There were no declarations of interest received at this point in the meeting.

To receive the minutes of the Health Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 10 November 2020.

The minutes of the Health Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 10 November 2020 were submitted and approved as a correct record.

Mark Adams, Director of Public Heath (South Tees) and Craig Blair, Director of Strategy & Commissioning (Tees Valley CCG) will be in attendance to provide an update on COVID-19 and the local Public Health / NHS response.

The Chair advised that as usual an update on COVID-19 was listed as the first main item on today’s agenda and a number of guests were attendance for this item. Guests included the Director of Public Heath (South Tees), the Director of Commissioning, Strategy and Delivery (TVCCG) and the Medical Director (TVCCG). 

The Director of Public Health advised that Middlesbrough’s rolling 7 day rate (9 – 15 January 2021) was 453 per 100,000 population, which was a 21.5 per cent reduction on the previous rolling 7 day rate (2 – 8 January 2021) of 604 per 100,000. The most worrying slide was the NHS data, which detailed the number of COVID patients currently in hospital in South Tees. The number had doubled in the previous two weeks and there were currently 220 inpatients with COVID at the moment. The panel was advised that at present the Director of Public Health did not have any up to date figures on the vaccination, although he understood that over half of the over 80’s in Middlesbrough had been vaccinated.

A number of queries were raised and the following points were made:-

·         There were concerns that the COVID rates were again increasing and what potential impact this may have on hospital numbers. South Tees NHS Foundation Trust were rapidly approaching 50 per cent occupancy of COVID patients.

·         It was not felt that the return of children to school was a contributory factor in the increase in the number of cases.

·         By 24 January 2021 all Care Home staff and residents should have received their COVID vaccine. Over 2,500 staff had received their vaccinations to date.  

·         Local pharmacies were not currently delivering the vaccine but excellent progress was being made in respect of vaccinating the priority groups.

·         All priority groups were being contacted by their GPs and confirmation would be sought that braille correspondence was being used where necessary.

·         Positive comments were reported in respect of the way in which GP’s had carried out the flu vaccine this year and it was acknowledged that the take up rate had been fantastic.

COVID Oximetry @ Home

The Medical Director at TVCCG advised that agreement had been reached between health and social care partners to contribute additional funding to the programme. In terms of the virtual ward the provision was focused on two cohorts namely those over 65 that had been in hospital or diagnosed with COVID and those under 65 that had a COVID diagnosis and were clinically vulnerable. At the moment the virtual ward could manage up to 120 patients at any one time. There were 108 patients on the ward. Alongside the Oximetry @ Home service there was also an oximetry ward at James Cook University Hospital and 68 patients were currently being managed through that service, together both of these services were helping to keep people at home.

A number of queries were raised and the following points were made:-

·         In terms of any progress on national spray versions of the vaccines further  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20/4

Officers will be in attendance to provide an introduction in respect of how the local authority can use economic development to improve health and reduce health inequalities.

The Chair reminded Members then when agreeing the 2020/21 Health Scrutiny Panel’s work programme, the main topic selected was inclusive growth – alignment of town centre regeneration and health goals. A number of representatives had therefore been invited to attend today’s meeting to provide a setting the scene presentation in respect of this topic. The expert guests included the Director of Public Health (South Tees) and the Public Health Business and Programme Manager. 

The Panel heard that since 2015, Middlesbrough had been identified as the most deprived area nationally (based on proportion of lower super-output areas within the 10% most deprived). The recent Marmot Review highlighted that previous increases in life expectancy in the area had worrying declined or stagnated in the last decade. Indeed the previous year-on-year improvements in life expectancy observed in Middlesbrough between 2001-2003 and 2011- 2013 had mainly been driven by gains in the affluent wards across the town, with the deprived wards showing very small changes in life expectancy in the last 15 years.

It was explained that in the run-up to COVID-19, a national paradox between growth in employment and GDP, in the face of entrenched poverty, low quality jobs and poor income and living conditions, had cast a light on the unequal distribution of economic progress. Good health was not however just a product of a thriving economy, it was a necessary contributor to it. A recent LGA report highlighted the cost of poor health on the economy, presenting some of the annual costs experienced nationally as a result, this included:

· Over £100 billion a year in productivity lost due to poor health;

· £42 billion a year in workforce costs attached to mental health issues;

· c£4.8 billion a year costs of socio-economic inequality on the NHS; and

· £15 billion worth of sick days

COVID-19 would undoubtedly amplify the economic costs outlined above, with early findings from the crisis additionally pointing to the unequal distribution of the direct and indirect impacts of the virus across socioeconomic lines. Higher number of death from COVID-19 in people living in socioeconomically deprived areas had been observed from as early as May 2020, with some studies suggesting that people residing in poor areas were more than twice as likely to be killed by the virus as those in the richest areas.

In addition to the above, the control measures enforced to stem the virus have had broader implications on income and job security. The IFS has suggested that (excluding key workers) the majority of the people in the bottom tenth of earning distributions, correlate to sectors that have been shut down as a result of COVID. When those who are unlikely to work from home are included within this, it is estimated that job security of c80 per cent of low income earners, have been indirectly affected by the pandemic. As key determinants of health, these impacts were likely to have a significant influence on a person’s ability to live a healthy live and would invariably  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20/5

Draft Final Report

The Chair requested that this item be deferred and added to the next meeting of the Health Scrutiny Panel agenda given that some pertinent information in respect of this topic was due to be released later this week. An additional meeting would also be arranged in order for this information to be presented to the panel prior to Members considering the Final Report.

AGREED that the item be deferred and an additional Health Scrutiny Panel meeting arranged for 16 February 2021. 

The Chair will present a verbal update on the matters that were considered at the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 18 December and 14 January 2020.

The Chair advised that on the 18 December 2020 the Overview and Scrutiny Board had considered two call-ins. The first had been in relation to the decision taken by the Executive on 24 November in respect of Nunthorpe Grange Farm: Disposal – Church Lane. After hearing evidence from all parties an issue was raised that required legal advice. The Board agreed for the meeting to be reconvened at a later date once the Monitoring Officer and Section 151 Officer had had the opportunity to provide that advice. The reconvened OSB meeting was scheduled to be held on 29 January 2021. 

The second call in related to residual waste collections. Unfortunately owing to a technical issue the meeting could not be held. However, as the decision was subsequently reversed by the Executive there was no need for the meeting to be rescheduled. 

On the 14 January 2021 the Overview and Scrutiny Board considered updates on the following:-

•       The Executive Forward Work Programme;

•       Middlesbrough Council's Response to COVID-19;

•       An update from the Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health;

•       The Strategic Plan and Quarter Two Outturn Report;

•       The Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report; 

•       All Scrutiny Chairs.

AGREED that the update be noted.