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 - 8th January 2021

The first meeting of the New Year took place with Jonathon, Val and Derek Hoddinott. Mary and Phil were there followed later by myself and Christine, as there was some confusion regarding the start time!!! We discussed the following;

1/ The current Covid situation in Cornwall was discussed and the fact that the new variant had significantly increased the R rate. Occupancy at RCHT was currently above 90% and was projected to approach 100% over the next 10 days. There was similar pressure in the Community hospitals, although the outbreak in West Cornwall was under control so that some wards had reopened.The Nightingale Hospital in Exeter would not be used for Cornwall cases although could be used to decant patients from Derriford. Elective cases were being curtailed at Derriford Hospital.

2/ Cornwall Care were assisting with local hospital overflow, although other providers were urged to make capacity available and CPIC were asked to circulate this message, together with the need to keep the Capacity Tracker updated with accurate information. It was recognised that throughput to release capacity within blocked beds was another necessity, although limitations with social worker and rehab input were recognised which meant that discharges were not always occuring within the 6 week target period.Mary stated that Virtual Ward arrangements might help with this, and it was suggested that this concept could be extended to Care at Home. Jonathon stated that the bed bureau arrangements had been streamlined. 

3/ Phil made the point that vaccinations were not being made available to his staff because GPs were unable to recognise them as Key workers, and Jonathon agreed to raise this. Mary also stated that PCN shortfalls should be identified, with details forwarded to Stewart Smith for resolution. Val stated that work was ongoing to provide vaccination arrangements in hard to access areas.

4/ Christine stated that a number of Providers were recruiting staff over the telephone with little or no face to face contact. Val proposed circulation of good practice guidance, and also to look into the possibility of providing Council accommodation to enable safe socially distant recruitment. It was stated that recruitment had picked up in the New Year but Christine stated that this was essential to maintain sustainability of service to fill gaps created due to sickness and stress.

5/ It was noted that a Care at Home workshop was due to take place at 2pm to see how additional capacity can be created. It was noted that there were high EOL requests,and that a previous proposal had suggested a separate element within the DPS for these cases which had not been progressed. Jonathon suggested a small working group to consider this further. Mary suggested an update on the Marie Curie initiative for Dom Care.

Phil stated that he was still receiving spurious requests for care packages,and it was felt that Locality discussions could focus on how to eliminate these.