This in from the council, in their own words. Ed
The chief executive of Public Health England, Duncan Selbie, is to visit the Isle of Wight on Friday 23 August to find out about a number of research projects that have been undertaken by the Island’s Public Health team.
Seeking to understand high rates of pregnant smokers
Simon Bryant, acting director of Public Health on the Island, will highlight recent work carried out to understand the high rates of smoking in pregnancy and low rates of breast feeding continuation.
A social marketing insight project led to a number of schemes being developed and delivered via the Island’s children’s centres to address these issues.
Meeting staff
Mr Selbie will spend time at Ryde Children’s Centre, meeting staff involved in delivering public health programmes to improve the health of children and families. Public Health’s close work with the Island’s children’s centres is having a positive impact on the health of infants.
Work has also been undertaken to highlight the risks of passive smoking. ‘Take 7 Steps Out’ and ‘Chemical Soup’ are two initiatives aimed at highlighting the harmful effects of exposing babies and young children to cigarette smoke. The scheme supports parents who smoke who wish to protect their children to ‘Take 7 Steps Out’ before smoking, reducing the risks and effects of cigarette smoke on children and others. The Island’s children’s centres play a key role in providing information to help parents make healthy choices.
Visit to County Hall
Mr Selbie will also visit County Hall to meet the Public Health team and receive a number of briefings about research findings in maternal, children and young people’s wellbeing.
The team will also explain work being undertaken on health and social care integration through the ‘My Life A Full Life’ project and how Public Health is developing services to support both individuals and communities to support themselves through programmes provided by Age UK.
Transfer of Public Health from NHS to IWC
The visit also provides an opportunity for Mr Selbie to spend time with the deputy leader of the council, Councillor Steve Stubbings and managing director, Dave Burbage to discuss the successful transfer of Public Health from the NHS to the local authority in April this year.
Simon Bryant, acting director of Public Health, said:
“We are looking forward to welcoming Duncan Selbie to the Island and providing him with an overview of our work and the particular successes we have had on the Island in meeting local health needs.”
Councillor Steve Stubbings, deputy leader of the Isle of Wight Council, said:
“We are already seeing the benefits of Public Health being part of the local authority as the team is able to work much more closely with areas such as children’s services and adult social care. We are really pleased that Mr Selbie is taking the time to visit the Island to find out about the important work being carried out.”
