Agenda and minutes

Venue: This will be a virtual meeting. A meeting link will be circulated in advance.

Contact: Poonam Patel Email:  Poonam.Patel@southwark.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

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    Minutes:

    The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and hoped everyone was well and thanked them for following the COVID-19 rules and guidance to keep infection rates low.

2.

APOLOGIES

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    To receive any apologies for absence.

    Minutes:

    Advance apologies for absence were received from Councillor Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for Social Support and Homelessness; Clive Kay, Chief Executive, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Eleanor Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of Southwark Council and David Quirke-Thornton, Strategic Director of Children's and Adults' Services.

     

    The Board noted that Duncan Whitfield was in attendance on Eleanor Kelly’s behalf.

     

3.

CONFIRMATION OF VOTING MEMBERS

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    Voting members of the committee to be confirmed at this point in the meeting.

    Minutes:

    Those listed as present were confirmed as the voting members of the meeting.

4.

NOTIFICATION OF ANY ITEMS OF BUSINESS WHICH THE CHAIR DEEMS URGENT

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    In special circumstances, an item of business may be added to an agenda within five clear days of the meeting.

    Minutes:

    There were no late items for consideration.

     

5.

DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS AND DISPENSATIONS

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    Members of the committee to declare any interests and dispensation in respect of any item of business to be considered at this meeting.

    Minutes:

    There were none.

6.

MINUTES

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    To agree as a correct record the open minutes of the meeting held on 21 December 2020.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 December 2020, be approved as a correct record of the meeting.

7.

COVID-19 - UPDATE

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    To note an update on Southwark council’s outbreak prevention and control plan:

    ·  Testing

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    Jin Lim, Director of Public Health, Children’s and Adults’ Services introduced the report and drew the Board’s attention to the recommendations of the report and the following three strands in the Council’s outbreak prevention and control plan, January 2021.

     

      i.  Prevent

      ii.  Identify

      iii.  Control

     

    Chris Williamson, Head of Public Health Intelligence delivered a presentation to cover surveillance on COVID-19, from the monitoring report as part of Southwark’s Outbreak Prevention and Control Plan, January 2021. The tabled presentation covered data on the following areas:

     

      i.  Key Messages

      ii.  Testing

      iii.  Contact Tracing

      iv.  Cases

      v.  Case Demographics

      vi.  Case Distribution

      vii.  Secondary Care

      viii.  Vaccinations

      ix.  Horizon Scanning

     

    In response to a question and answer session, the Board noted the following points:

     

    ·  In response to increase coverage, all the vaccines received had been rolled out to be delivered to the people of Southwark in Southwark.

     

    ·  The proposed long-term programme would cover at least nine months and help address those who were feeling hesitant about receiving their vaccine.

     

    ·  There was a need to encourage people to update their contact details with their local GPs so everyone could be reached either by telephone or text.

     

    ·  Approximately 100+ people in London were infected by the South African variant of the virus and the small number of those in Southwark had not been infected by it from overseas travel.

     

    ·  The lateral flow tests were just part of the process to monitor and respond to an individual’s COVID-19 test result – lateral flow tests were not a case of “test to release”.

     

    ·  The national priority groups covered 1 – 4 and there had been little wastage of vaccines in January 2021.

     

    ·  A daily reserve list was in place to avoid wastage and it was important to be mindful that people were still undecided or simply could not make their appointment.

     

    ·  The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine allowed vaccinations to take place for those that were housebound.

     

    ·  Those that were in the priority groups 1 – 4 and felt that they had not been contacted to book their vaccination appointment should not hesitate to get in touch to make an appointment:

     

     

    Telephone: call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week.

     

    Website: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2021/02/call-for-people-aged-70-and-over-to-contact-nhs-for-a-covid-jab/

     

    General information about vaccine for COVID-19 - South East London (SEL) CCG:

    https://selondonccg.nhs.uk/what-we-do/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine/

     

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.  That the Health and Wellbeing Board received and noted the update from the Outbreak Prevention and Control Executive on the actions taken to prevent, identify and control the novel coronavirus pandemic in Southwark, implementing Southwark’s Outbreak Prevention and Control Plan, Appendix 1 of the report.

