Agenda and minutes

Venue: The meeting will be held virtually and live streamed - please use the link below. -. View directions

Contact: Joanne Holmes 0191 643 5315  Email: Democraticsupport@northtyneside.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

ASCH6/19

Appointment of Substitute Members

To be notified of the appointment of Substitute Members.

Minutes:

Pursuant to the Council's Constitution, the appointment of the following substitute members was reported:

 

Cllr J Harrison for Cllr J Cassidy

ASCH7/19

Declarations of Interest

You are invited to declare any registerable and/or non registerable interests in matters appearing on the agenda, and the nature of that interest.

 

You are also invited to disclose any dispensation in relation to any registerable and/or non-registerable interests that have been granted to you in respect of any matters appearing on the agenda.

 

Please complete the Declarations of Interests card available at the meeting and return it to the Democratic Services Officer before leaving the meeting.

Minutes:

Cllr J Harrison declared a personal registered interest in relation to item 5 as a public governor of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. 

 

 

ASCH8/19

Minutes pdf icon PDF 135 KB

To Confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 2021.

Minutes:

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 2021 be confirmed and signed by the Chair. 

ASCH9/19

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: Quality Account 2020-21 pdf icon PDF 192 KB

To consider NHCFT priorities and Quality Account.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Sub-committee received a presentation from Jeremy Rushmer, Medical Director of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which set out the Annual Plan and Quality Account.

 

It was noted that improving quality continued to be the priority of the Trust with a focus on ‘making sure patients get the best possible outcome and experience every time they need our care’.

 

It was noted that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, guidance has been issued to state that External Audit assurance work on the Quality Account does not need to be undertaken for 2020/21 and no governor selected local indicator will need to be chosen for the year.

 

The Sub-committee noted the progress made against the priorities identified in the 2020-21 Quality Account which were:  Flow, Management of acutely unwell patients, supply and administration of medicines, children and young people’s emotional well-being and mental health, end of life care and bereavement, patient experience, and staff experience.  All targets had been achieved, with the exception of some areas of management of acutely unwell patients, where some areas have been delayed due to the impact of staff relocations due to Covid.

 

In relation to priorities for 2021/22, eight specific quality improvement priorities have been identified, and these are:

 

           Access Standards – regaining the standards for patient access;

           Outpatients – embedding changes in delivering outpatient appointments;

           Deteriorating patient – to continue to improve the management of acutely unwell patients in both hospital and community settings;

           Delirium – improvement of the detection of patients with delirium and the training of staff to improve early detection.

           Patient Group Directives (PGD) – continue to improve how we supply and administer PGDs to patients;

           Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) – build on the work undertaken this year to improve the timely access to the full range of CAMHS services;

           Patient Experience – intention is to get the patient experience back to pre-Covid levels;

           Staff Experience – again to build on the successful staff experience programme with the introduction of real time staff experience reporting.

 

It was noted that the Quality Account will be circulated to stakeholders for formal opinion at the end of April and will be uploaded to NHS choices by the end of June.

 

Members asked whether the Trust had seen any increased demand for CAMHs Services as a result of the pandemic and it was noted that this had not been the case as yet.

 

The Chair acknowledged delivery of the key priorities despite the challenge of the past year and thanked the Trust and all staff involved in delivering services across the year.

 

Jeremy Rushmer also placed on record the thanks of the Trust for the support and cooperation of the public during the pandemic and also to the Local Authority who had worked in close partnership with the Trust over the last year.

 

Resolved:  That responsibility for finalising the sub-committee’s statement on the Quality Account be delegated to the Chair of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item ASCH9/19

ASCH10/19

Covid-19 Update: Adult Social Care

To consider a Covid-19 update in relation to Adult Social Care.

Minutes:

The Sub-committee received a Covid-19 update covering Adult Social Care, and also the latest public health data for North Tyneside. 

 

It was noted that the number of positive tests in North Tyneside over the last week had been comparatively low with 98 positive cases and a case rate of 47.1.  It was noted that rates are lowest in the over 65 age group.  There had been a rise in positive tests in the under 14 age group due to the return of schools, but this rise had now reached a plateau.  It was noted that increased levels of testing are now in place with the introduction of more lateral flow testing for asymptomatic cases so test numbers have risen and the percentage of positive tests is low at 0.3%.  There has also been a marked decline in hospital deaths and hospital bed occupancy.

 

In relation to Adult Social Care, there are currently a small number of outbreaks in care homes but the number is much smaller than previous reports.  There has been an increase in vacant beds in care homes and this is adding pressure in relation to the sustainability of the care home market.  It was also noted that the scheme in place for step-down beds has come to an end as there is now a low number of patients from hospital requiring these beds.

 

In relation to vaccines, the second vaccines for care home staff and residents are due to be complete by the end of this week with a good take up rates across the borough.  Additional work has been put in place to minimise staff hesitancy in relation to the take up of vaccines.  Second vaccines for working age adults in care are due to be in place by the end of April.

 

Officers acknowledged the impact of the pandemic on care homes, residents and family members and the challenges throughout the year.

 

Members asked about the take up of vaccines among care staff.  It was noted that although take up has been good it is not where we would like it to be, which ideally would be 100% take up.  The Council is working with care home managers and running webinars and  providing information via YouTube for managers and care staff.  The Council is also working with Voda to address any concerns around health and culture related issues that may impact on take up.

 

The Chair thanked Members and Officers for their attendance at the last meeting of the Sub-committee this municipal year.