Agenda item

To receive and discuss a paper on the Drivers of Health Inequalities on the Isle of Wight.

The Director of Public Health introduced the Health Inequalities report as being part of the major priorities of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

The Associate Director of Public Health presented the paper on the Drivers of Health Inequalities on the Isle of Wight, where it was fundamental to understand that it was necessary to consider the bigger picture to appreciate the range of factors which influenced health and wellbeing, and the differences observed between different groups.

It was explained to the board that the circumstances in which individuals were born, grow, live and work have the strongest influence and biggest impact on health. These were factors outside the control of individuals where actions needed to be taken to achieve the biggest changes in improving health. These factors were referred to as the building blocks of health, on which the Board could formulate policies, actions and community engagement.

The report looked at both the assets and challenges of the Island.

Housing and employment opportunities, food insecurities and lower educational attainment were highlighted among the challenges that faced the Island.

It was noted that the Isle of Wight population had a higher prevalence of a wide range of long-term conditions including heart disease and cancer, compared to local neighbouring mainland areas. There was also a greater number of children with special educational needs and disabilities than the UK average.

Four local geographic areas were identified as having significant health inequalities and were used as case studies to explore the factors contributing to poor health outcomes. These areas were Freshwater South, Freshwater North and Yarmouth; Parkhurst, Hunnyhill, Pan and Barton; Ryde Central Wards and the Bay Area.

The population of the Freshwater wards was identified as having an acutely older population with a level of a limiting long-term illness or disability that was higher than England and the rest of the Isle of Wight.

The Parkhurst and Hunnyhill, Pan and Barton had a younger middle-aged population but suffered more marked deprivation with disability, hospital admissions and early deaths being higher than the national average.

70% of households were regarded as being deprived in one or more of the four dimensions of education, health, housing and unemployment.

The Ryde ward had a larger proportion of primary school aged children with Ryde South East ward having a much younger and more deprived population than the rest of Ryde. The population of the Ryde wards had a significantly worse premature mortality for all causes of death especially cancer, circulatory diseases and conditions seen as preventable, and the data showed higher rates of self-harm and alcohol abuse. The findings suggested that ill health in this area was not driven by an aging population but by preventable conditions, that was shaped by social factors. Poor quality housing, overcrowding, low income and unemployment were also deemed influencing factors with groups experiencing physical and mental health issues in the area.

The Bay showed higher levels of deprivation for older people and children than the Isle of Wight average. Disability, hospital admissions and early deaths were also all higher.

RESOLVED:

THAT the report on the drivers of Health inequalities be noted and further discussed between partners to take action.