The following presentation was presented to members:

(Public Pack)Item 8 - Self Care Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Powerpoint Agenda Supplement for Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee, 12/01/2023 19:00 (thurrock.gov.uk)

Councillor Ralph thanked Jo Broadbent for the very detailed report with a lot of helpful information being provided.

Councillor Ralph stated the peer support programme had been a great idea which had brought a lot of value to people with the risk of developing long term conditions such as Diabetes to meet up as a group and being able to speak with peers, this was a great benefit and real positive step forward. Referred to cognitive behaviour therapy in that it seemed to not have a positive impact to heart health and referred to page 94 of the agenda felt there was some contradiction as it stated improved mental health but based on no changes to behaviour but was referring to CBT. Jo Broadbent stated that when looking at the terms of evidence around those interventions and impact on behaviour it would be best to look more broadly at impact on a wider range of conditions and for a greater number of people as this was a single relatively small study. In terms of quantifying the impact, in particular around behaviours, it was difficult to measure but the trial had shown some effectiveness.

Councillor Ralph referred to page 112 of the agenda “Develop queries to aid GPs with finding the missing thousands (from disease registers) and patients who are on registers” and questioned how long this had been going on for.  Jo Broadbent stated this was the strategy that had been put in place following the Annual Public Health Report in 2016. This year’s Annual Public Health Report, considered at the last meeting, has shown that the rate of diagnosis of conditions such as blood pressure had increased in the intervening years in Thurrock due to the initiatives that had been put in place. Councillor Ralph referred to the missing thousands and to ensure that money was put in the correct places going forward.

Councillor Ralph questioned whether the “Brain in Hand” service was a free APP or something was being charged for to which Jo Broadbent stated she would find out and let members know.

Councillor Fish agreed the holistic approach would work best for residents and would definitely agree to the recommendations to which Jo Broadbent agreed this needed to be part of the holistic patient centred approach, which would help residents and would make better use of NHS resources and other services. Councillor Ralph agreed the IMCs should be part of the future plan as they demonstrated how well they worked.

Councillor Polley asked for an explanation on what Substantiality Transformation Partnership (STP) was to which Jo Broadbent stated the report had been written some 12 months ago, so now the STP was the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System, the partnership that included the NHS and councils within Southend, Thurrock, and parts of Essex County Council geography. This covered all the services within that geographical patch.

Councillor Polley questioned whether personal centred plans were already in place with social prescribers to which Rita Thakaria stated the social prescribers were the start of the journey, who were there to support and work with individuals to manage their conditions and wellbeing. Although for fully integrated holistic support, a whole system approach was needed and therefore Better Care Together had been embarked upon. Alongside social prescribers there were co-ordinators and others that could offer support within the community.  

RESOLVED

That the Committee reviewed the needs assessment and the recommendations contained within the report and provided comment.