Agenda item

The Chair asked members to break out intosmall groups to discussthe data around Health and Wellbeing in our communities, with a focus on 3 key questions. 

1.     What do we know about mental health, loneliness and physical health? 

2.     What partners do we have that might know more? 

3.     How can we hear more from our residents?  

Following the group discussions, a representative from each group fed back to the wider LCNmeeting and members heard the following. 

·         Martock has a community team made up of 3 members of staff, working with village agents on issues such as training and employability (i.eMartockJob Club), mental health, and care for the elderly.  

·         Some felt that health and wellbeing amongst young people is at a low point, and this could be improved with more engagement through schools andorganisations such as Young Somerset.  

·         MartockParish Council are currently looking at running a community survey to better understand the needs of the community.    

·         Long Sutton has aworking group deliveringenvironmental projects in the community whichalso hassignificant mental and physicalhealth benefits for the Long Sutton community.  

·         Some members felt that health and wellbeing data can be difficult to obtaindue to confidentiality of patient data.  

·         Health and wellbeing issues are often heardabout anecdotally, second hand or too late. 

·         Some members felt that surveys are not always an effective way of collecting data.  

·         There are many well establishedcommunity support groups operating with the LCN area such as Angel Cares, Forget-me-not Cafe,Coffee mornings, Youth Clubs, Men’sSheds, Walking groups, Scouts, Sports clubs, Pub nights, Carnival Clubs, Foodbanks, Dementia Support groups, Baby groups i.e Little Pickles, and it would be beneficial for the towns and parish councilsin this LCN to advertise and raise awareness ofcommunity support services on offer across the LCN area, and particularly in nearby/neighboring towns and parishes. 

·         How can we encourage more people to knock on doors and reach out topeople in need of support? 

·         Some members felt that health and wellbeing groups are more focused on supporting the young and elderly, and that we must not forget about the support needs of people of working age too. 

·         Public/community transport provision in the Levels and Moors LCN area is a challenge, and more needs to be done to ensure residents with no access to a vehiclecan access community support services in rural areas and across local community network areas.We could look at facilitating car share schemes andvolunteer driver groups, or workwith existing volunteer driver networks thatare already in place to help patients attend hospital appointments.