Public Health Annual Report 2023 to 2024
Argyll and Bute Council · 27 November 2024
Back to Argyll and Bute HSCP Integration Joint Board (IJB) — 27 November 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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1 Integration Joint Board Agenda item: Date of Meeting: 27th November 2024 Title of Report Public Health Annual Report 2023 to 2024 Presented by: Alison McGrory, Associate Director of Public Health The Integrated Joint Board/Committee is asked to: ▪ Note the report, “Health and Wellbeing in Argyll and Bute” covering Public Health activity for the year 2023 to 2024. ▪ Note the strategic approach to prevention in Argyll and Bute. ▪ Endorse the role of the IJB in providing leadership to prevent health and social care problems from arising. ▪ Note the forthcoming Population Health Framework for Scotland expected in early 2025 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This paper outlines public health activity in Argyll and Bute to prevent ill-health and improve health and wellbeing outcomes for the population. The detail of the paper covers the Public Health Team Annual Report for 2023 to 2024 2. INTRODUCTION Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) has a Public Health Team that works towards improving the health and wellbeing outcomes of the population of Argyll and Bute. This team is part of a wider NHS Highland directorate. The steer for this Public Health work comes from different directions, for example: national strategy; national Public Health priorities; HSCP strategic priorities; and community led aspirations. The Christie Commission of 2011 estimated that 40% of public sector spending is on problems that could be avoided given earlier intervention. Prevention of health problems can take place at three levels: Primary Prevention: This is about stopping health problems from occurring. It includes measures like vaccinations, healthy eating, physical activity, and avoiding harmful behaviours like smoking. By focusing on primary prevention, we can reduce the incidence of many diseases and conditions.
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2 Secondary Prevention: This involves early detection and intervention. Screening programmes, such as those for cancer or diabetes, help identify health issues at an early stage when they are more treatable. Secondary prevention aims to halt or slow the progression of disease. Tertiary Prevention: This level focuses on managing and improving the quality of life for those with existing health conditions. It includes rehabilitation/reablement, support groups, or ongoing medical care to prevent complications and improve overall well-being. The foundation of the prevention pyramid is improving the social determinants of health. Preventing health problems takes place within the context of understanding the wider determinants of health, these include, the communities and homes we live in; the jobs we do and how much we earn; and the political and social factors that affect our quality of life. Over the course of 2023 and into 2024, our team have worked tirelessly to balance national requirements with those of the HSCP while continuing to put local people at the heart of everything we do. 3. DETAIL OF REPORT 3.1 Public Health Team Annual Report for 2023 to 2024 The Public Health Team in Argyll and Bute includes health improvement, health intelligence and the Alcohol and Drug Partnership support team. A work plan sets out the work of the team and this is reported at the end of each year.
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3 The full report provides detail on the range of activity delivered. The report sets out how prevention is key to our population living longer, healthier lives, and how the work of the team contributes to prevention. It also sets out the vision and mission of the team which is the driving force behind the work we do. Highlights of this work include: • The Living Well Strategy • Activity delivered by Living Well Networks • Community Link Workers and the impact they have had • Our Smoke Free team • Smoke free education in primary and secondary schools • Screening Inequalities and the work of our Screening Engagement Officer • Contribution to strategic priorities such as Suicide Prevention action plan • Cool2talk – an online resource providing health information and advice to young people • Mental Health First Aid for Young People training provision • Child poverty work • Money counts income advice training provision • Heartstart • Equality outcomes and mainstreaming – reporting on activity in Argyll and Bute • Health Psychology and weight management • MAP of health behaviour change training provision • Alcohol and Drug Partnership support team activity, including progress on MAT standards, residential rehabilitation provision, Planet Youth and ADP support grant provision 3.2 New Population Health Framework for Scotland The health of the population of Scotland is declining; life expectancy is falling for the first time since WWII and levels of ill-health are projected to rise by 21% in the next 20 years. This ill-health is not experienced equally by everyone in Scotland and disadvantaged groups are more likely to become ill and die early. More ill-health in the population, on an already stretched health and social care system will jeopardise the future sustainability of the NHS. It is imperative we put preventative approaches front and centre to how we operate. A new Population Health Framework is in development for Scotland. This is expected early next year. The Framework will be jointly endorsed by Cosla, Public Health Scotland, territorial health boards and the Scottish Government. There will be four areas of focus in the Framework, illustrated in the diagram below:
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4 4. RELEVANT DATA AND INDICATORS Full details of the outputs of Public Health activity is published in the report. 5. CONTRIBUTION TO STRATEGIC PRIORITIES The work of the Public Health Team is linked to: Argyll and Bute HSCP Joint Strategic Plan 2022-2025 priorities • Prevention, early intervention and enablement • Living well and active citizenship • Community coproduction 6. GOVERNANCE IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Financial Impact The Public Health Team is resourced from core HSCP funds and in-year Scottish Government allocations to the sum of approximately £2.5 million. This paper is not asking for additional investment in Public Health. However, it is a topic for debate to recognise early upstream intervention can avoid the need for downstream service delivery. 6.2 Staff Governance No issues in this paper. 6.3 Clinical Governance No issues in this paper. 7. PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY No issues in this paper. The Associate Director of Public Health works closely with the other professional advisors, in particular the Associate Director for Allied Health Professions and NHS Highland Director of Public Health. 8. EQUALITY & DIVERSITY IMPLICATIONS
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5 No issues in this paper. Equality and diversity are key principles of Public Health work and interventions and strategies are designed to ensure those most in need will benefit the most. This is with the intention of reducing the gap between the most well off and the worst off in our communities. The report also has a section on Equality Outcomes and Mainstreaming Reporting, this covers work undertaken in the HSCP to work towards the outcomes set. 9. GENERAL DATA PROTECTION PRINCIPLES COMPLIANCE No issues in this paper. 10. RISK ASSESSMENT No immediate risks in this paper although there are risks to the sustainability of health and social care service from rising demand. 11. PUBLIC & USER INVOLVEMENT & ENGAGEMENT Community engagement is a core principle of Public Health and interventions and programmes always include engagement to ensure effectiveness and suitability. The Living Well strategy was developed following comprehensive community and stakeholder engagement. 12. CONCLUSIONS The paper provides an update on ongoing wellbeing and prevention activity overseen and delivered by the Public Health Team in Argyll and Bute. There is a compelling need to prevent health and social care problems before they arise. The HSCP is well placed to both continue and expand upon the recent successes outlined in the detail of this report. DIRECTIONS Directions required to Council, NHS Board or both. Directions to: tick No Directions required X Argyll & Bute Council NHS Highland Health Board Argyll & Bute Council and NHS Highland Health Board REPORT AUTHOR AND CONTACT Author Name Alison McGrory, Associate Director of Public Health Email alison.mcgrory@nhs.scot