Agenda item

Rebecca Atchinson, Public Health Principal (Healthcare Public Health)

Rebecca Atchinson, Public Health Officer, presented a 6 months’ progress review of the Health Select Commission’s Scrutiny Review recommendations concerning Urinary Incontinence. The updated action plan was appended to the submitted report.

Members noted that progress had been slower than anticipated. The challenges of addressing urinary incontinence in isolation from wider health and wellbeing issues may have resulted in the medical condition not receiving the profile it needed to fully implement the recommendations formulated by the Review. There may also be a need to identify at risk groups for the physical activity recommendations, as it was recognised that their needs may be different.

The Select Commission noted that additional grant money had been obtained to fund more physical activities for people who had long-term conditions (linking activities with pelvic-floor exercises where appropriate). Training had also been provided for Care Home staff on the treatment of people with urinary incontinence (and should be included as part of the service commissioning process). Further dialogue was needed about the information provided by the Community Continence Service (CCS), to avoid duplication and also with regard to alternative ways of providing training for care home staff

Members noted that some of the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review had yet to be implemented (eg; the wider availability of the pelvic-floor exercises at exercise sessions for older people;  development of an internet website containing appropriate information about physical exercise).

The Select Commission noted that the ‘call-to-action’ website would enable people to search for physical/sports activities, available to all throughout the Rotherham Borough area, in which they may participate.  It was anticipated that the website would be in use during October 2015. The need for public availability of details of such activities was emphasised.

Public Health staff were working with the Community Continence Service and engaging with their service users to develop the correct messages for the public to be broadcast on PHTV.

Members noted the emphasis upon communication, education and prevention, especially in maternity and parenting classes. It was suggested that partner organisations should also be involved in the provision of appropriate preventative measures. The difficulties for children and young people who had urinary incontinence was also acknowledged.

Members thanked Rebecca Atchinson for her presentation.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the actions being taken on the recommendations and responses to the Scrutiny Review of Urinary Incontinence, as now reported, be noted.

(3) That a further progress report be submitted to a meeting of the Health Select Commission in six months’ time.

Footnote – subsequent to the meeting, additional information was obtained from Active Rotherham for inclusion with the minutes:

Pelvic Floor Exercises

The Public Health Service had attempted to encourage pelvic floor exercises in the Active Always programme and make links with the Continence Nurses at Rotherham hospital.  It had been slow progress, however, the aim was to deliver training to all instructors on the exercise programmes (including leisure centres) to help with providing examples of how people could incorporate suitable exercise into everyday activities and not just when they attended a class.  Another aim was to ensure there was evidence to show the measures described had taken place.  Active Rotherham was working with colleagues in Public Health on the programme and aimed also to roll it out in the new Sport England Active for Health project.