Issue - meetings

Background:

This report set out details of the Director of Public Health’s Annual Report for 2017-18, titled: “Protecting the Health of Medway’s Population: now and for the future”.

The report focused on nine key areas of health protection, these were:

1. Infectious diseases and food-borne illness

2. Seasonal influenza

3. Screening

4. Emergency preparedness

5. Sexual health and blood-borne viruses

6. Health care associated infections

7. Air quality

8. Tuberculosis

9. Vaccinations.

For each health protection area, the Annual Report examined four key questions which covered: the current situation in Medway; what partners were doing to protect the health of Medway’s population; action people in Medway could take to protect their health; and focus areas for the future. The Annual Report also included case studies illustrating good practice in Medway and based on the findings of these lines of enquiry, the report then made recommendations.

The Director of Public Health’s Annual Report for 2017-18 was considered by the Health and Wellbeing Board on 3 July 2018 and its comments were set out at section 4 of the report. The report was also considered by the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 16 October 2018 and its comments were reported in an addendum report.

Cabinet Members expressed concern regarding the recent announcement by the Kent and Medway NHS, following their review of urgent stroke services in area, of the preferred option (option B). Under option B, Hyper Acute Stroke Units (HASUs) would be located alongside Acute Stroke Units (ASUs) at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, Maidstone Hospital and William Harvey Hospital in Ashford and would exclude Medway Maritime Hospital. The Cabinet noted the action being taken by the Council on the matter.

Reasons:

There is a statutory duty for Directors of Public Health to produce an Annual Report and Local Authorities to publish the report.