Agenda item - Annual Public Health Report

Introduction

17.1    The Board considered a report of the Director of Public Health which informed members that Directors of Public Health were required to deliver an annual independent report on the state of local public health.  This year’s report looked forward in time to 2024, predicting and imagining what the major health and wellbeing issues for local people will be in 10 years’ time. 

17.2    Tom Scanlon gave a presentation on the key findings of the report.      He stressed that previous Annual Reports had received national recognition and had resulted in change.  An Executive Summary was attached to the report.  This covered demographic shifts, lifestyles, health and healthcare, mental and emotional wellbeing, schools, the economy, housing, transport, air quality and climate change, and projections and assumptions and the uncertainty therein.

17.3    Among Dr Scanlon’s predictions was an increase in the very old, similar rates of dementia, but more older people living with dementia.  Older people would be looking after even older people.  There would be more irresponsible 50 year olds and a big increase in ethnic diversity among white other groups.  There would be fewer teenagers and more families with children would be moving out of the city.   

17.4    There would be fewer teenage pregnancies but an increase in abortions for under 18s. 

17.5    There would be more bus and bike use.  The use of diesel buses would lead to an increase in poor air quality unless buses were converted to electric hybrid vehicles.  There would be a fall in opiate use and an increase in legal substances. 

17.6    The big killers such as cancer and diabetes would increase.  There would be an increase in melanomas and Dr Scanlon stressed the need to look at tanning venues.  Unhealthy weight would be most serious in 10 years time. Scanlon stressed that more work needed to be carried out with the food and drink retailers, and more engagement with cooks.  For example, there was no reason why a takeaway meal could not have less fat and salt.  

17.7    The housing shortage would lead to more intergenerational living.  Dr Scanlon questioned whether housing was being designed to take this into account.  Projects such as the shipping containers might become permanent. 

Questions and Discussion

17.8    Councillor Norman thanked Dr Scanlon for his presentation and commended the Annual Report.  

17.9    The Chair commented on the challenges presented by the Annual Report.  He stressed that the city would be more resilient by working together.  

17.10  Graham Bartlett thought it was an excellent concept to look at life in the city 10 years ahead and plan to mitigate issues.  He asked if there had been thoughts and findings about the needs of children and how other issues would impact on their safety and needs.  Dr Scanlon replied that there had been no specific section on children in the report.  However the report had looked at education.  He thought that children from poorer backgrounds would perform better in future.   

17.11  Denise D’Souza questioned how the city would deal with a 50% increase in the over 90s.  This would present a real challenge even though it would involve relatively small numbers.  It was important to keep older people independent and there was a need to re-think how to care for the older population.

17.12  Councillor Shanks raised the issue of the student population.  She asked if there was a trend for students to study in their own communities rather than moving away from home.  Dr Scanlon replied that this had not happened yet.   He mentioned that there was a large number of foreign students in the city.  There were particularly large numbers of Chinese students at Sussex University. 

17.13  Geraldine Hoban raised the issue of the older population living with multiple conditions.  The acute trust solution for a sustainable NHS was acute community bases, more integration with the council, integrated care and self care.

17.14  RESOLVED – That the report be noted.