Agenda item

To receive a report from the Chief Officer Health Partnerships, which provides an update on the approach to refresh the Leeds Health and Wellbeing Strategy for the Board’s consideration.

The Chief Officer for Health Partnerships submitted a report which provided an update to the Scrutiny Board of the approach to the refresh of the Leeds Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Since 2012 it has been a statutory requirement to have a Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the view of the Scrutiny Board was now being sought with regards to the proposed refresh approach and priorities.

The following were in attendance for this item:

·  Councillor Fiona Venner, Executive Member for Adult and Children’s Social Care and Health Partnerships

·  Councillor Salma Arif, Executive Member for Public Health and Active Lifestyles

·  Victoria Eaton, Director of Public Health

·  Tony Cooke, Chief Officer Health Partnerships

·  Wasim Feroze, Strategy Partnership Development Manager, Leeds Health Partnerships Team

The Executive Member for Adult and Children’s Social Care and Health Partnerships and the Executive Member for Public Health and Active Lifestyles provided context to the evolution of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

It was noted that the current strategy, dated between 2016 to 2021, had been extended to 2023 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The refresh of the strategy now further aims to align a broad range of partners in the health and care system; cover wider determinants to improve public health; and link closely to the council’s three pillars of the Best City Ambition.

The Chief Officer Health Partnerships and the Strategy Partnership Development Manager introduced the report and particularly referenced the refreshed 12 priorities set out within the report. These have been informed by a range of key public conversations, including the Big Leeds Chat, framed under three proposed headings of people, place and productivity which will aim to improve wider determinants of health for all.  It was noted that the refresh approach is not a fundamental rewrite of the current Health and Wellbeing Strategy and acknowledges developments including the Covid-19 pandemic, rising inequality and cost of living issues.  Furthermore, many features of the current strategy will remain familiar further strengthened to reflect the current context with key approaches informing the development of the refresh including through an equality, diversity and inclusion lens.

The following areas were also discussed during the Board’s consideration of the report:

·  Hospital discharges – the Board discussed existing challenges within the system that impact on the timeliness of patients being discharged from hospital, which are primarily linked to the need for patients to receive appropriate aftercare within the community. The Board acknowledged this as a particular area that it would like to continue monitoring.

·  The valuable role of carers – the Board acknowledged the valuable role played by carers - both paid and unpaid carers – and was therefore pleased to note that the refreshed Strategy now includes a priority around carers.  Linked to this, the Board recognised the importance of ensuring that the needs of carers are appropriately assessed and that they have access to support services, such as Carers Leeds.

In conclusion, the Chair thanked everyone for their contributions and suggested that the Board utilises its March 2023 meeting to consider the refreshed Leeds Health and Wellbeing Strategy prior to it being formally launched.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report, along with Members comments, be noted.

(b)  That the Scrutiny Board considers the refreshed Leeds Health and Wellbeing Strategy in March 2023, prior to it being formally launched.