May 19, 2016 - Board of Health Agenda

Complete Agenda Package (PDF 5.1MB)

Thursday, May 19, 2016 - 7:00 p.m.
399 Ridout Street North
Side Entrance, (Recessed Door)
Board of Health Boardroom

Disclosure of Conflicts Of Interest

Approval of Agenda

Approval of Minutes

April 21, 2016 Board of Health meeting
Receive: Draft May 3, 2016 Finance and Facilities Committee meeting

Business Arising From the Minutes

Delegations

7:05 - 7:15 p.m.
Ms. Trish Fulton, Chair, Finance and Facilities Committee re: Item #1 - Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting May 3, 2016 (Report No. 031-16).

7:15 - 7:25 p.m.
Ms. Sarah Maaten, Manager, Foundational Standard re: Item #2 – Strategic Initiative: Planning and Evaluation Framework (Report No. 032-16).

Other Business

Request from Councillor Helmer for the Board of Health to consider taking a position on light rail transit in London.

• Next Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting: Wednesday June 8, 2016 @ 9:30 a.m.
• Next Board of Health Meeting: Thursday June 16, 2016 @ 7:00 p.m.

Correspondence

a) Date: 2016 March 31 (Received 2016 April 01)
Topic: Patients First Discussion Paper
From: Scott McDonald, Board of Health Chair, Peterborough County-City Health Unit
To: The Honourable Dr. Eric Hoskins, The Honourable Kathleen Wynne

Background:
Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care was announced in December 2015 and focuses on four key objectives:

• Access: Improve access – providing fast access to the right care.
• Connect: Connect services – delivering better coordinated and integrated care in the community, closer to home.
• Inform: Support people and patients – providing the education, information and transparency they need to make the right decisions about their health.
• Protect: Protect our universal public health care system – making evidence-based decisions on value and quality, to sustain the system for generations to come.

The Middlesex-London Board of Health considered a report at the January 21, 2016 meeting and discussed potential changes to the public health funding model and boundaries and jurisdictions served by Local Health Integration Networks and how this might affect funding and direction of the Board of Health.

Additionally, the Board of Health reviewed the five recommendations from the Association of Local Public Health Agencies and endorsed these recommendations at the April 21, 2016 meeting.

Recommendation:
Receive.

b) Date: 2016 March 24 (Received 2016 April 5)
Topic: Patients First Response
From: Theresa Barresi, Board Chair, Perth District Health Unit
To: The Honorable Dr. Eric Hoskins

Background:
See item (a) above.

Recommendation:
Receive.

c) Date: 2016 April 19 (Received 2016 April 20)
Topic: alPHa Resolutions for Consideration at June 2016 Annual General Meeting
From: Linda Stewart, Executive Director, alPHa
To: Chairs and Members of Board of Health, Medical Officers of Health

Background:
Resolutions for consideration at the June 2016 alPHA Annual General Meeting include:
• Change to Quorum in Constitution
• Amending alPHa Resolution Submission Guidelines
• Health-Promoting Federal, Provincial and Municipal Infrastructure Funding
• Enactment of Legislation to Enforce Infection Prevention and Control Practices Within Invasive Personal Service Settings (PSS) under the Health Protection and Promotion Act
• Healthy Babies Healthy Children 100% Funding.

Recommendation:
Endorse.

d) Date: 2016 April 20
Topic: Memo to MOHs and BOH re: Patients First
From: Dr. Eric Hoskins
To: all Ontario Boards of Health and Medical Officers of Health

Background:
There has been considerable feedback regarding the Patients First discussion paper. This response from the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, Eric Hoskins to Boards of Health and Medical Officers of Health addresses LHIN integration, public health funding and the health equity and social determinants of health expertise that Public Health Units contribute to our health care system.

Recommendation:
Receive.

e) Date: 2016 April 21
Topic: Expansion of HPV Vaccination Program to Males
From: Dr. Eric Hoskins
To: Medical Officers of Health, Chairs, Boards of Health, Senior Managers, VPD Programs

Background:
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the world. There are several types of HPV, some of which can cause cervical cancer and genital warts. The province currently offers the HPV vaccine free of charge to girls in Grade 8 at Ontario schools. This will be expanded to all student and begin to be offered in the 2016-2017 school year.

Recommendation:
Receive.

f) Date: 2016 April 20 (Received 2016 April 25)
Topic: A Public Health Approach to the Legalizations of Cannabis in Canada
From: Barry Ward, Board of Health Chair, Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit
To: The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau

Background:
Canada has one of the highest rates of cannabis use in the world with over 40% of Canadian adults having used cannabis in their lifetime. In Ontario, it is the most widely consumed illicit drug, with youth and young adults having the highest rates of use.

At the January 26, 2016 Middlesex-London Board of Health Meeting staff were directed to: 1) advocate for an evidence-based public health approach to Cannabis in the context of legalization, including strict regulation for the non-medical use of cannabis, as well as its production, distribution, product promotion and sale; and 2) Establish baseline data and mechanisms to monitor local use of cannabis in the coming years; and 3) Forward the report and appendices to the Association of Local Public Health Agencies, the Ontario Public Health Association, Ontario Boards of Health, the Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, the federal Minister of Health, and other elected officials as appropriate.

Recommendation:
Receive.

g) Date: 2016 April 26 (Received 2016 April 27)
Topic: Ontario Society of Nutrition Professionals in Public Health Position Statement of Responses to Food Insecurity
From: Northwestern Health Unit
To: Ontario Boards of Health, alPHa, the Ontario Society of Nutrition Professions in Public Health

Background:
All public health units in Ontario conduct a Nutritious Food Basket (NFB) survey in accordance with the Ontario Public Health Standards to measure the cost of basic healthy eating. Annual results repeatedly show that incomes for our most vulnerable residents are insufficient to afford basic needs.

