Agenda and minutes

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting held on 12^th September, 2011.

Arising from Minute No. 13 (Conference), it was noted that the Cabinet Member would not be attending the conference due to other commitments.

Arising from Minute No. 14 (Health Summit), it was noted that the event was to take place on 1st December.  

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meeting held on 12^th September, 2011, be approved as correct record.

Alison Iliff, Public Health Specialist, presented the Tobacco Bulletins for July and September, 2011, which summarised the latest tobacco control activity within Rotherham, national and international news related to tobacco and smoking and outlined any relevant training and development opportunities.

A powerpoint presentation was also given as follows:-

Scale of the Challenge

-        Early year smoking caused the greatest number of preventable deaths – 81,400

-        The decline in smoking rates had stalled

-        National children’s rates of smoking (age 11-15)

-        Smoking in pregnancy

-        Smoking cost the local economy millions every year (£71.9M in Rotherham)

-        The annual cost of smoking to smokers (compared to additional costs to our community) – each year, smokers in Rotherham spent approximately £81.5M on tobacco product contributing roughly £62.1M in duty to the Exchequer.  This meant that there was an annual funding shortfall of £9.8M in this area

Smoking Attitudes and Behaviours

-        Children not adults start smoking – 90% of smokers started before the age of 19

-        Children were 3 times as likely to start smoking if their parents smoked

-        The majority of children who smoked got their cigarettes from a ‘friend’

-        The poorer you were the more likely you were to smoke

-        Smoking was 1 of the greatest causes of health inequalities

-        Poorer smokers were as likely to want to quit and try to quit but half as likely to succeed

-        Smokefree environments enjoyed increasing public support.

Tobacco Control and Local Authority Role

-        The World Bank has developed a ‘6 strand’ strategy for reducing tobacco use:-

1.      stopping the promotion of tobacco

2.      making tobacco less affordable

3.      effective regulation of tobacco products

4.      helping tobacco users to quit

5.      reducing exposure to secondhand smoke

6.      effective communication for tobacco control

Significant and Growling Role for Local Authorities

-        Local Authority responsibilities included enforcement on:

Age of Sale

‘Smokefree’ Places

Smuggled and counterfeit tobacco

Advertising ban

From 2013 Local Authorities would take on responsibility to commission services to motivate and support smokers to quit their habit

Working Together for Better Health

-        Local Government including Police and Fire

-        Local Health Services

-        Organisations that work across neighbouring localities within a region

-        Employers

-        Voluntary sector organisations

-        Smokers particularly groups with high rates of smoking e.g. routine and manual smokers

Benefits of Working across Local Boundaries

-        Marketing and mass media – to ensure ‘health messages’ were supportive, clear and do not conflict

-        Tackling smuggling – criminal gangs do not pay heed to local government boundaries

-        Surveys, research and data collection – cost savings can be had from collectively commissioning research and surveys and sharing the results

Challenges for Rotherham

-        Smoking prevalence not declining (although data may not be reliable)

-        Smoking in pregnancy was declining, but was still much higher than the national and regional average

-        Understanding the apparent increase in young smokers and implementing further programmes to tackle youth smoking  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

Ruth Fletcher-Brown, Public Health Specialist (Mental Health all Ages and Domestic Abuse) and Kate Tufnell, Head of Contracts and Service Improvement, Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Specialised Services, presented an update on the national and local suicide prevention plans together with proposals as to how to drive the work forward.    Suicide was 1 of the proposed Indicators in the Public Health Indicators Framework which was out for consultation.

Suicide was a major issue for the whole of society, affecting not only immediate family and friends but the wider society.  Nationally the figure for suicide in 2009, including undetermined intent, was 4,399. 

The report drew attention to the following:-

-        Most of the people who died by suicide in Rotherham were men which was a similar trend to that found nationally

-        The most common age group in England was 20-64 (peaking at ages 35-49).  This was similar for Rotherham

-        The reduction in numbers since 2008 may be explained by the multi-partnership Public Health work.  Suicide prevention was most effective when it was combined as wider work addressing the social and other determinants of poor health and wellbeing

-        GP Practices were informed by NHSR of suicide and conducted their own internal review to look at lessons that could be learnt.  Similarly, RDaSH conducted internal reviews if the person had been in contact with their service

-        Hanging accounted for 9 (89%) of Rotherham suicides in the period from July, 2008-2009 and 1 (11%) via suffocation.  50% took place in the deceased’s own home, the others were predominantly in homes known to the individual or wooded areas.  The majority that took their own life were not in contact with Mental Health Services

In light of the consultation, it was proposed that a Suicide Prevention Group be established.  The Group would use local data from the Suicide Audit and the Office of National Statistics to develop an action plan.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That it be acknowledged that suicide prevention required a multi-agency approach and, in line with the Government’s statement that the planning and preventative work would be carried out locally, a Suicide Prevention Group be established.

(3)  That assessment against and implementation of the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guidelines on the long term management of self-harm in the NHS due November, 2011, be noted.

It was noted that the Yorkshire Ambulance Service was looking to apply for Foundation Trust status in 2012 and plans had been developed as to how they would like to take the new organisation forward in the future.

Between now and 4^th December, 2011, everyone across Yorkshire was invited to share their views about the plans and help shape the way that Ambulance Services were provided in the future.

They also wished to recruit ‘members’ to the new organisation who would help influence the decisions made and ensure that they benefitted local communities.

It was noted that the issue was to be considered by the Health and Wellbeing Board at its meeting on 26^th October.

Dr. Ken Wragg, Consultant in Dental Public Health, submitted a report of the General Dental Council’s Professional Conduct Committee held in June, 2011, into Mohammed Shahid Siddiqui.

Mr. Siddiqui was a dentist based in Rotherham until May, 2009 until an unannounced infection control inspection of his practice took place by representatives from NHS Rotherham and the Health and Safety Executive.  Areas of poor infection control practice had been found including re-use of items of equipment intended for single use.

Mr. Siddiqui had been immediately suspended from the NHS Rotherham Dental Performer’s list meaning he was not allowed to practice NHS dentistry in Rotherham.  He was also reported to the General Dental Council (GDC) in accordance with normal practice.  The GDC Interim Orders Committee suspended Mr. Siddiqui from June, 2009.  When reviewed in June, 2010, the suspension was lifted but imposed 17 conditions of practice until a further hearing could be convened early in 2011.  Mr. Siddiqui had been referred by the GDC to its Professional Conduct Committee for full consideration of the case.

In the meantime, Mr. Siddiqui appealed against his removal from the NHS Rotherham Performer’s list.

On 13^th June, 2011, Mr. Siddiqui had appeared before the GDC Professional Conduct Committee. Of the 23 charges, 20 had been admitted and found proved.  It had imposed 21 conditions which would apply for 3 years and would appear in the Dentists Register.

Resolved:-  That the report be noted.

The Chairman reported that the draft agenda for the next meeting of the Board included:-

Yorkshire Ambulance Service Consultation

Armed Forces Covenant

The December Board agenda would include:-

Mexborough Montague Hospital including the Emergency Dental Service