Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Public Health.

This report has been prepared for the Scrutiny Committee following questions asked at the meeting on 23 October 2018 in relation to actions taken locally to reduce falls. The report sets out the work of the ‘Steady in Stockport’ programme is to improve quality of life for people by reducing the burden of falls and fractures.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to note the report.

Officer contact: Dr Donna Sager, 0161 474 2450, donna.sager@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with an overview of the ‘Steady in Stockport’ Programme designed to prevent falls and to improve quality of life for people by reducing the burden of falls and fractures. The report had been submitted in response to questions asked at the last Scrutiny Committee meeting.

The Cabinet Member for Health (Councillor Tom McGee), Jennifer Connelly, Public Health Consultant, and Helen Riley from the Adult Community Therapy Team & Steady in Stockport, attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

Councillors welcomed the report and commended the quality and successes of the service, in particular the emphasis on early intervention.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Questions were asked in relation to efforts to communicate with those at risk of falls, their family and carers, GPs and other professionals with whom they had contact to make them aware of the service and of preventative activity. In response the importance of this activity was acknowledged but it was commented that due to the relatively small size of the team the opportunities for sharing this information were limited, although wherever possible the Team would seek to engage and communicate the key messages.

·         Further comment was sought on the underlying reasons for Stockport having more falls. In response it was stated that the data was adjusted to reflect the relatively older population in Stockport. A variety of data sources were used to provide greater certainty in the overall picture. It was further commented that the higher levels of demand and need in Stockport was the reason a business cases was produced to develop the service because of the greater level of need. Working with partners and other service providers was vital to reducing falls, or preventing further falls and reducing future dependency. By way of example, comment was made about work with care homes to ensure walking aids were maintained and taking other measures to protect residents.

·         It was commented that the estimate of £1m savings generated by the services significantly understated the value the service had to the community.

·         The usefulness of the video resources demonstrating simple exercises was welcomed as a positive means to empower people to take care of their own wellbeing while also ‘de-medicalising’ this activity.

·         Clarification was sought on the level of intensity of exercise that was needed to have a preventative benefit. In response it was stated that weight bearing exercises were most beneficial as they would increase bone density. It was stressed that exercise needed to be tailored to need and ability but it was also important to ‘stretch’ an individual’s level of activity.

·         It was queried how representative this service was of similar services elsewhere. In response it was stated that there was a Greater Manchester set of best practice standards, and a forum for service providers, and that while there were many elements of the service provided by others in Greater Manchester, Stockport was perhaps one of the most innovative.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted and Jennifer Connelly and Helen Riley be thanked for their attendance and presentation.

(2) That the Director for Public Health be requested to circulate a copy of the Care Homes Toolkit.