Agenda item

To receive an update in respect of the above.

Jan Thurgood, Corporate Director presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book on the development of the coronavirus care home support plan.

The Corporate Director highlighted the impact across communities and in care homes of the sad loss of life due to Covid and in particular for the families and staff who have been affected. She wanted to recognise the tremendous contribution, effort and professionalism of all care staff and leaders and to thank them for all their work.

The Board was informed that the Government had announced on 14 May 2020 a national care home support package.  She explained this required Councils, NHS and care providers to work together to develop the Local Care Home Support Plan.  The Plan was designed to prevent the spread of Covid 19 into and within Care Homes and would cover issues such as PPE, accommodation available in care homes, how staff were used, clinical support given to care homes and testing available for residents and staff. The Corporate Director reported that a draft plan had been submitted regionally to NHS England and Local Government on 29 May 2020.  She explained that the plan would be published when a process of regional and national evaluation had been completedin the coming weeks. The Corporate Director reported on the provision of PPE and that all Care Homes were reporting that they had sufficient PPE which was a mark of the collective work undertaken across the Local Resilience Forum, the Council and the sector.  The Board was informed that the Government had made available resources through the infection control fund which would be passported to the Adult Social Care sector, 75% of the funding to care homes for infection control measures for staff with 25% allocated based on local discretion.

The Director of Public Health reported on national testing in care homes and the registration of care homes for testing kits.

Sally Sandcraft reported that in terms of the NHS there was a strong recognition of the need to support care homes.  She explained that the key strategy was how to identify those who were most vulnerable and to provide the necessary care they need. Ms Sandcraft reported on the acceleration of the work programme of enhancing support in care home.  She reported on the prescriptive nature of the NHS England advice which had proved challenging.  Sally reported that the LRF chair would now be provided with the clinical lead for each care home which fits alongside the proposal for a Primary care network to be aligned to each care home in the BCP area.

The Chairman referred to the nature of the tests which seemed to be very invasive and the frequency of testing in care homes.  The Director of Public Health commented and informed the Board that testing cannot be done in care homes without supporting them and understanding the context.  He explained that this area would be kept under review.  He also reported on the development of the Local Outbreak Management Plan which would address ongoing testing and where it was focussed.

The Director of Public Health in response to a question on the timescale for results of Covid tests reported that the turnaround was improving but that this area would be monitored.

In view of the feedback from care homes on the availability of PPE a Member suggested that an email be sent to all Councillors to provide reassurance on access to PPE locally. 

RESOLVED that

(a)  the Board reviewed the implementation of the national care home support package in the BCP area.

(b)  at this stage there were no additional significant actions identified which will assist in the implementation of the local care home support plan.

(c)  The Board be circulated with the final local care home support plan when it has been published and requests a further report on the implementation of support to local care homes. 

Voting – agreed