Verbal update from each of the members on Covid-19 response and recovery and identification of areas of concern benefit for the overall well being of the community which the board can consider in the short and medium terms.
Minutes:
The chairman explained that the meeting will be run in a slightly different way as everyone is currently under pressure due to the COVID19 pandemic. As there were no reports written for the meeting as officers time is currently required elsewhere.
The chairman invited individual members of the board to give updates. The Director of Regeneration gave an update to the board on the response and recovery of COVID19 from a regeneration point of view. The three intended pillars of recovery were given to the board. Recovering as a community, recovery as an economy and how as a place we can recover and learn from experiences that 2020 has brought.
The focus of the community pillar has had a very good response from both businesses and members of the community in collaborating and protecting the most vulnerable. Mental wellbeing is also covered in the community pillar and recourses of support available have been promoted. A sustainable solution for the homeless has also been worked on protecting some of the most vulnerable in the community.
From an economic point of view, it was raised how businesses being affected by the restrictions of lockdowns has also had a knock on effect on unemployment. The unprecedented increases in unemployment were raised and it was explained that this is affecting the young people within the community the most. The board was told how two million pounds has been paid out in business grants to help business affected by lockdowns.
The Director of Children’s Services gave the board an update in relation to education. The Prime Minister announcement was bought to the board’s attention. It was heard the ambition is to re-open schools on March 8th. Currently schools are still open and proving education the children of critical workers and vulnerable children. The board was told how the Early Years provision on the Island is open for all young children and is being used by many parents. In the Primary School sector there is 20 percent of children attending school. This is a mix of critical worker children; children open to social acre and children with special educational needs. It was explained this is exactly the same as the national average. In the secondary sector it was explained that there is around 4 percent of children attending school. This is both nationally and on the Isle of Wight. The board heard how the services for the most vulnerable children are standing up well and face to face home visits are still being carried where there is evident risk. Children and families are also being supported through online means. The long-term impacts of the COVID19 pandemic on children were raised and the Director of Children’s Services told the board how this issue was addressed by the Prime Minister and the 4 year pan the Prime Minister mentioned was approximately the same time frame as the Director of Children Services had in mind.
The Chairman agreed and said that the impact physically and mentally of children on the Island will be picked up in the Councils 4-year strategy also. The Chairman brought to the board’s attention how the Isle of Wight is in the top 10% of the country’s children living in poverty and how the poorest family’s are affected the most by the COVID 19 pandemic.
The Director of Children’s Services spoke again to bring the Connect for Community’s Programme to the board’s attention. It was explained how this is the grants programme and it ensures that children have got access to things like Free School Meals over the holiday periods. Also a range of grants to support voluntary sector organisations to support families in the community during the winter months. The chairman raised a question on behalf of a member asking if children have been given access to laptops and internet ? The Director of Children Services advised that 1410 laptops have been delivered since June 2020 and 133 were still in the ordering process. Dongles with data have also been given to families that do not have access to internet in the home. A Member brought to the board’s attention how the Isle of Wight Council was successful in a bit to put together two Mental Health teams. One for secondary, and one for Primary. These teams are currently undergoing training therefore soon there will be extra provision to support children of the Isle of Wights mental health.
The Director of Public Health gave the board an update from a data aspect. It was heard that nationally the rates of COVID19 have dropped across the country. Rates on the Isle of Wight are also falling. The current seven day rate is 415 per 100,000, this was compared with the previous week which was 589 showing the rates are steadily falling. For the over 60’s the rate is 545 per 100,000 which is falling which is good news as the over 60’s rate dramatically impacts on hospital activity and care. 12.3 is the positivity rate which means that out of test taken 12.3 percent are positive. Although 12.3 is high and it needs to be under 5 percent the board was told that this number is decreasing. The Director of Public Health reminded the board that although the rates are falling it is essential that guidelines are still followed and there is no complacency to ensure these numbers continue to reduce. The Director of Public Health advised that as we see the rate of infections fall the hospitalisation will also start to slowly reduce, this will then reduce the numbers in critical care and lastly the number of deaths will fall also. The board heard how this new improving data is due to the good work of Island residents however we must remain focussed on the guidance to ensure the numbers continue to reduce. The chairman thanked The Director of Public Health for keeping the Island informed.
The Chief Executive of the NHS Trust urged the board and any members of the public to not get complacent as the numbers reduce as we are very much still in the eye of the storm. The Chief Executive of the NHS Trust said that acute, community and ambulance services are working under considerable strain as are colleagues working in Mental Health services. The board heard how from an acute perspective there very high numbers of patients of needing care and this are also transcends into the community. The Chief Executive of the NHS Trust said that the Intensive Care Unit is working at 50 percent more capacity than what it is commissioned to ordinarily provide and that this is a very concerning position for the Trust to be in. 10 percent of NHS Trust staff are currently off sick or isolating. This has been even higher amongst the ambulance service and the board heard how at the peak over 20 percent of ambulance staff were not able to work and this caused considerable strain.
