The Cheshire and Merseyside Directors of Public and Population Health met for their System Leadership meeting on Friday 26th September. You can read the key messages along with items of good news and gratitude here:
- NHS Cheshire and Merseyside CEO visit – The Directors welcomed Cathy Elliott, CEO of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside and a discussion was held on the importance of prevention to reduce pressure on the NHS. The Directors committed to continuing to work together as system partners with the ICB. Cathy also expressed her wish to work positively with Directors and build on the excellent work, welcoming support from Directors in helping the ICB achieve its goals on the key population health programmes.
- Presidential visit ADPH – Greg Fell, President of the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) and his colleagues joined the Directors to give an update and have a strategic discussion on national developments, such as the public health grant and the NHS 10 year plan. The ADPH annual conference is being held on 21 November and the ADPH awards are now open for submissions.
- Cheshire and Merseyside public health workforce development and wellbeing model – Directors received an update on the new public health workforce wellbeing and development model. The model will sit under a new brand named “Connect, Learn, Thrive” which was also shared with Directors and will be launched shortly. This includes an updated pathway to improve opportunities for people wishing to advance their career in public health and a coaching programme for public health leaders. A new Champs pilot hub has also been launched to support individuals pursuing the portfolio route to registration as public health specialists.
- UKHSA update – Exercise Pegasus, for future pandemic preparedness, went well and the first phase is now concluded with containment being the second phase. A national report will be shared with all Local Resilience Forums (LRFs). Measles cases are low, but it is too early to say whether there will be another rise in cases now schools have re-opened.
- Good news and gratitude – The Directors shared items of good news and gratitude:
- Sefton has published its public health annual report focusing on the wellbeing of young adults.
- Congratulations to Warrington on their Living Well Hub which has been shortlisted for an HSJ award.
- Well done to all those involved in Exercise Pegasus in both Cheshire and Merseyside LRFs.
- Wirral have been asked to be part of new research commissioned by DHSC on health visiting services.
- Well done to Sarah McNulty and the team who delivered the recent All Together Smoke Free CPD event
- Congratulations to Halton and Cheshire East, who have been successful in gaining a Local Authority Research Practitioner.
- Thank you and farewell to Lucia Scally, senior public health programme lead, in the Champs support team who has recently retired.