     

    2.  That the Health and Wellbeing Board considered and noted the Southwark vaccination framework and local approach being taken to address vaccine hesitancy and to ensure good uptake across all our communities, Appendix 2 of the report and the associated vaccine communications and engagement action plan, Appendix 3 of the report.

     

    3.  That the Health and Wellbeing Board agreed to establish a member and officer board across the Council and CCG  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

COVID-19 VACCINATION

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    To receive and note a presentation on COVID-19 vaccination.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    Jin Lim delivered a presentation to cover the Council’s draft COVID-19 vaccination strategy and drew the Board’s attention to Appendix 3 of Item 7, Southwark COVID-19 vaccination programme – communications and engagement strategy (1/2/21).

     

    The tabled presentation included the following areas:

     

      i.  Five priority work streams

      ii.  Six key aims

      iii.  Factors affecting uptake

      iv.  Work stream 1 – Reducing inequalities of access

      v.  Work stream 2 – Community engagement and communications to address vaccine hesitancy

      vi.  Principles of community engagement for vaccine hesitancy

      vii.  Work stream 3 – Data and intelligence

      viii.  Work stream 4 – Vaccination programme delivery

      ix.  Work stream 5 – Training, staff development and guidance

     

    In response to a question and answer session, the Board noted the following points:

     

    ·  The Council’s programme so far was very collaborative with South East London (SEL) CCG and SEL CCG had been working on their partnership and communications plans.

     

    ·  SEL CCG would be planning for the next cohort to receive their vaccination now that a diverse range of vaccination sites had been set-up from hospitals to the Excel Centre for priority groups 1 – 4. Accessibility and potential locations to establish ‘pop-up’ vaccination sites were key areas to explore in going forward.

     

    ·  Weekly meetings were being held with the Council’s comms. team and SEL CCG.

     

    ·  Southwark’s draft COVID-19 vaccination programme – communications and engagement strategy (1/2/21) contained three main themes:

     

      i.  Research and insight

      ii.  Opinion polling and research data

      iii.  Key concerns and myths

     

    ·  A borough-wide and staff event(s) were expected to be offered with an expert panel to help reach the residents, communities, faith leaders, faith groups and the staff to empower their knowledge about the vaccination programme; all as a means to build a level of trust and to help to address their concerns.

     

     

    ·  The accuracy of data and the intelligence behind it was very crucial in reaching those that were hesitant about accepting the vaccine. The quality of the data could be a deal breaker for many that were undecided.

     

    ·  It was important to strike the right balance when engaging with those that were yet to decide as it was the individual’s choice to have the vaccine or not and no one should feel pressured or rushed in making their decision. Therefore, it was important to deploy an evolutionary approach towards the delivery of the vaccination programme.

     

    ·  BAME demographic data was showing that those from an Indian origin were more likely to accept the vaccine than those from an African origin. Therefore, the cultural, faith perspectives and experiences within specific BAME groupings were variables to consider in the comms. and engagement strategy.

     

    ·  There were ‘open door’ events organised for the Adult Social Care (ASC) workforce. This included advertising Q&A sessions with the public health team. One was held on 3 February and there were two more scheduled for 8 and 11 February. Badges stating “I’VE HAD THE VACCINE ASK ME ABOUT IT” were available to help promote awareness and vaccine uptake. Along  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

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    To receive any question from members of the public which have been submitted in advance of the meeting in accordance with the (cabinet) procedure rules. The deadline for the receipt of a public question is midnight Friday, 29 January 2021.

    Minutes:

    Public question 1 from Mr Steve Lancashire

     

    “Can we have an update on the timeline for the review of the Mental Health Strategy and also how the Suicide Strategy, although distinct, will be linked to it?”

     

    In response, Jin Lim explained that there was an expectation to provide an update in Spring 2021, and the new steering group intended to meet fortnightly. Additionally, the mental health and wellbeing refreshed strategy would be closely aligned with the existing suicide prevention strategy. The Board noted that the suicide prevention strategy was a statutory requirement.

