Councillor Richards was nominated to Chair the meeting. This was seconded and approved by the Committee. 

Decision

To appoint Councillor Richards as Chair for the meeting.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2021.

Decision

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2021 as a correct record.

The Director of Public Health and Medical Director, Manchester Health and Care Commissioning, will circulate a presentation on the latest available data relating to Manchester COVID-19 rates and the Manchester Vaccination Programme. 

The Committee considered the joint presentation of the Director of Public Health and the Executive Clinical Director, Manchester Health and Care Commissioning, that had been circulated to all Members in advance of the meeting. The presentations provided an update on COVID-19 activity that included the latest available information on data and intelligence.

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

·         The Committee again reiterated their recognition and appreciation for all involved with the vaccination programme;

·         What was the correlation between COVID-19 related hospital admissions and the patients’ vaccination status;

·         The need to challenge and counter the misinformation relating to the vaccination and pregnancy that was being circulated on social media, particularly amongst young people;

·         Commenting that due to the high infection rates and transmissibility of OMICRON it was important for all to observe mask wearing, adding that this was a societal, in addition to a personal responsibility to protect everyone;

·         Patients and their families’ lived experience of COVID-19 should be used to articulate the importance of receiving the vaccination and the serious consequences of not doing so;

·         It was the responsibility for everyone to come forward and receive their vaccination and noting the vaccination rates in Manchester it was important to keep articulating this and encouraging people to come forward; and

·         Noting the recent changes announced in relation to the requirement not to obtain a PCR test following a positive LFT result, was there a possibility that this would skewer the reported infection rates as people either did not always formally record their results or were reluctant to report a positive test.

The Director of Public Health provided the Committee with the figures of those patients currently admitted to hospital with COVID-19 related illness and their vaccination status, noting that in critical care this was five times higher. He stated that this clearly demonstrated the need and importance of receiving the vaccination and booster. He stated that there was no call for mandatory vaccination in the UK and the approach was for citizens to take the vaccination on a voluntary basis, with the caveat in relation to specific professions and settings. He further commented that people who may have been hesitant may decide to take up the offer of the vaccination when they were required to provide vaccination passports to undertake travel or participate and access events.

In response to a request for more granular data on the cohorts admitted to hospital as a result of COVID-19, the Director of Public Health advised there was a challenge to providing this data in real time to report to the Committee.

The Director of Public Health informed the Committee that there was a pilot being delivered at the Etihad stadium where those people who had received their vaccination overseas could attend to have their vaccination validated, their COVID-19 passport records updated, and a booster administered where appropriate.

The Director of Public Health stated that they remained committed to work with communities and networks, including schools to address  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

Report of the Director of Public Health

The report provides the Committee with an overview of the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Support and Tobacco Addiction Treatment Services commissioned by the Manchester Population Health/Public Health Team.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Public Health that provided the Committee with an overview of the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Support and Tobacco Addiction Treatment Services commissioned by the Manchester Population Health/Public Health Team. 

To accompany the report a video was played that articulated the voice of the service user.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         The Manchester Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Support Service and Tobacco Addiction Treatment Service is provided by Change, Grow, Live (CGL);

·         Providing a strategic context both at a local and national level;

·         Key statistics;

·         A description of the service offer for each service;

·         An outline of the performance and an overview of the successes and challenges;

·         The impact of COVID-19; and

·         Next steps.

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

·         Recognising the valuable and important role that the services provided;

·         Had there been a reduction in the numbers of clients seen due to the impact of COVID-19 and the move to online consultations;

·         The need to recognise and address the correlation between socio-economic deprivation and smoking and drug consumption;

·         Was there any evidence to suggest that the increased cost of tobacco had any impact on the numbers of smokers;

·         Was there any evidence to indicate if the historic reduction and closure of services had any impact on the numbers of people seen or being supported by the drug and alcohol service;

·         Noting the prevalence in specific areas of needles being disposed of irresponsibly and what was being done to address this; and

·         Was there any evidence currently available to identify the number of COVID-19 related deaths amongst drug users.

