The Cheshire & Merseyside (C&M) Directors of Public Health (DsPH) currently meet weekly. The key messages from the 10th September meeting are as follows:
- Developing an Integrated Contact Tracing System for Cheshire and Merseyside – Terry Whalley (Strategic Lead for Integrated Contact Tracing, Champs Support Team) provided an update on progress being made through the DHSC funded programme of work. This programme of work is providing a real opportunity to innovate and test new ways of working to help prevent further COVID-19 transmission with seamless end to end partnership working from local to national level. Sue Perry (Clinical Lead C&M Contact Tracing Hub, PHE) also provided an update on C&M Contact Tracing Hub working arrangements including weekend out of hours cover.
- PHE COVID-19 update – PHE North West updated that rates are rising, especially in 11-19 year olds with increased detection of positive cases now children are back in school and testing has resumed. DsPH are concerned about rising rates through winter and the impact on people, the economy and services, and are collaborating on a paper with PHE on “Prioritising Public Health Action Since the Lifting of Restrictions”.
- Support to schools – DsPH discussed how they and their teams can further support schools as they deal with cases and colleagues will join together to look at a consistent approach.
- Good news and gratitude:
- DsPH thanked everyone involved in the C&M World Suicide Prevention Day event held on 10 September.
- DsPH were pleased to hear that the CIPHA system has been shortlisted in the “Best use of data” category at the HTN Awards 2021.