Health of the Region 2020

Abstract

Abstract

• West Midlands Inquiry into COVID-19 Fatalities in BAME communities report included
• Gathering testimony
• statistics
• recommendations

• Evidence explored the Covid Impact Assessment on the following activities:

• community impact

• economy impact

• staff impact

Abstract

• Comments from CCG on updated ways of working with staff and communities included for example:
• Establishing a Health Inequalities Task Group, which has set out priorities for action in the next 1-2 years This includes using our roles as ‘anchor institutions’ to create economic prosperity and to support our staff

• The aim of the HIA was to identify key factors that may affect the population’s health and wellbeing as a direct result of the COVID-19 outbreak Key findings included:

• An integrated recovery is needed as health and wellbeing has been deeply impacted on The implication is that recovery cannot just be contained to one sector and has to be connected across all four to have the biggest chance of success

• The double impact: harm from COVID-19 has been unequally distributed across the wider impacts from the pandemic and lockdown will fall more heavily on communities most directly affected by the disease itself This analysis shows the potential harm for more deprived areas of Coventry and Warwickshire

• Report included the following:

• Descriptive study that aimed to provide a picture of the language and communication need within the health protection response in PHE WM

• Commissioning processes used by other PHE Health Protection teams for language and communications services

• Report on the experiences of families who have a child with a disability or additional need included the following:

• survey of members of the group- parent carers forum for disabled children

• emotional health and mental health was a big factor

• furlough was a worry

• cancelled appointments

• parents feel abandoned

• Some didn’t get shielding letter and local authorities slow to react

• Recommended to ensure CCG commissioning changes are communicated effectively

• Key points from report on Local Authority Responses to people with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) during the pandemic included:

• There was a lack of information available for people with NRPF

• Numbers of service users with NRPF who had COVID-19 symptoms were relatively small, but those who did have symptoms were particularly likely to die or become seriously ill

• People with NRPF struggled to access food, shelter and subsistence support during the pandemic

• Impact upon people who have experienced rape or other sexual abuse included:

• more isolated / locked in with perpetrator

• heightened anxiety

• lack of access to first responders who refer at risk people to service

• challenges with online / telephone service

• waiting time for service significantly increased

• exacerbated existing inequalities faced by clients e g lack of access to financial services

• short term funding from COVID specific funds is ineffective for increasing staffing levels

• control measures limiting service capacity

Abstract

• Comments on the causes of disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on BAME communities included:
• Deprivation and poverty
• Discrimination and systemic racism
• Cultural variations in disease prevention and understanding
• Over exposure to high Covid areas, such as front-line work in the NHS, care homes, cleaners in the hospitality sector

• Comments setting out the programme being undertaken by the Group included:

• System report to be published looking at the system’s response to COVID-19 and lessons learnt

• Phase 1 programme looking at wider determinants of health

• Phase 2 programme focusing on designing, appraising, implementing and evaluating interventions

Abstract

• The report brings together the existing national evidence and analyses the probable impact on different groups The Council is in the process of developing a targeted Health Inequalities Strategy

• Blog included findings on concerns felt by BAME communities including hate crime, disproportionate impact on their communities and faith and income

• The report focused on the Regional Health Impacts of Covid-19, and the role of public transport and active travel in this, especially concerning continued access to health care and TfWM role in keeping the region staying active and healthy Evidence also included the following:

• Public opinion survey results

• WMCA Board report on the Review of the West Midlands Local Transport Plan (LTP) to support a

  Greener, Fairer, Healthier Recovery

• Equality impact Assessment on the transport needs of vulnerable groups during the pandemic

• Key findings from evidence included the following:
• Ethnic minority people:
• Scarcity and unreliability of PPE sources for frontline staff/key workers disproportionately puts people from ethnic minority backgrounds at higher risk of infection
• Women:

• lack of access to contraception means and abortion

• maternity services - some of them are/ were not available

• Care during labour:

• partners are not allowed to be present during labour to support, especially when baby needs care, or woman need help communicating in English

• Women asylum seekers:

• can’t use remote services due to limited English language No interpreters available

• reduced access to charity services

• Comments from the charity included:

• The impact of Covid 19 has had a devastating impact in Lozellls and the neighbouring areas

• There has been a limited response from public sector agencies but Birmingham Director of Public Health has held zoom meetings with members of the Bangladeshi Community

• Comments from Nishkam Civic Association included:

• essential role of communities, particularly faith, in COVID response and this must not be forgotten

• need to develop policy setting / community engagement process for decisions making

• we cannot expect communities to self-finance and leave them to their own devices

• Taraki COVID Report – Executive Summary and full report (Mental Health / Wellbeing) can be accessed here: https://tinyurl com/yykk6x6j

• COVID 19 – Response and support initiatives by Nishkam Organisations can be accessed here:

• https://www taraki co uk/covid19-research

• Following evidence provided:

• Covid Crisis Reflections - Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh OBE KSG, Chairman Nishkam Civic Association

• How Covid-19 has impacted the Sikh Community – Sikh network

• Sikh Network Covid19 Survey Report

• Taraki COVID Report – Executive Summary and full report (Mental Health / Wellbeing)

• Birmingham Council of Faiths role during COVID-19 and its impact

• case studies on how Faith Communities Stepped up in the Pandemic

• Birmingham Scouts and Guides activities

• COVID 19 – Response and support initiatives by Nishkam Organisations

• Examples of Muslim and Christian organisations in Birmingham (x 7)

• Key activities from the Council included:

• Call to Action to address health inequalities has been agreed by the Coventry Health and Wellbeing Board

• Reset and Recovery approach, which includes specific external programmes on Regeneration and The Economy; Tackling Inequalities; and Communities and New Social Enterprises The aim is for health inequalities to be embedded into all of these pillars, using One Coventry values (working together and involving the right people)

• Evidence included the following:

• An overview of activity to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on BAME communities

• Combined presentation: (1) scale of the food offer for shielded and vulnerable people in Birmingham (April 2020) and (2) insight from TAWS (May 2020)

• An overview of the impact of COVID-19 across the life course

• Neighbourhood Development Support Unit commissioned report – “Birmingham’s Collaborative

• Neighbourhoods” by Locality

• Executive Business Report – an update on BCC’s response to COVID-19

Abstract

• Evidence included the following:

• case studies on engagement exercises with the BAME and other communities

• Health & Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee report on the council’s and partners response to Covid

• infographic of the support the council has provided to residents and businesses

Abstract

• Comments on the impact of COVID-19 and activities of CCG included the following:

• online workshops held by CCG with report to be published

• recommended for CCGs to carry out Equality Impact Assessments

• The charity redesigned its services to support the community during first wave and flagged lack of funding to increase offer especially for second wave

• Research on rapid analysis of the impacts of COVID-19 related emergency public health measures (March – May 2020) upon nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM) levels in Birmingham City
• Key Findings:

• Reductions in NO2 concentrations associated with COVID-19 were of greatest magnitude for those living at the inner city and near-roadside locations, including areas of high deprivation

• Changes were less marked in the north-east of the city; the location of more affluent (upper income quintile) LSOA areas Further (ongoing) research is required to better characterise these impacts upon different ethnic groups, including linkage to health outcome measures