Agenda item

Report by the Director of Public Health.

The West Sussex Health Protection Annual Report 2018/2019, details the West Sussex data, and activities carried out by the Council and partner organisations during the period 1st April 2018 to 31st March 2019.

20.1   The Committee considered a report by the Director of Public Health and the West Sussex Health Protection Annual Report 2018/19 (copies appended to the signed minutes) which were introduced by Anna Raleigh, Director of Public Health who told the Committee that it had been a busy year with challenges around immunisation and screening.

20.2   Dr Sarah Lock, Consultant in Health Protection Public Health England highlighted the following: -

·       Enquiries were up by nearly 43%

·       There were 3,037 cases of infection notified to PHE last year

·       39% of outbreaks were in care homes, which caused difficulties when they had to close, 46% of outbreaks were in schools and nurseries. Outbreaks were mainly flu and norovirus

·       There was low uptake of the flu vaccination by care home staff

·       There had been an outbreak of measles in a Chichester school and an outbreak of cryptosporidium linked to an open farm

·       Work had taken place with schools and hospitals to screen contacts of  tuberculosis (TB) cases

·       There had been problems with commissioning TB screening in north West Sussex

20.3   Caroline Vass, Consultant in Immunisation and Screening, Public Health England highlighted the following: -

·       The new faecal immunochemical test for bowel cancer should increase screening numbers

·       There was a problem with women not getting breast cancer screening appointments within the 36-month deadline - this was being carefully monitored locally

·       A new process for cervical cancer screening testing was being rolled out using a primary test for human papillomavirus (HPV) to triage further management and treatment

·       HPV vaccinations were now available for boys in schools

·       Take-up of the first MMR vaccination was good, but take-up for the second was poor – there was ongoing activity to try to increase uptake

·       National uptake for shingles vaccine was low at 30% and this was reflected locally against a 60% national target

·       Care home staff were now offered free flu vaccinations at pharmacies

20.4   Paul Woodcock, Commissioner Sexual Health highlighted the following: -

·       Diagnosis of HIV was decreasing due to treatment as prevention and risk groups being protected with Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

·       The introduction of the HPV vaccination has helped bring down the number of cases of genital warts and will have an impact on cervical cancer

·       Chlamydia diagnosis in young people was an issue which should improve with the reprocurement of the sexual health service

20.5   Rachel Loveday, Public Health Lead - Health Protection highlighted the following: -

·       Work was going on with partners to improve air quality

·       Many care homes now had infection control champions

·       Healthcare associated infections in many areas are decreasing but there was still further focus required in some areas

·       Priorities were to increase uptake of vaccinations and the TB pathway for patients in the north West Sussex

20.6   Summary of responses to the Committee’s comments and questions: -

·       The take up of flu vaccinations in care homes and hospitals was monitored weekly

·       The Health Protection Annual Report did not include every subject – others were covered elsewhere, e.g. diabetes in health improvement plans

·       The measles immunisation strategy would help parents understand the importance of their children receiving the MMR vaccination

·       People were consistently offered vaccinations, including new university students

·       The shingles vaccination was being rolled out in stages and would soon be available to all aged 70-79 year olds

·       Although cases of TB were going down, the vaccination was still available for those living in high incidence areas or to babies born to those from high incidence countries

·       There was no evidence that single vaccinations were more effective than the combined MMR vaccinations

·       Work was going on with the National Farmers’ Union and schools to raise awareness of the risk of catching infections from animals on farms

20.7   Resolved – that the Committee asks the Director of Public Health to: -

1. urge all care home and hospital staff to receive the flu vaccination, understanding there are medical exceptions
2. ensure that publicity and awareness is increased in relation to childhood immunisations, especially in relation to ‘herd’ immunity