Agenda item

Report of Jane Fowles, Consultant in Public Health

The Board considered a report of Dr Jane Fowles, Consultant in Public Health, which provided an update on the Coventry Health Challenge – the local Covid-19 prehabilitation approach and the health profile of the target population. Prehabilitation was physical and/or lifestyle preparation designed to improve the populations’ resistance to more serious health complications as a result of Covid 19, flu and other respiratory illnesses that were particularly prevalent in the winter months. The aim was to inform, support and challenge those most at risk to make healthier food choices, lose weight and protect their health by keeping up to date with immunisations, stopping smoking and seeking help with lifestyles changes as a range of self-managed and supported activity.

The report indicated that the Coventry Health Challenge was based on the Governments Better Health campaign. As a Covid-19 response, the campaign was aimed at raising the awareness for older people, those that were obese and those with long term health conditions that improving their health would have a significant impact on their long-term health and reduce the risk of a more serious illness as a result of the virus.

The vulnerable population of the city, who were the primary target group for the campaign, were aged 55+ (the average age of patients critically ill in intensive care was 60). People with pre-existing conditions and those living in more deprived communities (nationally, the most deprived areas had more than twice the mortality rate of least deprived areas). Both these risk factors disproportionately included BAME communities who had been more adversely affected by Covid-19 than other groups. Those that were overweight/obese, smokers and the population previously shielding were also amongst the most vulnerable. The report set out the heath indictors and evidence for this focus.

Over the next 6 months working with the health partners, residents would be challenged to practice self-care and take responsibility for their health. as we head towards the end of 2020. Each month would involve the following repeat themes: diet and nutrition; physical activity; smoking cessation and immunisations. Residents would be set a challenge to work on improving their health in manageable stages, this would include advice and tips, checklists, case studies and signposting to local services like Coventry Healthy Lifestyles service on social media. These themes would also be echoed in local media coverage, via the Coventry Telegraph paper and several BBC CWR programmes, as well as the seasonal Citivision magazines to reach those groups in the communities that were not online. The Council would also be asking the community and health champions to reach out to their networks to spread the Coventry Health Challenge messaging. Materials had also been translated into community languages.

The report detailed the campaign calendar for 2020/21 highlighting the themes for the months of September through to March. The October Health Challenge Toolkit, which involved quitting smoking and booking flu jabs, was set out at an appendix to the report.

The Chair, Dr Raistrick encouraged members to promote the Coventry Health Challenge within their organisations.

RESOLVED that:

1) The Coventry Health Challenge Campaign be endorsed.

2) Board members receive the monthly toolkits and promote the campaign to residents and patients through their communication channels and health champions.