The Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Worcestershire Council met on Thursday 03 September 2026 to discuss primary prevention within the context of Neighbourhood Health in Worcestershire and to review the committee's work programme.

Primary Prevention in the Context of Neighbourhood Health

The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of how primary prevention is being integrated into the Neighbourhood Health agenda across Worcestershire. This initiative aims to shift healthcare delivery from hospitals into the community and address the wider social determinants of health, which are understood to account for over 80% of health outcomes. The report outlined a three-domain framework developed by the Public Health Team and partners: insight and intelligence, health improvement services, and community engagement and development.

The insight and intelligence domain focuses on understanding population needs and inequalities by analysing data at a neighbourhood level, such as Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs). This analysis helps to identify areas with higher rates of non-elective hospital admissions and inform neighbourhood planning.

Health improvement services translate prevention priorities into practical support, including programmes for smoking cessation, weight management, falls prevention, and sexual health. The report highlighted the integrated approach of Healthy Worcestershire, which combines various health improvement activities and aims to make referral processes seamless for healthcare professionals through an online portal. The promotion of these services through social media, community engagement, and local media was also noted. Specific initiatives mentioned included increased investment in online sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and the Quit Coach service delivered via WhatsApp for smoking cessation. The report also detailed the role of Trading Standards in preventing the sale of illicit tobacco and non-compliant vaping products, and efforts to ensure equitable service provision in rural areas through programmes like Family Hubs. Public Health-funded youth work was also presented as a key primary prevention approach.

Community engagement and development were described as essential for building trust and local ownership, with an asset-based approach focusing on community strengths. The Worcestershire Community Development Programme, which has received over 1,000 grants since 2023, was recognised for its innovative approach, winning the LGC Public Health Award in 2025. This programme is based on the principles of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion.

The report detailed recent prevention outcomes, including a fall in low birth-weight rates, reduced smoking during pregnancy, and a decrease in adult smoking prevalence. Improvements were also noted in preventable mortality, engagement with the Healthy Worcestershire programme, and the reach of the Orange Button suicide prevention scheme. Further positive trends were reported in smoking in pregnancy rates, successful smoking cessation, and a reduction in adult overweight and obesity rates. The falls rate for older residents was also reported to be improving, contributing to a higher healthy life expectancy in Worcestershire compared to the West Midlands region.

However, the report also identified challenges, including an increase in the number of children living in low-income households, which impacts child development and contributes to child obesity. The effectiveness of education and behaviour-focused interventions for child obesity was questioned, with a greater emphasis placed on systemic changes like reducing the density of fast-food outlets. A challenge in sexual health was noted due to underdiagnosis of STIs, leading to an increased investment in online testing.

The committee was asked to consider and comment on the role of primary prevention within neighbourhood health, make recommendations for strengthening the Neighbourhood Health programme, and determine if further information or scrutiny was required.

Work Programme

The committee was also scheduled to review its work programme for 2026/27. This programme is part of the Council's rolling Annual Scrutiny Work Programme, which had been discussed by the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board and agreed by the Council. The committee was asked to consider any amendments to the work programme and retain flexibility to address urgent issues.

The scheduled items for future meetings included updates on stroke services, integrated care boards, long-term conditions, robotic surgery, and annual overviews from the West Midlands Ambulance Service and Public Health. Potential future items for scrutiny included community mental health provision, social isolation, medical obesity, fall strategies, and various aspects of NHS service provision and patient experience.