Agenda item

Agenda item

COVID-19 Update and Manchester enhanced area Action Plan

The report of the Director of Public Health and the Medical Director (Manchester Health and Care Commissioning) is attached.

 

Minutes:

The Director of Public Health and Medical Director, Manchester Health and Care Commissioning submitted a report that made reference to the action taken on 8 June 2021, where Manchester along with the rest of Greater Manchester and parts of Lancashire were designated as an ‘enhanced response area’. Manchester has since developed and implemented the local area action plan.

 

The Director of Public Health provided an update on the implementation of the Plan which runs up to the 19 July. The priority workstream in the Plan is the Targeted Vaccination Drive. The Medical Director, Manchester Health and Care Commissioning was unable to attend the meeting and, in her absence, the Director of Public Health provided the update on the vaccination drive work and the wider roll out of the Citywide Vaccination Programme. A presentation was also provided.

 

The Board was informed that from the projections made on the rates of infection, it was highly likely that infection rates would rise nationally in the next month due to the high transmissibility of the delta variant. The latest number of infections, to date, in Manchester is 534 per 100,000 and this is the 12th highest in England. The infection rate across Greater Manchester is changing constantly due to the volatile nature of the virus. The Board was informed that nationally a third wave was happening, however, from the data on rates of infection the north west of England is in a fourth wave. The point was made that although the number of cases per 100,000 is showing signs of slowing down, it is still important continue with vaccinations as well working to dispel a belief that catching covid was acceptable. Not enough information is held on the impact of ‘long covid’ and how the infection may impact on young people’s health. The links in number of hospitalisations requiring critical care and related mortality is not rising in line with the infection rates.

 

The work within the eight priority wards in Manchester has produced a positive impact in those areas of the city. The data on current transmission rates indicate that there is an increase in the high school and primary school age groups. This has had a negative impact on school attendance across schools in the city. The data has also shown the positive impact of engagement work within the Black African and Bangladesh communities and informed where focus needs to be targeted to increase engagement in younger age groups.

 

The data on rates of serious illness and mortality has demonstrated a break in the link when comparing 2020 to 2021. The Board was reminded that the Marmot Review – Health Equity in England, had highlighted that over the past year Manchester had lost 3.1 years of male life expectancy and 1.9 years of female life expectancy.

 

The Director of Adult Social Services addressed the Board in reference to adult care arrangements. The Board was advised that in 2020 the Manchester Strategic Care Homes Board was established that brought together partners from across the sectors to focus work streams to protect adults living in care homes. A report would be submitted to the next meeting of the Board in September to highlight the work undertaken during this period and the positive impact this had mortality rates.

 

Reference was made to the Manchester Enhanced Area Action Plan and the additional support that has been provided in the administration and provision of the vaccine and testing provision.

 

The Strategic Director of Children’s Services also addressed the meeting and referred to the impact of the pandemic on schools, in particular the numbers of pupils not in school due to isolation or a positive test (13% of pupils across the city (10500 pupils)). With reference to the Education Minister’s recent announcement, the current school measures will remain in place until the end of the summer school term. A new testing arrangement and programme will come into effect in the Autumn term where isolation would no longer be required unless a test is positive. Also, work would continue to provide a vaccine when a person becomes eligible to receive it. Guidance will be reviewed and issued to schools to ensure they are safe places to work and study. Reference was made the important links with health service partners that have developed during this time which has been vital.

 

The Chair invited questions from members of the Board.

 

A member recognised the work that has taken place and how important this has been and thanked the all the partners that have been involved. Reference was made to the importance of challenging perceptions of catching covid and the need to continue the process of vaccination. Officers were asked in reference to the uptake in 2021 and the level of mortality, if the mortality rate is related to covid or delayed presentation by the individual or another reason.

 

The Director of Public Health undertook to provide data o members of the Board once the analysis is completed.

 

The Chair acknowledged the work of all partners and the important issues raised and referred to the importance of continuing to push forward the programme of working with residents and the strong message that vaccination reduces infection.

 

The Director of Public Health provided a presentation on the Vaccination Programme. It was reported that the number of first vaccine doses given to date is currently 337186 and the number of second doses is 221087 across the city. The vaccine provided across Manchester at multiple sites making access very easy and convenient with all over 18s being eligible to receive it. The Board was reminded that under 25 year olds make up almost 50% of the city’s population, which is a higher percentage than the average in England. The targeted provision of the vaccine is the next stage of the programme as part of the push to engage as many of the population as possible. The engagement has provided useful data, in particular information on the numbers of international students arriving in the city and accessing homeless people. The presentation provided details on the uptake of the vaccine and the breakdown in categories such as age, gender, ethnicity and related health conditions. The importance of ensuring that both doses are taken is the message to all residents in order to provide the best protection from the virus.

 

The Chair invited questions from members of the Board.

 

A member of the Board made the point that the success of the vaccination programme has implications for the NHS with every covid related hospital admission reducing the availability of beds for other admissions. Service areas such as A&E and mental health services are being impacted upon and the approach of the winter period will present further challenges to resources with the increase in respiratory related illness.

 

The Acting Director (Strategy) Manchester Local Care Organisation representative provided an update on the work of the LCO that has continued throughout the pandemic. Reference was made to the importance of health and wellbeing of LCO staff and accessing annual leave. Reference was also made to the work being done to support the vaccination programme and the targeted approach for the take-up of the vaccine which has included bespoke invites, mass delivery of leaflets to homes and doorstep engagement and the use of social media. Work in supporting hospitals has been vital to ensure that people being discharged to the right place.

 

In response to a question on the use of the learning achieved during pandemic it was reported that the Vaccination Board would meet to consider how to use the learning in planning for the delivery of the booster programme. The point was made that the increase in communication and collaboration between all sectors has demonstrated what can be achieved and importance that this is built on for the future.

 

The Chair thanked the Board for the comments made. 

 

Decisions

 

1. To support the ongoing implementation of the area Action Plan

 

2. To note the presentation.

 

3. To acknowledge the work of all partners and sectors and to thank everyone involved in implementation of the vaccination programme.

Supporting documents: