Agenda item

This report sets out progress on the NHS Health Check (NHS HC) refresh programme. The report summarises: 

·       Our programme changes for 2023/24 

·       Mobilisation and implementation of the new universal and targeted models  

·       Performance Quarter One and Two for primary care and LiveWell Dorset  

·       Challenges.

Overall there has been an increase in the invitations and number of checks delivered, especially in more deprived areas in line with the Director of Public Health report recommendations.

The Director of Public Health presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Director of Public Health report identified that the delivery of the health checks programme had been challenging. It recommended a continued focus to ensure that delivery of checks improves, especially in the most deprived areas, where risks were higher. This update was part of that continued focus, to keep the board sighted on an important area of improvement work.

The report set out progress on the NHS Health Check (NHS HC) refresh programme. The report summarised: 

·       Our programme changes for 2023/24 

·       Mobilisation and implementation of the new universal and targeted models  

·       Performance Quarter One and Two for primary care and LiveWell Dorset  

·       Challenges.

Overall there had been an increase in the invitations and number of checks delivered, especially in more deprived areas in line with the Director of Public Health report recommendations.

The Board discussed the report and comments were made:

·       In response to a query regarding a slight difference in the data shown in paragraph 4.2, the Director of Public Health advised he would investigate that and report back to the Board. ACTION.

·       In response to a query regarding how the invites for health checks were sent out, the Board was advised that practices used their own registers to send out letters or text messages and different ways to drive the invitations would be welcomed as well as a broader range of inviting people.

·       In response to a query regarding whether there were any other Local Authorities similar to BCP demographics where lessons could be learnt, the Board was advised that this was going to be considered further over the next year.  It was noted that across the Southwest, BCP was the most improved area in the last annual report.  The Board was advised of some proposals to increase take up.

·       In response to a query about a public engagement event ran by Livewell Dorset, it was noted that an NHS health check had tight definitions of what it constituted and the need to communicate more clearly with public about understanding about blood pressure, cholesterol levels, diet and exercise about risk factors and signpost to where assessments could be accessed.

·       In response to a query whether the health checks were capturing the residents who would like to be seen with risk factors which needed to be checked, it was about 3-4% who would then go on to the primary care register.

·       In response to a query about whether the health checks were being promoted in the best way through BCP officers to target and promote through Adult Social Care and Customer Services and consideration of the right channel for that would be discussed.  ACTION.

·       The Chair concluded by highlighting the need for lessons to be learnt from the better performing areas to ensure equity of service and increased take up.

It is RECOMMENDED that:

1) The Board note the programme changes and mobilisation of the new service and activity increases among those communities in most need; and

2) consider performance phase one.