The Chief Executive of the NHS Trust explained that in order to provide the care required other more routine services have been stepped down. The board was reminded that also the care being stepped down is routine, it is still life changing treatment for some people and the impact of COVID19 of the services is still affecting their quality of life. Cancer and emergency services have still been maintained. The Chairman thanked the hospital team and asked The Chief Executive of the NHS Trust for further information regarding the introduction of military colleagues being brought in to help. The Chief Executive of the NHS Trust explained they are pleased to welcome military colleagues across a range of services. The Chief Executive of the NHS Trust explained to the bard that she is particularly pleased that the military have been able to assist in the work around how much oxygen is available to the trust. It was advised that although this is very technical the logistical help from the military is very helpful. Work is continuing around where the military is being deployed to ensure the best support for the services however this is a dynamic situation. A Member asked The Chief Executive of the NHS Trust what help and support the voluntary sector could offer COVID19 patients coming back into the community. The Chief Executive of the NHS Trust advised there is nothing specific only that the voluntary sector continue to support in the dynamic way that they do.
A representative gave an update from the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) perspective. The board was told that although numbers are falling there are still a number of very complex and very ill patients in the community. Around 166,000 vaccinations have been administered on the Island. Most of these have been done in Primary Care however the hospital hub is doing front line workers. Primary Care are vaccinating from 4 sites on the Island. Westridge, Carisbrooke, West Wight and The Bay in Shanklin. Government guidance as to which cohort to vaccinate is being followed and it is going well. Starting with care home patients and staff, patients aged over 80 years old and then housebound over 80’s, then those over 70 and those also considered clinically extremely vulnerable. It was stressed to the board that the vaccine reduces chances of being seriously ill with Covid19 however, it is not yet known if it reduces transmission. The board was reminded how the vaccine does not take affect for 3 weeks so it is very important to continue to follow the guidelines even after vaccines have been administered. The board was assured that the Isle of Wight is not falling behind with administering the vaccine and if anything is doing better than surrounding areas. The Chairman asked if an update could be given in regards to using the riverside centre. the representative gave an update from the Clinical Commissioning Group advised that the Riverside Centre would be used as a central hub and will be centrally manned and the CCG are involved in setting this up.
The Chief Executive reinforced the representative gave an update from the Clinical Commissioning Group regarding data and advised local authority level data will be produced within the next few weeks and will be able to tell more of a story as soon as the data is available and ready to be published. The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Housing asked how long after having Covid19 do you need to wait before having the vaccine. It was advised that one month after having Covid19 it is safe to be vaccinated. The Director for public health reiterated these comments and said he feels that the vaccination is our way out of the Covid19 pandemic but not the solution at this point in time. Superintendent Sarah Jackson advised the board that the vast majority of residents on the Island are complying with the Covid19 guidance however enforcement will and has been taken already on the Island for people not following the rules.
The Voluntary Sector was invited to give the board an update. It was told how there are now over 50 drivers safely set up under the voluntary driver scheme to use as a last resort if people are unable to get themselves to vaccination centres. Volunteers have also been manning vaccination hubs. There are 26 hubs across the Island that have been supporting and responding since the beginning of the pandemic. All hubs and larger voluntary sectors have all been reporting an increase in demand for people needing help. Issues highlighted at a voluntary sector meeting were brought to the boards attention. The Isle of Wight prostate cancer group use face to face support. It was explained that although some people have responded well to virtual support, others haven’t, and they still require support. Carers not having vaccinations was also highlighted. A programme called ‘look out of lockdown’ that has had an incredible response was also brought to the boards attention.
An Age UK representative was invited to give the board an update on the support Age UK is giving. Age UK is continuing to support the response phase. The board was told how like any other sector they are facing challenges with staffing issues, a depleted executive team, fatigue and anxieties among staff. Sadly the board was also informed how the Age UK team has experienced a staff member passing away due to Covid19. The handyman service is currently looking to be resumed with outdoor work only. There is a reduced service running offering meal preparation and shopping however on a client by client basis contact is being made from the 25th of January to see if further help such as domestic cleaning. There is a recruitment drive to recruit volunteers as many have been lost due to self-isolation, shielding or have Covid19. A digital survey is currently being worked on to be given to the community which will look at how people can be better supported to be digitally connected.
RESOLVED:
THAT the Covid19 response and recovery is noted.