Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Health Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 6th October, 2020 2.00 pm

Venue: Virtual meeting - webcast at: https://manchester.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/485359

Contact: Lee Walker 

Media

Items
No. Item

36.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 312 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 1 September 2020.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Decision

 

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 1 September 2020 as a correct record.

 

37.

COVID 19 update pdf icon PDF 110 KB

Report of the Director of Public Health

 

In September the Committee received the Manchester COVID-19 10 Point Plan setting out the key actions that were to be progressed over September. The Plan is updated regularly and the latest version that will cover the Autumn/Winter period is attached and given the very distinct work required for schools, universities and care homes it is now a 12 Point Plan.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Public Health that described that at their September meeting the Committee received the Manchester COVID-19 10 Point Plan setting out the key actions that were to be progressed over September. The Plan was to be updated regularly and the latest version that would cover the Autumn/Winter period was attached and given the very distinct work required for schools, universities and care homes it was now a 12 Point Plan.

 

The Director of Public Health and the Director, Adult Social Services delivered a presentation entitled ‘Manchester’s COVID-19 12 Point Action Plan – Autumn 2020’ that reported activity against the actions. The presentation further included the latest available relevant data and intelligence.

 

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

 

·         Noting the report of increased transmissions within households and enquired if there was any understanding of specific occupations that impacted on these rates of infections;

·         Noting national press reporting of people being directed to testing centres located a significant distance from their home address, had there been improvements in the provision of testing facilities locally;

·         Noting that occupation data was often not recorded from the national testing data and this needed to be improved;

·         A Member commented that the rise in infections amongst the student population, both locally and nationally should have been anticipated and stated that the decision to encourage students to attend University rather than deliver courses online was an economic decision rather than a health decision;

·         Noting that the Christmas and New Year period would present a challenge if and when students return to their homes and then return to their place of study;

·         Noting the significant contribution the Universities made to the city and that it is impractical to deliver certain courses online; 

·         Noting that it was important to recognise that Universities employed a wide variety of staff in many different roles and were not comprised solely of teaching staff and students;

·         Manchester remained a welcoming and inclusive city and called upon the government to adequately resource the city so that all residents remained safe; 

·         Recognising the benefits of local knowledge, experience and established relationships across local health partners, the delivery of COVID-19 vaccine, when available should be administered and managed locally;

·         Was the 10pm curfew across the hospitality sector effective in managing transmission rated of COVID-19;

·         Noting the often confusing messages relating to national and local lockdown requirements, would the introduction of a three tier system simplify the message;

·         What was the current position on aerosol transmission of the virus and what was the current advice on the use of face masks; and

·         Were people expected to make appointments to attend Accident and Emergency Departments.

 

The Director of Public Health responded to the Members discussion and questions by stating that the virus had never left communities in Manchester and the rates and incidence of community infections continued to be closely monitored to understand and respond effectively to outbreaks. With regard to testing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

38.

Seasonal Flu Immunisation Programme 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 271 KB

Report of the Director of Public Health, Manchester City Council and

Dr Manisha Kumar, Medical Director, Manchester Health & Care Commissioning

 

This report describes Manchester’s Flu Programme for 2020/21 and outlines some of the key areas and challenges.

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Public Health and the Medical Director, Manchester Health & Care Commissioning that described Manchester’s Flu Programme for 2020/21 and outlined some of the key areas and challenges.

 

The main points and themes within the report included: -

 

·         Providing the context and agreed system-wide approach as start of a three-year plan to drive up flu vaccination rates within the city;

·         Describing the scope of the Manchester Flu Programme 2020/21; and

·         Programme Approach.

 

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

 

·         Welcoming the additional cohorts in scope for flu vaccination this year and were key workers included;

·         Was the supply of the flu vaccine sufficient to meet the demand;

·         Were there different strains of the vaccine that were appropriate for different cohorts;

·         Would unaccompanied asylum seeking children be eligible to receive the flu vaccination;

·         Noting the important roles of Councillors, especially those acting as school governors in promoting flu vaccination;

·         Recognising the importance of reaching out to hard to reach communities to promote flu vaccination, including the use of social media to dispel myths and counter incorrect messaging regarding vaccination;

·         Were GP practices proactively contacting their patients to offer the flu vaccine; and

·         Could the service administer a COVID vaccine when one was available.

 

The Strategic Lead, Population Health Programmes, MHCC addressed the Committee and said that the take up of the flu vaccination had increased by 30% compared to the same period last year, noting that in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic this was very important, both in terms of the health of the general population and mitigating pressures on health services. She described that vaccination data was obtained weekly to assist in the delivery of the vaccination. She described that to continue to progress this programme a system wide approach had been adopted at a neighbourhood level, working with communities to ensure every contact with residents counted. She stated that this approach was complimented and supported with a communications and engagement campaign.  

 

In response to the specific question regarding unaccompanied asylum seeking children, the Strategic Lead, Population Health Programmes stated that they would offered the vaccination via the primary school aged children and Year 7 children in secondary school cohort or via their GP practice.

 

The Strategic Lead, Population Health Programmes informed the Committee that the list of cohorts had been prescribed nationally and not determined locally, however local arrangements had been agreed to support staff to receive the vaccination.

 

With regard to national stocks of flu vaccination, the Deputy Head of Medicines Optimisation, MHCC described that the process for ordering stocks of vaccinations has been completed prior to the pandemic. She said the supply of vaccinations was a national issue and representations were being made to ensure Manchester had the required numbers. She further advised that there were four different strains of flu vaccination available, specific to different cohorts.

 

With regard to communications and engagement, the Deputy Head of Strategic Communications acknowledged the comment regarding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

39.

Overview Report pdf icon PDF 243 KB

Report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit

 

This report includes a summary of key decisions that are within the Committee’s remit as well as an update on actions resulting from the Committee’s recommendations. The report also includes the Committee’s work programme, which the Committee is asked to amend or agree as appropriate. 

 

The report also contains additional information including details of those organisations that have been inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) within Manchester since the Health Scrutiny Committee last met.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit which contained key decisions within the Committee’s remit and responses to previous recommendations was submitted for comment. Members were also invited to agree the Committee’s future work programme. 

 

Decision

 

To note the report and agree the work programme.