Agenda item

Refresh of the Local Outbreak Plan

Minutes:

The Board was updated on Oldham’s Local Outbreak Management Plan (LOMP) for Covid-19 and considered the refreshed version of the Plan.  While local authorities have an ongoing statutory responsibility to have LOMPs in place for responding to emergencies in their areas, they had been tasked by Government to produce specific plans by, in the first instance, the end of June 2020 in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

 

All local authorities had been asked to review and update their LOMP in March 2021 to incorporate the learning of the past nine months, to plan for the next phase of the response, to account for the associated funding, and to reflect potential changes in local roles, responsibilities and resources. The refresh also presented an opportunity to identify and share good practice and to reflect developments since the original plans were produced.  Oldham’s LOMP had been reviewed and an updated version produced accordingly, in line with guidance provided by NHS Test and Trace for the refresh of plans.

 

The updated Plan was shared with the Contain Regional Partnership Team on 12th March 2021. NHS Test and Trace had acknowledged that the timeframe given for the refresh might not have allowed local systems to seek the necessary sign-off for their plans through the appropriate governance structures and, as such, there was an opportunity to amend and further develop the Plan in response to any feedback provided by the Board.  The Regional Partnership Team would next review the Oldham Plan in order to gather information about good practice, issues, risks and opportunities to inform discussions with central Government.

 

Members of the Board expressed thanks to the Director of Public Health and to all the staff and partners who had contributed to the refresh exercise over the short timescale provided.  It was noted that the Plan needed to be a dynamic document that could be adjusted to reflect both new circumstances and new learning.  Greater awareness of working across Oldham had been gained through the pandemic, while there had been much learning and increased understanding of the impact of inequalities on health outcomes.  An Inequalities Advisory Group had been established which was developing an Equalities Strategy and a Multi-Agency Poverty Action Plan which, alongside the LOMP, would enhance the recognition of and response to inequalities.

 

The work that had been developed to assist those with no digital access in being able to access support, including to Covid testing and vaccination, was supported.  Noting reference to the development of communications with regard to financial support for those required to isolate, it was asked if this could include clear pathways for those applying for support.  This issue was acknowledged, it being noted that it was also important people were aware of the availability of support before it was needed.  People were concerned about job security which financial support alone would not resolve and work around this issue was needed with employers.

 

The Board was advised that Healthwatch had circulated the draft report arising from their Covid Survey for comment to those organisations identified within the recommendations and those in receipt of the draft were urged to respond.  The final report would be published following receipt and consideration of responses received.  Earlier comments made regarding inequalities were referenced, with the importance of having the patient experience and engagement considered and reflected in the addressing of inequalities being advised, along with the support this could provide in getting community support for a range of activities such as social prescribing and developments in primary care.

 

While recognising what had been done well to date, it was commented that the Board needed to consider what would be done differently in response any future pandemic, reflecting on those lives lost and those who were still suffering and ensuring that learning would produce different, better results.  The experience of the first lockdown, where people were more likely to seek and get support from family, friends and their local community, was noted and it was suggested that this support approach had been lost over time.  There was a need to look to opportunities to re-invigorate such activity and support.

 

RESOLVED that the refreshed Oldham Local Outbreak Management Plan be endorsed.

 

Supporting documents: