Agenda item

RESOLVED:

To note the report.

7.1  Sally Beaven introduced the report capturing how local people were

experiencing the Cost of Living Crisis. It was known that the health and mental the wellbeing of people across the country was suffering as the cost of living rose. Sally Beaven highlighted the following:

·  56 local residents had been consulted;

·  Most respondents were over the age of 60;

·  Large numbers reported being less able to make additional purchases or buy essentials, having to decide between food, gas and electricity;

·  Household bills were rising without consequent increases in income and benefits;

·  Significant consequent impact on wellbeing and mental health;

·  Requests were made for advice on debt, energy efficiency, home budgeting, meals on wheels, help to insulate, 

·  A large number of individuals were not aware of what was available to them in the community.

7.2  Councillor Fagana-Thomas stressed the need to focus on those on low

incomes and helping people who are facing challenges to build resilience in terms of their mental health.

7.3  Susan Masters thanked those involved in the preparation of the report She told the Board that the Community and Voluntary Sector was carrying out similar work looking at the impact of increases in costs on the Community and Voluntary Sector. She suggested the submission of a paper to the Board on this in January 2022 to include on building resilience, considering solutions and training for other voluntary sector organisations. Susan Masters asked if any of the feedback received had been surprising.

  Action: Susan Masters

7.4  Councillor Kennedy asked for clarification on whether this type of work was being carried out in other areas and whether these could be coordinated to assist in identifying any particular issues in Hackney.

7.5  Rosemary Jawara highlighted that the current crisis was impacting on

relationships within households, particularly people with mental health issues. She continued that the crisis was impacting the most vulnerable, with consequent changes to diets and routines and growing anxiety. There would be a need to support this  in an environment of stretched resources. 

7.6  Mayor Glanville asked whether the demographic of the cohort consulted

was known and whether they were well known to Healthwatch. He stressed the importance of using trusted partners to put out messages and assist Healthwatch in this regard. He asked if the Board could assist the process in shaping questions to ensure that when the matter is returned to the Council any gaps are filled in. Mayor Glanville considered that those individuals with long term conditions on the edge of care would require exploration in particular in relation to those on fixed incomes. He referred to the need to track those vulnerable individuals moving between different health care settings.

7.7  Sally Beaven highlighted that:

·  That those consulted varied from those already known by Healthwatch to others who were reached through outreach work with opportunities to establish networks to be used for messaging and signposting;

·  That consideration would be given to a focus on resilience;

·  Healthwatch had been surprised by the large numbers who had stated that they had to decide between electricity and food, in particular as the weather was not yet as cold as it would be in the future;

·  That it would be a positive step to ascertain what work had been  undertaken by other Healthwatchs in the north-east area on this issue, with agreement to pursue this matter; 

·  There was a need to consider the nuanced impact of the crisis on individuals.

RESOLVED:

To note the report.