Issue - meetings

Report attached.

The Accountable Officer for North East London CCGs advised that 524k vaccines had been administered in North East London of which 491k were first doses. 91% of care home residents had been vaccinated as well as 85% of over 80s. It was emphasised that GP practices were also providing care as usual, in addition to the provision of vaccines. New vaccines site were also being introduced such as the Liberty in Romford. Pop up vaccine clinics had also been set up in locations such as the Gardens of Peace Muslim Cemetery in Hainault and the Balfour Road Mosque in Ilford.

The Broadway Theatre vaccination centre in Barking had been visited by Keir Starmer MP – Leader of the Labour Party as well as the local MP – Margaret Hodge. There was also a vaccine clinic in Barking & Dagenham targeted at people with learning disabilities as well as information videos available in multiple languages. Communications were being focussed on those who were hesitant or not engaged in the vaccine process.

It was confirmed that NELFT did not stop the provision of any services during the peak of the pandemic. There were currently 34 Covid in-patients at BHRUT which compared to a peak in early January of more than 530, 80 of whom were in critical care or on ventilators. All but the most urgent elective procedures had been suspended by the Trust from mid-December but these had now restarted.

It was accepted that the BHRUT recovery plan was very challenging but most diagnostic services had also now restarted. Some 350 nurses at the Trust had been redeployed to Covid ITU but critical care bed numbers were now able to be reduced.

GPs were continuing to offer other immunisations and certain tests but it was accepted that phone lines to GPs were very busy. Patients could be seen face to face, based on clinical need. It was though envisaged that remote or digital access to GPs would also stay beyond the pandemic. There had been a rise in mental health issues being presented to GPs, across all groups. GPs were also seeing an increasing number of cases of Long Covid which could exhibit a lot of different symptoms and the exacerbation of underlying conditions. It was hoped to work with social care to increase the level of care for people with Long Covid.

It was confirmed that more than 70% of NELFT staff had received the vaccine. Other NELFT services were continuing with for example a 24 hour mental health crisis having been established since the first peak of the pandemic. 0-19 services were operating at 75% capacity and NELFT was working towards 100% of services reopening.

The Trust was increasing use of digital platforms. It was hoped this would assist engagement with young people as 50% of young people presenting with mental health issues in A & E were not known to services.

It was not presently compulsory for BHRUT staff to have the Covid vaccine although was under review with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54