HEALTHY REGION FORUM

The Healthy Region Forum met most recently in November 2002. At this meeting, Jacqui Bremner of RAISE was elected as the Chair of the Forum for 2002-2003. This bulletin summarises the issues discussed at this last meeting. The Forum will meet again in February

HEALTH IN THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC STRATEGY 2000

Mary Amos, the Regional Assembly's Policy Officer, presented an update on the increased emphasis on health in the updated Regional Economic Strategy (RES) as a result of comments made by the Forum and the Regional Public Health Group and endorsed by the Assembly at the 4 October plenary hearing.

New inclusions in the RES are:

• the link between a healthy workforce and a prosperous economy;
• the health sector as a key regional industry and driver of technological innovation;
• acknowledgement of the NHS itself as the biggest employer in the South East;
• the need to address health inequalities across the South East through improving educational attainment and the quality of early years care and parenting;
• the need to take health objectives into account in planning new development and the value of undertaking health impact assessments of new and existing initiatives;
• the benefits from co-ordinating investment embracing health and economic development so that the Regional Economic Strategy connects with the sustainable promotion and protection of health as well as a reduction in health inequalities.

SEEDA Director John Parsonage undertook to work with the Forum to ensure that health objectives are followed through within the action plans through which SEEDA will implement the RES. The preparation of Area Investment Frameworks also offers the opportunity to capture the links between regeneration, workforce and health issues. The Forum agreed to continue to monitor and input to implementation of the RES so that the health dimension continues to be acknowledged.

PROMOTING CHILDREN'S HEALTH

Are public bodies doing all they can to improve the life chances of children and reduce inequalities in the region?

This was the question posed in a scene-setting paper presented by Yvonne Arthurs of the South East Public Health Group. The Forum heard about the wide variety of national programmes in place, including Sure Start, the Children's Fund, Connexions and Quality Protects. The Forum was told that there are significant challenges in making these programmes influential in effecting local planning and delivery in an integrated way. Co-ordination between agencies and staff recruitment are significant issues. Local authorities will have a lead role in bringing partners together to ensure cohesive planning across the whole spectrum of services for children.

The Forum also heard about two examples of innovative practice in partnership working to improve the health of children. Pam Robinson of Portsmouth City Council explained the development of a Children's Local Strategic Partnership in the city and the active engagement of children in identifying needs and solutions. The city is developing a Children's Strategic Plan that will include a preventative element and will involve a wider range of partners than previously engaged.

Ivan Rudd from Hastings and St Leonard's Primary Care Trust introduced members to a pilot Neighbourhood Management Project which is taking place in the Hollington ward of the borough (this is the only project of its kind in the South East). "Five a Day" aims to increase the consumption of fruit and vegetables among children and families in the area. The emphasis of the scheme is not only to increase awareness of the benefits of eating fruit and vegetables via activities such as school based breakfast clubs, fruit tuck shops, allotments, food co-operatives and cafes, but also of increasing availability and acceptability. The aim is to bend mainstream resources to ensure the sustainability of projects such as this that is proving to be of real benefit to local people.

UPDATE ON NEW REGULATIONS FOR OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY

A national consultation has recently ended on the proposed new local authority powers of overview and scrutiny that come into force on 1 January 2003. The aim of these powers is to improve the health services provided by the NHS (community and acute) and other local services that impact on health. The powers include the establishment through local authorities of a consultation process with stakeholders, including local people and patients, and the requirement of the NHS to provide the information and senior officer time to attend meetings.

Overview and Scrutiny Committees (OSCs) will be able to be established jointly between local authorities, both by tier and by area. While Community Health Councils continue to exist there will be dual consultation approach alongside the OSC. The Department of Health recognises that this is a learning and developmental process and will publish guidance and provide training resources.

It was agreed that the Forum itself has an important role to play at the regional level in scrutinising health service performance and policies regionally, complementing local scrutiny, and also sharing best practice across the region.

SOUTH EAST REGIONAL SOCIAL INCLUSION STATEMENT

Mark Bilsborough, Chair of the Social Inclusion Task Group, updated the Forum on the process to date. The Statement was produced by seven regional bodies (including the Assembly, GOSE, SEEDA and RAISE) and it commits the signatories to social inclusion and to reflect social inclusion objectives in their plans; and to commit to how we measure progress. The Social Inclusion Action Plan has now been agreed and the next step for the Task Group is to detail responsibilities and a programme of work. A copy of the Statement and Action Plan is available on the Assembly web site.

The Forum asked to receive regular reports on progress on the Social Inclusion Action Plan.

MODERNISING HOSPITAL SERVICES IN EAST KENT- OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY

Dr Tony Robinson, Chair of Kent County Council's NHS Overview and Scrutiny Committee gave the Forum an example of how the new overview and scrutiny powers might be implemented at a local level. Dr Robinson explained KCC's select committee process on researching four options provided by East Kent Health Authority for providing acute services at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital. Since this involved withdrawing some services from hospitals in Kent, the choice of subject for their first scrutiny was a challenging one.

KCC established a pilot NHS OSC in 2001 in advance of the regulations coming into force following the Health and Social Care Act 2001. Recommendations were made to Kent County Council's Cabinet and the full Council, and to the East Kent Hospitals and the East Kent Health Authority.

HEALTH DIMENSIONS OF THE REGIONAL TRANSPORT STRATEGY

Dr Harry Rutter of the South East Public Health Observatory, presented the benefits to personal, social and environmental health to be gained from increasing physical activity, particulary cycling and walking. Local schemes to improve streets where people can interact, children can play and small shops serve the community often require revenue rather than capital expenditure and support for this is needed. It was acknowledged that the RTS has taken the need to support these on board and could be an influence on central Government funding to Local Transport Plans. Copies of Dr Rutter's slides can be found on www.sepho.org.uk.

FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE HEALTHY REGION FORUM

Agendas, papers and minutes from the Healthy Region Forum can be found on the Regional Assembly website (www.southeast-ra.gov.uk). If you would like to attend the next meeting of the Forum or raise any issues related to the regional health agenda which the Forum could discuss, contact Mary Amos on 07973 953424 or email maryamos@southeast-ra.gov.uk

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Last updated: 21 August 2007