Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors S Barker-Milan (North Kesteven District Council), Mrs R Kaberry-Brown (South Kesteven District Council) and G P Scalese (South Holland District Council).

The Committee noted that Councillor Mrs L Hagues (North Kesteven District Council) had replaced Councillor S Barker-Milan (North Kesteven District Council) for this meeting only.

An apology was also received from Councillor Mrs S Woolley, (Executive Councillor for NHS Liaison and Community Engagement).

Note: (Councillor Mrs R Kayberry-Brown (South Kesteven District Council) joined the meeting during consideration of agenda item 5).

No declarations of members' interest were made at this stage of the proceedings.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire meeting held on 11 November 2020 be agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Further to the Chairman's announcements circulated with the agenda, the Chairman, brought to the Committee's attention the two supplementary announcements circulated prior to the meeting.

The first supplementary announcement circulated on the 11 December 2020, had provided the Committee with a briefing paper from the East Midlands Ambulance Service.  The second supplementary announcement provided information on the following:

·       Vaccination Programme in Lincolnshire;

·       United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust – the success of the installation of imaging equipment for the treatment of cancer and vascular disease at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston;

·       The announcement by the government on 10 December 2020 of the allocation of £600 million of capital to help address the maintenance backlog in NHS Hospitals in England;

·       Additional information requested by the Committee at its 11 November 2020 meeting (Minute 39 refers) concerning primary care services;

·       Healthwatch Lincolnshire had started recruiting for an online citizens' panel to help guide NHS services in Lincolnshire; and

·       The Judicial Review of Decisions on Grantham and District Hospital.

The Chairman advised that discussion on the two supplementary announcements would be considered further as part of the work programme item.

RESOLVED

That the Supplementary Chairman's announcements circulated and the Chairman's announcements as detailed on pages 15 to 23 of the report pack be noted.

(To receive a report from Simon Evans, Health Scrutiny Officer, which sets out the Committee's work programme, with items listed for forthcoming meetings.  The Committee is also asked to consider a change to the date of its March 2021 meeting) 

The Chairman advised that as presenters for the next item of business had stated that they would be attending the meeting later, the next item to be considered would be agenda item 7 - the Committee work programme.

The Chairman invited Simon Evans, Health Scrutiny Officer, to present the report (pages 41 - 48 of the report pack).

Consideration was given to the work programme as shown on pages 42 and 43 of the report pack, and the Committee were invited to highlight any additional scrutiny activity which could be included for consideration in the work programme. 

The Committee were also invited to forward any questions they wished to ask the East Midlands Ambulance Service on to Simon Evans, Health Scrutiny Officer.  A briefing paper had previously been circulated, as a supplement to the Chairman's announcements.

During discussion, the following potential items were highlighted:

·       Access to Primary Care Services, as there appeared to be inconsistencies across the service;

·       Lakeside Healthcare at Stamford Update;

·       Vale Medical Group (proposed closure of its branch practice in Woolsthorpe) Update; and

·       Dental Services Update.

RESOLVED

1.    That the work programme presented be received subject to the inclusion of the potential items highlighted above.

2.    That any questions the Committee may wish to ask the East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust be forwarded onto Simon Evans, Health Scrutiny Officer.    

3.    That the scheduled meeting date of 24 March 2020 be changed to the 16 March 2021 at 2.00pm.

Note: The meeting adjourned from 10.20am to 10.30am. A further roll call was taken to ascertain those members present.  

(To receive a report from United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, (ULHT) which provides the Committee with an update regarding Covid-19.  Senior representatives from ULHT will be in attendance for this item)

The Chairman invited Andrew Morgan, Chief Executive of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust and Simon Evans, Chief Operating Officer, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, to present the report which provided the Committee with a Covid-19 update.

Detailed at Appendix A to the report was a copy of the Report to United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust Board of Directors (1 December 2020) – Report of the Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust advised the Committee that as of 15 December 2020, the Trust was treating a total of 204 Covid-19 in-patients, 126 in-patients at Lincoln County Hospital and 78 in-patients at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston.

The Committee was advised further that the increase in the number of Covid-19 in-patient cases and reduced staffing levels had resulted in the Trust having to declare and manage an internal critical incident.

