Agenda item

To present the refreshed Joint Strategic Needs Assessment

Lorna Quinn, Public Health Intelligence Specialist, to present

Lorna Quinn, Public Health Intelligence Principal, presented the submitted report with the aid of the following powerpoint:-

Where are we seeing improvements

-        Breastfeeding

Increased percentage of babies whose first feed was breastmilk from 49% in 2019-20 to 62% in 2023-24

Increased breastfeeding prevalence at 6-8 weeks from 34% in 2020-21 to 39% in 2023-24

-        Other Improvements

Cancer screening coverage for bowel cancer had increased from 62% in 2019 to 73% in 2024

STI testing rate was increasing and both this and the HIV testing rate remained one of the highest across the region

The percentage of eligible 2 year olds in Rotherham taking up an Early Education place had remained stable and above the comparators (88.4% taking up a place in the 2023-24 academic year)

Children Centre engagement rates for children in the 30% most disadvantaged areas had increased to 82% in 2023-24

Where are we seeing things get worse

-        Healthy Life Expectancy had been decreasing from 59 to 2015-17 to 56 years in 2021-23 for both males and females

-        Prevalence of depression in Rotherham had increased between 2013 and 2022 from 9.9% to 17.3% remaining above the England average of 13.2%

Unpicking Complexity

Smoking

-        Across the country Rotherham had one of the highest proportion of quitters for smokers who set a quit date (higher was better)

-        However, prevalence was still showing a slow decline; currently at 14.5% compared to England at 11.6%

Physical Activity

-        We have seen a decrease in the percentage of adults that were physically active to 58.5% in Rotherham which left Rotherham as the lowest in Yorkshire and the Humber

-        Physical activity in children and young people had also seen a decrease to 44

Summary

-        Refreshed data at https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/data/

-        Some important improvements to note

-        Some significant challenges remained

-        Work to impact on complex issues required whole systems approaches

Discussion ensued with the following issues raised/clarified:-

·        The summary of key findings was produced annually, however, it was updated on a quarterly basis on the website

·        It was noted that the data was for 2023/24

·        Work would take place to ascertain how the data on life expectancy/healthy life expectancy was broken down into cohorts and recorded

·        Rotherham was better than the average for England with regard to the uptake on screening programmes and the take-up of vaccinations.  This should be taken advantage of and built upon

·        The life expectancy figure and the depression figures were quite stark.  Should the refresh of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy consider this in its priorities?

·        Rotherham had a high take-up of early education places.  However, it was noticeable that there was a disconnect with children/families when they got to 6-7 and 10-11 years of age.  Work was taking place to improve this with the new Government funding looking at the transition from primary to secondary education

·         It was hoped that the Sport England grant would help increase levels of physical activity in the population of Rotherham

Resolved:-  (1)  That the updated Joint Strategic Needs Assessment be noted.

(2)  That the Board consider its approach to and use of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment in the future.