Overview
Welcome to the website where we describe the wellbeing and health needs of people in Newcastle - not just those who live here now but also for the population profile we project for the future.
Our long-term aims are to:
- Improve quantity of life by adding life years to the population of Newcastle
- Improve quality of life by improving people's experience of life
- Improve equality of life by reducing the variation in life expectancy and self-reported health between different communities
We use the World Health Organisation's definition of health which is "a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity". This social model of health informs the way we have developed our Joint Strategic Needs Assessment so it takes a range of different perspectives the factors that influence it.
Overall, the people of Newcastle experience worse health than the rest of England and there are also inequalities between communities within the city. Poor health affects both length of life and people's experience of life.
Quantity of life
Life expectancy is used to measure 'length of life' - the average length of time someone born today could expect to live based on current death rates. When we look at life expectancy information for the city, we see that on average men live 2 years less and women live 1.3 years less than the England average.
All age all cause mortality is a measure that closely relates to life expectancy. It tells us about the ages people die and the clinical causes.
When we analyse the death information and compare it to the England average, we see that the main clinical causes of premature death in Newcastle are
For men:
- cancer, predominantly lung cancer
- coronary heart disease (a form of cardio vascular disease)
- chronic cirrhosis of the liver (closely linked to alcohol use)
For women
- cancer, predominantly lung cancer
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- coronary heart disease (a form of cardio vascular disease)
Quality of Life
Disability free life expectancy is used to measure the average length of time someone born today could expect to live free from limiting long-standing illness. It draws on information from the 2001 census. When we look at disability free life expectancy information for the city, we see that on average men have 4.9 years less and women have 3.3 years less disability free life than the England average.
Self-reported health is also used to measure 'quality of life' and is based on perception surveys carried out with samples of the population. 71.5% of Newcastle residents reported that their health was ‘very good/ good’ ranking the city seventh out of the eight core cities. The core city average was 73.4% which was lower than the average for local authorities in England at 76.6%. (Place Survey 2008)
Equality of Life
When we compare length of life for people in different geographical communities, we find that:
- on average men in Elswick ward live 12.5 years less than those in Parklands ward.
- on average women in Byker ward live 11 years less than those in Parklands ward.
When we compare disability free life expectancy for people in different geographical communities, we find that:
- On average men in South Gosforth ward have 18.8 more years free of disability than men in Walker ward.
- On average women in South Gosforth ward have 14.4 more years free of disability than women in Monkchester ward.
Disability free life expectancy information is derived from 2001 Census data so can only be mapped to the former ward boundaries in the City. This shows that people living in most deprived wards live shorter lives and live more of their shorter life with a disability.
People's self-reported health is also different in different parts of the city. Residents reporting their health as very good/good varies across the city ranging from 42.3% in Walker ward to 78.9% in North Jesmond ward and relates to the level of deprivation in wards with residents in the most deprived wards less likely to consider their health is good. (Residents Survey 2009/10)
Self-reported long standing illness, disability or infirmity by residents is also related to levels of deprivation where over 45% of residents in the most deprived wards have a long standing illness, disability of infirmity compared to less than 35% in the more affluent wards. (Residents Survey 2009/10)
Summary of our priorities
We will address the social and environment factors that impact on people's health and wellbeing. We recognise that these factors do not exist in isolation but act in combination to affect the health and wellbeing of local people.
The priorities that we explore further in our Joint Strategic Needs Assessment are:
- Climatic and Seasonal variations
- Built environment
- Transport
- Crime
- Domestic abuse
- Community cohesion
We will work to address the social exclusion of people whose life circumstances make them more likely to have poor health and wellbeing outcomes.
The priorities that we explore further in our Joint Strategic Needs Assessment are:
- Adult carers
- Adult Offenders
- Adults living with HIV or AIDS
- Adults with autistic spectrum disorder
- Adults with learning disability
- Adults with long-term mental health needs
- Adults with physical impairment
- Adults with problematic drug or alcohol misuse
- Adults with sensory impairment
- Children and young people with disabilities
- Children and young people with speech and language communication needs
- Children and young people with mental health needs
- Looked after children
- Older people
- People who are homeless
- Refugees and asylum seekers, including migrant health
- Young Carers
- Young drinkers and drug users
- Young Offenders
We will take a life course approach making sure that we address wellbeing at key stages from pre-natal through to end of life.
The priorities that we explore further in our Joint Strategic Needs Assessment are:
Early years - including pre-natal; pre-school and school years
- Pregnancy and maternal health
- Breastfeeding
- Teenage pregnancy
- Education
- Child poverty
Working age - including training, employment and family building
- Transition into adulthood
- Pregnancy and maternal health
- Employment and job security
Retirement
End of Life
In addition, we include our understanding of variations experienced by different communities of geography within each part of our JSNA.
