Agenda item

The Director of Public Health will provide the Commission with a verbal update.

The Director of Public Health gave a verbal update of the latest position of health protection, and it was noted that:

In response to questions and comments from Members, it was noted that:

·       Discussions were ongoing with University Hospitals Leicester (UHL) on safe discharge for residents in care homes.

·       The flu vaccine uptake in schools remained poor, particularly in secondary schools, despite the aim of protecting older and vulnerable individuals via the school programme. A new procurement process was underway, due to start in September 2025.

·       Changes to Covid and flu vaccination delivery were expected from the Integrated Care Board (ICB) in the coming months. Members highlighted the importance of addressing stark inequalities in vaccination uptake within the city.

·       It was noted that funding for the roving vaccination unit had been significantly reduced, resulting in a more limited service despite a broader range of service needs and targets.

·       The new vaccine season was due to begin in April 2025.

·       Since the last meeting, additional staff had joined the service monitoring tuberculosis (TB), and a record number of tests had been carried out. An emerging strategy was in development, supported by increased attention and a new East Midlands TB board. Leicester continued to have the highest TB rates in the country.

·       Stark inequalities persisted, and future updates were expected on work with the VCSE sector to support the vaccination programme and build long-term improvements.

·       Leicester’s TB data, when compared to similar cities, remained high, and the trend had continued over the past year.

·       There had been a few suspected cases of measles in the city, however none had been confirmed. Investigations had taken place, and there were currently no concerns.

·       MMR vaccine uptake had shown a slight improvement over the last quarter. A significant amount of work was ongoing, though members agreed that a stronger grip was still needed. There were concerns about potential future resource reductions and their implications for the programme.

·       Covid rates had declined, and there were no immediate concerns.

·       Flu uptake across LLR showed significant variation, with uptake in the city reported as half the rate seen elsewhere. Members agreed this was unacceptable and needed to be addressed, particularly as many services and conditions were affected by social deprivation.

In response to questions and comments from Members, it was noted that:

·       Tackling health inequalities was highly important, members raised concerns about the lack of funding. They questioned whether more honesty was needed with the public, acknowledging that without sufficient resources, change in the city would be extremely difficult.

·       Leicester had previously outperformed the national average on MMR uptake 10 years ago, suggesting that differences in system-level spending decisions played a critical role. The need to reassess how resources were prioritised and allocated across the system was important.

·       Concerns were raised on the low flu vaccination uptake in children in the city. It was noted that new staff had been appointed to work with communities and promote vaccine programmes through champions and ICB networks. The efforts already underway were praised and work would continue for increased effort and resources to change the current trajectory.

·       Another factor adding to the low uptake of vaccinations was the growing influence of conspiracy theories online and the challenge this presented to public health messaging.

·       Members noted Black Maternal Health Awareness Week and raised serious concerns about the disparity in outcomes, including data showing that Black women were three times more likely to die during pregnancy. It was agreed that this information should be widely shared among members and the public.

·       The importance of schools in educating families about health was a missed opportunity to engage with expectant mothers early and recommended that health education begin during pregnancy.

·       Concerns were raised for NHS staff working under increasingly difficult circumstances. Members acknowledged that staff were ordinary people facing job insecurity and difficult conditions, expressing empathy and support for their efforts.

·       Members asked for details on the impact of the funding cuts. It was noted that while details were not yet available, the ICB was in the process of developing plans that would require 33% savings across LLR. This would have significant implications and confirmed that NHS England had been absorbed into the Department of Health and Social Care. The situation was both important and troubling.

AGREED:

·       The Commission noted the report.

·       Decision-makers responsible for funding and service changes to attend the next meeting to ensure the city was not left behind.