Agenda item

To receive a presentation by the Head of Covid-19 Preparedness and Response

Minutes:

The Head of Covid 19 Preparedness and Response gave Members a presentation to advise how the Service had responded to the Coronavirus pandemic throughout its various phases during 2020 and 2021.

 

The Head of Covid 19 Preparedness and Response advised that the Pandemic Management Group was an internal team of cross-departmental managers, who were first stood-up in preparation for the repatriation to Milton Keynes of 150 UK Nationals arriving from areas affected by the Coronavirus. The group were tasked to manage the internal impacts of the pandemic, to ensure the effective delivery of all core functions with a priority for the health, safety and wellbeing of all staff.  This included provision of appropriate operational and service level guidance, amending day to day activities and routines, provision of appropriate additional PPE and communicating effectively across the organisation.

 

The Service responded quickly, achieving Covid-secure premises at all its sites, a continued supply of PPE amidst a global shortage, priority coronavirus testing for all staff and a range of comprehensive guidance for responders to follow. In addition, the Service provided significant support to the coordinated response from the Local Resilience Forum. In the initial phase of the pandemic, this included assistance with logistics for supply of PPE to frontline workers; delivery of essential items and food packages to vulnerable people; training healthcare staff in the use of additional PPE; and seconding Emergency Response Drivers to South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) to drive ambulances. As the test and trace programme gathered momentum, the Service provided support on the ground to follow up on cases where the telephone service had not made contact.

 

As the Service moved out of the first lockdown, the focus remained on providing appropriate welfare support and guidance to employees and their families affected by the pandemic. The strategic focus was to coordinate a phased recovery of all departments. The Service continued to provide coordinated and consistent communications to all staff, thereby ensuring all areas of the Service were fully involved to contribute to the recovery process. 

 

The second wave and subsequent return to a response focus started in October 2020 when cases started to rise again across the country. The response strategy was refreshed with the continued aim of ensuring that during the pandemic, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes was the safest places in England to live, work and travel.

 

The Service continued to operate with an adjusted service delivery across Prevention, Protection and Response through regular risk assessments, in order to protect the public and staff from the impacts of the Coronavirus. The Service maintained continued support to the Local Resilience Forum, professional bodies and partner agencies. Most notably in providing logistical and managerial support to four mass vaccination centres across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. This work commenced during the Christmas week of 2020 and over the coming weeks. This resulted in thousands of people within the communities being able to receive their Coronavirus vaccinations.

 

Following a commission by the Home Secretary in the Summer of 2020, HMICFRS announced a national review of fire and rescue service Covid-19 preparations. The results of the Covid-19 inspections were published on 22 January 2021, and HMICFRS concluded that BFRS “responded well during the pandemic and provided additional support to its community. It used wholetime and on-call firefighters to respond to emergencies. Staff supported the Service’s partners, especially the local ambulance trust. This meant the people of Buckinghamshire were well supported through the pandemic.” It went on to recognise all the additional activities undertaken and that the Service was able to maintain its response, continue prevention activity, and broadly maintain all protection activity.

 

The Head of Covid 19 Preparedness and Response advised Members that on 22 February 2021 the Prime Minister announced the Government’s four-step roadmap back to a more normal life through the careful easing of lockdown restrictions in England, and after a short delay in June, the country moved into step 4 with a national easing of restrictions in July 2021. On 19 July 2021, most legal restrictions ended, removing social distancing and social contact restrictions, and enabling remaining businesses to reopen. A further scheme to offer self-isolation exemptions for named employees deemed as critical workers within the emergency services, was implemented from 26 July 2021, and on 16 August 2021, the rules on self-isolating changed for people who are fully vaccinated, and for under 18s. As a Service the approach to returning to business as usual was taken with cautious optimism, and the strategy was to support the Government’s five-point plan for Summer 2021, and to continue to protect the Service and the communities it served.

 

In August 2021 the Service continued to play a key role, when as a result of recent events in Afghanistan, the evacuation of British Nationals and former British staff eligible for relocation under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) resulted in a surge in the use of the MQS capability in Milton Keynes. This also resulted in bridging hotels being established within the area as an interim measure until longer-term accommodation was sourced.

 

The Head of Covid 19 Preparedness and Response advised Members that the pandemic had led to the Service supporting its NHS colleagues to establish and maintain effective mass vaccination centres across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. The Service assisted with the implementation of vaccination centres at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Wycombe Wanderers’ Football Club, High Wycombe Town Hall and at Saxon Court in Milton Keynes.

 

The Head of Covid 19 Preparedness and Response advised Members that the Service had now taken a business-as-usual approach but was maintaining a robust contingency plan should the Government need to implement a Plan B. The Service was continuing to maintain covid secure premises, and site visits and community events were well planned, and risk assessed. Staff would continue to wear additional PPE when interacting with the public.

 

Members asked for their thanks to be passed on to everyone within the Service.

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