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Agenda and minutes

Contact: Samineh Richardson  020 7527 3252

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Introductions

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and members and officers introduced themselves.

2.

Apologies for Absence

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Jeapes and Councillor Clarke.

3.

Declaration of Substitute Members

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Burgess substituted for Councillor Clarke.  

4.

Declarations of Interest

If you have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest* in an item of business:

§  if it is not yet on the council’s register, you must declare both the existence and details of it at the start of the meeting or when it becomes apparent;

§  you may choose to declare a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest that is already in the register in the interests of openness and transparency. 

In both the above cases, you must leave the room without participating in discussion of the item.

If you have a personal interest in an item of business and you intend to speak or vote on the item you must declare both the existence and details of it at the start of the meeting or when it becomes apparent but you may participate in the discussion and vote on the item.

 

*(a)Employment, etc - Any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for profit or gain.

 (b)Sponsorship - Any payment or other financial benefit in respect of your expenses in carrying out

  duties as a member, or of your election; including from a trade union.

 (c)Contracts - Any current contract for goods, services or works, between you or your partner (or a body

 in which one of you has a beneficial interest) and the council.

 (d)Land - Any beneficial interest in land which is within the council’s area.

 (e)Licences- Any licence to occupy land in the council’s area for a month or longer.

 (f)Corporate tenancies - Any tenancy between the council and a body in which you or your partner have

  a beneficial interest.

 (g)Securities - Any beneficial interest in securities of a body which has a place of business or land in the council’s area, if the total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body or of any one class of its issued share capital. 

 

This applies to all members present at the meeting.

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

None.

5.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 358 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 17 March 2022 be agreed as a correct record and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

6.

Chair's Report

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Minutes:

The Chair welcomed all new members joining the committee and said he looked forward to working with them over the next year.

 

The Chair thanked previous chairs, Councillor Jeapes, Councillor Klute and Councillor Gantly for their work over recent years.

 

7.

Public Questions

For members of the public to ask questions relating to any subject on the meeting agenda under Procedure Rule 70.5. Alternatively, the Chair may opt to accept questions from the public during the discussion on each agenda item.

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Minutes:

The Chair advised that any questions from the public would be considered as part of each agenda item.

8.

Membership and Terms of Reference pdf icon PDF 139 KB

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Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the membership appointed by Annual Council on 26 May 2022, terms of reference and dates of meetings of the Health and Care Scrutiny Committee for the municipal year 2022/23, be approved as set out at Appendix A to the report submitted.

9.

Update on Covid-19

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Jonathan O’Sullivan, Director of Public Health, provided an update on Covid-19.

 

The level of infections had fallen over recent months, however it was acknowledged that due to free universal testing ending the data was not directly comparable to earlier in the pandemic.

 

Across North Central London, approximately 45 people were currently hospitalised with Covid-19 as the primary cause for their admission; whereas around 120 people were currently in hospital for another reason, however were testing positive for Covid. It was thought that the wave of Omicron peaked in Islington around mid-March.

 

The number of people seeking vaccination had fallen over recent months, however a small number of people every day were receiving their first vaccination. Anecdotally, it was thought that this was partially being driven by demand for international travel and differing rules in different countries.

 

Some vaccination centres had closed due to reduced demand, however pop-up vaccination clinics were still being held and work was underway to raise awareness of these. There was an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions about vaccination at the events.

 

A booster vaccination programme would take place in the autumn and would be targeted at those aged over 65, health and care workers, and those aged over 16 who were clinically susceptible to Covid-19.

 

Following a question, it was thought that levels of infection would rise again in the autumn, and in particular the BA.4 and BA.5 variants of Omicron were becoming increasing prevalent. However, there was a high level of immunity in the population and, unless there was another new variant of concern, it was thought that levels of serious illness would not be as high as previous waves. In the case of a new variant, it was thought that the government would need to review protective measures and advice, however a further lockdown was considered to be an unlikely scenario.

 

Following a question about Long Covid, it was advised that those who had been vaccinated were approximately half as likely to report Long Covid symptoms. It was advised that a report on this could be shared with committee members. The condition affected more women than men and had a range of impacts. There were around 1,500 to 1,800 experiencing Long Covid locally. The first Long Covid clinic in the country was based at UCLH.

 

Finally, it was noted that two people had been recognised in the Queen’s Jubilee Birthday Honours for their work during the pandemic. Tina Jegede, Nurse Lead for Care Home Quality at Islington Council and Joint Director of Race, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Whittington Health NHS Trust, had been awarded an MBE for her services for social care in Islington. Oliur Rahman, a volunteer Islington Covid Health Champion, had been recognised for his contribution to the Islington community during Covid-19, and was awarded a British Empire Medal. The Committee expressed their thanks and best wishes to both Tina and Oliur.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.

Health and Wellbeing Board Update

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Turan provided a brief update. The approval of the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment had been delegated to the Director of Public Heath for approval. The Board had also discussed their future work programme for the year. The Health and Wellbeing Board would next meet on 28 June.

 

11.

Selection of Scrutiny Review Topic 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 115 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair suggested a scrutiny topic on Adult Social Care and looking specifically at the Care Act, challenges and opportunities associated with it, and future developments in services.

 

A discussion was had about the impact of scrutiny and the possible outcomes from such a review. It was suggested that the committee could assess the robustness of the council’s plans and provide constructive challenge on the directorate’s proposals for future developments in service. It was also suggested that engagement with residents, service users and those with experience of care services would be an important aspect.

 

A brief discussion was had on the importance of transitions from children’s to adult social care services.

 

It was suggested that models of service delivery should be considered alongside future developments in service provision.  

 

It was requested that any background material be circulated to the committee prior to the review commencing.

 

The proposed topic was approved. It was agreed that a more detailed scope would be drafted ahead of the October meeting. 

12.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 149 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was advised that the meeting previously scheduled for 29 September would take place on 4th October.

 

The Committee requested a further item on any health implications arising from census data.

 

The Committee requested an update on access to GP surgeries to be submitted to a future meeting.

 

It was requested that an update on access to NHS dentists be submitted to a future meeting.

 

It was agreed that updates on Covid-19 should only be received when required in light of major developments.

 

It was advised that the scrutiny topic on the Care Act would commence at the October meeting.

 

Subject to the above amendments, the draft work programme was approved. It was noted that the work programme would continue to be updated throughout the year.