The team assembled to lead Sunderland out of pandemic - this is where they will start

A panel of council bosses and health chiefs is being assembled to lead Sunderland out of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Sunderland City Council is set to join other local authorities in the country in setting up a Local Outbreak Control Board which will focus on preventing, rapidly identifying and responding to complex cases.

The board is expected to make decisions on whether localised lockdowns are needed if a cluster of Covid-19 cases is discovered in certain communities, businesses or schools.

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A laboratory technician wearing full PPE (personal protective equipment) cleans a test tube containing a live sample taken from people tested for the novel coronavirus. Photo by Andrew Milligan / POOL / AFPA laboratory technician wearing full PPE (personal protective equipment) cleans a test tube containing a live sample taken from people tested for the novel coronavirus. Photo by Andrew Milligan / POOL / AFP
A laboratory technician wearing full PPE (personal protective equipment) cleans a test tube containing a live sample taken from people tested for the novel coronavirus. Photo by Andrew Milligan / POOL / AFP
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This includes oversight over opening and closing venues and settings, subject to national Government rules and guidance, and the recovery and restoration of services.

According to a report prepared for health chiefs, the new group will agree “any additional control measures required for which there are currently no local powers and therefore needs the agreement of Ministers.”

The board’s actions will also be linked to an outbreak plan which will be “tailored to local circumstances” as lockdown restrictions begin to ease.

Cabinet member for Healthy City, Coun Dr Geoff Walker, updated health partners on the plans at the city’s Health and Wellbeing Board this week.

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“In an effort to control Covid-19, local authorities have been tasked with developing local outbreak control plans, the report sets out the arrangements for developing the plan working in partnership with Public Health England, the NHS and other relevant organisations through a local Covid-19 Health Protection Board,” he said.

“There are seven key themes that need to be addressed by the plan which is what we’re required to do in response to this new phase as the pandemic is unknown and will therefore be built on existing processes, relationships and structures.”

At the meeting, which was held remotely and broadcast live on YouTube in line with social distancing restrictions, health bosses heard how the new outbreak board would work.

This includes setting up a sub-group of the existing Health and Wellbeing Board with bodies represented ranging from the city council, health trust and clinical commissioning group to social care leaders.

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According to a report, the local outbreak control board aims to provide“political oversight and lead communication and engagement with communities and stakeholders.”

It would also be chaired by the leader of Sunderland City Council, or the deputy leader in his absence, and will be able to make recommendations for action to be taken by persons or organisations with decision-making functions.

Director of Public Health for Sunderland, Gillian Gibson, explained the reasons for setting up the sub-group at Thursday’s (June 25) meeting.

“This is not about status, it’s more about being able to respond at pace should we need to do so and having the relevant political leadership there,” she said.

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“Because the guidance is changing rapidly we’re looking at allowing the outbreak control board to have some flexibility in terms of what it does but it will still be overseen by the Health and Wellbeing Board.”

The new sub-group also falls against the backdrop of a Local Outbreak Control Plan which is expected to be completed this month.

Key themes in the plan include:

:: Managing local outbreaks in care homes and schools.

:: Managing high risk places, locations and communities of interest.

:: Prioritising and managing deployment of testing capacity.

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:: Ensuring capacity for contact tracing in complex settings.

:: Integrating national and local data to support decision making and action.

:: Supporting vulnerable people.

:: Establishing governance arrangements.

According to committee papers, governance arrangements to support the delivery of the plan will remain under review to ensure arrangements are “responsive and fit for purpose.”

Any changes will be referred to the Health and Wellbeing Board in future.

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