1) APOLOGIES
No apologies were received.
2) ELECTION OF CHAIR
Alan Thrussell was elected as Chair of the Health Group for one year.
3) MINUTE SECRETARY
As no-one was able to undertake this role on a permanent basis, Members of the Health Group will volunteer their services meeting by meeting, preferably in advance.
4) MATTERS ARISING FROM THE FIRST MEETING
Some of the issues which the group mentioned at the first meeting were collated by John Gunn and his list will be sent out with the Minutes of the meeting held on the 4 March 1998.
5) TERMS OF REFERENCE.
Suggestions for the Health Group's Terms of Reference were summarised by Alan Cremer. These were attached to the Minutes, together with the QED Agenda 21 and QED Steering Group aims and objectives, plus the Terms and Reference of the other QED Groups. A decision on the groups' Terms of Reference will be made at the next meeting. The mission of the QED Health Group was agreed. It is to work to improve the health of Dartford's people. The wording is "Improved Health for Dartford". A part of the Health Group's work will be to feed into Dartford Borough Council's own Agenda 21 Strategy i.e. its environmental plan for the future.
6) FUTURE HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS
This followed on from the session in the first QED Health Group Meeting where members said what they hoped the group would achieve, and mentioned issues which concerned them (or the organisations they work with).
a) Inequality in Health and Mental Health
Pat Still made the link between mental health and the environment. Housing opportunities need to be available for all, everyone needs open spaces. Pat feels allotments have promise for people who suffer from mental distress. The Group discussed the links between housing, health and lifestyle. Agenda 21 calls for decent housing as well as care for the environment. The Group can use QED's contacts (and its own) to raise awareness.
Community groups can be brought together and volunteers can be found to help with gardening on a friendship basis. Lawrence Gandy (the CVS Director) is on the QED Steering Group and the CVS is probably the best agency to discuss this with. The Health Group could facilitate the process, e.g. advertising, or could set up a group to do the job.
Thelma Mills also linked inequalities in health with the environment especially for people who live in isolation and can't get about. She too feels allotments can help.
b) Networking and Events
Thelma Mills asked the Group to consider how the Health Group can link with Thameslink's Health Education, which is short staffed. When projects are up and running, the group and Thameslink Health Education can help each other, e.g. with networking and events. The latter include mental health day, the celebration of 50yrs of the NHS and the Dartford Festival (which centres on Quality Environment for All). The Health Group will need to consider its own input to the Festival fairly soon.
c) Alan Thrussell raised the issued of the Government's White Paper on the future of the NHS and the Green Paper "Our Healthier Nation", which follows the Health of the Nation documentation. Alan Cremer has checked the Internet for the executive summary of the Green Paper, as promised by the Department of Health but there is nothing so far. John Gunn has been able to get a copy and this is attached to the Minutes. The key targets include breast cancer, a hot line for advice, reducing coronary heart disease reducing the suicide rate. The groups needs to work towards securing an environment for people which increases their own overall pattern of health and welfare.
d) Next Steps
Alan Thrussell asked how ideas could be carried forward. Each Health Group member was asked to look at the list of issues from the meetings, along with their own ideas, and to prioritise a few of them in terms of:
The Group should not try to achieve too much - perhaps choosing just the top four.
7) FUNDING
The expectation is that Dartford Borough Council will offer QED £5,000 as revenue for the next financial year, plus much of Alan Cremer's time, some administration work by Officers within the Environmental Strategic Development Section and other Officers involvement as appropriate. Dartford Borough Council is also carrying out work under the QED Banner including a presentation of an Environmental Audit by Duncan Philips, schools projects, etc.
8) INFLUENCE
The question was raised whether it is appropriate for QED to act as a pressure group when Dartford Borough Council is involved. Alan Thrussell said that Dartford Borough Council spawned QED. If QED feels a Dartford Borough Council action is problematic, the issue needs to be raised. QED should be diplomatic but should not be afraid of firmly dealing with appropriate issues.
9) MEDIA
The media will be important in furthering the Health Group's aims but it was suggested that the Group needs to gain competence before putting points forward. Any publicity put forward in the QED Health Group's name will need to be endorsed by the Group before going to press.
10) WEB PAGE FOR QED HEALTH GROUP
A paper was tabled by Richard Wiltshire. The Group was positive about this.
11) DARENTH COUNTRY PARK PROJECT
A paper was tabled by Richard Wiltshire. He explained its relevant to the Health Group, who are keen to be involved. The QED Health Group will take up appropriate places on a visit to Kent House Leisure Gardens on the 28 March 1998. The Leisure Gardens has a teaching apiary etc. Later, a visit to the Darenth Country Park site will be arranged.
12) GROUND RULES FOR MEETINGS
Alan Thrussell suggested common sense should prevail, e.g. keep to time, be open, fair, allow everyone a right to speak, to put forward relevant points of view, and be offered the courtesy of being listened to.
13) FORMAL NAME
It was decided to keep the name "QED Health Group".
14) DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Wednesday 15 April 1998 - Council Chamber commencing at 7.00pm.
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