Issue - meetings

Dr. John Radford, Director of Public Health

Dr. John Radford, Director of Public Health, presented an overview of the Making Every Contact Council (MECC) initiative.

MECC had been discussed at the Health and Wellbeing Board and, although partners agreed in principle with the concept, actual engagement with and tangible implementation had been disappointing.

The approach to MECC was currently subject to review and alternative strategies to engage partnership organisations considered.  Discussion ensued on the approach and the resources required to promote MECC and whether it was viable:-

-          In principle it was a great idea that whilst in hospital or your path crossed with any health care worker you would be spoken to about any issues that affected your health and possible interventions

-          It had been hoped to integrate the initiative into an employee’s training (health and social care) and, although that had not happened in a system-wide approach, it did not mean that it did not take place, but there were not the resources to ensure that it did

-          It would require 2-3 members of staff dedicated to producing a framework that could be used to persuade organisations to implement the initiative

-          Asking someone who was visiting/treating a client/patient to engage in MECC would cut into the time allocated for that person so it needed to be a proportionate response

-          A lot was being done in this regard through NHS Healthchecks (see below)

-          Hard evidence was required as to what the actual benefits of MECC were, including examples of effectiveness elsewhere

-          Need to engage commissioners to understand there would be additional resources required to deliver the initiative

-          Resources were also required to collate the information once it was gathered in order to measure the scheme’s impact, which could lead to a danger of it becoming a “tick box” exercise

-          Safeguarding concerns for both adults and children should be reported/identified by staff as a matter of course in their professional roles

Resolved:-  That information be provided following the current review of the approach to MECC for consideration by the commission