Agenda item

The Health Select Committee will be presented with information on health inequalities in Brent. People who live in Brent generally have good health but there are inequalities between communities and different groups that the Council and Primary Care Trust (NHS Brent) are working to address. The starkest health inequality is that men who live in Northwick Park ward can, on average, expect to live nine years longer than a man living in Harlesden. Other areas of concern include the high prevalence of diabetes and TB and the low levels of adult participation in regular physical exercise. The presentation will provide an overview of the key issues in the borough, which will be a useful to members when scrutinising health issues in Brent. Cathy Tyson, Assistant Director of Policy will give this presentation.

Simon Bowen (Acting Director of Public Health and Regeneration, NHS Brent) gave a presentation on Health Inequalities in Brent. He began by describing the population of Brent, which was approximately 278,500, against a registered patient total of 351,000.  Members heard that 55% of residents were from black or minority ethnic communities and that the borough was the most heterogeneous in England.  The population was relatively young with 43% of residents under 30 years of age, whilst over 30,000 people were over 65 years of age.  The borough was classified as the 53^rd most deprived in England.  Simon Bowen then described deprivation trends in Brent, with the overall pattern illustrating that deprivation was more prevalent in the south of the borough.  Health levels were generally relatively similar to the overall United Kingdom population and the most common life ending illnesses in Brent, cardiovascular disease and cancer, were reflected nationally.  However, the borough had comparatively high levels of TB, diabetes and oral health related illnesses.  Life expectancy in the south of the borough was lower than in the north, whilst there were more parks and open spaces and households more likely to exercise in the north.  Teenage pregnancy was higher in the south of the borough. 

Simon Bowen then referred to The Marmot Review, an independent review commissioned by the Secretary of State for Health which had made a number of recommendations to local authorities to address health inequalities, including a number under the policy document ‘Give Every Child the Best Start’.  To support these aims in Brent, a Brent’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2008 – 2018 had been devised to address the following work streams:-

·         Ensuring safe, modern, effective and accessible services

·         Supporting individuals to lead healthier lives, focusing on health and wellbeing behaviours

·         Improving the economic, social and environmental factors which promote good health wellbeing

·         Improving prevention, management and outcomes for the priority health conditions

·         Improving outcomes for children, young people and their families

Members also noted the outcome of the Audit Commission Review of Health Inequalities in Brent.

Councillor R Moher was invited to address the Select Committee.  She enquired whether deprivation levels had recently marginally risen in some areas further north in the borough, such as Wembley Central ward.  Councillor Crane (Lead Member for Regeneration and Economic Development) was also invited to address the Select Committee and, in stating that he was a former member of this Committee, commented that the first meeting of 2010/11 provided a useful platform to obtain an overview of the issues as Members, including new councillors, considered a work programme for 2010/11.

During discussion by Members, Councillor Hunter enquired how the information presented would be used in light of Government proposals to move commissioning responsibilities from primary care trusts to GPs.  She also commented on a recent article that had highlighted the dangers of exposure to air pollution and she enquired whether this issues was included as part of Brent’s health strategy.

In reply to the issues raised, Simon Bowen advised that other wards further north of the borough were also experiencing rising levels of deprivation and he explained that The Marmot Review had concluded that local authorities could not afford not to tackle health inequalities as by taking no action the resulting overall economic costs would be greater.  Members heard that all partners, led by the Council, sought to raise the borough’s profile and would look at a whole range of issues.  The Government’s initiative to transfer more responsibilities to local authorities would have significant implications for health services.  In addition, the transfer of commissioning duties to GPs raised a number of issues and Simon Bowen suggested that the quality of GP led services could vary quite considerably across the Country.  He stated that air pollution was a significant contributor to respiratory deaths and cancerous illnesses, adding that areas such as the North Circular Road presented a challenge in this respect.

David Thrale (Head of Environmental Health) informed Members that the release of oxides and nitrogen were major contributors to increasing ozone levels in Brent and that a revised action plan for air quality was being developed.