The Cheshire and Merseyside (C&M) Directors of Public Health (DsPH) currently meet weekly. The key messages from the 10th December meeting are as follows:
UKHSA Surveillance and response report/strategic action
- There is a mixed picture on case numbers with some areas reporting increases and some reporting a decrease; rates in the over 60s remain stable with no significant outbreaks in care homes.
- The highest rates continue to be seen in school age children and evidence of household transmission continues to be seen with increasing case numbers in those aged 30 to 49.
- National conversations continue with regards to Omicron with surveillance studies and epidemiology work continuing around transmission, vaccine efficacy etc, information from which is not expected for 2 to 3 weeks.
Integrated Contact Tracing Pilot
- The lead for this work, Terry Whalley, gave an update on the pilot and outlined some fundamental elements of Cheshire and Merseyside’s integrated approach to contact tracing that will be decided on in the coming weeks and months. The latest information about his pilot can be found here.
Cancer Screening/Alliance update
- The Collaborative’s Cancer Screening Programme and close working with the Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance was highlighted and celebrated by DsPH. The Alliance has introduced many innovative schemes into the area, including a trial of new cancer detecting tests, and the Collaborative’s Cancer Screening Programme has this year recruited eight screening co-ordinators across the subregion.
Good news and gratitude
- Ravi Menghani from the Champs Support Team was recently invited to deliver a presentation on the Champs alcohol harm reduction work at a National OHID meeting, in particular showcasing pilot work undertaken in two local authorities.
- Warrington has been involved in a project with partners around levelling up and tackling health inequalities, the findings of which have been published and presented at a recent LGA Seminar. A copy of the paper can be accessed here.