The Cheshire and Merseyside (C&M) Directors of Public Health (DsPH) currently meet weekly. The key messages from the 4th February meeting are as follows:
- Future working with ICS (C&M Health & Care Partnership) – The DsPH were joined by Graham Urwin, Designate CEO of the C&M HCP for the first time as a Collaborative group. The DsPH gave a presentation of collective work on improving health and reducing inequalities as well as recent work on the COVID-19 response. Graham gave an overview of the current status of the ICS with recruitment currently taking place for Place based directors and a number of developmental workshops being held to determine the nature of the ICS, with the priorities and governance also being reviewed. Graham welcomed DsPH input into identification of future ICS priorities and will attend future DsPH meetings periodically to keep connected.
- UKHSA COVID-19 update – Case numbers continue to fall across C&M but still remain very high in school age children, particularly primary school age. Hospital admissions continue to fall, however some areas are now seeing an increase in death rates due to the time lag. Care homes outbreaks are decreasing and the situation in prisons is improving where outbreaks can now be declared over after 14 days. Reinfections in December and January were mainly as a result of Omicron. All North West areas are experiencing similar reinfection rates.
- DsPH and senior leaders planning session – DsPH reviewed the report from the planning session held with senior leaders in January and several next steps have been identified and endorsed by DsPH. These include working with the ICS to embed Marmot principles and tackle health inequalities, reviewing data to inform future priorities, promoting workforce development opportunities and workforce wellbeing.
- Good News and Gratitude
- The DsPH expressed their thanks to the Champs Support Team for arranging the thank you cards/emails which have been issued to public health teams.
- The ‘Art of Brilliance’ wellbeing event held Friday 28th January was well attended and well received and thanks were expressed to all of those involved in arranging the session.
- The Champs Collaborative entry to the LGC awards has been submitted today, providing a comprehensive outline of the work of the Collaborative.