Cornwall Partners in Care News

Cornwall Partners in Care hold weekly briefings with Cornwall Council and Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation trust. These meetings involve Jonathan Price (Joint Director Adult Care and Health for Cornwall Council and NHS Kernow) and Phil Confue (Chief Executive of Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation trust), as well as David Smith (CPIC Chairman) and representatives from the CPIC Committee.

Daily update - 20th November 2020

The meeting today was with Jonathan and Val Smith, with myself, Mary Christine and Phil.

We discussed the following;

1/ The daily update can be distributed to the CPIC membership in addition to Committee members.

2/ Mary requested guidance from the Director of Public Health to manage public expectations in respect of visiting.

3/ Mary was concerned regarding restrictions on staff moving between Care Homes which could become a legal requirement in the near future. Jonathon stated that they had fed the Council response through ADASS and Mary agreed to forward her comments onto Val so they could also be taken into account.

4/ A plan regarding mass Covid 19 vaccinations was being worked on next week, with all Care Home residents and staff and those aged 80 and above being the first priority.A fact sheet should become available shortly for circulation to residents. It was noted that GP Surgeries are likely to administer the vaccines. It was felt that the programme should be spread out so that the implications of any side effects would not be felt at the same time..It was agreed that Care Homes need to be represented at the planning group meetings.

5/ Designated spaces for Covid 19 cases are in community hospitals.Mary asked if there was any flexibility for EOL cases to return to a Care Home within the two week isolation period, and Jonathon agreed to ask the question so that an agreed policy could be discussed with families.

6/ Tamsin Anderson and Stewart Smith are looking at progressing the concept of "virtual wards" in Care Home settings, and it was suggested that this could be achieved by setting up a pilot. There was a need to look into proven treatments such as Oxygen concentrators for people not being admitted to hospital. Jonathon stated that Phil Confue from the NHS had been sourcing these. 

7/ The number of Covid cases in Cornwall remains well below the national average, and there are no plans to re establish the Discharge Lounges,with increased STEPS provision assisting with capacity in the short term. Jonathon urged the sector to remain vigilant  to prevent complacency.

8/Christine voiced her concern that professionals visiting homes for non essential reasons were an infection risk, and that Providers should be consulted before such visits take place. Jonathon asked Christine and Mary to produce a list of visits which could be avoided to reduce potential infections. Jonathon confirmed that Cornwall Council does not intend to impose restrictions on Christmas decorations, as other Local Authorities have declared them to be an infection risk.

9/ Phil confirmed that PPE deliveries through the Portal were now in line with his workload which had resulted in increased quantities being made available.

10/ Jonathon asked for the sector to consider the implications of any supply disruptions as a result of Brexit. It was confirmed that PPE and Medicines would be Category 1 items so will be given priority. It was noted that spare parts for essential equipment could be at risk of disruption, so Providers are urged to consider their maintenance requirements before the end of the year.

Food provision could also be disrupted which could be exacerbated by panic buying. Providers are asked to consider other implications which can then be fed back to Jonathon.

11/ It was noted that Barchester are advertising for a Manager for its new home in Falmouth. It was noted that the opening of this home could divert staff away from existing Home and Community provision.

12/ The current Proud to Care recruitment campaign with telephone triage is due to run for another 10 weeks. Feedback will be provided to measure the success of the scheme, although it was noted that there had been little impact on the "hot spots" of Penzance and east of the County, and Val agreed to see if there could be a specific "push" in these areas.