The
Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee was chaired by Councillor Bola
Carew (Bexleyheath) although you might not know it if you watched the webcast because every
single one of her contributions was attributed to Vice-Chairman Andrew Curtois.
It is about time they got their automated microphone system sorted out.
Newly Independent Councillor Dave Curtois (Falconwood & Welling) had been thrown
off the Committee and replaced by Terry Barcock (Conservative, Sidcup).
The meeting began with Health issues, notably obesity. Obesity has been a
problem in Bexley for many years being
debated regularly since 2013 at least and the borough continues
to strugglie with it. Bexley’s statistics remain among the worst in London.
“A major public health problem.”
One in four adults are obese. One in five Reception age children and one in
three by Year 6 and all of the numbers expected to climb further.
Obesity is measured by Body Mass Index, “An imperfect measure especially for
non-white ethnic groups.” Obesity is worst in
deprived areas where it measures 60% and a major cause of health inequality. A
BMI of 40 is equivalent to a lifetime of smoking. Cardio-vascular disease is
worse in Bexley than the London and National averages. More than a quarter of
Bexley’s adults are considered to be sedentary. Almost the least active borough
in London and twice as bad as the better boroughs.
Weight loss drugs will most likely increase health inequality because most are
obtained privately by better off people. NHS provision is "tight". Several
initiatives are in place to encourage more exercise - “physical activity is
really low in Bexley” - and food providers to offer more healthy options. In
some areas of Bexley there are far too many “unhealthy fast food outlets”.
Councillor Cafer Munur (Conservative, Blendon & Penhill) drew attention to the improvements obtained from the ‘Weight Management Services’
detailed in the Agenda which, in his opinion, were “Insignificant”. He queried
the expenditure on gambling prevention. The latter is because of a ring fenced
grant. It was a small amount and London boroughs decided to pool the amount to be
able “to act at scale”. It was agreed that Weight Management outcomes needed to
be improved but they were actually better than in neighbouring boroughs. There are 65,000 obese adults in Bexley and few seek help.
The words used by the health professionals over and over again was that obesity
in Bexley was complicated. Maybe that, and the fact “our budget is small” explains why progress has been slow or
even non-existent.