The Central Blackpool Health and Wellbeing Inquiry Launch of the findings, May 4th 1
JADE: Welcome to the launch of our findings from our Citizens Inquiry – we are the residents who have been meeting for 10 sessions to share our experiences and ideas about wellbeing and health in our neighbourhood, and for the next 30 minutes we will be sharing these with you
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Programme
1:00 Introduction and welcome 1:10 The Central Blackpool Health and Wellbeing Inquiry: what did we do? 1:40 Small group discussions 2:40 Feedback 3:00 Close
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JADE: The programme for today is as listed on the slide – first we will tell you about our Inquiry – how it was set up, what we did in the sessions, and what conclusions we reached. Then we will split into mixed tables to look more closely at our recommendations and discuss possible actions we could take to improve health and wellbeing in central Blackpool. Before the end we will share our key ideas from each small group and invite you to future meetings to follow-up on today’s work
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Why the Central Blackpool Health and Wellbeing Inquiry? Arif Rajpura: Director Public Health, Blackpool Council 3
JADE I will now hand over to the Director of Public Health to explain why the Inquiry was felt to be a good way of addressing health and wellbeing in central Blackpool. Over to you, Arif ARIF talks Shared Future add “What is a Citizens Inquiry” ?
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Why Shared Future?
Community Engagement Specialists since 2009 (Community Interest Company) Our aim to make sure citizens are able to influence the policies that affect our lives 4
PETE
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What did we do? Recruitment
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NICK on how Shared Future attempted to recruit a cross-section of residents (not the usual suspects) within the targetted neighbourhood –the target area (how it was defined) the letter (how it was developed) role of Street Life (paid with vouchers to deliver letters) – (also with help from Simon and Annable at Blackpool Council’s Community Engagement team) the content of the letter (9 sessions, preferred days/times, vouchers and why, personal story ), returns (how many) and short-listing by using diversity criteria – final profile of equal numbers male/female, age-range 1870s, ethnicity, mobility etc) Invitations to selected residents – childcare etc via phone support
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The question for members of the Central Blackpool Health and Wellbeing Inquiry is ‘for people living in Central Blackpool what are the main things that affect people’s health and wellbeing and what can be done about them?’
MARC Most people that were interested in taking part preferred meeting on Thursdays 12.30‐3. This meant that those who have children could get out in time for the school run. Shared Future with the help of Blackpool Council found the Salvation Army to hold the sessions, which is very central and also accessible for wheelchairs. The team at Public health talked a lot about the best question for the Inquiry to consider. In the end it was decided that the most useful question would be ‘for people living in Central Blackpool what are the main things that affect people’s health and wellbeing and what can be done about them?’ The nine sessions all revolved around trying to answer this question together.
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Why did we get involved? Some personal stories
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Members of the residents group take turns to say why they decided to join the Inquiry GARY JADE CHERYL JOE
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Starting the Inquiry
SASCHA The first session of the Inquiry started with a game called Human Bingo, so we could enjoy getting to know a bit about each other Then we used maps of our local streets to meet in small groups to discuss what helps us stay healthy locally (yellow stick-its) and what makes life harder (orange stick-its) Then we looked at each other’s maps to start a whole-group conversation
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1: problem trees SessionSession 1: Problem trees
MARC The first session finished with a Problem tree. We used this method to try and get the group to think about what are some of the things that we believe are the root causes of low levels of health and wellbeing. We put the Problem stick‐its on the tree and then thought deeply about each problem to delve down to the roots
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We identified the things that make it easier and more difficult to have high levels of health and wellbeing
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MARC By the end we had identified the key issues
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Session 2 What are the things that make it difficult for people to have high levels of health and wellbeing?
PRAISE In session two we talked lots with each other before identifying the 18 key issues which we feel are ‘the things that make it difficult for people to have high levels of health and wellbeing’? Then we each had seven votes to show which issues we felt were the most important. The results helped us decide which topics we would like to explore with guest speakers in the next 5 sessions
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Commentators
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PRAISE These guest speakers were invited and acted as commentators – they spoke for 15 minutes to give their view on what helps and hinders wellbeing and health, and then left the room while we created questions like the ones on the screen. Then we questioned them for 30 minutes to get a deeper insight
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Commentators 1. Arif Rajpura: Director Public Health 2. Chief Inspector Lee Wilson 3. Amanda Doyle: Chief Clinical Officer: Blackpool CCG 4. John Blackledge: Director Community and Environmental Services 5. Karen Smith: Director Adult Services 6. Wendy Swift: Chief Executive: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
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JADE We had six commentators in all – they were senior figures as you can see on the slide
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Session 4: What would you do if you were worried about your mental health ?
CHRIS We also looked very deeply at mental health issues and spent a whole session discussing what steps people would take if they were worried about mental health, and what needed to be improved in mental health support – we wrote the issues on cards
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Session 4: speed dating
CHRIS We also shared our personal stories through speed‐dating
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We wrote recommendations and voted on them 16
CHRIS After the commentator sessions, we created lots of single sheets with our recommendations for improving health and well‐being in Blackpool. We worked hard to create clear recommendations – 33 in all. Then we voted on our individual top ten. And so here they are, in order from highest priority. But they all matter
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Recommendations
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Recommendation
1. The Sports Barn and park for children needs to be cleaned up, regularly maintained and made safe and secure, so kids can go there.
