Agenda item

POPULATION HEALTH AND LIFE EXPECTANCY

Minutes:

Julie Lowe, Programme Director, Our Healthier South East London, presented a report on population health and life expectancy in south east London. The report included borough level background information as previously requested by the Committee. She pointed out that although the overall figures for life expectancy were broadly comparable across the region and with London and England figures, there were differences in, for example the age profiles of the boroughs, with Bromley being older and Lambeth younger, and there were also differences in the healthy life expectancy and disability free life expectancy figures, particularly for men in Lambeth, and women in Bexley and Greenwich. The aim was to stop people from moving towards needing more services.

 

Cllr James asked about how these statistics would fit into the response to the NHS Ten Year Plan, and asked for confirmation that this committee and the boroughs individually would be consulted.  In response, it was confirmed that work was being carried out to establish exactly what needed to be done and at what level this would feed into the Long Term Plan – a response was needed by the autumn. In some cases life expectancy was falling, and it was confirmed that there would be a major focus on prevention and managing long-term conditions earlier. The NHS had moved from a sickness service dealing with episodes of ill-health, to a helping people to live longer, healthier lives. The Committee and boroughs would be consulted on responses to the Long Term Plan – Lewisham Healthwatch had been commissioned by NHS England to lead the initial phase of public engagement.

 

Cllr Adilypour requested more breakdowns of figures between boroughs on issues such as heart disease rates and lung disease rates for a future meeting. 

 

Cllr Noakes highlighted two figures in the report – that 26% of children in the six boroughs were living in poverty, and that 75% of people over 55 were living with at least one long-term condition – and asked whether that was in line with national expectations. Dr Bhan emphasised that the over 55 figure could include a range of both minor and serious conditions that were being managed. About 50% of those with high blood pressure had not been identified – it was important that they were diagnosed and given suitable medication.  The Long Term Plan contained a lot about prevention and dealing with heart disease and high blood pressure. 

 

Cllr Normal asked if there was any information on the background of those with long term conditions. Dr Bhan confirmed that there was accepted evidence that some conditions were more prevalent in certain groups – people from the Indian sub-continent were more prone to diabetes and heart disease than other groups.  It was also accepted that most diseases were more common in deprived populations, and that these populations were less likely to access screening services. More detail on this was available for each borough in their Joint Strategic Needs Assessments. The South East London Clinical Programmes Board did look at issues such as the uptake of screening in each borough and what could be done to target improvements.

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