Will Blandamer, Executive Director of Strategic Commissioning to provide a verbal update at the meeting.
Minutes:
Will Blandamer, Executive Director of Strategic Commissioning, provided a verbal update on COVID-19 and the vaccine programme on behalf of Lesley Jones.
Overview of community incidents and epidemiology:
· Case rates were decreasing with 1057 cases per 100,000 population in Bury, slightly about the national average but a decrease since the previous week.
· There had been a slight rise in the number of deaths in the previous two weeks, but rates were not near previous peak levels. This increase was expected as a result of the increased volume of incidents and admissions.
· Plan B review date was 26 January and, should measures be lessened, Bury was ready to respond to any effects of this.
· Challenges continued as well as disruptions in schools, with outbreaks expected over the next few weeks but levels then expected to come down.
· It was believed we had hit the peak and rates would continue to reduce; however, we will need to be vigilant in understanding the effects of any suspension of current guidelines e.g. in relation to face masks.
Update on vaccinations:
· Vaccination rollout had been very successful in Bury, exceeding the GM average for first and second doses, and third in GM for boosters.
· Demand was slowing and some primary care centres were being rested as a result, to allow staff time back in primary care.
· There was a continued focus on inequalities, although uptake was so high overall there was little scope for differences.
· There was a gap in 12-15 year olds being vaccinated; second dose rollout had begun this week in and out of schools, and community pharmacies were being used to encourage people to come forward in harder to reach areas.
· In response to questions from the previous meeting, it was noted that the United Reform Church in Radcliffe had been very successful as a vaccination centre, and thanks were extended to the church as well as support to help remove anti-vax graffiti.
· It was also confirmed that the Gillick competence test was a well-established principle and was being applied.
Overview of the health and care system:
· The health and care system remained under severe pressure but the effect of the omicron variant was beginning to reduce.
· The system had been holding up during the most challenging period, with exponential growth in demand over the Christmas period as well as staffing issues. This had been reflected across the country, with numerous critical incidents (to which Manchester had come close).
· Tributes were paid to frontline staff who had gone above and beyond to ensure doors remained open and patients received care.
· Significant pressures remained in primary care with regards to demand and staffing, as well as discharge pressures. Mental health and home care services were similarly suffering, with the latter coping remarkably.
· It was noted that across GM the suspension of all but the most urgent elective care was now being lifted.
Councillor Birchmore asked whether there were figures regarding those dying “of” Covid vs those dying “with” Covid and Will Blandamer undertook to come back with that information. In response to a question from Councillor Tegolo regarding their vaccination status, he advised that this information was not routinely collected but, in response to a follow up question from Councillor Lewis, officers undertook to investigate if the information was held by secondary care.
Councillor Brown asked about further vaccination doses and Councillor Simpson, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, advised that immunocompromised people would be invited for a fourth dose but a decision had not been made about whether this would be needed more widely.
Councillor Holt queried if data was collected around why people were refusing vaccinations and Councillor Simpson advised that many people refused to share their reasons, but it was probably due to scaremongering on social media. She added that it was becoming harder to engage with unvaccinated people as there was a growing stigma around it and people were unwilling to come forward. Will Blandamer advised that work to address the gaps in young people being vaccinated was looking at these motivations to give a better understanding of the situation.
Catherine Tickle provided an update on the support given to patients waiting for elective care:
· Cancer and urgent cases were still being seen and measures were reviewed regularly to ensure impact of waiting was minimised and that any cases that became urgent while waiting were seen.
· The ‘While You Wait’ initiative provided information, advice and support to those waiting for elective care, directing them to social prescribing options.
· Work on the site allowed for constant improvement of the offer, including areas of focussed work (orthopaedics and urology) which would be rolled out to other areas. This ensured tailored support was provided while patients waited.
Councillor Walmsley asked that this service be made available to those not able to access online services, and asked if there was data on how long delays would be now elective care was being stood back up. Catherine Tickle responded that there was no data at the moment but it could be looked at. She advised standing services back up would take time, with a phased approach to return to business as usual, and that different groups would have different levels of delay.
Councillor Pilkington asked about the vaccine take-up by NHS staff who were now compelled to be vaccinated and Will Blandamer advised an impact assessment was being carried out and he would report back, but that in social care only a relatively small number of staff had refused the vaccine.
Councillor Birchmore asked about orthopaedic patients’ need for painkillers and limited access to GPs and Catherine Tickle reported that access to GPs continued despite capacity issues. She advised that there wasn’t just one approach to access care, there was a range of support available and patients just needed to be directed to where would be best for them. Will Blandamer advised that, in light of the Committee’s concerns regarding GP access, Dr Cathy Fines, Chair of the CCG, was keen to listen to and speak with Councillors and as such a Member seminar was being arranged.
Councillor Grimshaw queried pharmacies not providing patients with their prescription and Councillor Simpson advised that pharmacies are private businesses so users could change pharmacy or reorder their slip from the GP.
It was agreed:
1. Figures and vaccination status regarding those dying “of” Covid vs those dying “with” Covid be provided;
2. Data regarding delays in elective care be provided;
3. The results of the impact assessment regarding NHS staff not taking up the vaccine be reported;
4. Thanks and praise to frontline staff be recorded; and
5. Will Blandamer be thanked for the update.