Cornwall Partners in Care News

These are notes, not official minutes.

Melanie Weatherly is the spokesperson for the Care Association Alliance (CAA). She has regular conference calls with the Minister from the DHSC responsible for social care. (Melanie runs a dom care service in Lincoln) and she is the current joint chair of CAA.

• Melanie had a call yesterday.
• Discussed duties under the care act being suspended by the Covid Act/Bill. This will be up to LAs to decide at what point to suspend the Care Act, and should not be until ‘the peak’ arrives. To make the decision the LA and the elected member for social care have to agree, and then service users and providers/regulated services have to be notified. This will only be done if absolutely necessary. We should ask the senior person in the LA ‘what is the process here’.
• A question remains about two rights under the Human Rights Act – Right to Life, and Right to a family life (are we the family now, or are they entitled to see own family)- Mei-Ling – Best Interests decisions for now.
• Hereford has removed low level support – thought to be in breach as the Care Act has not been suspended yet.
• Update PEEPS/Fire Regulatory Reform Act conflicts with Public Health England/evacuation strategy
• Dementia – protection of others from Covid positive with dementia – do we have to start thinking about locks on doors/think fire.

1. Testing – don’t hold your breath. Discussion re identity so we get test results quickly; digital process for sharing results; pilots have been taking place but on registered care staff (for that, read NHS; don’t think we exist)
2. PPE – Now four holding centres filtering out through four main suppliers (names will be provided). Something called CLIPPER (via Amazon) DHSC to order PPE going live on 6th?. Not yet decided whether this is to be free or to be paid for. Still deciding if raising invoices is too complex and should be CHC/NHS.
3. Funding – Nadra Ahmed hijacked the meeting with too much detail and took up time. However, £1.6B given to LAs to support social care/ADASS given for covid costs for social care - not LA coffers. Should be in their bank by end of week. S/C includes children, homeless. Can cover additional agency use due to covid related staff absences.
   One contributor suggested that some of this money for social care should be ‘hosted’ by the trade association. Other matters raised:
   • SSP two weeks only re shielding – Melanie said she had raised this with the Minister and it’s now on their radar
   • Clinical waste cannot be kept in bedrooms – lots of comments from members of the group about this
   • Hospital discharge pathways – guidance was released last week. Suspect aggro between LGA/LG, and CCGs
   • Some members were saying:
     • Some discharges – take nobody and will they survive (the business if they take no-one?)
     • Medium risk in middle? What to do?
     • Symptomatic but likely to survive in right setting
     • People who aren’t going to make it – if not in intensive care, should die at home/own care home – dignity

   One GP told a provider they should be holding body bags. In case undertakers become overwhelmed and take a long time to arrive. (I asked local meeting later – emphatic no response)

   Suggest PPE should be sent home (from hospital) with the person, in the same way as meds.

   Something about ‘Project Echo’ – something between hospices and GPs on palliative care and support

   Not enough syringe drivers/diamorphine – national/world shortage – will be fentanyl patches; licensing to hold ‘stock’ for anticipatory meds Protocol training for palliative care/PPE pathway – ask locally for permission to share.