Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Public Health.

The Annual Public Health Report (APHR) is an independent professional report which the Council is statutorily required to commission from its Director of Public Health. This report is a joint report of Dr Steve Watkins (Director at the time of commissioning) and Dr Donna Sager (appointed as Director in September 2018).

The new material in this report focuses on the following issues:-

•     Transport and health

•     Loneliness and social isolation in older people

•     Self-care

•     Health Protection update

•     Have improvements in mortality slowed down?

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the draft report prior to submission to the Cabinet.

Officer contact: Dr Donna Sager, 0161 474 3928, donna.sager@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Public Health submitted the 25^th Public Health Annual Report (copies of which had been circulated) that provided a commentary and analysis of significant issues affected the health and wellbeing of residents in Stockport and providing recommendations for improvements to the Council and other partners.

Dr Stephen Watkins, Consultant in Public Health (and formerly Director of Public Health) also attended the meeting as he collaborated on the production of the report.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Councillors welcomed the report and the recommendations.

·         Concern was expressed about the reducing life expectancy and the implications this had for the deprived communities in Stockport.

·         Further comment was sought about the evidence of the impact of ‘austerity’ on mortality. In response it was stated that the data indicating a reduction in life expectancy in Stockport had been viewed cautiously, but there were clear trends nationally indicating similar reversals. There was little international comparative information available and while there were arguments being made for a link with ‘austerity’, there were also counterarguments although it could not be ruled out as an explanation. Studies from Greece had suggested such a link, but the situation in Greece was more acute than in the UK.

The Chair, on behalf of the Committee, thanked Dr Watkins for his contributions to the report and for his significant contribution to Stockport over a number of years.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.