Issue - meetings

Report CS18061

The Committee considered a report providing an update on the contractual arrangements and provider performance of Public Health commissioned services in 2016/17.

Public Health Programmes were grouped into three broad areas comprising Adult Public Health Services which included NHS Health Checks and a number of healthy lifestyle programmes, Children and Young People Public Health Services which included School Nursing and Health Visiting, and Risky Behaviour for Young People and Adults which included Sexual Health and Substance Misuse Services.  A diverse range of organisations had been commissioned to deliver these services such as third party organisations, local community health providers and acute hospital providers.

A Co-opted Member raised concerns about the high abortion rate in Bromley and questioned whether anything was being done to address this.  The Assistant Director of Public Health explained that provision of abortion is not the responsibility of local authorities but work had been carried out to reduce the abortion rate, targeting those women who were at risk of having repeat abortions.  This included advice on appropriate contraception methods and the promotion of long acting reversible contraception (LARC) to prevent further unplanned/unwanted pregnancies.  Provision of LARC from GP practices remained a vital service which continued to contribute towards the reduction of unplanned pregnancies.  The Assistant Director agreed to provide the Committee with further information on this area of work.

Members recognised that there was a great deal of information within the report, including detail on the outcomes that were being achieved.  A Member noted that the public health services that were being provided would be hugely beneficial in terms of delivering additional future savings.

RESOLVED that the activity and performance of Public Health programmes during 2016/17 be noted.