Agenda item

The Board will be asked to consider and approve the Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Health and Wellbeing Board members are also encouraged to consider adopting a ‘sponsorship’ model in which Board members provide guidance and support to specific priority areas within the strategy.

The Director of Public Health presented a report on the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2020-2023, 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 Board was informed that approval of the draft strategy document attached to the report was sought.  Members were encouraged to consider adopting a ‘sponsorship’ model in which Board members provide guidance and support to specific priority areas within the strategy.  The Director of Public Health reported that the Board was required, in discharging its duty, to have a strategy to promote integration and prevention.  He referred to the development of the strategy and the development session held in late 2019 when the framework for the strategy was considered and the three priorities empowering communities, promoting healthy lives and support and challenge to partners was proposed and agreed. It was further discussed that in relation to promoting healthy lives, the initial annual theme would be that of increasing physical activity. The Director of Public Health highlighted that as a result of the pandemic it was proposed that the themes be reviewed.  It was suggested within the draft strategy that the themes would now be improving mental health for the first 15 months and then for the Board to focus on eliminating food insecurity.  The Director of Public Health explained the strong links between the strategy and the BCP Corporate Strategy and referred to the important strands in the work of the Council in improving health and well-being outcomes in communities in deprived areas and the need for the strategy to dovetail with the priorities of the Dorset Integrated Care System.  The Director of Public Health reported on the need to focus on deprived communities which would be even more important in view of recent ONS surveys. The survey had shown that in April and May high numbers of the population were experiencing some form of mental stress linked to their financial future.

The Board considered the proposed draft strategy, the sponsorship model and the proposed themes.  Richard Renault indicated that he fully supported the strategy and the two promoting healthy lives priorities and indicated that the covid psychological burdens were very high.  He referred to the reconfiguration of acute hospital services which would take place over the coming years and the strong set of patient benefits associated with these changes.  The benefits would be tracked and outcomes shared with the Health and Wellbeing Board over time.

Jenni Dougal-Todd supported the strategy, the promotion of healthy lives and the focus on mental health as a priority in the strategy.  The Chairman referred to the second priority and the lead in time when identifying priorities. She reported on the request from the food poverty team for the Board to pick up the governance around food poverty and it became clear the issue around the hunger agenda felt appropriate for inclusion in the Strategy. Richard Renault referred to the need to align with National Campaigns such as Mark Rashford’s project for school age children.  The Chairman reported on the need to look at the effectiveness of community fridges and for all partners to work with local communities and the community sector on the issues.

The Board was asked to identify which areas they may wish to sponsor.

RESOLVED that the Board:-

(a)          approves the draft strategy; and

(b)          adopts a ‘sponsorship’ model whereby Board members champion specific areas within the strategy.

Voting – Unanimous