To consider any items which the Chair has agreed to have submitted as urgent.

The Chair introduced an item of urgent business by informing the Committee that he had invited the Chief Executive, Ant Hanlon and the Manager, Martin Moran from Manchester Irish Community Care to be provide Members with a verbal update and presentation on their work.

The main points and themes within the presentation included: -

·         A background to the organisation;

·         Describing what services and support they provide;

·         An overview of the structure of the organisation;

·         Operational objectives;

·         Describing how these activities were funded;

·         Describing the approach to partnership working; and

·         The desired outcomes of this work.

In response to questions Members were advised that the Irish community experienced many adverse health outcomes that were particularly associated with historical social and economic experiences. Members were informed that the referral telephone contact details were available on the organisations website, and it was anticipated that a referral form would be available via the site following a redesign.

The Committee were advised that the work of Manchester Irish Community Care had been restricted due to COVID-19, whoever telephone support had continued to be offered and all working practices had been reviewed in accordance with all Public Health guidance.

Following a discussion on funding and how the organisation could support the wider health and wellbeing ambitions of the Council the Chair recommended that the relevant Executive Member should engage with the group to explore these options further.

Decision

The Committee;

1.         Notes the presentation and thanked the representatives from Manchester Irish Community Care for attending the meeting.

2.         Recommend that the relevant Executive Member should engage with the group to explore the options for how the service can support the wider health and wellbeing ambitions of the Council.

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

Decision

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

Report of the Director of Public Health and the Medical Director, Manchester Health and Care Commissioning

The Committee received the Manchester COVID-19 12 Point Plan in December and the Plan had been updated to reflect the development of the Targeted Testing at Scale programme and the Mass Vaccination programme. The Director of Public Health (DPH) and the Medical Director for Manchester Health and Care Commissioning will deliver a presentation to the Committee with the latest available information about both of these programmes. In addition, the DPH will provide an update on the data and intelligence relating to cases of COVID-19 and the impact of the new UK variant.

The Committee considered the joint presentation of the Director of Public Health and the Executive Clinical Director Manchester Health and Care Commissioning that provided an update on COVID 19 activity and an update on the Manchester COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.

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

·         What was the view on how best to protect yourself from the latest strain of the virus;

·         Noting the infection rates amongst the over 60’s and the corresponding numbers of hospital admissions;

·         Noting that the pressures currently experienced by hospitals as a result of COVID-19 was impacting on their capacity to deliver other services and care;

·         Acknowledging the positive work of the Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre to support residents;

·         It was important that as the vaccination programme progressed all residents were given the opportunity to be vaccinated;

·         How quickly would schools obtain the result of mass testing;

·         Noting the current two different vaccines that were being administered was there a clinical difference as to who should receive these;

·         What was the view of the Director of Public Health on the time gap between the administration of the vaccine;

·         What was being done to ensure that the children of key workers could still access school places during lockdown;

·         Were volunteers still required for the vaccination sites;

·         How would residents be contacted to inform them to attend for a vaccination; and

·         What was the approach to addressing and dispelling the many misconceptions surrounding the vaccine.

The Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing stated that she wished to pay tribute to all staff who had worked to mobilise the vaccination programme and she had every confidence on the delivery of this, however noted that the success of the vaccination programme in Manchester was predicated on the successful supply of the vaccine that was being coordinated at a national level.

The Director of Public Health responded to questions by stating that in regard the new variance of COVID-19 the public were being advised to continue to follow all of the Public Health advice and guidance to ensure the rates of infection decreased. He advised that by reducing the rates of infection this would in turn reduce the pressures being experienced in hospitals. He described that the next couple of weeks would be critical and every attempt was being made to safely discharge patients from acute settings to help relieve the pressure on hospitals. He described that the levels of infections continued to be monitored and analysed.

The Executive Clinical Director MHCC stated that whilst the pressures currently experienced by hospitals as a result of the pandemic could not be underestimated it was important to emphasise that if anyone was experiencing a medical episode to seek immediate advice and assistance. She stated that the successful delivery of the mass vaccination programme would contribute to the stabilisation of hospital services.

The Director of Public Health stated that following briefings of senior clinicians he was confident that the current guidance relating to the time  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Report of the Chief Executive Manchester Local Care Organisation and Executive Director of Adult Social Services

This report details the service and financial planning and associated budget strategy work that is taking place for adult social care with partners across the health and care system.

