Issue - meetings

Mark Tickner, Infection Control Lead, and Gayan Perera, Public Health Intelligence Manager – Public Health Department London Borough of Enfield.

(PAPERS ATTACHED)

Verbal update from Dr Nnenna Osuji, Chief Executive, North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust.

RECEIVED the slide presentation, introduced by Gayan Perera, Public Health Intelligence Manager, and Mark Tickner, Infection Control Lead.

NOTED

1. The number of infectious disease notifications was low and normal.

2. The number of Covid-19 cases was small at the moment.

3.  Latest Covid Autumn booster and flu vaccination numbers were shown.

4.  Latest childhood immunisations uptake data was reported.

5.  Reassurance was provided regarding recent detection of swine flu in the north of England, which was of natural occurrence and not spreading, and respiratory disorders reported from China and USA which were linked to ‘immunity debt’ and not to new pathogens.

6.  A multi-agency table top exercise had been run in November in respect of measles planning. A resulting report would be circulated to Board members.

RECEIVED a verbal update in respect of winter preparation from Dr Nnenna Osuji, Chief Executive, North Middlesex Hospital.

7.  The number of Covid-19 and flu cases were low, but there remained a quite significant operational impact due to affected patients and staff.

8.  There had been increasing numbers of children attending the hospital with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

9.  Lower vaccination uptake and ‘vaccination fatigue’ was also manifested in numbers of vaccinated staff, despite a promotional campaign.

10.  In emergency departments, pressures and high attendance volumes were present throughout the year. A number of contingency plans had needed to be used.

11.  Work was ongoing with London Ambulance Service (LAS) in respect of response times. A pilot scheme to release LAS crews after 45 minutes had been introduced, with improvements to patient flow.

12.  Flow had also been improved in emergency services. The front door GP provision had been doubled in capacity.

13.  The hospital was intensely busy, and getting busier as the weather got colder. She wished to record gratitude to staff for their hard work.

Mark Tickner Infection Control Lead and Gayan Perera Public Health Intelligence Manager – Public Health Department London Borough of Enfield.

(PAPERS TO FOLLOW)

RECEIVED the slide presentation, introduced by Mark Tickner, Health and Wellbeing Board Partnership Manager, and Roseanna Kennedy-Smith, Senior Public Health Intelligence Specialist.

NOTED

1. There were concerns regarding emergence of a new variant (BA.2.86) of Covid-19 in the UK. It had been detected in low numbers so far, but there had been one care home outbreak.

2. Measles was also currently causing concern. Across Enfield the uptake of MMR vaccination was lower than it should be, considerably so in some areas of the borough. Measles was more dangerous than some people thought, and the only way to control it was by vaccination. UK Health Security Agency predicted a measles outbreak in London this year. In preparation, our ability to vaccinate at short notice was being increased.

3.  Notifications of infectious disease cases recently in Enfield were shown, which were mostly in line with the expected number of cases for this period.

4.  Covid-19 cases to September were shown. There had been a slight increase recently, in the context of testing being much less now, and zero Covid-19 deaths in the latest data.

5.  Latest Covid Autumn booster and flu vaccination numbers were shown.

6.  Childhood immunisation uptake was reported. The lowest uptake within the programme was in MMR, at 69% for both doses in Enfield. Despite a lot of work, it was proving quite difficult to get an increase in uptake.

7.  Disparity in MMR uptake was shown by ward, by ethnicity, and by language spoken.

IN RESPONSE

8. The Chair confirmed that Council on 27 September agreed a motion calling on all councillors to write to the Secretary of State for Health expressing their concern at the low uptake of childhood immunisations and calling for actions to be taken.

9.  The Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Panel on 20 September received a detailed report on ‘Vaccination and immunisation: childhood immunisations focus’. Dudu Sher-Arami would share this report with Board members as it would give a good understanding of the work going on in the local authority and primary care.

ACTION: Dudu Sher-Arami

10.  Glenn Stewart advised that an emergency planning exercise was to be held in respect of measles.