This Bulletin summarises the February meeting of the Healthy Region Forum.

REGIONAL SOCIAL INCLUSION TASK GROUP

Poor health is both a cause and an effect of social exclusion and for this reason, the Healthy Region Forum has a particular interest in receiving regular updates from the Regional Social Inclusion Task Group which was established last year to take forward actions on the region's Social Inclusion Statement.

The February Forum received its first update from Mark Bilsborough, Chair of the Task Group. He spoke about the work which the Group is doing relating to health.

Health actions in the Plan include partnership work on reducing inequalities between groups and across areas in the South East. This work includes reducing social exclusion on access to services and preventing the debilitating effects of social exclusion. There is a range of agencies who are developing strategies which deliver social inclusion objectives. These include the Framework for Regional Education and Skills Action (FRESA) which is supporting the RES through skills and adult learning with support from the Learning and Skills council and others; and the Regional Transport Strategy which supports social inclusion objectives by promoting public transport access.

OLDER PEOPLE AND HEALTH: CROSS-CUTTING PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES

The elderly population of the South East is growing quickly and thus there is a greater need to gear up services, particularly for those over 80 years old. Recent research has shown that policy areas addressing the needs of older people should do so in an integrated way taking an equal opportunities approach. The Integrated Care Network has been established to progress work between local authorities including social services and the NHS.

The Forum heard how there has been an improvement in the numbers of delayed transfers of care since the Forum last had an update in October 2001. However, capacity in residential care and nursing homes is still decreasing. This is causing particular problems where neighbouring local authority fees are higher such as in Kent and Medway. New build and refurbishment as well as service redesign are ways that this is being tackled in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Kent and Medway. Surrey and Sussex have particular problems with lack of private capacity in nursing/residential homes.

The NHS National Service Framework (NSF) for Older People, is a 10 year plan started over a year ago to improve services and prevention. Information on resources for local champions can be found on the DOH website at www.doh.gov.uk/nsf/olderpeople

Key issues for older people are fuel poverty, inability to access services regularly due to transport problems and injury through falling. The Forum heard an informative presentation from Liz Sheldon on how Portsmouth City Council is trying to deal with these issues, particularly fuel poverty. A household is said to be in fuel poverty if it spends greater than 10% of its income on meeting fuel costs. Actions that Portsmouth City Council is taking include:

• The incorporation of energy efficiency into key council strategies such as housing, anti-poverty and the Community Plan;
• An integrated benefits service using innovative methods to maximise benefit uptake;
• The appointment of a Senior House Office in Public Health as an energy champion;
• A rolling programme of council housing improvement and a Home Check Team.

GETTING COMMUNITY STRATEGIES TO ENSURE HEALTHY AGEING

The Forum sought ideas on what Community Strategies could do for promoting healthy ageing as part of championing public health. Suggestions included:

• A new application to Government that all new developments require energy efficiency ratings equivalent to the best in Europe.
• Encouraging the faster roll out of domestic level of combined heat and power (CHP) boilers into the market place.
• Extra sheltered housing with sensors to detect problems.
• More integrated, cross department working e.g. transport with low level buses and leisure linking country parks and walks.
• Libraries as discovery centers.
• Closer co-operation in planning and delivery of these services across all agencies.
• Encourage via performance indicators increased use of direct payments for Day Care.

REFUGEE AND ASYLUM SEEKERS: A LOBBYING ROLE FOR THE FORUM

Duncan Hunt of the South of England Refugee and Asylum Seeker Consortium (SERASC) explained the role of the consortium and stressed the need for regional policies to recognise the needs of asylum seekers. He suggested that the Assembly has a role in lobbying on asylum seeker issues.

Concerns were also raised by the Forum on the lack of consultation undertaken by the Home Office in planning for accommodation centres for asylum seekers in the South East. A letter has been sent by the Assembly Chair, Nick Skellett, to the Home Secretary, David Blunkett informing him of our concerns and urging him to consult with the local councils for help in future decisions. making and planning.

FORTHCOMING TOPICS FOR THE FORUM

Mary Amos completes her secondment to the Assembly at the end of March. The Forum thanked her for her work in taking the work forward and generating increased engagement. The Forum will be active in improving dialogue and support across the region on a number of key issues during 2003. These include:

• Health proofing' RES action plans;
• Revisiting joined-up policies on promoting children's health such as links across education, sport and health sectors;
• Learning from experiences across the South East on local and county arrangements for scrutinising health services;
• Evaluation of the Associated Health Action Zones;
• Monitoring how Local Strategic partnerships are championing public health.

PRIMARY CARE TRUSTS

Primary Care Trusts are developing Local Delivery Plans (LDPs) which for the first time have to show steps taken over the year to reduce inequalities in health. Much joint working with local partners such as councils and the community and voluntary sector is needed to achieve action on prevention and service improvements. The LDP will form a major part of the Community are required to go beyond the top NHS priorities such as waiting lists.

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Last updated: 21 August 2007