Agenda item

To receive a presentation from the Director of Public Health about the health impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the residents of Haringey.

Dr Will Maimaris, Director for Public Health, along with Jim Pomeroy and Eduardo Lopez Salas from the policy team, presented information about the broad impact on health and wellbeing caused by the pandemic in Haringey. Key points included:

• Since the beginning of the pandemic up to 11^th June 2021, 514 deaths had been registered in Haringey with Covid-19 on the death certificate.
• Haringey’s age-standardised Covid-19 death rate of 281 per 100,000 (Mar 2020 to Mar 2021) was slightly above the median for London boroughs and below the worst hit boroughs which were in excess of 400 per 100,000.
• Areas in the east of the borough, including Tottenham Green East, Bruce Grove South and Northumberland Park recorded the highest death rates. However, the East-West contrast was not without exception – Highgate Wood had one of the highest rates while Tottenham Lea Valley had one of the lowest.
• There was a moderate to strong correlation between higher rates of Covid-19 deaths and areas with a higher proportion of people from BAME backgrounds.
• 82.6% of Haringey residents over the age of 70 had received a first vaccination by the week ending 20^th June 2021. Of these, 95.1% had also received their second vaccination. There was a geographical disparity with 70+ vaccination rates of over 90% in several areas in the west of the borough and areas with only 75% in the east of the borough.
• 70+ first vaccination rates varied significantly by ethnicity. Rates for residents with Asian and White backgrounds were around 90%, but those from Black backgrounds were below 80% including people from Caribbean backgrounds at around 75%.
• 53.4% of Haringey residents over the age of 16 had received a first vaccination by the week ending 20^th June 2021. This was below the national average rate of 70.8%. A total of 32.5% of 16+ Haringey residents had received both vaccinations. Vaccination rates were higher in the west of the borough than in the east.
• Data from the CCG showed that, in the 12-month period from Apr 2020 to Mar 2021, there were around 45,000 secondary care referrals, a decrease of 30% from the 64,000 referrals of the same 12-month period the previous year. Completed treatments also declined by 36% from just over 450,000 in 2019 to under 290,000 in 2020/21. This was attributed to the measures required to manage the impact of Covid-19 and the increase in waiting times. The largest declines in treatments were in Ophthalmology, Trauma & Orthopaedics and Ear, Nose & Throat.
• There had been a decline in average life satisfaction in Haringey residents during the first 6 months of the pandemic, according to data from the Annual Population Survey. On a 10-point scale there had been a decline from 7.7 to 7.0, one of the highest declines in London. The NHS Mental Health Forecast Tool predicted a significant increase in demand for mental health services as a result of Covid-19.

Dr Will Maimaris, Jim Pomeroy and Eduardo Lopez Salas then responded to questions from the Panel:

• Asked by Cllr Gideon Bull why there was a disparity in Covid death rates between the west and east parts of White Hart Lane ward, Dr Will Maimaris said that the figures represented crude death rates across a number of relatively small areas and that disparities could emerge as a result of differing age profiles in certain areas.
• In response to a query from Cllr Gideon Bull about arrangements for Ophthalmology work, Dr Will Maimaris said that the decline in treatments related mainly to cataract operations and that, while referrals had continued, a backlog had built up for the operations themselves. The NHS had an elective recovery programme to deal with backlogs of treatment.
• Asked by Cllr Blake about how to increase uptake in the vaccine in communities with lower vaccine rates, Dr Will Maimaris said that there had been a briefing on this for all Councillors and the slides could be circulated. (ACTION) There were differences in vaccine uptake across different ethnic groups with the lowest rates among Black-African, Black Caribbean, White Other (particularly eastern European) and Gypsy Roma Traveller. However, the aspiration had been to reach at least 75% vaccination rates in over 70s in all ethnic groups which had reached. A lot of work had been done by faith leaders, the community and voluntary sector, Councillors and MPs to support the Council and the NHS in these efforts. There had also been pop-up vaccination initiatives in community locations such as mosques and food banks and at large locations such as the Tottenham Hotspur stadium. These interventions would remain ongoing throughout the summer as restrictions are lifted.
• In response to a question from Cllr Blake about the likelihood of vaccinations for schoolchildren, Dr Will Maimaris said that the health impact of Covid-19 on children was low but it had been very disruptive to their education and this would continue if they remained unvaccinated and the self-isolation requirements remained the same. Vaccinating children would also have a wider protective effect but there was a national debate continuing on this.
• Helena Kania asked about the booster vaccination programme and the likely impact of Covid-19 in the winter. Dr Will Maimaris said that this hadn’t been confirmed yet but his view was that it was extremely likely to happen in the autumn and would probably involve vulnerable groups being invited for a third vaccine dose rather than a universal programme. He added that the Delta variant was spreading mainly in unvaccinated groups, such as younger people. It was thought that the spread of Covid would be more likely in the winter, but it was also possible that vaccinations would help to hold the infection rates down.
• Cllr Connor observed that, according to the slides, the vaccination rate for residents over the age of 16 was as low as 40-46% in some areas. Jim Pomeroy noted that this was most likely because the vaccination programme had only recently become more easily accessible to younger age groups. Dr Will Maimaris added that the gap in take-up rates between the east and west should close but this would take time to achieve. The community initiatives aimed at increasing take-up rates would be continuing over the following weeks concentrated in the areas with lower rates. The vaccination rates in older people were higher and getting the vaccine had become the norm for older people across all ethnic groups. This would help to keep hospitalisations down.
• Helena Kania asked why the decline in average life satisfaction in Haringey residents according to the Annual Population Survey had been worse than much of the rest of London. Jim Pomeroy said that there were socio-economic factors with employment issues acutely impacting on residents of Haringey. The Borough Plan update going to Cabinet in July would provide details on the Council’s response to Covid including on the physical and mental health impacts and also financial resilience and deprivation issues. Asked by Helena Kania when the life satisfaction data would be updated he said that this was a national survey carried out only on an annual basis but that the Council had other ways of engaging with residents in the borough such as through the Citizens Panel and other consultation exercises. Helena Kania suggested that the Panel continues to monitor this data when the following year’s data became available. (ACTION) Cllr Lucia das Neves, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Well-Being said that mental health and well-being was high on her priority list. She added that she would be happy to discuss with the Chair of the Panel what further information on this issue could be brought to the Panel and to continue the discussion on how to work better in partnership with others in the community to support people’s mental well-being. (ACTION) Cllr Connor noted that the North Central London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be receiving a report on mental health in October.
• Cllr da Costa asked for data about completed treatments in Oncology as this was not included in the slide provided. He also asked whether the data for “Trauma & Orthopaedics” could be separated into two categories rather than grouped together. Jim Pomeroy said that he would look into whether this information was available from the CCG and respond to the Panel in writing. (ACTION)
• Cllr Connor asked whether the decline in completed treatments had affected Haringey residents disproportionately compared to other London boroughs. Jim Pomeroy said that he would look into whether this information was available from the CCG and respond to the Panel in writing. (ACTION)