Agenda item

To receive the health protection update report.

The Public Health Specialist presented the Health Protection Update Report which provided assurance that effective health protection arrangements and governance structures were in place across the Integrated Care Board (ICB), NHS and within the local authority systems. 

It highlighted strong partnership working and demonstrated a clear focus on tackling health inequalities, particularly in relation to vaccination uptake.

A system-wide vaccination group met regularly to review both winter and childhood immunisation programmes and data was used to identify where there was lower vaccination uptake within the community.  Communication, outreach and clinical provision was then tailored to suit. 

NHS resources had provided funding for a health educator to work with local schools to improve the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake and there had been encouraging results, with targeted communication via social media and advertising resulting in 102 of 144 eligible pupils receiving the vaccine.  A further 7 pupils had consented but were absent on the day of the vaccination.  This demonstrated the positive impact of partnership working on vaccination rates.

The Health Protection Team continued to respond to notifiable infectious diseases and maintained strong relationships with schools, care home and other settings and provided advice on outbreak management and infection prevention rates.

Statutory responsibilities continued to be delivered effectively in relation to high-risk food.  Hygiene inspection requirements set by the Foods Standards Agency hand been met as well as private water supply monitoring obligations.

It was also reported that public-facing advice had been updated in relation to aesthetic procedures and national concerns regarding cases of botulism linked to Botox treatments. 

The Service had also undertaken enforcement action resulting in the seizure and destruction of a large quantity of Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) the sale of which was illegal in the UK.

The council had participated in three national and regional pandemic preparedness exercised during the previous year which strengthened local and national resilience arrangements.

In conclusion, members were assured that Telford and Wrekin had well-established health protection arrangements which was supported by effective partnership working. 

During the debate, members of the Board recognised the importance of the health protection activity that had been undertaken and the targeted work in relation to increasing the uptake of vaccination rates. A question was raised regarding the lack of uptake in relation to children in nurseries and if there was any indication that this group of people were reluctant to have their children vaccinated and if it was becoming a trend.  The Board commended the innovative and sustain work undertaken to increase the uptake of the HPV vaccine.   The Board discussed the positive outcomes of public health campaigns and the challenges posed by misinformation.  A question was raised regarding the impact of weight loss medication.

The Public Health Specialist commented that there was increasing hesitancy amongst some parents and officers worked with Family Hubs, nurseries and schools to work to understand the barriers to vaccination.  The focus of the data was to provide accurate information to enable informed decision making rather than mandating vaccination.  Members of the Board were asked to note that vaccination clinics had been delivered within nursery settings to make access easier for parents.  In relation to weight loss medication, it was advised there was currently limited evidence and that they would wait to receive robust research findings before drawing any conclusions.

Representative from the NHS highlighted the work undertaken through maternity and neonatal services to promote vaccination during pregnancy and vaccination rates locally compared favourably to many other areas. 

Members of the Board noted the report.