a) Environmental Health
b) Nottinghamshire Police
c) Health
Minutes:
Paul Dales, Safer Business, Food and Health and Safety Manager, Nottingham City Council gave an update on the work of the Environmental Health, Community Protection and Trading Standards Teams. He highlighted the following information:
a) Over the past week there have been 239 business compliance checks carried out, 10 of which have arisen from complaints. In addition, there has been a lot of routine monitoring taking place. 11 non-compliant businesses were found and the Teams have sought their compliance. There have been some closure requests.
b) Data is gathered daily and reported every week. Overall the picture is positive and the majority of businesses are being proactive in complying with the regulations.
c) Additional support has been obtained from the Health and Safety Executive Local Authority Covid Spotchecks Team and this will be focused on enforcement in the warehouse sector. Spot checks will be carried out to review risk assessments, provide advice and where necessary refer non-compliance back so that enforcement action can be undertaken. This is helping to provide good oversight of the sector.
During subsequent discussion the following points were raised:
d) Some of the non-compliance breaches have been because some businesses have failed to understand that the new regulations apply to their sector. The regulations are complex and, where necessary, businesses have been supported to understand how the regulations apply to them. Most cases relate to a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of the regulations, but occasionally it is wilful misunderstanding.
e) Many of the complaints received have related to non-compliance with social distancing and wearing face coverings, as has been the case throughout.
f) It would be helpful to publicise where enforcement action has been taken to raise awareness and provide reassurance.
g) There is a focus on hand car washes to offer advice and support. The regulations are complex and many of the sites do not have experienced managers and therefore require greater levels of support in order to comply.
Kate Meynell, Assistant Chief Constable, Nottinghamshire Police, gave an update on the activity of Nottinghamshire Police in the City. She highlighted the following information:
h) The Police are working closely with Environmental Health and Community Protection Teams.
i) Following lots of work to engage and explain the rules and legislation, there is now an increase in enforcement. Over the last week 32 Fixed Penalty Notices have been issued for a range of offences but mostly related to parties/ gatherings and unnecessary travel.
j) There has been a reduction in calls and incidents related to Covid-19 but a return pre-Covid levels of normal activity. Therefore, the work of the Police is different to that during the first national lockdown.
During subsequent discussion the following points were raised:
k) Individuals have a period of time to pay Fixed Penalty Notices and if they fail to pay then they will be taken to court and fines can be increased at the Magistrate’s discretion. Some hearings are due to come to court in the next few weeks but some courts are experiencing backlogs due to the pandemic.
l) There has been one £10,000 fine issued recently for a gathering of over 30 people.
m) Some offences e.g. gatherings of over 30 people have been in place for some time and are generally well known but others, such as not meeting outside in groups of more than two are less well known and there may be some people who are genuinely surprised by being approached by the Police. Everyone is given the opportunity to comply and if they do not then enforcement action will be taken.
n) The focus on ensuring compliance with regulations relating to gatherings of over 30 people is seeing successes in reduced numbers of parties/ gatherings being reported.
Amanda Sullivan, Chief Accountable Officer, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group gave an update on activity in the health sector, highlighting the following information:
o) There has been a rise in infections leading to hospitalisation. Across both Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Sherwood Forest NHS Trust there were 361 admissions in the week up to 1 November and 326 in the previous seven days.
p) As of 3 November, there were 456 patients in beds. 7% of these required a ventilator. There is 50% more people in hospital than at the peak of wave one of the pandemic. The survival rate in intensive care has increased from 72% to 85%.
q) GP surgeries continue to remain open. Just over half of appointments are being carried out face to face and just over half of appointments are taking place the same or next day.
r) More people have received the flu vaccination than at this point last year, especially in the over 65 group with an uptake of 71%. Approximately one third of people in other identified risk groups have been vaccinated so far, so there is more work to do. The high level of public demand for vaccinations is positive. Children in 57 City schools had been vaccinated by the end of October, which is more than last year, and there are higher rates of consent for vaccination. There are some challenges due to single child or whole class isolation but there is confidence that there will be an improved position compared with last year.
s) Planning is taking place to deliver a Covid-19 vaccine as quickly as possible once it becomes available. Good working is taking place across hospitals, community services and GPs on this. There are likely to be a mix of venues and choice about where individuals can get vaccinated, with a priority given to vaccinating the highest risk groups first, e.g. care home residents and those aged over 80 years.
During subsequent discussion the following points were raised:
t) It would be helpful if partners could support with communicating messages about the importance of getting the flu vaccine.
u) Flu vaccination teams will know anecdotally the reasons for parents not giving consent for their children to receive the vaccine.
v) Barriers to vaccination are acknowledged and that is why there is close working with GPs and Primary Care Networks who understand their local communities best.
w) Details of how a Covid-19 vaccine will be delivered and how it will be prioritised won’t be known until the vaccine has been confirmed.
x) The improvement in survival rates for those in intensive care is primarily due to the learning that has taken place and improvements in treatment rather than changes to the strain of virus. Initially, more people were put on ventilators but now other different methods of treatment, such as the use of a steroid to reduce the inflammatory process, have been identified.
Actions
1) Nottingham City Council Communications Team to promote flu vaccinations through its communications and media channels
(Ruby Bhattal/ Steve Thorne)