Issue - meetings

The Board will receive an update on the above.

Sam Crowe, Director of Public Health presented the report on the Local Outbreak Management Plan which provided an update on current actions under the plan, a copy of which had been circulated and which appears as Appendix ‘B’ to these minutes in the Minute Book.

The Director of Public Health provided an update on the latest position against the four priorities in the refreshed plan. He reported on the increase in infection rates per 100,000 which had changed in the last couple of weeks with the rate in the BCP Council area currently around 60 cases per 100,000 with the infection rate expected to rise due to the data coming through local information systems.  The Director of Public Health explained that it was a similar situation in many of the other Councils across the Southwest.  He explained that Southwest England had an infection rate of around 45 cases per 100,000 with the rate for England well over 70 cases per 100,000. The Board was advised that these increases had been predicted through local modelling and the group operating would provide ongoing enhanced surveillance including the work being undertaken around variance of concern. The Director of Public Health reported that all national models had predicted that as we go through step 3 of the roadmap there would be an increase in infection rates however so far based on the information for hospital admissions it looked as if the link between high community infection rates and hospital admissions had been very much weakened.  He reported that he welcomed the pause in the roadmap announced by the Prime Minister as it provided an opportunity to progress the vaccination programme which was progressing extremely well and highlight the importance of rolling out to the younger age groups.  The Board was informed that it was predominantly younger age groups that were seeing the increase in infections. 

The Director of Public Health reported that the Local Outbreak Engagement Board which was a sub-committee of the Health and Wellbeing Board had met yesterday had reviewed the current situation and agreed the communication on key messages.  He highlighted that over the next few weeks the Health Protection Board communication colleagues in both Councils would promote the interventions namely the opportunities to get vaccinated, the importance of having two doses including working with local employers to reinforce messages about the vaccination.  The Director of Public Health also highlighted the need for twice weekly lateral flow tests.

Tim Goodson, Vice Chairman referred to paragraph 7 of the report relating to the unvaccinated in the least and most deprived areas.  He referred to the work being undertaken with community leaders and pop-up clinics to work with minority groups to encourage take up of the vaccination.   Richard Jenkinson GP commented on his experience and the vaccination programme which was currently dealing with 18-year-olds.  He explained that it was becoming more difficult to encourage people to be vaccinated and in particular younger people who do not perceive themselves to be at risk.  Kelly  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9