Environmental Health and Public Health

Peter Carey Environmental Health Manager 4

th

December 2013

North Herts District Council www.north-herts.gov.uk

My presentation

 The role environmental health can play in the new public health agenda  The opportunities and challenges North Herts District Council www.north-herts.gov.uk

Themes

 Perspective  Priorities  Organisations  Resources North Herts District Council www.north-herts.gov.uk

Perspective

 Pre 19 th Century - little Government involvement in public health  Industrial revolution - overcrowding, poor housing, bad water and disease  Major cholera outbreaks  Government accepted the case for action North Herts District Council www.north-herts.gov.uk

Public measures  1834 Poor Law Amendment Act  1848 The Nuisances Removal and Diseases Prevention Act  1848 Public Health Act  1853 Vaccination Act  1875 Public Health Act  1894 Local Government Act North Herts District Council www.north-herts.gov.uk

Individual measures  1906 Power for LAs to provide free school meals  1907 School medical examinations for all children  1908 Old age pensions introduced  1911 National Insurance introduced North Herts District Council www.north-herts.gov.uk

Current environmental health roles

 Nuisance  Housing conditions inc overcrowding  Drinking water quality  Food safety  Health & safety at work  Infectious disease control  Air quality  Contaminated land  Tobacco control (smoke free premises)  Noise control  Skin piercing North Herts District Council www.north-herts.gov.uk

Priorities

 HCC priorities  District Council priorities  NHS priorities  Herts H&W Strategy priorities  Wider determinants of health  Public Health Outcomes Framework for England North Herts District Council www.north-herts.gov.uk

Health & Wellbeing Strategy priorities

 Reducing the harm caused by alcohol.  Reducing the harm from tobacco.  Increasing physical activity and promoting a healthy weight.  Fulfilling lives for people with learning disabilities.  Living well with dementia.  Enhancing quality of life for people with long term conditions.  Supporting carers to care.  Helping all families to thrive.  Improving mental health and emotional wellbeing.

North Herts District Council www.north-herts.gov.uk

Wider determinants of health

North Herts District Council www.north-herts.gov.uk

Public Health Outcomes Framework 2013-2016

Organisations

North Herts District Council www.north-herts.gov.uk

North Herts District Council www.north-herts.gov.uk

 HCC  CCGs (x2)  District/Borough Councils (x10)  Parish/Town Councils  NHS Trusts  NHS Local Area Team  PHE South Midlands & Herts  Third Sector North Herts District Council www.north-herts.gov.uk

Resources

 Budgets  Economic climate  Commissioning North Herts District Council www.north-herts.gov.uk

Case studies

District Council’s Network “District Action on Public Health” North Herts District Council www.north-herts.gov.uk

Wealden DC – food safety

 Improving food knowledge at lunch clubs  Over 20 lunch clubs across  Target audience older people (but not exclusively)  FSA grant applied for to support clubs  Training and other support offered with regard to hygiene and nutrition  Half day training sessions and handbooks North Herts District Council www.north-herts.gov.uk

Chichester DC – falls prevention

 Statutory duty to deal with hazards in homes  Accident notifications required under HSW74  Chichester 2008, most serious accident report notifications related to falls of residents in care homes  Half day training session developed for care home supervisors to increase knowledge of how to carry out falls prevention assessment.  Delivered in conjunction with local NHS Trust  40% drop in care home accident reports since training North Herts District Council www.north-herts.gov.uk

North Herts DC – tobacco control

 Health Act 2006 – the smoking ban  Was compliance as good as reported?

 Focus on business engagement  Taxi businesses  Vehicle checks with the Police  Referrals to HSSS North Herts District Council www.north-herts.gov.uk

Conclusion

 Detailed knowledge of public health issues  Practical and adaptable officers  Local knowledge of our communities and local public health threats  Statutory powers North Herts District Council www.north-herts.gov.uk