Up to 30 minutes of the meeting is available for members of the Committee to put questions to the Portfolio Holder: Councillor Les Caborn (Adult Social Care and Health) on any matters relevant to the remit of this Committee.
Minutes:
Councillor Helen Adkins made a comment on the deferral of the TFG, acknowledging the demands on officers, but it was important that the review took place. The Portfolio Holder, Councillor Caborn responded confirming that the review would take place as soon as was possible, whilst emphasising the additional work for officers in responding to the pandemic.
A question from Councillor Bell about covid vaccinations for housebound people. Councillor Caborn responded that contact should be made via the GP. Alison Cartwright from the CCG advised that housebound people were being vaccinated in priority order and confirmed that people should book their vaccination via the GP.
Councillor Mrs Redford asked about the vaccination of care home residents and staff. It was understood that some staff were not accepting the vaccine. This was being investigated and people were being encouraged to have the vaccination. Where there were outbreaks, vaccinations could not be administered. Alison Cartwright added that 89% of health and social care workers in the region had been vaccinated to date. For care home staff, the data was between 62 and 71% of staff vaccinated in different parts of the region. A lot of work was ongoing to encourage take up of vaccines by this cohort.
It was questioned whether those refusing the vaccine were being surveyed to understand the reasoning for their decision. Targeted communications work was taking place. This included use of social care staff and work with BAME communities to encourage take up of the vaccine.
Healthwatch Warwickshire asked for clear information to pass on to housebound people, including the clinically extremely vulnerable. It was confirmed that they should also make contact via their GP for vaccination at home.
There was a known difference in life expectancy between the north and south of Warwickshire. A request to assess the impact of Covid in terms of the outcomes for residents in different areas of the county. Councillor Caborn advised that this was part of the recovery process for the Council as a whole and may feature as a future Public Health priority, also speaking about infection control and wider determinants of health.
A question about the release of NHS England vaccination data to local authorities. This was needed to target inequalities, understand the areas where vaccination uptake was lower and enable appropriate action. Dr Agboola confirmed that after significant lobbying, access had just been granted to the NHS data. Research would be needed to understand the data, enable it to be presented in a useful format and then share the information for example to identify where there had been lower take up of vaccinations. Alison Cartwright confirmed that in addition to the NHS data, there was public health data. Joint analysis was taking place to look at inequalities and uptake of the vaccination. That data would help to focus vaccination efforts to improve uptake rates. It was requested that vaccination rates be assessed for each GP practice.
Councillor Parminder Singh Birdi praised the vaccination service, especially for housebound people, also speaking on the good take up of the vaccine by BAME communities in his division.