Issue - meetings
PUBLIC HEALTH ANNUAL REPORT 2018
Meeting: 08/07/2019 - Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee (Item 6)
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Committee received the report of Somen Banerjee (Director of Public Health) on Healthy Life Expectancy in Tower Hamlets.
Key points raised in the presentation:
- Data analysis from the Annual Report would inform the new Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Strategic Plan.
- Healthy life expectancy was defined as the period in a person’s life in which they experience good health. This period was consistently lower in Tower Hamlets compared nationally. The healthy life expectancy in Tower Hamlets was around 56 years, for example, whereas it was 71 years in Woking.
- Healthy life expectancy was lower for women in Tower Hamlets. As of 2014 the healthy life expectancy for men in Tower Hamlets increased and the trend had continued. Reasons behind this would be explored.
- There was a correlation between multiple deprivation and healthy life expectancy. Tower Hamlets still had high levels of concentrated deprivation despite the perception that the borough had risen in affluence.
- Stroke, cancer and respiratory disease were the biggest killers in the borough. High rates of diabetes continued to affect the South Asian community. It was estimated that three thousand people remained undiagnosed.
- The Primary Care Morbidity Survey showed Tower Hamlets had the highest levels of self-rated anxiety and depression in London but not the highest level of GP diagnosed mental health conditions.
- Tower Hamlets was an outlier in maternal health, smoking cessation and healthy diet. Wider factors such as crime, poverty, low income, insecure housing, overcrowding, poor adult literacy also impacted on wellbeing and healthy life expectancy.
- That the health and care system needed to understand who was using its services, address inequalities and consider intervention.
- Tower Hamlets had the highest level of obese 10-11 year olds. It was suggested a family approach should be taken to support healthy behaviours.
- That smoking continued to be a driver of health inequality and was prevalent in areas of deprivation.
- The borough was experiencing significant population growth and building development. Health impact assessments had been introduced for major planning and development applications.
- The Tower Hamlets Together Board was a key partner in the strategic planning of health services.
- The cycle of deprivation and inequality could be addressed by providing support at the start of the life course during the early years.
- The framework underpinning the Health and Wellbeing Strategy addressed three key priorities, these were: safety, a sense of purpose and a connection to other people.
- Bhutan’s ‘gross national happiness’ gauge was praised as an innovative wellbeing indicator. Comparatively, the Thriving Cities Framework in Bristol could provide insight into taking forward such a strategy in the UK.
Summary of Member questions and officer response:
With regard to the figures on page 49 of the report, you mentioned the differential and healthy life expectancy across the Olympic boroughs in men shoot up in 2014-16, but this table shows a pattern of ebb and flow. Was this due to how the data was collected or something else? Is the trend similar for 2017-19?
The Public Health team had also noted ... view the full minutes text for item 6