Agenda item

The Committee considered a joint report of the three Clinical Commissioning Groups in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (CCGs), and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL), which provided an update on the actions taken by the local NHS to ensure preparedness for the increased pressures caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and actions being taken to recover and restore non-COVID services in particular those relating to cancer. A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 8’, is filed with these minutes.

The Committee welcomed to the meeting for this item Caroline Trevithick, Deputy Chief Executive, LLR CCGs, Sara Prema, Executive Director of Strategy and Planning, LLR CCGs, Sam Leak, Director of Operational Improvement, UHL and Eleanor Meldrum, Deputy Chief Nurse, UHL.

Arising from discussions the following points were noted:

(i)          Concerns were raised by a member that the cancer presentation slides included in the agenda pack were difficult for a lay person to understand. In response the CCG agreed to provide the Committee with more easy to read documentation regarding cancer performance with the technical issues explained.

(ii)         The Single Access Point telephone number was available to the public to call and access mental health services throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. There were plans to invest in mental health locally and ensure the Mental Health Standards were adhered to.

(iii)       Reassurance was given that NHS managers in UHL provided support to colleagues with regards to their wellbeing and mental health and a letter of thanks had been sent to all staff from the Chief Executive and Chairman. Professional development of NHS staff was being continued despite the pandemic as it was felt this was good for staff wellbeing.

(iv)       NHS managers were quick to recognise where hotspots were occurring in terms of service demand and where services were being impacted due to staff shielding, and managers allocated the appropriate staffing cover.

(v)        Members questioned whether patients with cardiac or mental health issues were being deterred from presenting at hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic. It was agreed that the CCGs would provide an answer to members after the meeting.

(vi)       Concerns were raised by members that the communications process for reminding patients to have their flu vaccine was confusing and as a result it was difficult for members to explain to the public how the process worked and if and when patients would be contacted. Further concerns were raised that patients that decided not to have flu vaccines in previous years may wish to have one this year but could get missed from any communications. The CCGs offered to provide members with written clarification of the communication process after the meeting.

(vii)      The PPE Portal had a weekly order limit for each NHS service to prevent each service stockpiling PPE when it was needed elsewhere. Members queried what would happen should the limit be exceeded and requested further data regarding the PPE weekly order limit. Reassurance was given by the CCGs that the PPE process had worked well so far during the pandemic. 

(viii)    Many elderly people appreciated the reassurance of a face to face medical appointment and the NHS acknowledged that they could not entirely rely on video consultations and reassured that there were plans for some face to face appointments to still take place where it was clinically appropriate.

(ix)       The Phase 3 recovery plans as set out in the letter dated 31 July 2020 from NHS Chief Executive Sir Simon Stevens had not been put on hold as a result of the recent increase in new Covid-19 cases. The recovery planning was happening at the same time as the planning for surges in demand was taking place. The recovery status was reviewed twice a week. Health services were not expected to return to exactly as they were before the pandemic began and there was no precise date for when the ‘new normal’ would be reached.

RESOLVED:

(a)        That the update on the actions taken in the local NHS to ensure preparedness for the increased pressures caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the actions being taken to recover and restore non-COVID services, be noted.

(b)        That officers be requested to provide a report for a future meeting of the Committee on the impact of Covid-19 on dentistry in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.