Agenda item

The Director of Adults and Communities provided the Panel with an overview of the situation in Slough during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Presentation slides were circulated to the Panel that provided information relating to the number of Covid-19 cases in Slough and the impact on Adult Social Care, Slough Children’s Services Trust and bereavement services.

In concluding the presentation, the Director of Adults and Communities invited comments and questions from the Panel.

During the course of the discussion, the following points were raised:

·  The impact of Covid-19 on people’s mental health and wellbeing was discussed.  It was explained that social workers, hospitals and locality teams had continued to provide mental health support throughout the lockdown period.  There had been a slight increase on service demand; however a more significant increase in demand over the coming months’ was anticipated.  A range of measures were being planned to prepare for the expected increase in approaches. 

·  The Council had provided funding support to care homes for Personal Protective Equipment and various infection control items.

·  It was noted that the Council had been managing an unprecedented crisis.  Good contingency plans had been put in place and areas of concern had been effectively managed.  Lessons learnt would be used to inform the management of any uptick in Covid cases.  To control infection rates and avoid a second peak the key message continued to be ‘Hands. Face. Space’.

·  The testing site at Montem Centre had been successful; options to establish mobile testing units were being considered. 

The Chair thanked the Director of Adults and Communities for the update.

Resolved – That the report be noted.