Agenda and minutes

Contact: Anthony Clements  Email: anthony.clements@oneSource.co.uk 01708 433065

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Items
No. Item

51.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS (if any) - receive.

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor Umar Alli, Waltham Forest (Councillor Richard Sweden substituting).  

52.

DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS

Members are invited to disclose any interests in any of the items on the agenda at this point of the meeting. Members may still disclose an interest in an item at any point prior to the consideration of the matter.

Minutes:

There were no disclosures of interest.

53.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING pdf icon PDF 204 KB

To agree as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Committee held on 15 December 2020 (attached).  

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Joint Committee held on 15 December 2020 were agreed as a correct record.

54.

COVID-19 UPDATE pdf icon PDF 160 KB

Report attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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.

55.

INTEGRATED CARE SYSTEM pdf icon PDF 160 KB

Report attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee was advised that the recent health White Paper encouraged a wider partnership approach to address health inequalities. There was an emphasis on borough-level working with local government.

 

A single CCG for North East London had been agreed in November 2020 and would commence in April 2021. This was seen as a good platform to establish an Integrated Care System which was expected  to commence operation in April 2022. Whilst there would be a single management structure, work could still be undertaken at borough level and links would be kept with Local Authorities. Members felt it was essential that social care and local government were involved in the decision making process for the Integrated Care System.

 

It was noted that the White Paper removed the power of health scrutiny to refer matters to the Secretary of State. It was felt that it would be useful for a presentation on the Health White Paper to be given to a future meeting of the Joint Committee.   

56.

WHIPPS CROSS HOSPITAL DEVELOPMENT pdf icon PDF 161 KB

Report attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members felt it was unrealistic that the Whipps Cross site could operate with 50 fewer beds than currently. It was suggested that the JHOSC formally withheld its support for the redevelopment until assurances were received on bed numbers. Other Members also raised concerns that a downsized hospital would not be able to cope with service pressures and that more detail was needed on the proposals. It was also felt that the enabling development on the hospital site would lead to lower air quality unless no vehicles were allowed as parts of Epping Forest were within 100 yards of the site.

 

A Member welcomed the decision to review end of life care at the hospital. It was suggested that a presentation on the role of the Margaret Centre for end of life care being given as part of a future presentation to the Committee on the Whipps Cross proposals, if possible with an end of life care consultant being present.

57.

COMMITTEE'S WORK PROGRAMME

The Joint Committee is invited to suggest items for inclusion on its future work programme.

Minutes:

Members suggested further details be given on the impact of the pandemic on areas such as waiting lists and rates of non-attendance for appointments. The role and purpose of the Medefer healthcare company was also suggested as an item for the Committee’s work programme.

58.

DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS

The Joint Committee is invited to approve the following as dates of its meetings for the 2021/22 municipal year.

 

Tuesday 8 June 2021

Tuesday 14 September 2021

Tuesday 14 December 2021

Tuesday 8 March 2021

 

The Joint Committee is also asked to consider if it wishes to make any amendments to the start time of its meetings, currently 5 pm.

 

Minutes:

It was agreed that future meetings of the Joint Committee would be held on the following dates:

 

Tuesday 8 June 2021

Tuesday 14 September 2021

Tuesday 14 December 2021

Tuesday 8 March 2022

 

Meetings would commence at 5 pm.