     

    Public question 2 from Mr Tom White

     

    “Given the growing mental health crisis as reported in the media in recent weeks and in the light of the presentation by David Bradbury to the last Board, what are the Maudsley doing to develop crisis services along the lines of the Place of Sanctuary proposals put forward by the Southwark Pensioners Action Group. A walk in crisis service is desperately needed to complement the prevention services in these very challenging times.”

     

    In response, David Bradley, Chief Executive of SLaM accepted an invitation to attend a Southwark Pensioners Action Group meeting. David explained the various pressures and demands for mental health services due to the pandemic. In addition, a new facility in Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital was opened to provide more local services; and there were plans in place to establish a crisis café in Denmark Hill. The crisis café would be a place of sanctuary for anyone to walk into and use. The Board noted that it was Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week (1-7 February 2021):

     

     

    Public question 3 from David Cooper

     

    What efforts are the Board undertaking to ensure that the ICS becomes a more transparent and democratically accountable (to councillors and service users) body?”

     

    In response, the Chair and Vice-Chair explained that the ICS was not yet an accountable body. The organisations which were members of the South East London system had their own governance arrangements which defined their lines of accountability.

     

    Public question 4 from Irene Payne

     

    “Given that an adequate test and trace system is a vital part of responding to the challenge of Covid 19 how is the Board ensuring it uses the skills and experience of local authority public and environmental health officers to test, track, trace and isolate citizens of Southwark, to ensure we can control the virus locally as much as possible?”

     

    In response, Jin Lim explained that the Council were working hard to follow-up on the test and trace system. Additionally, colleagues from housing, environment and enforcement were also part of the collective team effort to uphold regulations and support the overall processes in place. Support was also given to those that were self-isolating. This included providing a ‘welfare check’ service and signpost to community support should any resident need it.

10.

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM PRESSURES

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    To receive a verbal report.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    The Chair welcomed the new Independent Chair for Partnership Southwark, Anuradha Singh and introduced Sam Hepplewhite, Place Based Director (Southwark) SEL CCG, and Pauline O’Hare, Director of Adult Social Care to present their presentation on Partnership Southwark recovery plan – delivery update, February 2021 from pages 50 to 55 of the Agenda.

     

    The presentation covered the following areas:

     

      i.  Addressing inequalities

      ii.  Safeguarding our communities and those who support them

      iii.  Start Well: Supporting children and young people – ‘keeping families strong’

      iv.  Live Well: Supporting working age adults

      v.  Age Well: Supporting our older and frail populations

      vi.  Care Well: Supporting those in care and residential settings

     

    ·  Reablement services were driven by hospital discharges and there were elements missing from the processes to support independence. This was a key factor for those with long-term care needs and working around the impact of COVID-19 and long COVID-19. Adjustment to services were being considered to factor all the variables deriving from the pandemic.

     

    ·  There were unmet needs for hospital services and the backlog of these services were no different to what had been reported nationally on all mainstream platforms and news channels.

     

    ·  There were potentially two specific groups of unmet need. Those who were managing their diabetic status or yet to be diagnosed as diabetic to those that were harder to diagnose due to changes in their everyday lifestyle, wellbeing and mental health.

     

    ·  Patients waiting to see their Doctor no longer had to spend time waiting at the GP practice as appointments were delivered online.

     

    ·  There had been a greater appreciation for the voluntary sector, housing services and council providers in respect to their ability to work collaboratively. For example, at the Tessa Jowell Health Centre there was a call for volunteers to help deliver the vaccination programme on a Friday and by Monday they received the volunteers they needed.

11.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

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    To note any other business.

    Minutes:

    There was none.

     

12.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

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    The next meeting will be Thursday, 18 March 2021.

    Minutes:

    The Chair concluded the meeting by thanking everyone for their contributions and participation.

     

    It was noted that the next meeting will be held on Thursday, 18 March 2021, 3pm – 5pm.