility of the Primary Care Trusts – including screening programmes and immunisation/ vaccination.

Members welcomed the opportunity provided by the transfer of Public Health responsibilities to the Council, but were weary of the role of some national NHS bodies and, based on recent experiences, expressed some concern regarding their future operation.

 In considering the Council’s new Public Health responsibilities, Members also discussed:

·  Free access to swimming pools as an example of how the Council could influence participation in physical activity.

·  The structure of Public Health staff across the Council.  It was confirmed that it was not intended to form a new directorate/ department, with small teams of staff allocated across the Council to help embed public health duties across service areas.

·  The shadow / transitional funding to support the transfer of Public Health to the Council.  It was confirmed that the allocated resources had been spent / committed.

·  Capacity issues.  It was confirmed that, during the transition and due to staff movements, a number of vacancies had existed.  A commitment was given that vacancies would be filled.

·  The role of the Council Contact Centre in directing Public Health enquiries appropriately.  It was confirmed the issue of training in this regard was still to be fully resolved.

The Chair thanked the Executive Board (Health and Wellbeing) and the Joint Director of Public Health for their attendance and contribution to the discussion.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report presented at the meeting be noted.