HEALTH SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
TOPIC: Public Health Topic Group: Obesity (including childhood
obesity levels, as this is where long term health and budget implications will hit both the NHS and LA)
OBJECTIVE: to establish
(i)  the levels of obesity in the two authorities and Hertfordshire as a whole, and the steps in place to address the issue
(ii)  the impact of socio economic status, gender and ethnicity have on obesity and the barriers to accessing healthy lifestyles
(iii) how well the relevant agencies are working together on this public health issue
FRAMEWORK FOR SCRUTINY:
Issues and Questions to be addressed:
(i)  What strategies and programmes are in place in Stevenage and Watford to address this health issue?
(ii)  What has been the outcome of the strategies and programmes in Q1?
(iii)  What mechanisms exist to enable the partner organisations to share data?
(iv)  Is the infra-structure sufficiently robust to tackle obesity across partner organisations?
(v) What will be the impact of the SHA proposals (preventive measures) – ‘Towards the best, together’?
OUTCOME: The topic group’s findings and recommendations inform the development of future strategy to contribute towards reducing the level of obesity and associated health problems in Hertfordshire.
CONSTRAINTS: None identified at scoping stage
METHOD: Topic Group / Target Start date: Autumn 2008
Target date for report to Health Scrutiny Committee: March 2009
MEMBERSHIP: Janet Baddeley, Andrew Canter, Ken Coleman,
Michael Downing (Chairman), Derek Hills, Allan Witherick,
SOURCES OF EVIDENCE & WITNESSES:
Local GPs; Public Health experts on obesity (including the Director of Public Health and the childhood obesity lead officer); Primary Care Trust Chairs and Chief Executive; Health Visitors, Children Schools and Families representatives; Children’s Centres; Slimming Clubs, Sports Councils, Health leads on the two LSPs, voluntary sector representatives (Initiatives which have worked, or have the potential to work elsewhere in Herts’ e.g. GP links into leisure, school based community initiatives etc); Others as identified by the Topic Group as they undertake their work.
HCC CHALLENGES: How this item helps deliver the Challenges (italics indicate those that apply)
1. Helping people feel safe & secure (well-being)
2. Maximising opportunities for children & young people
3. Supporting the independence of the growing number of older people
4. Tackling the causes and impact of congestion
5. Dealing with worn out roads and pavements
6. Reducing the impact of new development on the environment
7. Maximising efficiency savings
CfPS (Centre for Public Scrutiny) OBJECTIVES: How this item delivers these objectives (italics indicate those that apply)
·  Provides ‘critical friend’ challenge to executive policy-makers and decision-makers
·  Enables the voice and concerns of the public to be heard
·  Is carried out by ‘independent minded governors’ (in this case county and district/borough councillors) who lead and own the scrutiny role
·  Drives improvement in public services
HOW THE ITEM INFORMS THE STANDARDS FOR BETTER HEALTH
C6 Health care organisations cooperate with each other and social care organisations to
ensure that patients’ individual needs are properly managed and met.
C13 Health care organisations have systems in place to ensure that
a) staff treat patients, their relatives and carers with dignity and respect;
b) appropriate consent is obtained when required for all contacts with
patients and for the use of any patient confidential information; and
c) staff treat patient information confidentially, except where authorised by
legislation to the contrary.
C17 The views of patients, their carers and others are sought and taken into account in designing, planning, delivering and improving health care services.
C18 Healthcare organisations enable all members of the population to access services equally and offer choice in access to services and treatment equitably.
C22 Health care organisations promote, protect and demonstrably improve the health of the
community served, and narrow health inequalities by
a) co-operating with each other and with local authorities and other organisations;
c) making an appropriate and effective contribution to local partnership arrangements including Local Strategic Partnerships and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships.
SUPPORT:
Scrutiny Officers: Stephen Weaver (Stevenage), Mike Thomas (Watford),
Tom Hawkyard (County Council)
Lead Officer: Robin Trevillion, Health Improvement Manager, Primary Care Trusts
Democratic Support: Stephen Weaver (Stevenage), Mike Thomas (Watford)
Approved by Health Scrutiny Committee on: 21/10/08