To receive a Covid-19 update covering public health and adult social care.
Minutes:
The Sub-committee received a Covid-19 update covering Public Health and Adult Social Care.
It was noted that Covid rates in the North East are currently higher than the England average due to a delay in the spread of Omicron cases to the North East. NHS pressures are reducing nationally but are still significant in the North East due to workforce absences and demand issues.
In North Tyneside rates are declining across all ages. In previous weeks rates in the under 9s had been increasing following the return to school but these now look to be dropping. This has impacted on primary school staff and pupils. There have been less issues in secondary schools due to the impact of the vaccine in the over 12 age groups.
Rates in North Tyneside are currently below the North East average. It was noted that a change would be made to the published national data on covid infections from Monday to include re-infections outside of a 90 day period. This is likely to lead to an increase in the numbers of positive cases recorded from Monday.
It was noted that a pop-up vaccine centre had been held at Shiremoor School as a way of targeting an area which has a lower take up of the vaccine and booster. Councillor Mulvenna stated that the pop-up centre had been advertised in local shops and venues but turn out had been a bit disappointing. However, it was noted that all additional vaccines given is a positive step and further initiatives will be taken forward to increase take up in areas with lower vaccine rates.
In relation to Adult Social Care, it was noted that 23 out of 31 care homes currently were in an outbreak situation, and although this is high it has reduced over the last few weeks.
Demand for home care continues to be high with a large number of people on the brokerage list, with more people going onto the list than coming off. Some people have been moved into short term care placements as home care is not currently available.
There was some discussion about the Social Care Academy which is an initiative working with the Employment Support Team in the Council and Job Centre Plus to increase employment in the adult social care sector. Work is underway to publicise the Social Care Academy and also to work with local providers to post information about existing job vacancies. It was noted that this was currently being funded through the Council’s Employment Support Team and with Covid recruitment and retention funding.
There was some discussion about the initiative from Northumbria Healthcare Trust to employ home care staff which had recently appeared in the press and whether this was part of the home care pilot with the Council. It was noted that this was separate from the pilot. The Council is currently working with the Trust to ensure the initiative does not de-stabilise the market by taking staff from existing providers. There is a need to bring new staff into the sector. There was also some discussion about intermediatory care and the proposals by Northumbria to provide some care home provision to support hospital discharge. It was noted that there is currently pressure throughout the whole system and the Council continues to work with the Trust to ensure the partnership works and to support the current care market.
Agreed:
That the update be noted.