Agenda and minutes

The Panel is asked to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the meeting of the Health Liaison Panel held on 9 March 2021 and to authorise the Chairman to sign them.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Health Liaison Panel held on 09 March 2021 were reviewed by the Panel. The Panel agreed they are a true record and authorised the Chairman to sign them.

Members are asked to declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests in respect of any item of business to be considered at the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made in items on the agenda.

Updates regarding:

·         Variants of concern and the likely impact on admission rates, and the continuing progress made in service recovery at Epsom General Hospital on its return to business as usual.

·         The Improving Healthcare Together programme of work, and the progress being made in relation to clinical services not indicated in the original consultation, and plans for resident engagement.

·         The refurbishment and investment programme at Epsom General Hospital.

Speaker: Daniel Elkeles – CEO, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals Trust

Updates regarding:

·                     Variants of concern and the likely impact on admission rates, and the continuing progress made in service recovery at Epsom General Hospital on its return to business as usual.

·                     The Improving Healthcare Together programme of work, and the progress being made in relation to clinical services not indicated in the original consultation and plans for resident engagement.

·                     The refurbishment and investment programme at Epsom General Hospital.

The Panel received an update from Dr James Marsh on the current impact of Covid-19, the variant of concern and how the pandemic continues to impact on the hospital’s recovery.

Dr Marsh advised on the following:

·                     The delta variant is prevalent in the Borough and is a cause for concern, especially in respect of the unvaccinated population. All cases of Covid-19 however will continue to be treated the same, and swabs taken to determine the variant. 

·                     The data provided is for all 5 acute hospitals throughout South-West London and it is recognised that recovery is reliant on all acute hospitals working together. Data will therefore encompass Epsom, St Helier, Kingston, Croydon, and St George’s

·                     In January 280 beds at Epsom and St Helier were occupied and the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre converted to address this need.

·                     Currently the 7-day incident rate per 100,000 across London and South West London has increased by 50% in the last week. Prior to this it was between 25% and 50% per week.

·                     Rates in South West London 115 per 100,000, with 198 in E&E is higher

·                     Vaccination data shows 80% of the adult population in Epsom and Ewell has received one dose and 58% have received the second dose

·                     As of 1st July 2021, we have 9 patients in in-patients’ beds (1 in Epsom and 8 in St Helier), and 1 person in ICU. These figures are not dissimilar across all of South-West London with 6 patients in total being cared for in ICU.

·                     With community transmission as high as it is, the admission rates are evidence that the vaccination programme is having a positive impact. 

·                     There has been a change in the demographics for in-patient care has shifted. At the height of the pandemic, those admitted were mostly those aged over 60-years old. Since May 2021 however the collective data across South West London, including Epsom, shows that most admission are in those under the age of 40-years old.

·                     In respect of vaccination, of the 100 sequential admissions since May 2021, 69 had not received their vaccination, 14 had received a single dose, 1 had received two doses but under 14-days apart, and 11 had received both doses more than 14-days apart.  

·                     Long-Covid remains a concern and the Long-Covid service remains available. The trust also continues to follow-up on those patients who have left hospital; these are primarily seen by the respiratory team.

·                     87% of the workforce have received their 1st dose of medication. 65% have received their second dose.

·                     In respect of delayed treatments, in March 2021 there was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Updates regarding:

·         Mass vaccination centres, and the progress made in the vaccination rollout across the Surrey Downs ICP.

·         Plans for the proposed booster vaccination programme, and the implications for variants of concern

Speaker: Steve Flanagan – CEO, CSH Surrey

Updates regarding:

·                     Mass vaccination centres, and the progress made in the vaccination rollout across the Surrey Downs ICP.

·                     Plans for the proposed booster vaccination programme, and the implications for variants of concern.

Mr. Flanagan presented to the Panel on the mass vaccination centres.

Mr. Flanagan advised the Panel that the mass vaccination centre at Epsom Racecourse opened on 11th January 2021 to great success. This facility has now closed and transferred to Sandown on 17th May 2021. Mr. Flanagan commented that at its peak, and as the first in the Country, Epsom was the number one site across the whole of the UK and as a result were asked to coordinate services to a number of vaccination sites around the country.

During the peak, Epsom was vaccinating 2,500 persons per day. At Sandown they have capacity to administer similar volumes but at present are not seeing these numbers.

The centres deliver a hybrid model with both seated areas for older people, and a standing only for the younger cohort. 

