Issue - meetings

SURREY HEARTLANDS WINTER PREPAREDNESS REPORT

This report is to inform the committee of the impact of winter 2018/19 on the Surrey Heartlands system, including reference to previous winter pressures; and to describe the whole system measures being put in place to promote resilience throughout the upcoming winter period.

FRIMLEY HEALTH AND CARE PREPARATIONS FOR WINTER PRESSURES REPORT

To outline the impact and risks associated with winter pressures and the measures put in place by the whole System for mitigation and promotes resilience throughout the winter season.  

To assure the Select Committee that appropriate measures are in place in preparation for seasonal winter pressures, ensuring that local people receive services at the right time in the right place and have the best possible outcomes.

1. Surrey Heartlands Winter Preparedness

Witnesses:

Dr Claire Fuller, Senior Responsible Officer for Surrey Heartlands

Karen Thorburn, Director of Performance, Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care System

Giles Mahoney, Integrated Care Partnership Director - Guildford and Waverley

James Thomas, Chief Operating Officer, Ashford and St Peters NHS Foundation Trust

Jackie Raven, Associate Director for Urgent and Integrated Care, Surrey Heartlands

Liz Uliasz, Deputy Director, Adult Social Care

Key points raised during the discussion:

1. The Chairman introduced the item and highlighted that an addendum to the report was published in a supplementary agenda on 8 October 2019. The Director of Performance, Surrey Heartlands provided Members with a presentations which has been included in these minutes as Annex 1.
2. Members raised concern with the figures in the report related to flu vaccination for NHS staff which stated that the percentage of staff from the Surrey and Boarders Partnership (SABP) which received vaccinations had lowered from 54% to 47%. It was also highlight that the percentage of NHS staff in the Royal Surrey Hospital receiving a flu vaccination had reduced from 71% to 55.8%.  The Senior Responsible Officer stressed that this was a wider problem as there was an emergency situation in Surrey due to the lack of people receiving vaccinations. In regards to SABP and Royal Surrey Hospital, the Senior Responsible Officer informed Members that there were ongoing campaigns to work to increase the number of vaccinations in these organisations. Members further asked if staff were asked the reason why they were choosing not to receive a flu vaccination. The Chief Operating Officer, Ashford and St Peters NHS Foundation Trust, explained that there were a number of factors which led to people not receiving vaccinations which included lack of communication, lack of access and simply not wanting to be injected. Following on from this, Members noted officers comments which highlighted that more could be done to maximise the joint working with Local Authorities and Councillors to improve communications around the subject.
3. Members highlighted that there was a lack of knowledge in local communities that flu vaccinations could be received in pharmacies. The Director for Performance informed Members that pharmacies were commissioned by NHS England to provide flu vaccinations and that there was a communication plan in place to outline that flu vaccinations could be received in community pharmacies. The communication programmes were in the processes of being delivered and includes the use of social media. 
4. In regards to GP Access, Members requested further information on the number of people who failed to obtain and appointment on the same day as requested. The Director of Performance stated that additional GP appointments were being well used and that there were a number of programmes in place to increase the number of hours GPs were available. Members noted that data was not recorded on the number of people not able to access a GP on the same day as requested.
5. Officers confirmed that extended access to primary care was now standard in Surrey Heartlands and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12