Paul Jennings provided the following update on
the local NHS system:
- There were currently approximately
1000 patients who were Covid-19 positive, admitted to
hospital.
- They had a third more people
admitted to hospital than at the first peak of the pandemic. The
average age of people currently in the Intensive Care Units was 58
years.
- There was significant pressure on
their Intensive Therapy Unit, with just under 150 patients
currently receiving intensive care, with a further 30 people
seriously ill who were being admitted.
- There had been a fantastic response
from the health system overall, both in terms of the mutual aid in
place between hospitals, as well as from staff redeployed from
other areas.
- There had also been a great response
from Community Services, as well as the Social Care sector, in
ensuring people got the necessary support beyond hospital.
Paul Jennings provided the following update on
the delivery of the local vaccination programme:
- Vaccines were being rolled out very
quickly, with a really well organised system in Solihull. Their
capacity to deliver vaccines continued to grow – there were
27 local vaccination sites locally within Solihull and Birmingham,
whilst a number of hospital hubs were providing vaccines also.
- The CCG’s focus on vaccines
was very clear, with strong guidance from the Joint Committee on
Vaccinations and Immunisations in regards to priority groups. The
CCG was initially focusing on delivering to the over 80’s,
residents in Care Homes, people who were housebound, as well as
Health and Social Care staff. The importance of vaccinating staff
was emphasised, to help ensure they were available to deliver the
programme.
- At Birmingham Millennium Point, they
had opened their first vast vaccination site – they intended
to gradually increase the capacity of this site, with the potential
of delivering up to 2,500 vaccinations a day there.
- Paul Jennings expressed his thanks
to Primary Care, emphasising the volume of work being undertaken to
support the delivery of vaccines in addition to managing ongoing
winter pressures.
Councillor Grinsell also expressed her thanks
to all Health and Social Care staff, as well as the Primary Care
sector, for all their work in supporting people suffering with
Covid-19, as well as the delivery of the vaccination programme.
Members raised the following questions:
- GianjeetHunjan, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health
Foundation Trust, sought assurances there were appropriate support
mechanisms in place for all staff, due to the significant
challenges they faced in supporting patients.
- Paul Jennings
confirmed there was a clear set of support mechanisms in place for
staff, including mental health support. They were conscious that
many staff members had faced traumatic circumstances over the last
few months – Paul Jennings emphasised the strong links they
had with the Mental Health Foundation Trust, who were also
providing ongoing support.
- GianjeetHunjan detailed how, in regards to the vaccination
programme, there appeared to be a lot of misinformation on social
media regarding the content of vaccines – she queried what
action could be undertaken here, to encourage uptake of the vaccine
amongst all groups.
- Paul Jennings
detailed how there had been clear communications from the
manufacturers regarding the content of the vaccine. He highlighted
how there was a significant amount of engagement work being
undertaken to encourage uptake of the vaccine, including with faith
groups and community leaders.
- Ruth Tennant detailed
how they’d been closely working with a Community Champions
network, which included faith leaders and met on a weekly basis.
This had been very helpful, both in terms of understanding
peoples’ concerns as well as sharing information. They were
also considering a health inequalities framework for the delivery
of the vaccine programme, to help monitor uptake and identify
whether any groups may need additional support.