Key messages from the Directors of Public Health 12.11.21

The Cheshire and Merseyside (C&M) Directors of Public Health (DsPH) currently meet weekly. The key messages from the 12^th November DsPH Executive Board meeting are as follows:

1. Champs Collaborative performance report – The DsPH reviewed the mid-year Collaborative performance report which shows a fantastic amount of work delivered on both the COVID-19 response and established priority programmes. DsPH thanked local leads, partners and the Champs support team.

Each DPH gave a short update from their lead areas of work, highlights include:

1. 1. Alcohol – The alcohol harm dashboard, launch of the ‘Lower my drinking’ app and delivery of the alcohol care team competencies framework.
   2. Suicide prevention – The development of self-harm pathways with toolkits for adults, children and young people. Delivery of suicide first aid training to blue light services and innovative men’s health projects.
   3. Cancer – Cancer screening co-ordinators are in place and actively working to increase uptake of breast and bowel cancer screening in collaboration with the Cancer Alliance.
   4. Communications – Increased levels of engagement through effective communications with a new newsletter launched and joint DsPH statements/press releases developed and disseminated.
   5. Campaigns – Successful Cheshire and Merseyside campaigns delivered around Covid, mental wellbeing, CVD and alcohol harm.
   6. Population Health – Successful work of the Population Health Board, including launching as a Marmot Community to tackle health inequalities and the NHS Prevention Pledge pilot.
   7. Workforce development – Continuing programme of online CPD events including the launch event with Sir Michael Marmot, the World Suicide Prevention Day event, plus the successful delivery of North West public health practitioner scheme.
   8. CVD – Mortality for CVD lower in under 75’s than other North West regions. CVD prevention embedded in all Place plans and Blood Pressure@home programme implemented in all CCGs, including roll out of blood pressure quality improvement package with significant new resources.
   9. Contact tracing – Continuation of a shared hub and UKHSA pilot launched.
   10. Intelligence – The launch of the CIPHA data system to support the COVID-19 response and launch of the Population Health dashboard. Analysts have supported the two LRFs.

Key opportunities going forward for the Collaborative include:

• Working closely with the new ICS
• The Marmot Community programme
• The new public health research network
• Ensuring best value achieved within the UKHSA funded contact tracing pilot
• Building and nurturing the public health workforce

An interactive summary with highlights of the DsPH performance report will be circulated in due course.

1. Future public health workforce arrangements – The DsPH received a paper setting out some of the challenges for the current public health workforce as well as opportunities for training and development in the future. There is a new workforce development programme starting within the Collaborative, funded by Health Education England. The DsPH endorsed the workforce development paper.
2. North West Public Health Practitioner Scheme – The DsPH endorsed the recommendation for the scheme to move to the leadership of Health Education England after being hosted by the Champs Collaborative for several years. This is in line with other regions and the scheme has successfully supported many practitioners through their registration with the UKPHR. Thanks to everyone involved.
3. Good news and gratitude
4. The first Marmot Place based workshop was held last week in Liverpool with good engagement.
5. The DsPH would like to congratulate Professor Jim McManus on his appointment as new President of the ADPH.