Prior to closing, Epsom administered 125,000 vaccinations, with Dr Floyd’s team administering 66,000. At present Sandown has administered 40,000.

Mr. Flanagan spoke about the staff and volunteers that supported the vaccination centres.

CSH has vaccinated 90% of its staff.

Mr. Flanagan spoke to the Panel about the challenges faced at the centre being mostly centred on parking, workforce, national booking system, vaccine supply, security with younger cohort, increase in fainting in younger cohort, and adverse weather conditions.

Mr. Flanagan moved to talk about vaccination data up to the 13th June 2021.

Almost 1.4 million vaccine have been administered, inclusive of second and third doses.

In respect of care homes in Surrey, 96% of care home residents have now been vaccinated.

In respect of Epsom and Ewell, first dose update is at 59% of the adult population with the highest uptake (94%) in those over 65-years of age and the lowest in those under 29-years of age.

In respect of second dose, 92% of those aged over 65-years old in Epsom and Ewell have received this, with the younger cohorts at under 20% up-take. Mr. Flanagan advised this is partly attributive to vaccine supply however this is close to resolution.

Mr. Flanagan advised that it has been confirmed by central government today that there will be a booster programme and that this will roll-out from mid-September and will include those aged over 50-years, health, and social care workers, and those aged over 18-years old who are clinically vulnerable. It is yet to be confirmed how this will be rolled out, however it is likely to be a primary care led initiative with support from pharmacists.

A Councillor asked about vaccine supply and whether this is a national or local issue and how it is resolved.

Mr. Flanagan advised this was a supply issue with AstraZeneca (AZ), coupled with there not being enough Pfizer in the system at that time. This was a national issue. As of next week however, they will be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Revisiting the Health & Wellbeing priorities for the borough, and a review of the Health and Wellbeing Action Plan.

Speaker: Rachel Kundasamy – Health & Wellbeing Officer, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council.

Revisiting the Health & Wellbeing priorities for the Borough, and a review of the Health and Wellbeing Action Plan.

Ms. Kundasamy provided an update to the Panel on the Health and Wellbeing Strategy from October 2019, and subsequent action plan in January 2020.

Ms. Kundasamy presented revised data on each of the 5 priorities:

·                     Eating well, getting active and reducing our alcohol

·                     Supporting our vulnerable residents to live well

·                     Supporting our residents to stay connected

·                     Supporting our residents to live life to the full whatever their age

·                     Supporting the mental and emotional wellbeing of our residents.

Ms. Kundasamy advised that the data indicates that the priorities are still relevant, with particular concern given to poverty, domestic abuse and the mental and emotional wellbeing of our residents, with suicide rates having increased.

Ms. Kundasamy advised the Panel on areas of work that had been progressed during the pandemic to include the promotion of cycling and walking to include Active April and Round the Borough Bike, the re-engagement with our housing associations, happy to chat benches, domestic abuse awareness raising via the ‘Ask Me’ initiative, the Skills Hub, and the Youth Hub; a new initiative that Mr. Rod Brown will provide an update on. 

Ms. Kundasamy also presented on the changes at the Council and that the service areas of Health and Wellbeing, community engagement, sports and leisure will be brought together under the banner of Community Development.

Subsequent to this, there will be a Community Development Action Plan that will re-prioritise mental health, poverty and the needs of low-income families, domestic abuse and social isolation. The plan will seek to deliver projects that can address multiple priorities. 

 A Councillor asked about plans to address the increase in the use of the food bank.

Ms. Kundasamy advised that there has been a discussion held with the Epsom and Ewell Foodbank to open a Pantry in the Borough. This is a low-cost alternative to the food bank that will help address the need in the Borough. This initiative will be going to the Strategy & Resource Committee on 27th July 2021.

A Councillor asked how the Borough compares to other Boroughs in relation to the statistics presented and how much is a direct result of the pandemic that may return to normal levels.

Ms. Kundasamy advised that some of the data would indicate that the increases were in line with the pandemic, however some data (to include a reduction in residents eating 5-a-day), was released in 2019 and therefore we could not say that that was directly attributable to the pandemic, or an established cause and effect.

In relation to how we compare to other Boroughs, Ms. Kundasamy advised she would take that into account when reviewing the action plan.

 A Councillor asked about Mental Health and whether child and adolescent referrals had increased and asked about Epsom and Ewell received the funds that were available to families in need.

Ms. Kundasamy confirmed that referrals had increased but that she does not have this data  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.