The Board of Health considered a report at the September 17th meeting and approved that the Board: 1) Send a letter to the Prime Minister of Canada, the Premier of Ontario and the Ontario Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy requesting they prioritize consideration and investigation into a joint federal-provincial basic income guarantee; 2) Send a letter to the Premier of Ontario requesting the province increase social assistance rates to reflect the rising cost of nutritious food & safe housing; 3) Send a letter to all London and Middlesex County federal election candidates requesting they take Food Secure Canada’s Eat Think Vote candidate pledge; and 4) Forward Report No. 50-15 re 2015 Nutritious Food Basket Survey Results and Implications for Government Public Policy to the City of London, Middlesex County & appropriate community agencies.

Recommendation:
Receive.

h) Date: 2016 April 27
Topic: Industry violations of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitute
From: Scott McDonald, Board of Health Chair, Peterborough County-City Health Unit
To: The Honourable Jane Philpott

Background:
All Health Units in Ontario have been mandated to implement the Baby-Friendly Initiative. Middlesex-London Health Unit was formally designated as Baby-Friendly in December 2015.
Other health care organizations (e.g. Hospitals, community health centres, and family health teams) in the province are also being encouraged and supported to adopt these best practices for prenatal and postpartum care.

Designation requires compliance with the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent relevant World Health Assembly Resolutions. This is not part of the Canada Code as is suggested by the Peterborough County-City Health Unit.

Recommendation:
Receive.

i) Date: 2016 April 28
Topic: Environmental Health Program Funding
From: Scott McDonald, Board of Health Chair, Peterborough County-City Health Unit
To: The Honourable Eric Hoskins

Background:
There have been several recent changes to legislation involving the work of environmental health teams throughout Ontario. These changes and the corresponding increases in services that are being provided have not come with commensurate resources or staff training.

Recommendation:
Receive.

j) Date: 2016 March 23 (Received 2016 April 29)
Topic: Public Health Approach to Cannabis Legalization and Regulation
From: Cynthia St. John, Executive Director, Dr. Joyce Lock, Medical Officer of Health, Elgin St. Thomas Public Health
To: The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau

Background:
See item (f) above.

Recommendation:
Receive.

k) Date: 2016 April 28
Topic: alPHa response to Patients First (re: response to Feb 29 letter)
From: Dr. Valerie Jaeger, Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa)
To: The Honorable Dr. Eric Hoskins

Background:
See item (d) above.

Recommendation:
Receive.

l) Date: 2016 May 2
Topic: Water Fluoridation
From: Mr. Don West, Chief Administrative Officer, Porcupine Health Unit
To: The Honorable Dr. Eric Hoskins

Background:
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral which is present in almost all water sources. Community water fluoridation is the process by which a water system operator adds fluoride in controlled amounts to raise naturally low fluoride levels to the optimal level of 0.7mg/L or 0.7ppm for dental health. Community Water Fluoridation is a municipal matter and decisions regarding the fluoridation of water systems are made by municipal councils.

Recommendation:
Receive.

m) Date: 2016 May 3 (Received 2016 May 4)
Topic: Herpes Zoster Vaccine
From: Mr. Lee Mason, Chair, Algoma Public Health
To: The Honorable Dr. Eric Hoskins

Background:
Language in the 2016 Ontario Budget indicates that “The government is making the shingles vaccine free for eligible Ontario seniors between the ages of 65 and 70 — saving them about $170 and reducing emergency room visits and hospitalizations.” This was not previously included in the provincially-funded vaccine schedule.

Recommendation:
Receive.

n) Date: 2016 May 4
Topic: Coal Fired Electricity
From: Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment c/o Urban Public Health Network and Dr. Cory Neudorf, CMHO, Saskatoon Health Region
To: Urban Public Health Network Members

Background:
Ontario is the first province or state in North America to completely eliminate coal fired power generation. Coal fired power plants are a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and are linked with many significant health impacts. This correspondence supports the phase out of all coal fired generation.

Recommendation:
Receive.

o) Date: 2016 April 21 (Received 2016 May 9)
Topic: HPV Program Expansion – Fact Sheet Q & A
From: Roselle Martino, Assistant Deputy Minister, Population Public Health Division, Public Health Ontario
To: Medical Officers of Health, Boards of Health

Background:
See item (e) above.

Recommendation:
Receive.

p) Date: 2016 May 13
Topic: Healthy Babies Healthy Children program
From: Minister Tracey MacCharles, Ministry of Children and Youth Services
To: Dr. Christopher Mackie, Mr. Jesse Helmer, Mr. Alexander Bezzina, Deputy Minister, Ms. Stacey Weber, Acting Director, Early Childhood Development Branch

Background:
The Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC) program supports vulnerable families and helps children reach their full potential. The Ministry of Children and Youth Services will undertake a third party review of the HBHC program to assess if the current delivery model is meeting Ontario’s needs. This correspondence requests the input of public health units in the review process. Further details will be provided once the province selects a vendor

Recommendation:
Receive.

Copies of all correspondence are available for perusal from the Secretary-Treasurer.

Confidential 

The Board of Health will move in camera to discuss a matter regarding a proposed or pending acquisition of land by the Middlesex-London Board of Health, to approve minutes from its April 21st 2016 in camera session and to receive minutes from the Finance and Facilities Committee May 3rd 2016 in camera session.

Adjournment