Decision details

Committee to receive the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) following it being considered by the Health and Wellbeing Board, and also to consider the Joint Health and Well-being Strategy.

The Chairman invited Councillor Helena Hart, Chairman of the Barnet Health and Wellbeing Board, Zoe Garbett, t Commissioning Lead for Health and Wellbeing, and Luke Ward, Commissioning Lead for Entrepreneurial Barnet, Growth & Development, to the table.

Councillor Hart introduced the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and noted that the Health and Wellbeing Board had considered this extremely important document on three occasions before approving it for publication. A Member questioned the purpose of the report.  Councillor Hart informed the Committee that the JSNA provided a clear evidence base and understanding of the health and social care needs of both present and future residents of Barnet. It would be an invaluable source of information across the Council, NHS and Voluntary Sector. 

Councillor Hart informed the Committee that the Clinical Commissioning Group had been very engaged in the production of the JSNA and that there had been a high level of involvement from both user groups and residents.  She noted that this should ensure that all Members of the Health and Wellbeing Board were fully signed up to the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy which is based on the JSNA. The JSNA would also be used to inform the wider decision making process to issues relating to regeneration, housing and the economic situation.

The Committee were informed that a website had been established by the Council and would be managed by the Public Health team in order to keep the JSNA reflective of relevant updates.   A Member noted that the JSNA had shown that people who were older, female, or affluent were stated at being more risk of social isolation and challenged if this went against the evidence which says the same of lower social groups.  Mr. Ward advised the Committee that the conclusions came out of a designated piece of research conducted by Capita colleagues and he suggested that different questions may have been asked. The data could be drilled down to postcode level and Member requested that this raw data was circulated to the Committee.

A Member commented that the JSNA referenced targets set out in the Local Plan and the Local Implementation Plan to increase cycling usage to 4.3% of journeys by 2026 and challenged whether this was an unambitious target.

A Member commented on non-smoking services and noted that the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust had a very good non-smoking service.

A Member noted that the JSNA did not contain much information on end of life care.  Ms. Garbett advised the Committee that it was possible for end of life care to be contained within the JSNA, but that the issue was seldom raised during the production process. 

RESOLVED that:-

1.    That the Committee notes how the JSNA will be used to inform council and public sector decision making in Barnet, and recommend any topics where additional future research into population-level need may be required.

2.    That the Committee comments on the proposed vision, priorities and actions contained in the draft Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

3.    The Committee requests to be provided with the raw data in relation to social isolation as set out above.