It was reported that currently there were 1,140 staff absent, as a result of having Covid-19, or having to self-isolate.  It was noted that this represented approximately 14% of the workforce.  The Trust was therefore under significant pressure to manage the service.  The Committee noted that the Trust was doing all it could to keep its staff healthy and well, with the recent introduction of Covid-19 lateral flow tests for front line staff; and the commencement of the vaccination programme for staff at high risk across the system.

It was reported that United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust had been selected as one of the 50 national hub hospitals to administer the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and that this was focussed on the Lincoln County Hospital site.  The Committee noted that the vaccination programme had started at the hospital on 8 December 2020.  The Committee was advised that NHS England/NHS Improvement, together with the Department for Health and Social Care was talking responsibility for providing information on the number of vaccines provided.  The Committee was advised further that two Primary Care Networks had also started vaccinations at Louth and Grantham Hospitals, and that further clinics would be opening shortly.

The Committee noted that the Trust was managing to continue elective surgery and provide support to cancer patients at the Grantham Hospital 'Green Site', however, as the number of Covid-19 in-patients has increased, Lincoln County and Pilgrim Hospital, Boston had paused some cancer activity at their sites. 

During discussion, the Committee raised the following comments:

·       The vaccination programme – The Committee was advised that the programme's initial priority was to vaccinate the over 80's and front line staff in care homes, and those providing care in the community; and NHS staff.  It was noted that there was an aspiration for all NHS staff to have received their two vaccinations by the end of March 2021;

·       Thanks were extended to health services staff for the professional service being provided in the most difficult times.  Particular praise was given to staff providing support at Grantham Hospital;

·       Percentage of beds taken by Covid-19 in-patients.  The Committee was advised that at its peak 30% of in-patient  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

(To receive a report from Derek Ward, Director of Public Health, which provides the Committee with a summary of the Covid-19 Winter Plan, issued by the Government on 23 November 2020 and the implications for Lincolnshire.  An overview of the latest Covid-19 data for Lincolnshire will be provided at the meeting)

The Chairman invited Derek Ward, Director of Public Health, to provide the Committee with an update relating to Covid-19.

Pages 35 to 38 of the report provided the Committee with a summary of the Covid-19 Winter Plan, which had been issued by the government on 23 November 2020.  Appendix A to the report provided the Committee with a summary of the measures under each Tier in England for the Committee's consideration.

The Committee was advised that in mid-November, Lincolnshire had seen a peak in the number of people testing positive Covid-19.  Currently the rate for Lincolnshire was at 250 cases per 100,000 population, which was above the England average, which was currently 184 cases per 100,000.  It was highlighted that there was some inconsistency across the county, with the areas of Boston and the City of Lincoln continuing to have high infection rates.  It was noted that the increase had been as a result of outbreaks in specific settings.

The Committee noted that there was a national testing programme, which involved booking a Covid-19 test via the government website.  It was noted further there was also a local testing approach which covered four main areas, which were: to target specific communities; to target high consequences settings; to target significant outbreaks; and to help domiciliary care providers with lateral flow testing.  

During discussion, the Committee raised the following points:

·       The effect of the Christmas arrangements.  The Committee was advised that it was anticipated that there would be an increase in infection rates following the planned relaxation of restrictions for the Christmas period; 

·       The Lincolnshire situation . The Committee was advised that generally Lincolnshire had adhered to the government's requirements.  The need for reinforcement of the Hands, Face, Space message was reinforced;

·       The impact of long Covid-19 on some patients;

·       The need to ensure that vulnerable people were protected with more lateral flow testing being made available; and stricter controls in place with regard to track and trace;

·       The policy change relating to the wearing of face masks.  The Committee noted that face masks must be worn when in a public enclosed space; and

·       The need for children to be reminded of social distancing rules.  The Committee was advised that schools were reinforcing the rules of Hands, Face, and Space.  It was also highlighted that children and young people were less likely to have Covid-19; and in most cases if a child or young person caught Covid-19, their symptoms were likely to be less severe.  

The Chairman extended thanks on behalf of the Committee to the Director of Public Health for his update.

RESOLVED

That the Covid-19 update be received; and that a further update be       received at a future meeting.