Slides to follow.

Representatives from the NHS South West London CCG presented an update on its response to the phase 3 recovery from the virus. First, Mark Creelman, Locality Executive Director for Merton and Wandsworth, gave a briefing on the CCG’s response to the first wave of the virus and its preparations for the next anticipated wave (appendix 8). He also advised that with regard to Covid-19 testing, south west London hubs have been set up in all major hospitals in the sub region for primary care staff and their families who are symptomatic. This was a new measure which would assist in identifying who was positive and who would need to isolate.

John Morgan, Assistant Director of Adult Social Care for Merton, updated the Board on work being done on winter preparedness and planning for the next surge in terms of hospital discharges, and people who were shielding. The NHS had provided detailed numbers on those coming to hospital on four different pathways, namely: 0 – those needing no care, 1 – those discharged with home care, 2 – those needing a form of bedrest enablement, and 3 – those needing temporary or long term care until going home. Work had been done with partners CLCH to design pathways in preparation to meet those numbers, and work on the anticipated second surge had commenced with updated numbers from the NHS including the predicted winter planning. With regard to shielding, approximately 7,200 people in Merton were shielding up until the end of July; preparations were being made for shielding patients for a second wave, including working with partners such as supermarkets to fulfil their obligations to provide food. Regarding the impact on care homes, the Care Home Support Team had been commissioned to continue its work until the end of the financial year. Work was also being done with the CCG to look at temporary units where people who had tested positive could go if they could not return to their own care homes or community. This would be a pilot which could be rolled out across south west London.

Dr Vasa Gnanapragasam highlighted some of the challenges that have impacted the productivity of GPs during the pandemic, including having to see patients with a range of illnesses or health needs including mild Covid-19. Whilst GP practice staff had stepped up to meet these challenges, fatigue and fear were also realities faced by practice staff, and it was important that staff took care of themselves.

Further to a query from the Board, Mark Creelan advised that all south west London’s hospitals had submitted trajectories of improvement to pre Covid-19 levels up to the end of October 2020.

Various members of the Board expressed their appreciation to community nurses, care workers and care homes for high quality service they had provided during the pandemic and would continue to do so during the winter and flu months. The Chair also thanked the CCG representatives for the update, noting the excellent work done in the community by the health and care workers.