Agenda item

RESOLVED:

·        that the progress made in the implementation of recommendations from BLACHIR, and the progress of the Lewisham Health Inequalities and Health Equity Programme 20-24 be noted.

Catherine Mbema (Director Of Public Health) introduced the report. The following key points were noted:

4.1. The BLACHIR report outlined seven key themes for action along with 39 opportunities for action.

4.2. A mapping exercise revealed that out of these 39 opportunities for action- 2 were already being fully progressed from existing initiatives, 13 opportunities for action had started to make progress and 24 opportunities did not have any action mapped against them yet.

4.3. Social Inclusion Recovery Group (SIRG) had been appointed as a community partner to support the implementation of these opportunities for action locally.

4.4. SIRG was already actively engaging with the community and had established an advisory group of six Voluntary Community Sector (VCS) organisations.

4.5. The Lewisham Health Inequalities and Health Equity Programme 2022-24 had eight concurrent and intersecting workstreams. Each of these workstreams had specific projects being delivered, most of them in partnerships. The opportunities for action being implemented through each workstream and the specific details about the different projects were listed in the report to the Committee.

4.6. The two-year Health Equity Fellowship Programme involved the recruitment of 6 PCN Health Equity Fellows (one per PCN- Primary Care Network) who had received in-house training and masters-level modular training by King’s College London (KCL).

4.7. During the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a Covid-19 Community Champions programme which had now transitioned into the Lewisham Health and Wellbeing Champions programme.

The Committee members were invited to ask questions. The following key points were noted:

4.8. The Up! Up! Programme, which was a tailored weight management service for Black African and Black Caribbean residents, had been proven to be a great success.

4.9. The Committee enquired about the aspiration for the next phase of the community champions, highlighting the effectiveness of engaging with more community members through local assembly meetings. While clear targets for the community champions didn’t exist yet, the possibility of reviewing progress after a year was discussed to identify successful strategies and areas for improvement.

4.10. A member of the Committee attended the Black VCS Expo event that had taken place on the 13^th of October 2023 and reported that the event was very informative and well attended.

4.11. It was discussed that the provision of culturally sensitive services was important.

4.12. A Committee member raised concerns about the potential disproportionate offering of C-sections to certain communities. Lewisham’s active Maternity Voices Partnership, linked to the maternity services and incorporating lived experiences, was acknowledged. It was noted that officers would convey this concern to the partnership and respond back on this matter.

4.13. It was acknowledged that 2 years was a short time-frame for a programme of this scale, but that this timeframe was set based on funding availability. If the programme could demonstrate positive outcomes, it could make a case for future funding and continued investment.

4.14. A member of the Committee suggested that the Committee would be interested in hearing more about the system in place for evaluating the work in this programme.

4.15. A Committee member noted that Catherine Mbema (Director of Public Health) attended the Ladywell assembly where her presentation was very well delivered and well received. Other members of the Committee invited Catherine to the local assemblies in Crofton Park and Sydenham.

4.16. It was noted that where possible, people were being signposted to existing universal services that were underutilised, for example the cancer screening service.

RESOLVED:

·         that the progress made in the implementation of recommendations from BLACHIR, and the progress of the Lewisham Health Inequalities and Health Equity Programme 20-24 be noted.