Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Dr John Allingham (Kent Local Medical Committee), Louise Ashley (Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley ICP Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) Representative), Matt Dunkley CBE (Corporate Director, Children, Young People and Education, Kent County Council), Navin Kumta (Clinical Chair, NHS Kent and Medway CCG), Rachel Jones (Executive Director of Strategy and Population Health, NHS Kent and Medway CCG), Matthew Scott (Kent Police and Crime Commissioner), Miles Scott (West Kent ICP SRO Representative), Richard Smith (Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health, Interim, Kent County Council) and Wilf Williams (Accountable Officer, NHS Kent and Medway CCG).

The Chairman informed the Joint Board that Ian Sutherland, Medway’s Director of People - Children and Adults Services would shortly be leaving Medway Council. Mr Sutherland would be retiring after 38 years in public service; he joined Medway in 2014 as Deputy Director of Children and Adults and he was appointed as Director in 2017. The Chairman expressed that Mr Sutherland had worked tirelessly to improve services in both Children and Adults and had been invaluable to the Joint Board. On behalf of the Joint Board, he thanked him for his contribution to the Joint Board and wished him a very happy retirement.

The Chairman also announced that Dr Lee-Anne Farach, Medway’s current Assistant Director, Children’s Services had been appointed as Medway’s new Director of People and would formally be taking up her new role at the beginning of April when Mr Sutherland retired. He looked forward to welcoming Dr Farach to the Joint Board in due course.

To approve the record of the meeting held on 8 December 2020.

The record of the meeting held on 8 December 2020 was agreed and signed by the Chairman as correct.

Members are invited to declare the existence and nature of any interests in relation to any agenda item in accordance with the relevant Council’s Code of Conduct.

Dr Bob Bowes, Governing Body Member, NHS Kent and Medway CCG advised the Joint Board that as a GP he was a member of a Primary Care Network and had received income as a result of the vaccination programme.

The Chairman will announce any late items which do not appear on the main agenda but which he/she has agreed should be considered by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the report.

There were none.

This report provides an update on steps taken to mitigate rising cases of COVID-19 across both Kent and Medway as it relates to the Local Outbreak Control Plan (LOCP). It also includes a summary of LOCP-related questions received from members of the public and answers provided by Public Health Officers (located in Appendix 1).

Discussion:

The Director of Public Health, Medway Council introduced this report which provided an update on action undertaken to mitigate rising cases of COVID-19 across both Kent and Medway as it related to the Local Outbreak Control Plan (LOCP). It also included a summary of LOCP-related questions received from members of the public and answers provided by Public Health Officers as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

A detailed presentation was given by the Directors of Public Health, Medway Council and Kent County Council, which provided an epidemiological assessment of COVID-19 prevalence across Kent, Medway, and comparison districts. Overall, COVID-19 rates had fallen steadily in all districts since the latest lockdown began. An update was provided on asymptomatic testing as well as testing to understand the prevalence of novel strains within the community, particularly the recent targeted surge testing conducted in the ME15 postcode area. Finally, the presentation provided an update on the vaccination programme across Kent and Medway and the Government’s ‘roadmap’ for leaving lockdown. The Joint Board was reassured about the additional measures put in place to enable the safe return to schools.

The Joint Board was advised that the LOCP was required to be updated and resubmitted to the National Contain Team by the 31 March 2021. A cautious approach to moving forward with the ‘roadmap’ was being undertaken in conjunction with the local resilience forum. There would be ongoing publicity to support the community to keep themselves safe as the locality moved through the phases of the ‘roadmap’ whilst the vaccination programme continued to be rolled out.

With respect to communication, the importance of continuing to communicate a strong message to the public was emphasised. A long period of difficulty was nearing an end and with vigilance and hard work, restrictions would ease later in the year but now was not the time to relax.

Asked whether data was collected on hard-to-reach cohorts and how these groups were supported to receive vaccinations, the Joint Board was assured that data was collected and monitored and that rates of vaccination uptake across Kent and Medway were very good. The importance of ensuring equity of vaccine access was acknowledged to control COVID-19. The more people vaccinated, the better.

With reference to an example of how homeless individuals had been supported to receive vaccinations, it was explained that there was a multi-agency ‘vaccination board’ which looked at issues of equity and a public health consultant was tasked to lead on this area of work. The Communications team at the NHS Kent and Medway CCG were also working extensively in this regard.

It was recognised that more support was required to reach some individuals within priority group 6, such as unpaid carers. It was important that these individuals were registered with the appropriate organisations for them to be called forward centrally, by the system, to receive their vaccinations.

Decision:

The Kent and Medway Joint Health and Wellbeing Board:

a)    noted the update report and the questions submitted by members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 793.

This report provides a progress update on the strategic plan to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on health inequalities.

Discussion:

The Joint Board considered a progress update on the Strategic Plan to mitigate the impacts of Covid-19 on health inequalities, which was introduced by the Senior Programme Manager, Population Health, NHS Kent and Medway CCG.

A project plan had been drafted, with initial work to bring together existing data and intelligence underway. Although some data was already available, it was acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic was not over, and more and updated data would become available in the future. The mapping of existing activity to reduce widening inequalities was also underway in order to avoid duplication and enable initiatives and resources to be aligned where appropriate. 

A small interim task and finish group had been established to provide direction and oversight. This group had met to agree the approach to and scope of the work. A second meeting of the group was planned for 8 April 2021, where an initial review of existing data would be undertaken and a plan for the proposed Joint Board development session on 10 June 2021 would also be discussed. It was noted that the development session had been expanded to include members of the Integrated Care System/STP Partnership Board.

It was recognised that the COVID-19 pandemic had focused attention on the need to address health inequalities. Indeed, a view was expressed that it was critical to address widening inequalities to ensure a sustainable health system going forward. It was added that much learning could be taken from the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination programme which arguably was one of the first, big population health management programmes which had demonstrated that a lot could be achieved in a short timescale if the system worked together.

Acknowledging the range of organisations which were involved across health, social care, public health, and those dealing with wider determinants of health, the challenge of taking this work forward as a Joint Board and as individual organisations to give this important issue traction was highlighted. It was an area that the Joint Board could advance joint working.

Decision:

The Kent and Medway Joint Health and Wellbeing Board:

a)    noted the initial progress made on the development of the joint strategic plan to mitigate the impacts of COVID19 on health inequalities.

b)    agreed to hold a development session in private on 10 June 2021 to be informed about the emerging impact of COVID-19, understand the wider health inequalities found in Kent and Medway and recommend the priority areas for focus.

The report advises the Joint Board of the forward work programme for discussion in the light of latest priorities, issues and circumstances. It gives the Joint Board an opportunity to shape and direct the Joint Board’s activities.

Discussion:

The Democratic Services Officer advised the Joint Board that an agenda setting meeting had taken place on 3 February 2021. Proposed amendments to the work programme were set out in section 2 of the report and reflected in the work programme attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

Decision:

The Kent and Medway Joint Health and Wellbeing Board agreed the work programme set out at Appendix 1 to the report.