Agenda item

A Member raised further concerns surrounding fall preventiveness and highlighted to the Board that City residents may experience difficulties travelling to Hackney to access services. She wanted to know what services were being funded by Public Health and if funds were going to be repurposed, and whether prior notification should have been given to the Board regarding the closure of the fall clinic. The Chair reminded the Member that the proposal to close the fall clinic would be a decision taken by Hackney Health and Wellbeing Board but no decision had been made to stop City Corporation funding.

The Executive Director, Community and Children’s Services maintained that the partnership with Hackney was beneficial but was aware that the City Corporation was feeling some impacts from decisions made by Hackney Council as a local authority. Officers were prepared to bring back further information regarding public health funding decisions at the next meeting. Whilst Members were satisfied with the partnership, there was concern that public health related decision-making had been undertaken by Hackney Council without consultation. The Director, Public Health informed the committee that there was a mismanagement of communication and that the decision to close the fall clinic would not cause a negative impact on City residents. The Executive Director advised the Board that falls prevention was a priority for City Residents and the City Corporation would ensure some arrangement would be available in the City if the clinic were to close.

The Deputy Chair reminded officers that service continuation shall be needed if there is action taken by Hackney Council which puts this service and City Residents at risk with the option to extend the service for an additional year being seen as most appropriate.