Agenda item - Chair's Communications
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Agenda item
Chair's Communications
- Meeting of Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee, Wednesday, 24th November, 2021 4.00pm (Item 10.)
- View the background to item 10.
Minutes:
10.1 This meeting of HOSC should have taken place on 13th October. Unfortunately we had to postpone the original meeting because the Council Chamber was unavailable due to another meeting taking much longer than anticipated.
The agenda for today’s meeting is largely the same as for the October meeting. However, one item has dropped off: this is the report on plans to re-commission Sussex Sexual Abuse Referral Centres (SARC). I’ve taken this report off because NHSE commissioners have informed me that they have temporarily halted their plans to re-design services, and will seek to extend contracts with the current SARC providers for another 18 months. When revised long term plans for SARC services do become available, they will be brought to the HOSC for consideration.
An item that is featured today, but that wasn’t on the original agenda is Cllr Grimshaw’s question about Child & Adolescent Services for children with autism. This is an important issue, and one we will explore in more depth with commissioners and providers of children’s mental health services at our January 2022 HOSC meeting.
Re-scheduling a meeting at relatively short notice inevitably causes inconvenience for members and officers from the council and NHS partners. I’d like to thank everyone who had to make adjustments so they could attend today’s meeting. Unfortunately, some NHS colleagues have urgent meetings that overlap with the HOSC and won’t be able to join this meeting until 5pm. Depending on how swiftly we move through the agenda, I may need to call a brief pause in the meeting to accommodate this.
Finally, Covid infection rates remain worryingly high, both locally and nationally. Covid boosters are now available for over 50s, health & social care workers and those with underlying health conditions. If you’re eligible and it’s been 6 months since your 2nd jab you can book your booster online on the national booking system or by calling 119. Walk-in boosters are also currently available every day for those that are eligible from the vaccination centre at Churchill Square. Please check www.sussexhealthandcare.uk/get-my-jab
It’s also not too late to get your first or second dose. Vaccinations can be booked or walk-in locations are available every day across the city.