Issue - meetings
Health & Wellbeing Strategy Work Update
Meeting: 29/04/2021 - Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee (Item 5)
5 Tower Hamlets Health & Wellbeing Strategy 2021-25, consultation PDF 231 KB
Additional documents:
- ITEM 2 - Draft Health and Welbeing Strategy 2021-25 (2), item 5 PDF 538 KB
- Webcast for Tower Hamlets Health & Wellbeing Strategy 2021-25, consultation
Minutes:
The Sub-Committee received a draft Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2021-25 that had been refreshed and outlines the vision, priorities and action agreed by the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWBB) to improve the health, care and wellbeing of local communities and reduce health inequalities for all ages. The questioning on the main points of the discussion on the Strategy may be summarised as follows.
The Sub-Committee:
v Remarked that the consultation phase of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2021-25 had been launched on 16th April 2021 and noted that it is scheduled to last around eight weeks.
v Expressed interest in looking further into the ‘safe social spaces’ ambition as set out in the draft Strategy 2021-25 so as to help shape the final strategy expected to be finalised in the summer of 2021.
v Commented that it wished to see the consultation giving consideration what is being done to address residents’ concerns (i) following the murder investigations that are underway following fatal stabbings in Poplar and Canning Town; and (ii) in regard to addressing the high incidence anti-social behaviour in Tower Hamlets.
v Remarked that the Board is working with partners across the borough, including the Council’s Public Realm team and housing associations, to reduce traffic levels and make the best use of local land/spaces. The Board wants to ensure that all residents are owning and using local open spaces to lead active, social lives – whatever their age, sex, ethnicity, health condition or locality.
v Was informed that the Board will work with health, social care, and wider community services across Tower Hamlets to improve/create networks across organisations and improve visibility and proactive communications between services and those who need them most. Therefore, the aim is that anyone needing help will know where to get help and they are supported to find the right help. The Board will facilitate this by the creation of networks across organisations and improve visibility and proactive communications between partners services and those in greatest need of these services.
v Noted that there have been dramatic improvements in air quality, especially for nitrogen dioxide (NO2). However, the Borough still has multiple pressures on health and wellbeing particularly for children and pensioners who have poverty rates 3-4 times above the national average and the highest rates of poverty in London; toxic air pollution; poor diet and limited activity.
v Commented that there are multiple pressures on health and the toll from these pressures is dramatic, and particularly impacts girls and women in the Borough e.g. girls born in Tower Hamlets have just 56.6 years of healthy life expectancy, which is 7.3 years less than the England average. Whereas boys have 60.5 years of healthy life expectancy, which is 2.9 years below the England average.
v Noted that organisations, resident groups, and community leaders have led impressive programmes to combat these issues. However, more needs to be done and the Covid pandemic has resulted in a recognition that the Council and its partners will not change ... view the full minutes text for item 5