Agenda item

The Committee is asked to note the content of the report.

Thank The Chair thanked officers for a well written report and invited Councillor Cazimoglu to introduce the report.

Councillor Cazimoglu sent her condolences to those who had lost loved ones and thanked those who had worked hard during the pandemic. She highlighted that this report was interim as the pandemic is not yet over. Councillor Cazimoglu spoke of how Enfield responding quickly to the pandemic helped it success from acquiring PPE to supporting the homeless, to Enfield Stands Together. Testing site were set up quickly in the borough and used to create Covid champions and marshals, care homes were protected by stopping those who tested positive entering, financial support was given to those in need and regularly comms were sent to residents in a range of languages. The borough still faces some on-going challenges such as inequality, vaccine hesitancy and the future impact Covid will have on residents in the borough.

Members of the Committee asked the following questions:

Q: What is in place to support care homes?

A: The Care Home Action Plan is still in place and care home have not been forgotten about. The pandemic provided a learning experience for infection control in homes.  A lot was learnt from the 1^st wave of Covid which has informed learning going forward on controlling outbreaks.

Q: National lockdowns damaged a lot of people’s mental health and wellbeing such as increasing mental health issues, loss of mobility, etc.

A: This will most likely be picked up in a Central Government review. Enfield was led by the science available at each stage. Analysis of Covid deaths will take place when it can and the data is presented in a way which allows this. Work is starting on looking at the physical and mental impact of Covid. People being unable to access to GPs will have an ongoing effect on residents.

Q: Is there the capacity and will for an independent analysis relating to Enfield and Covid?

A: Early in the pandemic there was bespoke analysis done on death registrations for the borough. Independent analysis will be conducted, however any bespoke analysis will not enable comparison with other boroughs.    

Q: What ongoing work is taking place around vaccine hesitancy in the borough?

A:  The Council has tried everything possible and work is taking place around what can be done differently. Vaccine Champions will be trained through the voluntary sector and a door to door scheme is being trialled. A report on the vaccine roll out has recently gone to the Health & Wellbeing Board, and Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny, with the aim to understand the reasoning behind the vaccine hesitancy.

Q: Have policies been reviewed to reflect structural inequality?

A: This is something that will be acted on in the coming months and years. Community Hubs will help address inequality across the borough and there is a programme of work to access healthcare. Accessing health care has been an area of concern in the borough for a very long time as there are not enough face to face appointments available as there are not enough GPs in the system.

Q: What is in place to support health services as there is a mental health crisis?

A: A mental health services review is currently taking place which will be used to shape services in the coming years. School are promoting better mental wellbeing and work is being done to support the adult population. Enfield Council has recently introduced a trial for Mental Health Champions.

Members of the Committee made the following points:

·         The report and its contents were welcomed.

·         The report adequately highlights the Council’s success in response to the pandemic and sets out the learning.

·         Pleased it also acknowledges the work done by organisations outside of the Council.

·         The work conducted by the Council during the pandemic showed the Council at its best.

·         Officers were praised for their work during the pandemic. Many officers took on additional responsibilities to support the borough.

·         There is a need to review the way Covid deaths were registered as Covid often was a secondary reason to deaths but still classified as a “Covid death”.

·         Services such as CAMHS could be included on future work programmes for scrutiny to review.

The Chair thanked officers and the Cabinet member for their contribution to the meeting.