It details the identified and proposed opportunities to make savings in 2021/22 aligned to the remit of the Health Scrutiny Committee, to support the City Council to achieve a balanced budget in 2021/22.

The Committee considered a report of the Acting Chief Executive Manchester Local Care Organisation and Executive Director of Adult Social Services that detailed the service and financial planning and associated budget strategy work that is taking place for adult social care with partners across the health and care system.

The report detailed the identified and proposed opportunities to make savings in 2021/22 aligned to the remit of the Health Scrutiny Committee, to support the City Council to achieve a balanced budget in 2021/22.

As adult social care is both within the MHCC health and care pooled budget, works in partnership is increasingly focused on integrating with community health services through the Manchester Local Care Organisation (MLCO); this report is jointly presented to the Scrutiny Committee by the key partners of MHCC, MCC and MLCO, noting the areas that would be led by MLCO.

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

·         Commenting on how the pandemic had highlighted the consequences of continued and prolonged underfunding of NHS and Adult Social Care by central government;

·         Welcoming the Better Outcomes, Better Lives programme, noting that the level of savings from within this programme would increase in future years and substantively replace the one-off grant and support funding provided;

·         Commenting that the Health Scrutiny Committee should have regular updates and oversight of the delivery of the Better Outcomes, Better Lives;

·         More information was requested on the governance arrangements of the Manchester Partnership Board;

·         Noting the anticipated long term impact of COVID-19 on mental health, was the budget allocated to deliver mental health services sufficient to meet these demands both in the immediate and long term;

·         Members would welcome a separate briefing session on local pooled budget arrangements;

·         Welcoming the ongoing commitment to paying the National Living Wage; and

·         Welcoming the stated commitment to ensure that as service plans for neighbourhoods were shared with the relevant elected members and other key stakeholders as they are developed.

The Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing advised the Committee of the significant pressures that had been placed on services and budgets as a result of COVID-19. She commented that this been exacerbated by continued and repeated cuts to funding imposed by the government. She stated that the government had failed to deliver on their commitment to address Adult Social Care and she called on the Chancellor to adequately and fairly fund all local authorities. She stated that despite these cuts Manchester had worked to respond to these challenges and support the most vulnerable residents in the city. She described that the Better Outcomes, Better Lives programme was one example of innovative working and she gave a commitment that the Committee would be regularly updated on the delivery of this programme.

The Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing further commented that Public Health services would be reviewed in line with all funding announcements and the Committee would be kept informed with any developments.

The Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Services and Director of Public Health

This report provides an update on the draft Our Manchester Strategy – Forward to 2025 reset document. A draft of the reset Strategy is appended to this report.

Our Manchester Strategy – Forward to 2025 will reset Manchester’s priorities for the next five years to ensure we can still achieve the city’s ambition set out in the Our Manchester Strategy 2015 – 2025.

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Services and Director of Public Health that provided an update on the draft Our Manchester Strategy – Forward to 2025 reset document. The draft of the reset Strategy is appended to this report.

Our Manchester Strategy – Forward to 2025 would reset Manchester’s priorities for the next five years to ensure we could still achieve the city’s ambition set out in the Our Manchester Strategy 2015 – 2025.

The main points and themes within the report included: -

·         Describing the background to the Our Manchester Strategy reset;

·         Providing an overview of the Our Manchester Strategy – Forward to 2025;

·         Describing the final design and communications; and

·         Next Steps.

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

·         Welcoming the engagement with local elected Members;

·         Every attempt should be made to increase participation with the consultation to ensure all views of the community were captured and reflected;

·         Congratulating staff for the work they had delivered on this area of work in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic;

·         Noting that it was important to feedback to residents to provide confidence that their views had been listened to and were reflected; and

·         Was data and information collected on who responded to consultations.   

The Deputy Leader stated that 3,800 people who had directly participated in the  engagement activity that had ran from 3 August 2020 to 25 September 2020 compared favourably to the original Our Manchester Strategy engagement in 2015 when approximately 2,000 people were directly engaged, and is higher than other recent similar Council activity, however he stated that this activity would always be reviewed to ensure maximum participation.

Officers reported that this activity was supported by a communications campaign with specific targeted campaigns to reach hard to reach groups. She stated information was asked for and recorded when responses were completed, such as gender, ethnicity etc however this it was not compulsory for residents to complete this information. 

Decision

The Committee endorse the recommendation that the final version of Our Manchester Strategy – Forward to 2025 be taken for consideration by the Executive in February 2021.  

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.

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.