In presenting the report, the Strategic Commissioning Manager advised the Committee that there was a correction at sections 4.2.1 and 5.5.1 of the paper. She reported that the service is specified to supply Varenicline, commonly known by its trade name Champix, which was an important stop smoking medication, often used alongside Nicotine Replacement Therapy, but because of a national issue, this currently cannot be sourced or provided at the moment. She reported that there was no end date for this situation currently and it was likely that it would impact on quit rates.

In response to the question on the issue of historic reduction and closure of services and the impact on the numbers of people seen or being supported by the drug and alcohol service, the Strategic Commissioning Manager advised that any data available would be circulated for information following the meeting.

The Greater Manchester Head of Services for Change, Grow, Live discussed the impact that COVID-19 had placed on the delivery of services, in particular the planned launch of the Be Smoke Free programme that coincided with the beginning of the pandemic. She said staff had responded quickly and effectively to deliver these sessions online and commented that the numbers of people seen had not reduced as a result, adding that some people who might otherwise not have attended an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

Report of Executive Director of Strategy, Manchester Health and Care Commissioning, Group Executive Director of Workforce and Corporate Business, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Deputy Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Director of Strategic Projects, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Director of Inclusive Economy, Manchester City Council

This report provides an update on health infrastructure developments in North Manchester, including New Park House, the North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH) site redevelopment and the associated North Manchester Strategy; and at Wythenshawe Hospital. Partners will present the accompanying slide deck at the Committee meeting.

The Committee considered the joint report of the Executive Director of Strategy, Manchester Health and Care Commissioning Group, Executive Director of Workforce and Corporate Business, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Deputy Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Director of Strategic Projects, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Director of Inclusive Economy, Manchester City Council that provided an update on health infrastructure developments in North Manchester, including New Park House, the North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH) site redevelopment and the associated North Manchester Strategy; and at Wythenshawe Hospital.

The report was accompanied by a presentation that further articulated the key points within the report.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         Providing an introduction and background;

·         An update on the developments in North Manchester, noting the North Manchester Strategy, the shared ambition of the key partner organisations in Manchester to deliver much-needed investment in North Manchester, and to use this as a stimulus to drive economic regeneration and improved health and wellbeing for the local population;

·         An update on the New Park House Development; and

·         An update on the developments at Wythenshawe Hospital, noting that the Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) for MFT’s Wythenshawe site was endorsed by the Executive on 17 March 2020.

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

·         Noting that the plans for North Manchester presented an exciting and positive development for the site that was in much need of modernisation and recognising the significant wider benefits to the local area in terms of employment and skills;

·         Noting that it was important to ensure that public transport links to hospital sites were improved;

·         Seeking an assurance that services would not be relocated from North Manchester General Hospital, stressing the importance of retaining the status of the provision as a General Hospital;

·         Welcoming the proposals to develop Park House and enquiring what support would be offered to patients transferring from the old provision into the new one;

·         Expressing concern that the proposals for Wythenshawe Hospital to release the potential of the site to attract significant complementary economic activity such as research and innovation was dependant on a change to national policy;

·         Recommending that a substantive report specifically on the plans for Wythenshawe Hospital be submitted for consideration at an appropriate time; and

·         Had COVID-19 impacted on the budget to deliver the ambitions described for North Manchester and would the delivery of the scheme described result in any debt for the Trust.

The Director of Human Resources and Deputy Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust described that patients accessing Park House typically stayed for 30 days on average, so there were no long-term patients. However, patients who would transfer into the new unit would be supported by staff to help familiarise and orientate them into the new and improved environment. He further informed the Members that service users had been consulted with and closely involved with the design of the new facility.

The Director of Strategic Projects, Manchester University NHS  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

Report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit

The monthly report includes the recommendations monitor, relevant key decisions, the Committee’s work programme and items for information. The report also contains additional information including details of those organisations that have been inspected by the Care Quality Commission.

The 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

The Committee notes the report and agrees the work programme.