Agenda and minutes

To note that the County Council’s Lead Member for Health has been appointed Chairman.

RESOLVED:

That the appointment of Mr L. Breckon JP CC as Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board be noted.

To note that Dr Mayur Lakhani (Clinical representative of West Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group which has responsibility for chairing the Integration Executive) has been appointed Vice Chairman.

RESOLVED:

That the appointment of Dr Mayur Lakhani, as Vice Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board be noted.

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2020 were taken as read, confirmed and signed. The Board also noted the Action Log, which provided an update on actions agreed by the Board at its previous meetings.

There were no urgent items for consideration.

The Chairman invited members who wished to do so to declare any interest in respect of items on the agenda for the meeting.

Cllr. P. King declared a personal interest in regard to the substantive items on the agenda as a Trustee and Vice Chairman of the Carers Centre, Leicestershire and Rutland.

The Chairman presented a position statement on the following matters:-

·       The crucial work being undertaken by health, social care and community partners during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic

·       Wellbeing Wednesday

·       Quit Ready

·       National Smile month

·       Warm Home Fund Project

·       Reporting domestic violence

A copy of the position statement is filed with these minutes.

The Board considered a report of the Independent Chair of the Leicestershire and Rutland Local Safeguarding Adults Board (LRSAB) which presented the draft Annual Report of the Safeguarding Adults Board for 2019/20 and the draft Strategic Plan for 2020-2025. A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda item 7’, is filed with these minutes.

The Independent Chair said that the Annual Report provided an assessment of the local approach to safeguarding adults during 2019/20. She added that a move to an extended five-year Strategic Plan which incorporating the intentions of both the Leicester and Leicestershire Safeguarding Boards, would enable a co-ordinated approach to adult safeguarding across the City and County.

Arising from discussions the following points were noted:

·       The Strategic Plan would be amended to recognise the learning and subsequent development of the partnership and its continued work to help the homeless and rough sleepers.

·       In recognition of the importance of user and carer engagement, it had been identified as one of the six key priorities within the Strategic Plan and an area in which the Boards were committed to continue to improve.

·       Efforts would continue to explore how the work and governance processes of the two Safeguarding Boards could be further aligned. Members of the Health and Wellbeing Board were encouraged to share their thoughts on how this collaboration could be further developed.

·       Following self- assessment work undertaken by partner agencies of the LRSAB, several agencies had identified the need for additional autism awareness and the Safeguarding Board would be working with those partners to ensure the necessary training was undertaken.

RESOLVED:

That the draft Safeguarding Adult Board Annual Report 2019/20 and Strategic Plan 2020-2025 be noted.

The Board considered a report of Healthwatch Leicestershire, which presented their Annual Review for 2019-20. A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda item 8’ is filed with these minutes.

Members recognised Healthwatch’s important role in the local care system, and its continued commitment to partnership working which would be of particular importance as the delivery of care evolved as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

In response to questions concerning patient feedback, it was noted that Healthwatch continued to adapt its engagement practices in order to capture the patient voice. This flexible approach had been especially important throughout the coronavirus pandemic during which some of the regular consultation methods were not possible.

In reference to access to health services in rural areas of the County, it was noted that Healthwatch would consider exploring the matter during the coming year. It was also keen to establish stronger connections with the various Leicestershire district Health and Wellbeing Boards.

RESOLVED:

That the Healthwatch Leicestershire Annual Review for 2018-19 be noted.

The Board considered a joint report of the Leicester and Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), the Director of Adults and Communities and the Director of Public Health which detailed the impact of the coronavirus pandemic within the County and the initial response of the local care system. Members also considered a presentation of the Director of Public Health concerning data relating to the local lockdown. A copy of the report and presentation marked ‘Agenda Item 9’, is filed with these minutes.

Impact on the County and the initial response

Arising from discussion the following points were noted:

·       The response to the pandemic had required the various NHS organisations, local partners and local government to work closely together as part of a partnership based approach. This successful approach had helped to manage the pressures within the local system and ensure that capacity was not exceeded.

·       The pandemic had placed considerable pressure on the social care provider market, with a significant number of outbreaks having been recorded in the County’s care homes. The situation had now vastly improved. It was noted that initial issues concerning the availability of personal protection equipment and staff capacity had been quickly resolved.

·       The County Council had worked closely with district councils to develop and deliver the local Shielding Vulnerable People Scheme to help support over 14,000 people within the County who had been identified as requiring additional help. It was noted that whilst the scheme would close for new registrations on the 17 July, the Council would continue to assist newly identified individuals who required support. This included those in the local lockdown area.

·       The recovery process would be considerable and complicated and both the NHS and County Council had produced initial plans setting out how this work would be undertaken. These plans would build on the recent progress made in relation to the modernisation of care delivery and the significant improvements to partnership working. Recovery work would include consideration of how services which were currently paused, such as community and day services, could be re-established and how the significant number of elected medical procedures which had been postponed during the peak of the pandemic, would be delivered.

·       In partnership with health providers and district councils, the County Council had developed a Local Outbreak Plan which would enable agencies in Leicestershire to prevent, manage, reduce and suppress outbreaks of coronavirus infection across the County. The Plan covered the approach to managing outbreaks in a range of settings, including schools. The Plan would continue to be updated, particularly in light of the recent local lockdown.

·       In reference to the local lockdown, the two elected members representing the district councils expressed the need for regular communication and engagement between the County and district councils

·       The arrangements for testing residents living within the county areas under local lockdown were continually developing. The Council would soon be publishing further guidance which would include the provision for testing both symptomatic and asymptomatic residents in some areas within the county lockdown zone.

·       The Board expressed its thanks to all those who had helped manage and deliver the initial resilience response and the ongoing recovery work.

Local Lockdown data

The Director of Public Health presented to the Board a summary of data in relation to coronavirus cases in Leicestershire.

The Director said that the latest data indicated that whilst the numbers of coronavirus cases within the county areas included in the local lockdown were still considerably higher than the overall County average, the numbers had begun to stabilise.

In response to questions from members, the Director said that whilst the inclusion of certain  ...  view the full minutes text for item 222.

The Board considered a report of the Chief Executive which summarised a number of matters which had been considered by members of the Health and Wellbeing Board outside of the formal meeting process due to the cancellation of Board meetings during the coronavirus pandemic.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

The Board considered a report of the Director of Public Health which provided an overview of the achievements and outcomes that had been delivered by the Health and Wellbeing Board during 2019.  The report also contained a look ahead to 2020.  A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 11’, is filed with these minutes.

RESOLVED:

That the Health and Wellbeing Board Annual Report for 2019 be approved for publication.

The next meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board will be held on 24 September 2020 at 2.00pm.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board would be held on Thursday 24 September 2020.