Agenda item

(To receive a report by Derek Ward, Director of Public Health, which presents the Director of Public Health's Annual Report to the Committee.  This year's report is on Covid-19 and the impact of the disease on health and wellbeing in Lincolnshire)

The Committee received a report from Director of Public Health, which presented the Director of Public Health's Annual Report to the Committee. The report was on Covid-19 and the impact of the disease on health and wellbeing in Lincolnshire. He commented on the key aspects of the report and responded to a large number of questions from the Committee which covered:- the latest data on Covid-19 pandemic locally and nationally on testing; hospital admissions and deaths; how care homes had been supported; the effect on education; the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum, legal and regulatory frameworks and guidelines; the local outbreak management response; contact tracing, testing sites; Covid-19 vaccine rollout programme.

The report highlighted that the pandemic had shone a light on the many of the inequalities that existed in communities. The longer-term impacts of the disease were likely to be with us for some time. Specifically, the increasing number of people experiencing depression, anxiety, loneliness and mental health issues coupled with ongoing economic uncertainty which would impact on people’s lives in terms of employment, loss of income and future opportunities for younger adults; and the increasing fatigue of having to live with the disease, especially for the most vulnerable.

It was noted that unlike other parts of the country, Lincolnshire had maintained and funded a dedicated public health team which had been important in offering help and support.

Members made the following observations:

·               There were some concerns that some people were still not complying with some of the guidance and regulations particularly on mask wearing and social distancing and that there was a need to promote trusted sources of information like the NHS website as much as possible. It was recognised that the police had a challenging job in enforcing the regulations.

·               The successful bid by the Council to Government for community testing sites was welcomed. There were now sites for those with no symptoms for lateral flow tests in Lincoln and Boston, with results processed within one hour. Those with symptoms would be directed to the Showground site or home testing.

·               It was hoped that by Easter 2021 the first wave of those on the priority list above the age of 50 would have been vaccinated. This would then start to have a positive impact on reducing hospital admissions and assist with creating a vaccine based herd immunity.

·               It was not possible to vaccinate people who attended sites for a test as the vaccination programme was via the priority list order.

·               Work was being undertaken on protocols for vaccination of council front line workers according to the national priority list.

·               It was noted that there had been delays in receiving up to date information for local areas as this information was provided and controlled by national government. Timely information was required to be able to make informed decisions. For example there was no data available for 'no show' patients who had been booked in for vaccination.

·               There had been some anecdotal reports of patients being asked at short notice not to attend due to vaccine shortages. It was confirmed that sufficient stocks of vaccine had been ordered however there were occasional logistical delays which could impact on the programme of delivery.

·               Early vaccination was encouraged as was staying at home where possible.

·               It was noted that the current evidence suggested that the vaccine would work on the current known variants and it was likely that it could be modified if necessary in the future.  

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.