Agenda item

 

Alex Hawley, Public Health Consultant, to presentthe Health Protection Annual Report.

 

 

Denise Littlewood, Health Protection Principal, presented a summary of the assurance functions of the Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council Health Protection Committee.

 

Denise gave the following powerpoint presentation:-

 

Assurance Overview

-        Collaborative Multi-Agency Efforts

Multiple agencies in Rotherham worked together to safeguard Public Health through co-ordinated health protection arrangements

-        Health Protection Domains

The report covered infectious disease control, screening, immunisation, emergency preparedness and infection prevention

-        Stakeholder Assurance and Reporting

 

Screening Programmes

-        Improved Screening Uptake – screening programmes in Rotherham had increased participation especially in breast, bowel and cervical cancer screenings

-        Accessibility for Learning Disabilities – collaborative efforts had improved screening accessibility for individuals with learning disabilities

-        Diabetic Eye Screening Progress – Diabetic Eye Screening Programme addressed backlog and maintained compliance with national invite interval standards

-        Bowel Screening Age Extension – bowel screening programme expanded age coverage supporting early detection and national policy compliance

 

Immunisation Programmes

-        MMR Vaccination Coverage – MMR dose 1 coverage by age 2 remained above 90%, aiming for 95% for effective community protection

-        Adolescent Immunisation Challenges – Post-pandemic decline in adolescent vaccinations led to targeted interventions to improve school-based uptake

 

-        HPV Vaccination Focus - HPV vaccination aligned with national cervical cancer elimination strategies to reduce disease incidence

 

-        RSV Vaccination Introduction - RSV vaccine launched in 2024 for pregnant women and older adults to protect vulnerable groups

 

-        Pertussis Vaccination for Pregnant Women – vaccination update amongst pregnant women remained above the 60% optimal threshold amid rising national cases and infant deaths

 

-        Targeted Seasonal Flu Vaccination - seasonal flu vaccination targeted high-risk groups including young children, pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals through focused initiatives

 

-        Focus on Vulnerable Populations - efforts prioritised individuals with chronic respiratory conditions, learning disabilities or severe mental illness to reduce infectious disease impact

 

-        Healthcare Associated Infections - pathogen Surveillance – Monitoring key pathogens like MRSA, MSSA, C.Difficile and E.Coli was essential to control infection spread in healthcare settings

 

-        Effective MRSA Control - cases decreased significantly reflecting success of targeted infection control measures and protocols

 

-        Antimicrobial Stewardship - increased cases of C.Difficle were addressed by improved antimicrobial stewardship and staff interventions

 

-        Care Home Hydration Project - initiatives in care homes supported infection control by improving patient health and reducing complications

 

-        Low TB Incident in Rotherham - Rotherham maintained a low TB incidence despite rising national rates through effective local health strategies

 

-        Enhanced Case Management - complex TB cases required enhanced case management to ensure proper treatment and thorough follow-up

 

-        Collaborative Health Protection - regional collaboration and cohort reviews promoted best practices in TB screening and management

 

-        Support for Underserved Populations - proactive TB management included ensuring care and support for underserved and vulnerable populations

 

-        Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) - leadership and Co-ordination – Senior Public Health Practitioner led IPC initiatives ensuring focused and organised infection control efforts across the community

 

-        IPC Audits and Outbreak Management - regular audits and outbreak management support helped identify risks early and enabled rapid response to infection incidents

 

-        Community Engagement Training - engaging care homes and co-ordinating the IPC Champions Network strengthened infection prevention practices and staff competencies

 

-        Strategic Integration - embedding IPC within local authority structures ensued sustainable and cohesive infection control to protect public health

 

-        Emergency Planning and Response - Rotherham managed 33 emergency incidents in 2024/25 showing strong operational readiness and resilience

 

-        Training Exercises - participation in Exercise Solaris and preparations for Exercise Pegasus had improved emergency response capabilities

 

-        Regional Co-ordination - the upcoming South Yorkshire-wide rest centre plan enhanced co-ordinated support during emergencies

 

-        Preparedness and Improvement - continuous updates to planning and response frameworks emphasised public health safety during crises

 

Strategic Priorities for 2025/26

-        Community IPC Strengthening – focus on enhancing infection prevention and control through community-based programs for greater health impact

-        Vaccination and Screening Uptake – improve vaccination and screening rates specifically in deprived and underserved populations to reduce health disparities

-        Preparedness and Surveillance – prepare for adverse weather and pandemics whilst enhancing surveillance systems to detect emerging health threats early

-        Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance – tackle antimicrobial resistance with targeted health strategies to protect public health and ensure effective treatments

 

Discussion ensued with the following issues raised/clarified:-

 

·        Indepth scrutiny required of the MMR vaccination take up as some areas of the Borough had low uptake

·        The flu season had started earlier this year

·        The country was very close to the threshold of no longer being a low incidence country for TB.  However, Rotherham still had cases which were more complex and took more time to manage.  Need to understand what the level of TB was in the underserved population

·        The changes in the ICB and reorganisation were a high risk as a lot of Health Protection Services sat within it and would remain to do so

·        Positive communication about vaccination and the benefits they could bring to an individual and the wider population

·        There were to be huge changes to the vaccination programme next year which would have to be worked into the plans

·        Strengthen links between Public Health and Neighbourhood working

·        The voluntary and community sector knew which areas had low take-up of vaccinations and would be happy to support engagement with residents

 

Resolved:-  (1)  That the findings of the annual report be noted.

 

(2)  That the 2025/26 strategic priorities be endorsed.