Agenda item

Considered the Director of Public Health Annual Report 2023- 24: ‘Live, Age, Engage: healthy ageing in North Yorkshire’ and presentations by Dr Victoria Turner and Dr Gill Kelly, Consultants in Public Health on the DPH Annual Report and the Growing Up in North Yorkshire Survey 2024.  The first presentation centred on the public health priority of healthy ageing and its relevance to the county and the coast because of the higher than average and increasing number of older residents.  The ageing population brought challenges around greater health needs but also opportunities in terms of volunteering and spending power.  Analysis of the evidence in respect of older people helped public health to identify four key priorities to achieve healthy ageing: health and reducing inequalities; housing; employment and financial security; and making North Yorkshire an age-friendly place.  Overlaying these priorities was the key aim to embed a more strategic approach to healthy ageing in the county.  Ms Turner then listed some the issues which fell under these priorities such as: staying healthy in the workplace; encouraging uptake of pension credits (it was estimated that in the Scarborough and Whitby area over £5m of pension credits were unclaimed every year); the higher proportion of older people renting in Scarborough; accessing primary health care, preventing falls and dying well; and digital inclusion.  In respect of the Annual Report’s recommendations, Dr Turner highlighted the overarching one of all agencies and services to consider the projected increase in older people and what this means for their services and infrastructure.

Following the presentation, issues raised by members included:

• Concern that the social care sector was still struggling since the COVID pandemic and was somewhat overlooked by Integrated Care Boards
• The changing trend in the North Yorkshire data about male life expectancy being ahead of female life expectancy during 2017-19 and 2018- 20 (Dr Turner agreed to monitor if this trend continued in future data sets, particularly through pandemic years)
• The higher proportion of older people renting in Scarborough (Anecdotally, this was largely attributable to people who had always rented.  Dr Turner would provide a link to a national report which cited Scarborough as an example which may provide further detail)
• The concerning level of unclaimed pension credit in Scarborough and Whitby – could public health and other agencies such as DWP orchestrate a targeted campaign in the local area to raise awareness? (Dr Turner would take this suggestion back to her local authority Revenue and Benefits colleagues)

The second presentation delivered by Dr Gill Kelly examined the results of the Growing Up in North Yorkshire survey 2024 with reference to Scarborough and Whitby and the wider county.

Dr Kelly advised that a huge amount of data was collected from young people for this biennial survey and overall trend analysis showed more positive than negative changes for the whole county since the last survey in 2022.  A series of priorities had been identified from the 2022 survey including healthy weight, healthy lifestyle, online safety and resilience and emotional wellbeing.  The presentation focused on the main messages from four topics with Scarborough and Whitby and total North Yorkshire data provided, and then comparisons to 2022.  Small percentage differences were not regarded as statistically significant. Of the most concern had been emotional wellbeing but this data in the whole had shown improvement since 2022, in part owing to public interventions and time elapsing since the pandemic. Within the overall positive picture were concerns that some 30% of secondary school children did not feel they had somebody to talk to and also the far greater proportion of secondary school girls than boys who worried about their looks and experienced lower emotional resilience.  The personal, health and social curriculum was being adapted to respond to these concerns.  Despite improvements in awareness around online safety, there was still much work to do.  At face value for younger children, the data showed a reduction in bullying, but perception was key in this regard, and so required further investigation.  For older children, the data on bullying had worsened, again necessitating further work.  In contrast, the data on sexual health and harassment indicated improvement with greater visibility and awareness.  The data on substance use and awareness was also very positive.  It seemed that the messages in the classroom on this seemed to be getting through.  In conclusion, key priorities from the 2024 survey centred on resilience and emotional wellbeing, having a trusted adult or service for support, continuing to respond to online safety risks, and promoting a healthy bedtime routine.

Following the presentation, issues raised by members included:

• Girls’ tendency to worry
• The current turbulence in international politics and the threat of world war affecting children’s emotional resilience
• The importance of having a trusted adult to talk to in tackling these issues

The Chair thanked both speakers for their presentations and for answering members’ questions.

Resolved that the presentation be received.