The Sub-Committee received a report that outlined what support has been provided to older people’s care homes in Tower Hamlets, throughout the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic and the actions that have been taken to date and priority areas for the future the main points arising from the discussions maybe summarised as follows:

The Committee noted that:

v  The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of the support that has been provided to older people’s care homes in Tower Hamlets, throughout the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic.

v  When the global pandemic had been declared in mid-March 2020 it had resulted in a high level of infections and mortality across the globe.  One of the key trends that emerged both in the UK and internationally was the number of deaths occurring in care homes, particularly at the onset of the pandemic. 

v  The Borough led the support efforts to the five older people’s care homes commissioned in the borough during this challenging time:

v  Throughout the duration of the pandemic, Tower Hamlets has experienced infection outbreaks (classed as two or more cases reported within a 14-day period), at various points in time, in all five of the older people’s care homes.  As of 31st December 2021, the care homes have reported 38 deaths related to Covid-19.  Whilst 30 of those residents having died in their care home and 8 in hospital. 

v  The age-specific mortality rate was higher for care home residents aged 85 and over than for non-care home residents for deaths involving Covid and for all deaths. Which it was noted was to be expected among care home residents than non-care home residents, even taking age into account, since poor health or frailty being a common reason for needing residential care.

v  The latest report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) had indicated that there has been a total of 25 Covid-19 related deaths in care homes in Newham, 26 in Tower Hamlets and 18 in Waltham Forest.  However, it was important to note that the ONS dataset differs to the Tower Hamlets figures as the ONS dataset commences from 10th April 2020, whereas the Tower Hamlets dataset begins from 28th March 2020

v  Whilst data that related to for all deaths in care homes from the ONS it was recognised that the data does not capture the numbers of care home residents that had died in hospital, both of which it was noted are reflected in the Tower Hamlets dataset

v  It was important to capture the lessons learnt about the symptoms, progression, and management of this viral infection in the older population.  Therefore, the Council had initiated and completed a learning review.  This review had identified the following areas of good practice (1) the Council has led a proactive response, frequently going beyond national guidance and anticipating future guidance bulletins; (2) positive partnership working at both the strategic and operational levels; (3) a strong commitment to multi-disciplinary and multi-agency learning; the lead GPs and Infection Control Nurse in particular were highlighted as key resources by the care home providers; and (4) embracing of digital and online technology as a new way of working

v  The review had made the following recommendations to be implemented by the Care Homes Bronze Group: (a) to build on good partnership working to develop a multi-agency and multi-disciplinary Covid-19 or pandemic pathway with detailed and clearly defined roles for different agencies to address any future wave of the virus or new pandemic as part of the Tower Hamlets Outbreak Control Plan; (b) to develop a formal communication strategy to promote the pathway to a range of agencies and to families and carers, identifying a clear role for the voluntary sector in engaging with and hearing the voices of service users and their families who are necessarily powerfully impacted by the situation.

v  The key priority over the coming month would be the implementation of vaccinations; with the focus being on increasing uptake amongst staff and agreeing timelines and logistics for the administration of second doses.  In addition, the support referred to above will need to be maintained, with outbreak prevention and management continuing to be the primary goal. 

v  Whilst attitudes across most of the population becoming more positive towards Covid-19 vaccination there is still hesitancy among some groups, including the BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) communities and those living in the most deprived areas of the Borough.

v  The local public health partnership is working proactively to reduce vaccine hesitancy amongst the BAME residents in the Borough to take up the vaccine as the national rollout continues.

v  With high number of residents from the BAME communities in the Borough being more hesitant at receiving the new vaccine it was important to address vaccine hesitancy among the BAME community, otherwise it would worsen already poor health, social and economic outcomes in this community.

The Chair then Moved, and it was resolved to:

1. Note the contents of the report