Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director – Housing and Revenues, Assistant Director Community Services and Director of Public Health

The Assistant Director – Housing and Revenues, Assistant Director – Community Services and Director of Public Health submitted a report (previously circulated) providing Members with performance data against key performance indicators for Quarter 2 2024/25.

It was reported that 36 indicators were reported to this Scrutiny Committee, nine are updated on a six-monthly basis and twenty seven annually, with annual indicators updated throughout the year. Members were informed that there were six Housing and Culture indicators and twenty four Public Health indicators.

At Quarter 2, data was available for nine of the twelve Housing and Culture indicators. It was noted that seven of the nine indicators were showing performance better than from when last reported and two were showing performance not as good as when last reported.

In relation to Public Health indicators it was reported that twelve annual indicators had been updated since Quarter 4 2023/24 and that nine of the twelve indicators were showing performance better than from when last reported, two were showing performance not as good as when last reported and one was showing performance that remained the same.

Particular discussion ensued regarding PBH 046 - percentage of eligible population aged 40-74 offered an NHS Health Check who received an NHS Health Check in the five-year period, which had seen a decline. Members were informed that whilst there had been a decline, Darlington was statistically better than the North East and England. However there would be a focus on targeted action to increase uptake in areas of the Borough where health outcomes were poorest. Whilst this might reduce overall uptake it was important to take such action to reduce health inequalities.

Members raised concern and requested more details regarding PBH 024 - Hospital admissions caused by unintentional and deliberate injuries in children aged under 5 years and PBH 026 - Hospital admissions caused by unintentional and deliberate injuries in children aged under 15 years. Members were informed that an audit and mapping exercise was underway and the outcome and recommendations from the work could be shared with Members once available.

Members requested further details of the school toothbrushing scheme and noted that a Children and Young People Health and Wellbeing conference was scheduled for 11 February and included an agenda item on oral health; it was suggested that Members receive an update on the conference once this had been held. 

The Director of Public Health requested that Members give consideration to the removal of the performance indicator ‘PBH052 - (PHOF D10) Adjusted antibiotic prescribing in primary care by the NHS’ from the set of indicators as this data was not available to the public health team and as such could not easily be updated.

RESOLVED –  (a) That the submitted report be noted.

(b) That Members receive an update on the audit and mapping exercise being undertaken in relation to hospital admissions caused by unintentional and deliberate injuries in children.

(c) That Members be provided with figures for the school toothbrushing scheme.

(d) That the Performance Indicator PBH052 - (PHOF D10) Adjusted antibiotic prescribing in primary care by the NHS be removed from the set of indicators for this Scrutiny Committee and that any future updates be provided by the Integrated Care Board.