Health Scrutiny Panel – 20 May 2020

Chairman:  Cllr Mitchell
Venue:  Virtual meeting Microsoft Teams
Time:  3 p.m.
E-mail Address: dean.gillon@northlincs.gov.uk

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AGENDA

1.  Substitutions.

2.  Declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests and personal or personal and prejudicial interests and declarations of whipping arrangements (if any).

3.  To take the minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2020 as a correct record and authorise the Chairman to sign.

4.  Public speaking request (if any).

5.  Covid-19 – Local response and current position – discussion with senior representatives from Northern Lincolnshire & Goole NHS Foundation Trust

6.  Added item (if any).

7.  Any other items which the Chairman decides are urgent by reason of special circumstances which must be specified.

MINUTES

PRESENT:-   Councillor Mitchell in the Chair.

Councillors Armiger and Wilson.

Councillors Armitage and Bainbridge attended the meeting in accordance with Procedure Rule 37(b).

Penny Spring, Director of Public Health, and Karen Pavey, Director of Adults and Community Wellbeing also attended the meeting.

The panel met via MS Teams.

533     DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS AND PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) – There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests, or personal or personal and prejudicial interests.

No whip was declared.

534     MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of this panel held on 6 March 2020, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and be signed by the chairman.

535     PUBLIC REQUESTS TO SPEAK – There were no requests received.

536     COVID-19 – LOCAL RESPONSE AND CURRENT POSITION – The Chairman welcomed Dr Peter Reading, Chief Executive, and Shaun Stacey, Chief Operating Officer, Northern Lincolnshire & Goole NHS Foundation Trust, to the meeting.  The Chairman explained that the Trust representatives had been invited to update members on the local situation regarding the response to Covid-19, and to discuss likely future implications arising from the pandemic.

Dr Reading and Shaun gave a detailed presentation to members on the local situation, including topics such as numbers and trends, zoning within the hospital sites, the impact on care homes, community and primary care, the local testing processes, PPE provision, and risk assessment for staff.  Shaun confirmed that the local situation had naturally been testing, but that the numbers of patients in hospital had significantly reduced in recent weeks.  Dr Reading described how waiting lists were being prioritised and the number of elective cases was being increased, whilst retaining the capacity to deal with any local outbreaks.

The Chairman queried a number of issues around testing for staff and the public, how new referrals were being handled, and ensuring adequate PPE was available.

Members engaged in a detailed question and answer session with the Trust representatives, querying arrangements around shielding vulnerable individuals, diagnostics, antibody testing, and intensive care. Dr Reading and Shaun responded accordingly to the queries, and Penny Spring, the Director of Public Health, contributed to the discussion.

The Chairman then introduced Karen Pavey, Director of Adults and Community Wellbeing, to the meeting.  Karen had been invited to update the panel on the situation in care and nursing homes.  Karen gave a comprehensive presentation on the issue, covering topics such as local infection rates, the enhanced offer for infection control, funding, and working with the sector to ensure resilience and reduce risk.  The Chairman led a discussion on relevant issues, asking questions about options for shielding or quarantining residents, PPE, testing in care homes, and how integrated services have assisted in the local response to Covid-19.

Resolved – (a) That Dr Reading and Shaun Stacey, and Karen Pavey and Penny Spring, be thanked for their attendance and for providing answers to members’ questions; (b) that the situation be noted, and (c) that the panel formally records its sincere thanks to all workers in the health, social care, and related fields for their dedication, professionalism and hard work during this challenging time.

537     ADDED ITEM – There was no added item for consideration at the meeting.