The Cheshire and Merseyside (C&M) Directors of Public Health (DsPH) currently meet weekly. The key messages from the 1st October COVID-19 response meeting are as follows:
- UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) (formerly PHE) COVID-19 update – All areas are following a similar trend with cases increasing and starting to reach high levels. Hospital occupancy and deaths appear to be decreasing slowly. There is growing concern about increasing rates amongst both primary and secondary school age children and in those aged 40 to 49 years, predominantly women. Further guidance is expected from the Department for Education on schools.
- ADPH representative for Cheshire and Merseyside – Matthew Ashton, DPH Liverpool will be the ADPH representative for Cheshire and Merseyside. The Chair of the Champs DsPH Board, currently Sarah McNulty, will become deputy ADPH representative.
- Good News and Gratitude:
- The DsPH expressed their thanks to Steve Knuckey from St Helens Council for all the excellent work he has done over recent years as he moves to take on a new role in UKHSA.
- Ifeoma Onyia has been appointed Interim DPH for Halton from the post of Acting DPH.
- As UKSHA is launched, the DsPH expressed their huge thanks to all PHE colleagues who have stayed resilient through not only the pandemic, but also through the restructure and establishment of UKSHA.