Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Public Health providing the Panel with an updated assessment of the impact of Covid-19 on health and wellbeing in the City.

The Panel received and noted the report of the Director of Public Health which provided the Panel with an updated assessment of the impact of Covid-19 on health and wellbeing in the city.

Dr Debbie Chase, Director of Public Health; Vicky Toomey, Principal Analyst – Public Health; and Councillor Fielker – Cabinet Member for Health, Adults and Leisure (Virtual) were in attendance and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

The Panel acknowledged the dedication of health and care staff who had worked tirelessly to support the City through the challenging period of the pandemic.

The Panel discussed a number of points including:

·  The significant impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the health of Southampton residents.

·  There have been some negative impacts such as an increase in mental health issues but also some positive impacts such as reduction in smoking, increased value of air quality and clean air, and an increase in physical activity.

·  Many indirect impacts of the pandemic are yet to be fully realised

·  The Health and Wellbeing Board had agreed to prioritise mental health and giving children the best start in life.

·  This winter would have an impact on health and wellbeing inequalities in the community given the challenges of heating costs and the impact of the cost-of-living increase.

·  Regular assessment of the impact of Covid-19 would be included in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.

·  The Health and Wellbeing Board and the Health and Care Partnership Board had prioritised action on the basis of Covid impact and the available resource provision.

·  Officers and elected members should think about health and health impact in everything they do, for example when looking at making a decision on transport polices there would be an impact on health that should be taken into consideration.  This is referred to as a ‘health in all policies’ approach.