Agenda item

The Board is to receive a verbal update on the work of the Surrey Local Outbreak Engagement Board (LOEB) including the Vaccination Programme. The LOEB is a formal sub-committee of the Surrey Health and Wellbeing Board. It is a member-led Board created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which leads the engagement with local communities and is the public face of the local response in the event of an outbreak.

Witnesses:

Mrs Sinead Mooney - Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Domestic Abuse and LOEB Chairman (SCC) 

Jane Chalmers - COVID Director, Surrey Heartlands CCG

Key points raised in the discussion:

1. The Surrey Local Outbreak Engagement Board (LOEB) Chairman noted:

·         The COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021 roadmap out of the current lockdown for England issued by the Government on 22 February 2021. It was a four-step plan and before taking each step, the Government would review the latest data on the impact of the previous step against four tests:

-       The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully.

-       Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated.

-       Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.

-       Our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern.

·         That local contact tracing had been successful in Surrey, the combined national and local contact tracing of cases across Surrey was 87% of cases - higher than the national average. Surrey had been invited to participate in a hot spot pilot beginning on 3 March, whereby positive tests in Woking, Runnymede and Spelthorne would be wholly traced using local contact tracing teams.

·         Individuals contacted by Test and Trace were asked whether they required support, offered through the British Red Cross, Surrey County Council and District and Borough Councils.

·         The Council’s Public Health and Education colleagues continued to provide support to schools that remained open for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers during national lockdown; from 8 March schools would be open for all pupils on site.

·         Care homes remained a key area of focus, noting the success of the vaccination programme, as well continued lateral flow and PCR testing for residents in line with the national guidance.

·         Regarding asymptomatic testing there were four main test sites in Staines, Woking, Ewell and Redhill, as well as twenty-five pharmacies in operation. Current demand was lower than expected so would be reviewed and individuals and residents were urged to book a test for those that met the criteria.

2. The COVID Director (SH CCG) noted that:

·         The success of the vaccination programme was down to the partnership effort across the whole of Surrey Heartlands, supported by Surrey County Council, Borough and District Councils, volunteers and organisations such as Surrey Police.

·         335,000 residents of Surrey Heartlands had at least one vaccination or 28% of the eligible population.

·         All Older Adult Care homes had been visited at least once and good progress was being made in the vaccination rollout concerning more vulnerable residents.

·         The programme was a marathon not a sprint. It was anticipated that there would be an uplift in vaccine supply in the near future which would mean that sites could run seven days a week for the foreseeable future.

·         That eligible individuals would continue to be contacted directly.

3. The LOEB Chairman praised the work of the LOEB members and their active contributions across a number of partners.
4. The Chairman thanked the LOEB and all those who had guided the county through the pandemic, commending the work of the Surrey Local Resilience Forum (SLRF) and its joint Chairmen, as well as the Director of Public Health (SCC) and her team.
5. The Vice-Chairman of the Adults and Health Select Committee (SCC) queried the point made by the COVID Director (SH CCG) in terms of ‘Don't call us. We'll call you’ as previously there had been a message that people who were not registered with a GP would be welcomed to step forward for a vaccination and asked how that fitted in with Surrey Heartlands’ programme.

-       In response, the Deputy Chairman noted the specific issue regarding university students who returned home whilst their university was closed during the pandemic and were away from their registered GP. It had suggested that individuals - including such students, homeless people or temporary residents - could register temporarily with their local GP surgery who could then refer them to their local vaccination hub. That would ensure that data on vaccinations could be stored on the NHS data collection digital system Foundry, as GPs were permitted to register people even if they did not have proof of address.

-       The Deputy Chairman was happy along with Surrey Heartlands colleagues to follow up with the Member on any individuals struggling to receive their vaccination. 

RESOLVED:

The Board noted the verbal update on the work of the Surrey Local Outbreak Engagement Board.

Actions/further actions to be provided:

1.    The Deputy Chairman along with Surrey Heartlands colleagues will follow up with the Vice-Chairman of the Adults and Health Select Committee (SCC) on any individuals struggling to receive their vaccination.