Agenda item

To be presented by Dr Jane O’Grady, Director of Public Health

Priority 1 – Keeping Residents Safe

The COVID-19 pandemic has now been a major focus of work across the health and social care sector for more than 12 months.  During that time both organisations and individuals have had to deal with unprecedented challenges in responding to the most significant public health crisis of the last hundred years. Events since the beginning of 2021 have made it clear that new challenges will continue to arise, even while the COVID-19 vaccination programme provides hope for ending the crisis.

Recommendations: Board members are recommended to note and approve the attached action plan update. Also, to agree to receive a further update at the July meeting.

Community lateral flow test service to help to control Covid-19

Buckinghamshire Council plans to provide a ‘rapid’ Covid-19 testing service on a twice-weekly basis for key workers in public-facing roles from early February. The service has to meet certain government-defined criteria to be eligible for central funding. The purpose is to help identify people who have no symptoms and yet have Covid-19 (and thus may be infectious) so that they can self-isolate and thereby help to break the chain of transmission.

Recommendations: Board members are recommended to approve the proposed service

Priority 1 – Keeping Residents Safe

Dr Jane O’Grady, Director of Public Health, advised that ‘Keeping Residents Safe’ was Priority One of the Health and Wellbeing Recovery Plan.  Dr O’Grady referred to the report in the agenda pack and stated that communication with residents, workplaces, schools and universities had been carried out to advise on the national guidance.  The new variant had been responsible for the surge of cases in the area; it was more infectious and may cause a slight increase in risk of death; however, later data might refute this.  There had also been the emergence of the South African variant which might make the vaccines slightly less effective and there had been a focus on surge testing in some counties.  Contact tracing continued in Buckinghamshire and lateral flow testing, for people without symptoms, was available.  There was a regional testing centre in Aylesbury for people with symptomatic disease in addition to mobile testing units around the county.  Several outbreaks had been responded to and support was being provided to the vaccination programme for Covid-19 as well as the flu vaccination programme.

The following points/comments were raised in discussion:

• Reference was made to the impact on children’s mental health and the older population and the importance to link to corresponding plans for economic recovery and growth.  Martin Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), The Clare Foundation, advised that work was being carried out with several organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau and emphasised the importance of collaboration as the problems could perpetuate for a long time to come.
• The complexity of the mental health issues for some children was challenging all systems; however, the schools had been working well with the Children’s Service but there was concern over the mental wellbeing of children for the future.
• The partnership work was welcomed but Healthwatch Bucks raised concerns about the eastern European community who could be missing out on the communications. 
• The increase in rates of domestic abuse was highlighted along with the number of residents facing financial insecurity. 
• There had been an increase in frailty; LEAP had distributed approximately 10,000 activity packs to older people. 
• Social isolation had been a key issue before Covid-19 and had been exacerbated by the pandemic. 

Gareth Drawmer, Head of Achievement, advised that the mental health issue was on the agenda and the service had been working to deliver the national return package.  All schools had received three sessions of training to help identify young people struggling with mental health issues.  The Service had also funded a programme to support senior leaders and teachers in schools in order to cope with supporting the children’s issues and were considering a further package on wellbeing. 

RESOLVED:  Board members noted and approved the action plan update and agreed to receive a further update at the July meeting.

Community lateral flow test service to help to control Covid-19

Dr Andrew Burnett, Interim Assistant Director of Public Health, referred to the report contained in the agenda pack and advised that there were four sites in Buckinghamshire; Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Buckingham and Amersham which were open seven days a week from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm.  The offer had been extended to all people who had to leave home to go to work and Dr Burnett emphasised that this was a service for people who did not have symptoms. 

The following points were raised in discussion:

• In response to being asked how information could be accessed and were volunteers able to just turn up for a lateral flow test; Dr Burnett advised the service was open to anyone who needed to leave home.  Walk-ins would be accommodated but people were encouraged to book online to reduce congestion. Katie Higginson, CEO, Community Impact Bucks (CIB), advised that information would be cascaded to volunteers via their newsletter.
• Dr Burnett confirmed that the service was running at approximately 20% capacity, which was in line with surrounding counties such as Oxfordshire, and would become more pro-active in encouraging employers, businesses and employees to use the service.  The threshold had changed; the government scheme was available to employers of 50 people and over.  The Community Lateral Test Flow Service was available to anybody who was unable to get a test elsewhere.

RESOLVED:  The Board members approved the proposed service.