Agenda item

A summary of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) was presented to the Board. The JSNA was jointly produced joints across Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge. The JSNA was grouped into four pillars.

The JSNA showed the following in relation to Pillar 1- wider determinants of health:

·  Life expectancy in the borough was lower than for London and England;

·  19% of residents are income deprived compared to 11% in Havering and 12% in Redbridge;

·  The unemployment rate in Barking and Dagenham was 9.1% compared to the London average of 6.5% and the England average of 5.1%.

·  The proportion of working age people in employment was 62.6% compared to the rate in London of 73.8% and the rate in England of 74.7%.

In relation to Pillar 2-Health behaviours and lifestyle, the JSNA showed-

·  18.1% of adults in the borough smoked which was the highest rate in London;

·  66% of adults were overweight or obese which was the second highest rate in London;

·  10% of children were overweight or obese by the age of five which was the second highest figure in London;

·  50% of children were overweight or obese by the age of 11 which was the highest figure in London

In addition to this, the CPH added that 37.1% of alcohol dependent adults completed a course of treatment as did 5.7% of opiate users.

The Consultant in Public Health (CPH) disclosed that the priority actions would be social prescribing and to factor health into all policies undertaken by the Council and partner organisations.

In relation to Pillar 3-places and communities, the JSNA showed-

·  19.8% of adults walked as a form of travel, which was below the London average which was 22.1% and the England average which was 15.1%.

·  Abbey and Gascoigne wards are at particular risk from climate change

·  Air pollution was attributed to 6.8% of deaths which was higher that the figure for London which 6.4% and the England average which was 5.1%.

The priority action was address travel infrastructure and a partnership response to address climate change and air pollution.

In relation to Pillar 4-places and communities, the JSNA showed-

·  10.3% of Children and Young People had mental health issues which was higher than the England average of 9.2%;

·  49% of residents with a long term condition felt that they received the assistance that they needed;

·  Upon attaining the age of 65, makes could expect to live for another 8.4 years and females for another 8.5 years. This was below the average for London and England.

The priority actions would be to strengthen children’s adolescent services and to support older residents at risk of falls, social isolation, and preventable illness.

The DPH cautioned that progress on addressing the issues highlighted by JSNA had been disrupted by Covid-19 and that the legacy of the pandemic would negatively impact heart disease, diabetes and deaths at home.

The Chair, whilst acknowledging that there had been improvements over the last thirty years, concluded that the rate of improvement was not satisfactory noting that the issues identified in previous JSNAs had not been fully addressed. The ICD at NELFT acknowledged this noting that preventative action is challenging since it requires building up engagement with communities, especially deprived areas and motivating them to change. The ICD highlighted the issue of child obesity noting that many residents would be surprised at data showing 50% of children are overweight by the age of 11 as society has lost sight of what an ideal weight is and that addressing this would be a challenge.

The Board agreed to approve the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.