To receive Report No. 76/2017 from the Director of Public Health.

Report No. 76/2017 was received from the Director of Public Health.

The Chair invited Mr Mike Sandys, Director of Public Health to give an overview of the Annual Report 2016.

During discussion the following points were noted:

a)    Type 2 diabetes had recently been in the news with a top doctor liking it to a “walking deficiency disorder”, members asked Mr Sandys if steps were being taken in Rutland to combat this.  Mr Sandys advised that there were plenty of activities organised by Active Rutland but that there was scope for more to be done.

b)    The Health and Wellbeing Board had made a bid to Sport England for funding to promote more physical activity from a sport based model in to something that would encourage more activity.

c)    Being overweight was often linked to emotional issues, could help in this area be incorporate through a counselling provision.  Mr Sandys advised that although psychological report was general linked to those with eating disorders this was a good suggestion to take forward.

d)    It was felt that the costs associated with activities provide by Active Rutland and travel costs incurred to attend may be a bar for those in poverty or just managing and would discourage attendance.  Was there anything the Council could do to assist?  Mr Clifton advised that the Transport Review was looking into better use of community vehicles provided by Voluntary Action Rutland, currently this was seen as alternative hospital transport only, promotion of the service for other uses was being considered and one such use could be attending activity sessions at a low cost.  The service needed to be booked in advance but thought to be a viable option.

e)    It was felt that discounts for activity sessions would be preferable to free sessions, the charging policy would need to generate revenue for this to continue.  It was also noted that free sessions offered in other authorities had been perceived to be of no value to the public, sessions were valued more if a public contribution to the running had been made.

f)     Members also noted that being “time rich” was a further consideration in regard to being active, for example single parent families may find time constraints and added pressure on being able to partake in organised activities.  Mr Sandys advised that Sport England was working with the council on ideas and activities that could be incorporated into a working day.  The next phase in this would be to roll out a programme to NHS employers to encourage workplace activity with a view to offering support and ideas to the private sector in the future.

g)    The recommendation to refresh work on obesity was not due to an increase in people being overweight or obese in the county, in fact levels of childhood obesity had decreased or stabilised, with regard to adult obesity the figures across the East Midlands were similar, there was no evidence to suggest a marked increase in cases in Rutland.

h)   The Health Profile at table 1 of the report showed cases of Recorded diabetes to be higher than the average for England.  Mr Sandys advised that this was about scale, all incidences were important but smaller scale in Rutland meaning that even a small number of recorded cases would be significant.  Mr Andrews advised that there had not been a big shift between the 2014 and 2016 indicators.  Mr Conde further noted that the recorded cases included all types of diabetes, there was no definition between type 1 and type 2.