Agenda item

Kate Green, Scrutiny Officer, and Councillor Steel, Chair of the Review Group, presented the draft recommendations of the Health Inequalities Obesity: BMI>50 Review Group as follows:-

Overview

-        Part of a project with the Centre for Public Scrutiny

-        Funded by the Department of Health to look at the rate of return on investment of Scrutiny

-        Rotherham’s review looked at the quality of life and services provided for people with a BMI over 50

Review Question

-        How can we improve co-ordination between services so as to improve the quality of life and care of people with a BMI>50 and who are housebound and unable to get out of their home unaided, and what would be the ‘Return on Investment’ of service co-ordination and improving their quality of life and care?

What we did

-        Review group of 4 Elected Members and 1 Scrutiny Co-optee

-        Expert Advisor from the CfPS providing up to 5 days support

-        Stakeholder session to help scope the review and gather information from professionals

-        Interviews with professionals and 1 individual within the community

-        Questionnaires gathering information from professionals

What we found out

-        Total number of individuals in the ‘cohort’ was unknown

-        Varied degree of co-ordination between services and organisations

-        Individuals often only found out about in an emergency situation

-        Information and data was difficult to share but would be a huge benefit to Ambulance/Fire Service etc.

-        No data sharing protocol specific to the group

-        Individuals often could not be discharged from hospital due to inappropriate access/equipment at home – increased bed days

-        Awareness of the issues was good across agencies but services were not centrally co-ordinated

-        Professionals may not always be aware of the range of services on offer locally which would be of benefit to individuals

Recommendations

-        Service Improvement

To establish a negotiation session between relevant strategic officers/organisations to create an action plan to implement the recommendations of the review, including timescales, lead roles and reporting mechanisms and to report back to the Health Select Commission.  4 objectives of the Group to consider:-

Develop a 1 page tick box form to obtain consent from individuals to share information and ensure professionals received appropriate training on how to use this

Develop protocols for joint working and local data sharing specific to this group of people

Briefings for professionals to raise awareness of the range of services available locally for this target group of people

Consider options for central co-ordinating this agenda, either through an appropriate central co-ordinator post or central database/or way of sharing information

-        Securing Commitment

To recommend that Cabinet and the Health and Wellbeing Board takes a lead in securing commitment to action on the recommendations and receive monitoring of implementation reports through an appropriate forum e.g. NHSR-led Obesity Group

Report to go to Improving Lives Select Commission to raise awareness across other agendas

-        Prevention

To agree a joined-up approach to tackling obesity in Rotherham through the Health and Wellbeing Board, acknowledging that treatment and prevention need to work together and ensuring it features as a high priority in the joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy

Next Steps

-        Discuss and agree recommendations

-        Final report to be presented to Select Commission in March

-        Once approved by Cabinet, submit to Health and Wellbeing Board

Discussion ensued with the following issues highlighted/clarified:-

·        It was known that there were 614 people in the Borough that fell into the category and this should be included in the report, however it was noted that it was not always clear in terms of where these people were in the Borough

·        Equality of experience of the individuals was really important

·        The review had been carried out with a number of partner organisations.  It became apparent that there was a need to work more closely with agencies such as the Fire and Ambulance Services, to help improve the quality of life for those with a BMI>50, who very often were not known about until an emergency situation and they required assistance getting out of their house. 

·        It was important for assessments to be carried out so that the emergency services had the correct and appropriate equipment to deal with any situation

The Chairman thanked all who had provided background information for the review and made themselves available for interview, including colleagues from NHS Rotherham, the Foundation Trust, GPs and Fire and Ambulance Services.

Resolved:- That the full report be presented to the Health Select Commission in March for consideration and approval, before being submitted to Cabinet and the Health and Wellbeing Board