We will protect people's health and support them to have healthy lifestyles,
The priorities that we explore further in our Joint Strategic Needs Assessment are:
- Immunisation
- Food and nutrition
- Smoking
- Physical activity
- Alcohol
- Falls
- Child accidents
- Sexual health
- Dental health
- Emotional health and wellbeing
We will provide high quality integrated services to those who need them.
The priority conditions we explore further in our Joint Strategic Needs Assessment are:
- Coronary heart disease
- Stroke
- Cancer
- Dementia
- Diabetes
- Overweight and obesity
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
How we have developed our JSNA
Introduction
Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) is a process that describes the current and predicted future health and wellbeing needs of our population. It primarily informs commissioners within the local authority and NHS about population needs and priorities in order that they can improve outcomes and reduce inequalities. As the JSNA is a publically available website it also provides our partners, providers and the public with an idea of our future commissioning intentions and provides the information on which these decisions have been made.
The requirement to complete a JSNA was created under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. Newcastle City Council and Newcastle Primary Care Trust therefore have a duty to work together with partners, to assess the needs of the local population. More specifically it is listed nationally as a specific responsibility of Director of Children's Services, Director of Adult Services and Director of Public Health.
This guidance is intended to assist service areas to carry out a JSNA and to understand the standard that is expected of a Newcastle JSNA and to provide some prompts to help your thinking. As the JSNA covers a diverse range of issues it is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to a specialised needs assessment.
What is a JSNA?
The JSNA can be thought of as both a process and a product.
As a process, partners work together to understand need and develop shared priorities. This work draws on both quantitative and qualitative (for example demographic data; service activity data; resident's views; literature searches) as well as legislation and policy guidance. We also need to recognise unwritten knowledge so we need ways of working that draws together the understanding that stakeholders have.
Newcastle made the decision that the JSNA product would be available as a website rather than a hard copy document. As a result the JSNA is more dynamic and updatable and has the potential to be an interactive tool for anyone who wants to know the background behind 'why' we have the priorities we have.
JSNA governance arrangements
The Wellbeing and Health Partnership and Children's Trust Board have overall responsibility for the JSNA. The JSNA Project Board manages the project on behalf of the Wellbeing and Health Partnership and Children's Trust Board. These governance arrangements and roles and responsibilities are illustrated below.
The JSNA Project Board
The JSNA Project Board oversees the project and includes the following people:
- Ewen Weir - Executive Director of Adult and Culture Services, Newcastle City Council (Chair) Has statutory responsibilities
- Meng Khaw - Joint Director of Public Health, Newcastle City Council and Newcastle Primary Care Trust (Vice Chair) Has statutory responsibilities
- John Collings - Executive Director of Children's Services, Newcastle City Council Has statutory responsibilities
- Rachel Baillie - Director of Commissioning, Adult and Culture Services
- Richard Elliott - Head of Strategy, Planning and Performance, Chief Executive's Directorate, Newcastle City Council
- Phil Hunter - Head of Policy and Research, Chief Executive's Directorate, Newcastle City Council
- Martin Surtees - Director of Performance, Outcomes and Commissioning, Children's Services, Newcastle City Council
- Julia Young - Associate Director Commissioning (Newcastle), NHS North of Tyne
- Sally Young - Chief Executive, Newcastle Council for Voluntary Service (NCVS)
Governance groups
JSNA sections should be 'owned' and developed by an appropriate governance group. This should be a group with a strategic leadership and / or commissioning remit. The governance group should ensure that:
- The section uses appropriate information from across partner organisations
- The section fully reflects partners' views, including those of the voluntary and community sector and those of the community of interest/identity/geography that the section relates to
- All partners share the priorities stemming from the JSNA and use these to inform individual organisational plans
- All partners are clear as to why the priorities are what they currently are and the reasons behind the decisions that have been made.
Some JSNA topics do not have a 'natural home' within current partnership governance arrangements. Some sections may also need to be owned by partnership groups set up with a North of Tyne remit, which are not in the Newcastle LSP governance arrangements.
When there is not a governance group already in operation and the two organisations have not identified that such a group is necessary, then the lead usually establishes a time limited task group involving key partners to complete or review the JSNA.
Engagement
Engagement should be undertaken in all stages of a JSNA rather than being restricted to commenting on final drafts. The method will vary across the JSNA depending on existing arrangements and may include:
- Engagement via the governance group, for example if there is one in place with community and voluntary sector representation
- Regular engagement and consultation activity which takes place as part of the ongoing activity of a service. This information should be incorporated in the analysis at the next JSNA review.
- Specific community engagement activity on the JSNA section may be deemed necessary, especially if no recent engagement on the topic area has taken place.