Mel France, Public Health Principal, Integration & Health Inequalities, Shropshire Council

Tracey Jones, Head of Health Inequalities, STW ICB

The Board received a report and presentation from the Public Health Principal, Public Health Development Officer and the Head of Health Inequalities at Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin ICS which updated the Health & Wellbeing Board on the ongoing work undertaken by health, local authority and voluntary and community sector agencies to reduce inequalities within the County, as outlined in the Shropshire Inequalities Plan (2022-2027), and the delivery of the plan to date.

The Executive Director of Health, Wellbeing and Prevention introduced the report and the Public Health Principal who gave some context around the Shropshire Inequalities Plan which targeted inequalities using a population health model approach, focusing on various determinants and specific vulnerable groups.  The Public Health Principal reported that significant work had been completed or was on track regarding wider determinants, healthy places, and lifestyles, with many social inclusion groups showing substantial progress. 

The Head of Health Inequalities at Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin ICS discussed the Core 20 Plus 5 strategy which targeted the 20% most deprived areas and specific groups such as the homeless, immigrants and sex workers etc, focusing on five clinical areas where data showed the most significant differences in health outcomes, along with smoking status which impacted all 5 key clinical areas.  It was explained that the Core 20 plus 5 for children and young people was less developed. 

The Head of Health Inequalities highlighted the NHS 5 key lines of enquiry which formed part of the programmes of work that the NHS report against.  She then took members through the overview of progress against the 2023-24 Healthcare objectives in the implementation plan.  Results from Q1 and Q2 of the current year were now being collated and would be brought back to the Board along with an update on work being done to develop a metrics dashboard.

In conclusion, the Public Health Principal drew attention to the Plans and Priorities for 2025 which involved place-based early intervention and continuous development to meet population needs and a refresh of the Inequalities plan.  She thanked everyone who had contributed to the report and for the enormous amount of work that was taking place and confirmed that updates would be presented annually to the Board.

A brief discussion ensued.  The Executive Director of Health, Wellbeing and Prevention emphasized the importance of collaboration, regular updates, and monitoring metrics. She also mentioned the need to keep the programme high on the agenda.  The Chair highlighted the strength of bringing agencies together and working collaboratively and would wish to see regular updates coming to the Board.  In response to concerns that the report did not show the impact of all these programmes on inequalities, the Executive Director of Health, Wellbeing and Prevention explained that there was a full detailed plan that could be shared with the Board, but that today’s report summarized the direction of travel/progress against the action plan.

The Executive Director for People discussed advocacy for Shropshire because nationally counties like Shropshire were not well understood, and so neither was the impact on residents of living in a county like Shropshire and she suggested that Board members write to various Secretaries of State highlighting Shropshire’s unique issues.

Board Members RESOLVED to:

• note the progress made in delivery of the Shropshire Inequalities plan to date, and for the HWBB partner agencies to continue to work together to deliver the Plan commitments.
• approve the forward plan and priorities outlined for the next 12-month period listed in this report.
• receive six monthly updates on the continued progress of the Inequalities plan.