Minutes:
A briefing on flu immunisation for children by Dr Andrew Burnett, Interim Consultant in Public Health Medicine and a report by Lynda Gibbon, Interim Immunisation Manager for London, NHS England (NHSE) had been received.
The Chair had agreed to the addition of this item on the grounds of urgency, because of concerns in respect of the lack of uptake of the vaccination by children under five, the target cohort for 2014/2015 winter season.
The report from NHSE set out the uptake for children in Hammersmith & Fulham in the cohorts two years, three years and four years to the end of November 2014. Whilst the uptake was slightly higher for children with long term medical conditions than for healthy children, it was still significantly lower than the target to offer the vaccine to 100% of the eligible cohort.
Mr Lines emphasised the importance of this public health prevention initiative. The public health function was split between Public Health England and NHSE, which had commissioned GP providers to offer free flu immunisation to all eligible children and to provide activity data on a weekly basis. Whilst performance was not good, there was also an issue with poor data, partly attributable to the way in which GPs reported and the churn of patients.
It was the responsibility of the commissioned provider (GP practice) to invite parents to attend with their children for vaccination and to continue to invite them if they did not attend. Public Health England had produced a range of information for parents to support their decision making.
Councillor Carlebach stated that he had asked for the item to be included on the agenda as parents had reported to him a lack of clarity over the availability and delivery of the flu vaccination for children under 5 years. He considered the uptake unacceptable and that it put lives at risk, particularly those with long tem medical conditions, who were more vulnerable. He considered that councillors should take ownership of the problem and give a voice to those who were unable to speak for themselves.
Councillor Carlebach stated that he had been told that many GPs had not informed families that the vaccine was available. Nurseries and children’s centres appeared to have little or no information, and similarly school nurses and health visitors. Councillor Carlebach considered that there should be a plan for contacting these groups.
Mrs Bruce stated that NHSE and Public Health England were responsible for commissioning these services. Councillor Brown noted that NHSE had a relatively small number of staff. He considered that the role of NHSE was commissioning, and that in year monitoring was the responsibility of the local authority and that the Public Health budget could be used to get the message into the community, for example whilst school children would be mostly over five, they would often have siblings. The Council website and Twitter feed could also be used to inform people. Councillor Brown added that preventable health conditions incurred pressure on the health system.
Councillor Lukey responded that the Council did not hold the budget, but it should be possible for the Health & Wellbeing Board to take some leadership. NHSE had not indicated why uptake was low. It was difficult to improve uptake, without knowing what had gone wrong. Councillor Lukey suggested a meeting between the Interiim Immunisation Manager, Dr Tim Spicer and Public Health.
Councillor Carlebach considered that as GPs had been commissioned to give the vaccine, GP practices should be contacted.
Councillor Holder noted that the low uptake was not a problem just for Hammersmith & Fulham. The problem needed to be identified and addressed as soon as possible.
Mr Naylor stated that the suggestions put forward were not mutually exclusive and that all those with responsibility should be challenged.
Mr Lines stated that low uptake of the vaccination was a priority and that the Council and Public Health had a leadership role. There was potential for increased publicity to help create demand. A national publicity campaign had not happened.
Councillor Vaughan summarised that a vaccination campaign had not happened in Hammersmith & Fulham; GPs were not inviting parents to attend with their children for the vaccination; and parents where unclear as to were to get the vaccination. The data clearly indicated a low uptake, which was highly unsatisfactory.
RESOLVED THAT:
The Committee recommended that:
Councillor Chumnery stated that the issue should be raised in conjunction with the Children’s & Education PAC. Councillor Carlebach sated that he had contacted the PAC.