Agenda item

The Director of Public Health, Louise Wallace and the Head of Community, Partnerships and Customers have produced a report setting out the health priorities for the local population. The Director of Public Health’s Annual Report 2021 is also included for the Committee’s consideration. The Committee are asked to note the reports and provide comments and feedback.

The Committee welcomed North Yorkshire’s Director of Public Health, Louise Wallace, and the Head of Communities, Partnerships and Customers to the meeting.

Officers presented to the Committee the Selby Health Matters Annual Newsletter 2018-19, the Selby Town Population Health Management Programme and Director of Public Health’s Annual Report 2021. The reports and accompanying information updated the Scrutiny Committee on progress made since the development of the Selby Health Matters partnership in 2018, a strategic partnership of local authority, health and voluntary and community sector representatives focused on reducing health inequalities through population health management.

Members were informed that the reports did not simply focus on Covid-19; there was a great deal of other health information within them that was vital. Other matters included the Council’s close relationship with public health, social connectivity with local communities, non-medical health and wellbeing, longer and happier lives for residents and adjustments that will be needed in lieu of the forthcoming local government reorganisation, whilst ensuring service delivery is maintained.

The Committee asked about funding and the need for there to be a fair focus of particular areas such as Selby compared to Tadcaster and Sherburn, particularly due to deprivation. Officers explained that partnerships in Selby with organisations such as AVS was looking at population health and focusing on particular areas and the people that lived in them. Combatting isolation, loss of employment and using the Council’s leisure services were all being looked at in detail. Work was also being undertaken in deprived rural areas, particularly with local Members who knew their communities well.

Members also asked about the lack of available housing and care home spaces, which resulted in bed blocking as there were no homes to send patients home to. Members explained that the Selby District had over 1,200 bungalows that would be suitable for such patients, but that they weren’t given to the people that needed them, i.e., the elderly. Many residents did not want one-bedroom bungalows now; two-bedrooms would be much better in order for carers or relatives to stay over to help older people living in them. Half-way housing to bring people out of hospital would also be very beneficial. There was also concern from the Committee about the state of the social care system in general due to the ongoing multitude of vacancies in carer roles.

Officers were asked to find out how many people lived in one-bedroom bungalows and how many of these individuals actually needed them, and if the Council could possibly extend them to accommodate a second bedroom.

The Director of Public Health noted Members’ views and confirmed that she would take the matter back to the County Council’s health and adult services service area for further investigation.

The Committee thanked the Director of Public Health for attending the meeting.

RESOLVED:

1.    To note the update and information from the Director of Public Health for North Yorkshire; and

2.    ask Officers to find out:

·      how many people lived in one-bedroom bungalows;

·      how many of these individuals actually required a single bedroom and;

·      if extensions to such properties to accommodate a second bedroom were possible.