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Recommendation
2. The facilities and activities that are available like Streetlife, Comerados, TLC, Boys and Girls Club need to be promoted as no one knows about them. The council and GPs need to work to tell people that need it the most. (E.g. included in ‘Your Blackpool@ and make sure everyone gets a copy). 19
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Recommendation
3. GPs should consult and work with local residents to understand local health issues and develop services to support them (e.g. loneliness, stress, poverty and obesity).
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Recommendation
4. More youth provision is needed in Central Blackpool (things like football clubs, dances for children) to keep them off bad things.
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Recommendation
5. We need to find a way of reducing the numbers of people that are clogging up A and E because of alcohol and drug problems (e.g. an medical bus in the centre of town that caters for people that are intoxicated, with minor injuries).
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Recommendation
6. Men’s health needs to be recognised at the initial assessments and not met with doubt or judgement.
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Recommendation
7. Our Parks, streets and public spaces need to be clean safe and secure so everyone can enjoy the neighbourhood e.g. no glass and litter.
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Recommendation
8. Doctors 10 minute appointments aren’t long enough to be able to explain your problems. Too often doctors use a quick fix medication route rather than get to the cause of the problem. Medication is not always needed. This needs to change. GPs should refer more to things like sports groups, community centres, exercise classes, swimming, social groups, gyms, churches community services and councillors. 25
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Recommendation
9. Social Services have a reputation that they will take children into care rather than support the family. This means that a lot of parents with mental health problems will be worried about accessing services and so won’t ask for support. Something needs to be done about this 26
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Recommendation
10. There needs to be earlier education of the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. School‐ age education is needed.
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Recommendation
11. The cost for leisure activities is to high, for example the Leisure Centre. Especially for unemployed people and those on a low income. Discounts are needed.
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Recommendation
12. Tackle dog fouling. Put up signs, but dog bags in some areas and increase the penalty (with more signs showing the £2000 fine).
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Recommendation
13. We need more mental health drop in support services with people with specialised knowledge and experience.
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Recommendation
14. People need to be made aware that they can refer themselves to some services without seeing their GP, and what these services are.
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Recommendation
15. GPs and mental health services stand understand that mental health is not a short term condition there should be an ongoing support system e.g. follow‐up plan.
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Recommendation
16. Need stricter licensing laws in Blackpool as it is available at all hours of the day and night.
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Recommendation
17. The Council should give an incentive for people to carry out a monthly clean up (including lanes) e.g. a free pass for leisure activities, following the example of the Fulfilling Lives/Sea Life Centre beach cleanup.
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Recommendation
18. Appointments are often difficult to get and sometimes they are running late.
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Recommendation
19. GPs shouldn’t write patients off just because they smoke and should listen more to their patients.
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Recommendation
20. Alcohol is too cheap.
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Recommendation
21. It takes too long to access the specialist Drug and Alcohol Services for help and support.
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Recommendation
22. If a resident complains about something (e.g. rubbish being left) there needs to be a system in place that ensures that the person complaining knows exactly what happened next and what action was taken.
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Recommendation
23. We are concerned GPs have too close links with pharmaceutical companies so they may over prescribe medication. GPs should be forced to reveal where they get their money from to see if this is a problem.
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Recommendation
24. We need more adult leisure activities in central Blackpool (e.g. Bowling, Snooker, Walking, Football) to help isolated people and people with health conditions.
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Recommendation
25. Some people worry about accessing mental health services because they think they will be sectioned something needs to be done about this.
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Recommendation
26. Council and residents should work together to identify and prosecute fly tippers.
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Recommendation
27. More awareness in hospitals for staff about how to deal with patients with mental health problems.
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Recommendation
28. Clamp down on hotel bars that sell alcohol to non‐residents outside of usual opening hours.
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Recommendation
29. GP practices should be contracted to have a conversation with anyone calling for an appointment to see if the appointment is necessary, can be dealt with over the phone, or is urgent.
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Recommendation
30. A clear explanation for referrals to more specialist services (e.g. CAMHS) so patients know what the stages/processes are and how long it will take.
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Recommendation
31. Look at Marks and Spencer’s new ‘Frazzle Cafe’ idea and potentially do something similar.
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Recommendation
32. There needs to be more traffic wardens doing ‘rounds’/ visiting areas to make sure people are not parking illegally e.g. in residents spaces.
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Recommendation
33. There is not enough information available about the Drug and Alcohol Services available.
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Next steps Action Planning in small groups 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Alcohol and drugs Doctors Environment Leisure Mental health
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Thankyou for listening to our presentation. We are all now going to discuss our recommendations in five small groups. Please go to the table which interests you most – we’ll be trying to identify actions which can help our recommendations come to life. After 20 minutes we’ll give you the chance to move to another table. And finally you can move again after another 20 minutes if you wish – that gives you the chance to take part in 3 themes if you want. Then at the end we’ll ask for feedback from each of the five topics – we’ll be asking you to feedback 3 key points and any ideas for quick wins. Please join your table now
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Feedback session: Share ideas and proposed actions
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We’re going to spend the next 20 minutes hearing from each table – what are your key points? Any quick wins?
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Final words
from the The Central Blackpool Health and Wellbeing Inquiry 53 We’d like to thank all of you for joining us today. We’ll be hoping to meet you again on Thursday 18th May here, from 12.30-2.30 , for another joint planning session, taking today’s ideas further.
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