Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Public Health.

The report describes the current UK immunisation programmes and how these operate in Stockport, including the roles and responsibilities of the different local organisations, following the recent changes to NHS commissioning arrangements; an overview of local trends in immunisations rates and compared these to national benchmarks; a summary of proposed or anticipated future changes for the UK immunisation programmes; recent local developments in Stockport to help improve the delivery of our responsibilities, and highlighting a number of potential risks for the immunisation programme.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to

·         comment on the report and the information contained within it

·         consider whether it feels assured that the proposed focus of local action, as outlined in section 6 of the report, will fulfil the local authorities’ responsibility for immunisation, as set out in section 2.5 of the report.

Officer contact: Sarah Turner, 0161 474 2441 Sarah.Turner@stockport.gov.uk   

The Director of Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Scrutiny Committee on current UK immunisation programmes and how these operated in Stockport, including the roles and responsibilities of the different local organisations, following the recent changes to NHS commissioning arrangements; an overview of local trends in immunisations rates and comparisons with national benchmarks; a summary of proposed or anticipated future changes for UK immunisation programmes; recent local developments in Stockport to help improve the delivery of local agencies’ responsibilities, and highlighting a number of potential risks for the immunisation programme.

Sarah Turner, Senior Health Protection Nurse (Stockport Council) and Dr Graham Wardman, Screening and Immunisation Lead (NHS England Local Area Team) attended the meeting to answer questions from councillors in relation to the report and immunisation programmes in Stockport.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The expansion of flu vaccinations to 5-year olds was highlighted, building on the successful programme with nursery age children.

·         The improvement in immunisation rates for Measles, Mumps & Rubella was highlighted. There remained a disparity in rates between the more deprived and more affluent areas, although the higher rates in deprived areas may be due to more targeted work to encourage uptake in immunisation programmes more generally.

·         Partners were undertaking targeted work in Priority Areas to improve vaccination rates, particularly with local GPs and through the Neighbourhood Management Teams. In many cases rates could be improved by providing additional nursing capacity.

·         Variability in vaccination rates between GP practices was of concern, particularly in relation to flu vaccination. Improvements in these rates need to be addressed both through work with the community to raise awareness but also for organisational and process issues. Co-ordinated working between NHS England and local Clinical Commissioning Groups and councils was key to understanding the needs of local communities and organisations. Stockport CCG took very seriously the variation in flu vaccination rates.

·         World Health Organisation (WHO) targets were around 95% coverage for immunisation as this was the base level for ‘herd immunity’. Commissioners in Stockport had instituted stretch targets in the past and these had proved successful in increase take-up.

·         The high rates of immunisation in Stockport meant that other areas and NHS England were looking to learn from the work in this area.

·         The take-up of Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccinations in Stockport was good, with only one faith school not allowing it to be administered in its establishment, but this position was reviewed by the school annually. It was important to engage in dialogue with schools and governors to ensure that they understood the facts and benefits of the programme. Schools in Stockport were very willing to allow vaccination programmes to take place, despite the disruption to teaching, and Public Health colleagues were grateful for this.

The Director of Public Health updated the Scrutiny Committee on recent discussions between the Clinical Commissioning Group, Stockport Council (Public Health) and local pharmacies to shape future flu vaccination programme in Stockport (Minute 9 of 29 April 2014 refers). Agreement had been reached on a solution and it was hoped that the cooperative model being developed in Stockport could be rolled out to other areas.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted and that in the view of this Scrutiny Committee the proposed focus of local action on immunisation as set out in Section 6 of the report fulfilled the Council’s responsibilities.

(2) That Sarah Johnson and Dr Wardman be thanked for their attendance and presentation.