The Health and Wellbeing Board of North Tyneside Council discussed several key issues, including feedback from Healthwatch North Tyneside, progress on the Equally Well strategy, and updates on oral health and dental access recovery. Decisions were made to continue monitoring and reporting on these initiatives.

Healthwatch North Tyneside

Healthwatch North Tyneside presented their findings from the 2023/24 feedback, which included input from over 2,500 residents and 99 community outreach events. Key points highlighted were:

• High quality of care and treatment is valued when received.
• Positive feedback on staff care and support.
• Concerns about access to GP and dental care.
• Acceptance of delays in care as a new norm.
• Waiting times for various types of care, including GP appointments and mental health support, remain a significant concern.
• The importance of offering users a choice in how they interact with services (online, phone, face-to-face).
• Barriers to care, such as digital access, transport, and costs, persist.

The Board noted the presentation and acknowledged the need to contextualise resident feedback within the broader performance of NHS services in North Tyneside. Discussions also touched on the impact of digital accessibility and the need for further work on children's mental health services.

Equally Well Progress Update - The Places and Communities We Live In and With

The Board received an update on the Equally Well: A healthier, fairer future for North Tyneside 2021-25 strategy, focusing on the theme of places and communities. Key actions from the 2023/24 implementation plan included:

• Enhancing physical environments and green spaces in deprived areas.
• Implementing Health Impact Assessment recommendations on the Housing Strategy.
• Improving private rented housing in Wallsend.
• Expanding the Safe and Healthy Homes initiative.
• Delivering 187 affordable homes.
• Addressing anti-social behaviour and crime in specific communities.
• Developing masterplans to improve infrastructure and create jobs.
• Committing to becoming an age-friendly borough.

Presentations by Steve Bishop and Cheryl Gavin highlighted the integration of arts, creativity, and culture into public health through the North Tyneside Cultural Plan and the work of Helix Arts. The Board expressed gratitude for the efforts to raise awareness about the effects of drugs on children and young people.

The Board resolved to continue monitoring progress and requested further updates on the implementation plan.

Equally Well Progress Update - Our Lifestyles and Healthy Behaviours Across The Life Course

An update was provided on the Our lifestyles and healthy behaviours across the life course theme of the Equally Well strategy. Highlights included:

• Progress on tobacco, alcohol, healthy weight, physical activity, and cardiovascular disease.
• The launch of the GAP (Gateway Access Plus) Team in 2023, aimed at supporting individuals with complex needs related to addiction, dependence, and mental health.

The GAP team has made 22 referrals, with 16 progressed, and works closely with partners to overcome barriers to support. Concerns were raised about illicit alcohol and tobacco, with the Council having powers to close premises and revoke licences where illicit products are found.

The Board resolved to continue supporting the GAP initiative and explore further measures to reduce inequalities faced by individuals with complex needs.

North Tyneside Health, Care and Wellbeing Executive Board: Oral Health and Dental Access Recovery

The Board received an update on dental access recovery and oral health, focusing on:

• Severe tooth decay and tooth extraction rates in children and young people.
• Oral cancer incidence and mortality rates.
• Primary care dentistry capacity and unmet needs in older adults.

Efforts to improve dental access include stabilising services, strategic workforce planning, and developing an oral health strategy. Immediate actions and progress were shared, along with plans for a 12-week public consultation on extending water fluoridation in the North East.

The Board noted the presentation and the ongoing work to improve oral health and dental access recovery.

For more details, you can refer to the minutes of the meeting.