Agenda item

Consideration was given to a report of the Strategic Director of Reform which following a previous report to PVFM in December 2017 which set out savings to Public Health Services to be made in 2017/18 and 2018/19, provided an update on the impact on outcomes relating to the sexual health (with a focus on young people) and smoking cessation.

Members were updated on the current position with regards to:

·         Teenage pregnancy.

·         Chlamydia detection and screening.

·         HIV testing coverage.

·         Smoking cessation rates.

Members were informed that, in order to achieve savings, Positive Steps had reduced the opening hours of the young people’s sexual health service to 5 hours per day. There has been a reduction of 30 minutes in the service specification between Monday and Friday. The Saturday opening hours are 30 minutes longer than required in the service specification as the revised opening hours have been matched to service usage patterns to ensure that the service remains open at the time when young people are most likely to want to access it.

Members were informed that there had been an overall decrease in teenage pregnancy since 2011, however the teenage conception rate in Oldham was higher than the averages for England, the North West and Greater Manchester. Members were informed that the use of high quality Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) along with the use of effective contraception can help reduce the number of young people contracting a sexually transmitted infection, and those more likely to be pregnant by 18.

Members were informed that the Chlamydia detection rates amongst under 25 year olds historically had been among the best in England, however analysis of the most recent released sexual health data from Public Health England (PHE) identified a significant drop in detection rates and screening activity for Chlamydia in Oldham.

Members were informed that the in year data from PHE showed a substantial decline in HIV testing rates in the Borough, with Oldham having the lowest HIV testing rate in England. Members noted that testing amongst women was particularly low and the main cause of the overall low rate.

Members were informed that Oldham’s smoking prevalence rate had reduced from 18.8% in 2016 to 16.6% in 2017, this being the biggest overall reduction on smoking prevalence in Greater Manchester in recent years with a reduction of 5.7% since 2015. It was noted that although there has been a decline in smoking, the smoking at time of delivery in pregnancy rates had increased in 2017 to 14.1% after staying static at 13.3% for the previous three years. Members were informed that although the number of people accessing Stop Smoking services has declined, Oldham’s quit rate has remained consistent at 46% for the last two years.

Members asked and received clarification on whether school pupils were provided with information on HIV testing. They were informed that HIV is included in the school curriculum.

Members stated that the smoking cessation did not include data on E-Cigs and that the full harm of them is not known. It was stated that some flavours seem to be targeted at children and young people, although E-cigs are 95% less dangerous than smoking cigarettes, they are not healthy compared to not smoking at all. It was noted that many young people start E-Cigs first.

RESOLVED that the content of the report be noted.