To consider the attached report.

The Medical Director for Trafford CCG introduced the report that had been prepared by Trafford CCG and the Public Health team. The report followed up from the report given to the Committee in March 2021, which focused upon inequalities within the system due to ethnicity, gender, and age. The Medical Director for Trafford CCG spoke about the impact that Ethnicity had upon health outcomes, including diabetes.

During the pandemic the number of health visits had dropped greatly, although Trafford had performed better than the GM average and their statistical neighbours.  Activity was still limited but it was expected that uptake would continue to increase and Trafford would be able to deliver the programme in line with the national average. The Medical Director for Trafford CCG then spoke about the diabetes education programme, which would look to work with residents who were pre-diabetic to prevent them becoming diabetic.

Following the overview of the report Committee Members were given the opportunity to ask questions. Councillor Blackburn asked whether the programme would address type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The Medical Director for Trafford CCG responded that it was type 2 diabetes as that was the one which was preventable and based upon behaviours.

Councillor Gilbert asked whether there would be a targeted approach to address inequalities or if it would be a standard roll out. The Medical Director for Trafford CCG responded that the data in the report showed type 2 diabetes was more prevalent in the north of the borough and so services would target those areas more.

Councillor Carr asked what was being done to make people aware of the importance of health checks, especially for those with English as a second language. The Medical Director for Trafford CCG responded that information was shared in multiple languages, but it was recognised that it had been difficult to address this especially following the pandemic.

Councillor Carr noted there was a large demographic difference between Partington and the North of the Borough and so different approaches would be needed in each area. The Medical Director for Trafford CCG agreed with Councillor Carr and the Consultant in Public Health informed the Committee that different providers would be commissioned to deliver health checks in the different areas in recognition of the different approaches required.

The Chair asked whether anyone knew why Trafford was performing better than their GM neighbours. The Medical Director for Trafford CCG responded that they were not aware why that was the case and stressed that the difference was very small.

The Chair asked whether there was any hesitancy around signing up to the diabetes programme. The Medical Director for Trafford CCG responded that there had been some hesitancy and the Consultant in Public Health added that so far only around 50% of those approached for the programme had signed up.

Councillor Lloyd asked how long the course lasted and what impact it had on those people. The Medical Director for Trafford CCG responded that the course lasted 6 weeks and involved large changes in people’s lives. It was important to stress the positive outcomes to encourage people to take up the course more and to stick with the changes it called for.

Councillor Hartley asked how the Committee were to know whether the programme itself was successful. The Medical Director for Trafford CCG responded for levels of diabetes it would be 15 years before would start to see a decrease although they would look at measuring secondary outcomes such as weight loss and the amount of exercise people were doing.

Councillor Blackburn noted that Asian families were more likely to get diabetes, which could be due to cultural diets, and asked whether younger people could attend the sessions as well to improve outcomes for future generations. The Medical Director for Trafford CCG responded that the research suggested that the higher prevalence among south Asian families had a genetic element rather than it purely being due to behaviour or diet based.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.