Agenda item

To consider an update on progress on the Annual Report of the Director of Public Health for 2016-17.

9.1       John Forde (Deputy Director of Public Health) introduced the item and advised that the theme for the annual report would focus on wellbeing. He stated that there was an abundance of knowledge at both national and international level on what helps protect and promote wellbeing and this could even help in terms of community resilience to incidents such as the recent terror attacks and the Grenfell Tower fire. John Forde added that the report sought to promote wellbeing from beginning to end of life.

9.2       Colin Brodie (Public Health Knowledge Manager) then presented the annual report and advised that it was a statutory duty to provide an annual report from the Director of Public Health to the Board. He stated that the report’s focus on wellbeing would have a particular emphasis on mental health wellbeing. There was an opportunity for the report to act as a “Call to Action” and he welcomed any suggestions from Members in respect of good case studies to include in the annual report to demonstrate promotion of wellbeing. A campaign to promote mental health wellbeing was due to be launched in 2018 and it would take a community asset based approach involving events in the community and highlighting case studies. Colin Brodie advised that the annual report sought aligns with the launch by the Mayor of London of ‘Thrive LDN’, a city wide movement to improve the mental health and wellbeing of London residents. Colin Brodie welcomed suggestions from Members on how they wished the Board to engage with officers in helping to develop the report.

9.3       The Chairman suggested that community champions would be well placed to provide examples of good case studies, including those involving recovery and sense of purpose. She also suggested that the issue of social prescribing needed to be looked at further and asked if a draft of the report would be circulated to the Board before the final report was circulated. The Chairman then sought Members views and comments on developing the report.

9.4       During Members’ discussions, it was remarked that a number of homeless people may have mental health related issues and this was an important issue to address. Councillor Barrie Taylor welcomed the focus on wellbeing and advised that a Scrutiny Task Group has been set up to look at the relationship between art and health and he felt this piece of work could be of some value. Janice Horsman (Healthwatch Westminster) commented that employment was a key factor in helping to address mental health and retaining staff with mental health issues and making jobs available to those who have had such issues would be of considerable benefit to them. Janice Horsman added that there were some good case studies that could be used from the voluntary mental health charity that she was involved in. It was commented that there was considerable evidence from health visitors, children’s centres and GPs to address mental health and wellbeing at an early stage to benefit people later in life. Jackie Rosenberg (Westminster Community Network) suggested that John Forde attend a Westminster Community Network event on 20 July if available to discuss case studies and do a presentation on wellbeing.

9.5       Dr Joanne Medhurst stated that CLCH NHS Trust could provide case studies on wellbeing. Anna Bokobza (Integrated Care Programme Director, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust) added that in respect of accountable care, there was a strong focus on prevention.

9.6       Colin Brodie stated that every effort would be made to ensure the annual report was concise and a draft version would be circulated to Members around mid-August for further comments.