Agenda and minutes

No apologies were received. The Chairman welcomed the new Manager of HealthWatch City of London, Paul Coles, to his first meeting.

The Chairman noted that it was Carers Week and thanked all carers for their vital work caring people during lockdown.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 28 February 2020.

RESOLVED, That the minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2020 be approved.

Matters arising

The Chairman noted that the opening of the Mental Health Wellbeing Centre had been delayed due to Covid-19, but online therapy sessions were available.  

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services on addressing health inequalities amongst City workers.

Members were informed that that there was ongoing exacerbation for workers concerning the conflict between essential work, isolation, no income or statutory pay. It was agreed that this once hidden worker group was more visible during the pandemic and concerns were raised that that some people within the category had a lack of GP access within the City. A Member suggested offering early and late hours access to such health advice centres.

Healthwatch noted that they were trying to access this group of people and would like to work with the City Corporation on a larger strategy for services to improve access to health care. The Chairman suggested a resolution go to the new BAME Working Party approved by the Policy & Resources Committee. 

A Member asked for clarity regarding the statement that “poor children thrive in poorer areas rather than richer ones”. Officers explained that the report found this to be the case in terms of the children living in poverty across the UK and that inequalities could be narrowed more effectively in the deprived areas.

In response to how the City Corporation could take this agenda forward, Members queried how businesses, whose staff (notably those working early and late hours) needed to have better access to healthcare, could be engaged to prevent inequality for City workers. Officers responded that the focusing on the hidden workforce was an important start in reducing inequalities but also felt that how they were treated when at work was important. Both the Office of National Statistics (ONS) and Public Health England Review on disparities from Covid-19 findings showed a higher proportion of infection amongst BAME and lower socio-economic groups. It was noted that the City

Oral update on the latest position.

The Board received an oral update from Officers relating to issues and matters concerning the Covid-19 pandemic.

Members were informed that there have been 16 confirmed cases of Covid-19 amongst City residents and, at present, no deaths from those registered by City Registrars have been reported. The Board was further advised that there were a small number of people who had passed away whose care was paid for by the City of London but were placed in residential care outside of the City.  

Members were advised that the UK had passed the peak of the disease and London was ahead of the rest of UK in the rate of infection numbers.  No new cases in the City have been reported for a number of weeks and the City are working on a Local Outbreak Control Plan with Hackney London Borough Council with the intention of submitting this to the Central Government by the end of June 2020. It was noted that a lot of work was underway using the local outbreak and track and trace data to refine the services and that the City had a head start on this work with a number of boroughs using the Corporation’s template to develop their own plan. This plan covers care homes, schools and other high-risk settings.   

Officers confirmed that 90% of the City’s rough sleepers were now in accommodation including entrenched rough sleepers. There were 179 people shielding in the City and ongoing support was being provided. In terms of mental health support, some of the services were offered online with a focus on suicide prevention. Significant support has also been offered for bereavement counselling and written, telephone, social media and online communications have been provided to City residents.   

The Board was informed that the Library Service had provided an excellent

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services providing an overview of local developments and policy issues related to the work of the Board where a full report is not necessary.

RECEIVED.

A Member noted the recent improvements in air quality in the City and raised a concern on behalf of a resident concerning the potential to introduce smoke free (cigarette) zones on City streets. Mindful of the City’s commitment to build on air improvements and in compliment to the development of Low Emission Neighbourhoods in the City, the Member suggested that a report be brought to the Board examining the feasibility of introducing Clean Air Zones near residential properties analogous to the Clean Air Zones already in place on private estates, e.g. the Broadgate Estate where there is no smoking.

Members were advised that it was the City’s Street Environment Officers who usually dealt with these issues and that the City Corporation had not been informed by any residents of suffering from smokers outside homes in this area. Officers agreed to look into the matter and follow up with staff in New Street Square to support to the resident that raised the concern, but it was acknowledged that significant criteria would need to apply to implement a PSPO restricting access over a public highway which was unlikely in this case.

A Member queried if there has been a higher update on the stop smoking campaign and services. Officers agreed to come back to the Board with accurate data on the uptake, but initial figures were reporting an increase in smoking and alcohol consumption during lockdown.

Healthwatch City of London Progress Report

Members received a report by Healthwatch City of London providing an update on the progress made since HealthWatch City of London (HWCoL) was established as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in September 2019.

Members were advised that the new manager and other new staff members joined HealthWatch weeks before the lockdown and the new team had worked hard under unusual circumstances. HealthWatch’s main priority has been to gauge the public’s experience of Covid-19 and have produced a number of surveys concerning access to healthcare, mental health support and social care. With regards to dental care, it was noted that mystery shoppers had identified that accessibility was not as being portrayed.

HealthWatch have been offering coffee meetings for carers via Zoom throughout lockdown and continue to work with colleagues in Hackney and Tower Hamlets to help ensure access to healthcare for all.

In response to a query concerning the annual Business Plan, Members were advised that the report was currently being drafted and would come to the next Board meeting.

The Chairman thanked HealthWatch and congratulated staff for adapting so well.

RECEIVED.

MOTION - That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED - That under Section 100A (4) of the  Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 (Schedule 12A) of the Local Government Act.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2020.

RESOLVED, That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2020. be approved.

There were no questions.

There were no items.