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Agenda and minutes

Venue: This will be a virtual meeting

Contact: Artemis Kassi, Senior Committee and Governance Officer  Email:  akassi@westminster.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Membership

To note any changes to the membership.

Minutes:

1.1           Nominations for the post of Chairman were invited. One nomination was received and seconded. There were no further nominations.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Councillor Iain Bott be appointed Chairman of the Adults and Public Health Policy and Scrutiny Committee.

 

1.2          Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Margot Bright.

2.

Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations by Members and Officers of the existence and nature of any pecuniary interests or any other significant interest in matters on this agenda.

Minutes:

2.1      There were no declarations of interest.

3.

Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health - Portfolio Update Report pdf icon PDF 300 KB

Update to the Committee on current and forthcoming issues in this portfolio.

Minutes:

3.1     Councillor Tim Mitchell (Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health), provided a briefing on key issues within his portfolio. The Committee also heard from Jeff Lake (Deputy Director of Public Health).

 

3.2     Councillor Mitchell advised that case rates of Covid-19 had been falling steadily in Westminster since early mid-January following wider restrictions introduced earlier in the month. Based on cases from the previous week, WCC had the sixth lowest rate of infection in London at 331.4 per 100,000 population (which was down by 29% from the previous week). Further information was also provided on the rollout of vaccinations and testing including the vaccinations programme for care homes.

 

3.2     The Committee received the update and held detailed discussions on the following topics:

 

·     Outbreak Management – In response to questions over how outbreaks of Covid-19 were managed within Westminster the Committee was provided with details on the roll out of local testing sites, and roll out of targeted asymptomatic testing, which had supported an increase in local testing rates. Members were pleased to note that that there was three local testing sites, using PCR laboratory tests for those with symptoms, and mobile testing facilities at Hyde Park. Asymptomatic testing was also available at three other sites within Westminster. For those who were asymptomatic, the focus had been on testing key workers and others who had to leave their home during lockdown. Testing had also been targeted at settings with vulnerable residents, including the homeless and those with supported care.

 

·     Communications and Resident Engagement – The Committee was updated on the Covid-19 communications undertaken to date to ensure residents, businesses and stakeholders were aware of how to stay safe and prevent the spread of the virus. There had been a recent focus on promoting the stay at home message, symptomatic and asymptomatic testing, and encouraging residents to feel confident in taking up the vaccine when they were offered it. The Council was aware of anti-vaccination messaging around the Covid-19 vaccine circulating within communities. Communications and Community Engagement Teams were currently sourcing and producing localised content, with trusted sources sharing factual information about the vaccine and what it meant to them to receive the vaccine. Members were interested to note that the Council was producing its own localised communications to address local vaccination hesitancy in addition to working closely with the NHS to amplify national NHS campaigns.

 

·       Vaccine Uptake - The roll out of Covid-19 vaccinations had commenced in late December with the programme being led by the NHS with support from the Local Authority. Currently, there was no published data available on vaccinations at a Local Authority level. However, regionally, 890,877 first doses and 59,155 second doses of the vaccination had been delivered in London (by 30th January 2021). In the North West London Health and Care Partnership CCG area, which covered Westminster, 158,032 doses had been administered up to the 24th January 2021. The Committee discussed vaccine hesitancy in areas with high deprivation and within BAME communities. Whilst precise  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Healthwatch Report: Peoples Experience during the COVID-19 Pandemic pdf icon PDF 815 KB

To receive a report from Healthwatch on peoples expereinces in Westminster during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Minutes:

4.1          Olivia Clymer (CEO, Healthwatch Central West London) presented a report detailing resident experiences of Covid-19 from March 2020 onwards. It was explained that a variety of methods and channels had been used to gather the insights set out within the report with an additional focus on young people and local BAME communities.

 

4.2          The following key findings from the report were highlighted and discussed by the Committee:

 

·         Digital Exclusion – It was noted that participants often felt frustration that they felt excluded from access to treatment or engagement because of a lack of access to, or understanding of, new technology. Feelings of stress, isolation and uncertainty were frequently reported by participants when asked about their use of technology during this period. The Committee discussed the importance that provision for those who did not or couldn’t use technology needed to remain a vital part of all health and social care services.

 

·         Mental Health Concerns – The Committee was advised that nearly all of those people participating in the survey had confirmed that their mental health had been affected during the period of lockdown with many experiencing feelings of loneliness, anxiety, fear and panic. There was a concern amongst participants that this period would have long-term effects for their mental health and their relationships with others. The Committee discussed the findings and suggested this was an important area which would require further scrutiny in the future.

 

·         Stigma and Alternative Information – The Committee was informed about the stigma often attached to contracting Covid-19, including a social stigma of having family members who had died from Covid-19. It was also recognized that there was a prevalence of alternative information regarding the pandemic shared via social media. This information often suggested false, alternative treatments which had no scientific and empirical background.

 

4.3           The Committee discussed how the BAME community had been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and what work was being undertaken to address this. Transport was highlighted as a challenge in trying to ensure those residents unable to leave their homes could access vaccination centres. There was a concern over a lack of knowledge about Covid-19 and vaccines and it was explained that different options were being explored to ensure adequate information about services and support was distributed to those areas of the community identified. The importance of disseminating information to local faith groups or community leaders was highlighted to help assist and support those people requiring it. The importance of ensuring these areas of the community were supported was highlighted and noted by the Board.

 

4.4           Members raised the importance of Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) and the importance of ensuring they played an active role within the community, especially during the pandemic. It was essential that CCGs helped encourage and support PPGs and whilst it was recognised there were difficulties due to the current situation this was an opportunity to discuss local issues and improve the service provided. As part of progressing some of the findings from the report the Committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Work Programme for 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 129 KB

To review the work programme for this committee for the remainder of the municipal year.

Minutes:

5.1      Lizzie Barrett, Policy and Scrutiny Officer, presented the Committee’s 2020/21 Work Programme.

 

5.2      The Committee reviewed the draft list of items and suggested the following potential future topics:

 

·            Health inequalities amongst the BAME and disabled communities, including vaccine uptake;

·            Obesity and metabolic disease in adults;

·            Adult mental health and emotional wellbeing, including how services have adapted during the pandemic; and

·            Social isolation and loneliness.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Work Programme be noted.