Minutes:
Members were updated on the work primary care have been doing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The update also provided an overview of care homes and expectations for the future. The presentation was delivered by Dr Graeme Syers, Clinical Chair of Northumberland CCG. Report attached as Appendix C.
Dr Graeme Syers outlined how GP practices have managed capacity. The CCG had been undertaking a twice-weekly SitReps with practices to monitor issues and provide proactive support and advice. GP practices had been receiving additional support from NHSE/I via the General Practice COVID Capacity Expansion fund; this had allowed the CCG to deploy more resources, such as additional staff, to GP practice to help keep services running and help support national programs. NHSE/I also increased income protection to free up capacity so practices could deliver the COIVD-19 vaccination program.
Dr Syers showed the Committee a table that highlighted how primary care had coped over given weeks in areas such as patient demand, staff absence, service levels, hot patient demand and, availability of PPE. Patient demand had been affected by the lockdowns with many patients staying away from practices during the first lockdown leading to a surge in the summer. There had not been the same type of reduction during the current lockdown as there had been during the first lockdown. This had caused some pressure on services but nothing too serious. In relation to PPE availability the Committee were told that whilst there had been some problems during the first lockdown there had been no issues in the recent week. Overall, GP practices had coped well with demand with 7 out of 37 practices having expected some unexpected pressure but being able to manage this internally. These figures were similar to what had been reported throughout the pandemic.
Community mental health services had been under pressure and work had been done to help support these services. COVID related staff absences (vaccination side-effects/asymptomatic staff testing) continued to add some pressure to services.
The Joint Outbreak Control Group had been involved in managing outbreaks at care homes. All residents in care homes had been offered vaccinations apart from those who had recently had COVID and must wait 4 weeks before they can be offered the vaccine. Dr Syers stressed the importance of infection, prevention and control, especially in light of the new COVID-19 variant. Within the next week or two all vaccinated residents will see the benefit of their vaccine and some problems will cease to exist.
This system of designated commissioned beds for discharge had worked well and allowed residents to be placed in the most appropriate care home setting. There had been no reported problems with bed blocking.
The Committee were informed about the impact of long COVID and the effect it can have on patients. Dr Syers pointed out that long COVID did not affect everyone who had had COVID and did not affect everyone in the same way. There had been clinics set up in Northumberland for GPs to refer people suffering from long COVID in to.
The Oximetry@Home system were helping to get oximeters to people at home who were suffering from breathlessness. This allowed GPs to check results twice a week without the need for patients to travel to GP practices. This scheme would be rolled out across all of Northumberland. CVWs have allowed people to be monitored at home, fortunately, Northumberland had not seen the levels needed for this system, but the Committee were assured that the system was there should it be needed.
The important next steps were to continue to keep GP services running and whilst mental health had not been mentioned in the presentation, the CCG were aware of its importance and were supporting mental health services.
The Chair thanked Dr Syers for his detailed report and the work of the CCG.
The following comments were made in response to questions raised by members:-
• Regarding Oximetry@home – It was important that people fully understand how to use oximeters at home with support.
• Mental health waiting times – There were different levels of mental health support and TalkingMinds had had additional resources to support them. Community mental health teams have had to adapt and have been doing a lot more remote working which provides new challenges. The CCG receive regular SitReps from the mental health services.
• Travel for vaccinations – The Pfizer vaccine required people to travel but the Oxford vaccine is more flexible. This has allowed PCNs to look at alternative ways for people to travel.
RESOLVED that the report be noted