The Health and Wellbeing Board of Enfield Council met on Tuesday, 11 June 2024, to discuss several key issues, including winter preparation, vaccination progress, the Better Care Fund, and updates on the North Central London Population Health Strategy and the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Decisions were made to improve emergency services and vaccination uptake, and to support carers in the community.

Winter Preparation and Vaccination Progress

Gayan Perera, Public Health Intelligence Manager, and Mark Tickner, Infection Control Lead, presented an update on winter preparation and vaccination progress. The number of infectious disease notifications and Covid-19 cases were reported as low. However, there were concerns about lower vaccination uptake and vaccination fatigue among staff, despite a promotional campaign. Dr Nnenna Osuji, Chief Executive of North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, highlighted the operational impact of Covid-19 and flu cases, and the increasing number of children attending the hospital with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Efforts to improve patient flow in emergency services included doubling the capacity of front door GP provision and a pilot scheme with the London Ambulance Service to release crews after 45 minutes.

Better Care Fund - Update

Doug Wilson, Director of Health and Adult Social Care, provided an update on the Better Care Fund (BCF), which supports integrated health and social care services. The BCF aims to enable people to live safely and independently at home for longer. Preparations were in place for increased service demand as the weather gets colder. Delayed discharges from hospitals were discussed, with complexity and the need for rehabilitation cited as common reasons.

North Central London Population Health Strategy Update

Deborah McBeal, Director of Integration at the North Central London Integrated Care Board (NCL ICB), and Stephen Wells, Head of the Enfield Borough Partnership Programme, presented an update on the North Central London Population Health Strategy. The strategy focuses on addressing health inequalities and making the best use of resources. Pamela Burke, a voluntary sector representative, emphasized the importance of supporting young and adult carers, which can lead to savings in hospital and social care costs. Stephen Wells and Dr Nnenna Osuji agreed to follow up on this outside the meeting.

Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy Renewal Progress Update

Dudu Sher-Arami, Director of Public Health, and Victoria Adnan, Policy and Performance Manager, introduced the draft Enfield Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2024-2030. Board members were asked to provide feedback and circulate the draft document and questionnaire link during the consultation period, which runs until 29 January 2024. Councillor Andy Milne raised concerns about the strategy's aspirational nature and the lack of specific success metrics. Officers assured that a monitoring framework would be developed, linking to key strategies such as the corporate plan and population health strategy. Pamela Burke requested that young and adult carers be specifically noted in the strategy, and officers agreed to review the text and incorporate carers' networks into the action planning.

Early Years Partnership - Update

Peter Nathan, Director of Education, provided an update on Early Years services. The government's proposals for expanded childcare provision and expected funding were discussed, highlighting the need for preparation. The birth rate in Enfield has fallen, impacting schools. Data showed that Enfield's Good Level of Development rates were below London and national averages, while obesity and dental decay rates were higher. MMR immunisation rates were also lower than average. Positive results were noted in Health Visiting data, with an increase in drop-in clinics. Domestic abuse was a significant issue in family support referrals, and social communication difficulties were the top presenting need in Joint Service for Disabled Children’s Referrals.

For more details, you can refer to the minutes of the meeting.