SANDWELL COUNCIL’S COVID-19 Outbreak Plan has been highlighted as a model of best practice by Department of Health officials.

The plan, created by the borough’s Public Health Team in response to a government instruction to all councils. Sandwell is a metropolitan borough of the West Midlands.

And government is pointing other organisations to the Sandwell plan to help with their own outbreak contingency arrangements.

Outbreaks

It sets out detailed plans which will be immediately activated in case of further virus outbreaks and includes an online video summary.

Our work has included the provision of an outbreak response service in collaboration with Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust and Public Health England (PHE). 

Councillor Yvonne Davies, Sandwell Council Leader

Sandwell Council Leader Councillor Yvonne Davies said: “Sandwell, like the rest of the Black Country, has been hit hard by COVID-19 and the plan sets out how we are responding to this immense challenge. 

“Our work has included the provision of an outbreak response service in collaboration with Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust and Public Health England (PHE). 

Colleagues

“We have also joined up with our colleagues in schools and care homes to put prevention measures in place to stop or minimise the spread of future outbreaks. 

“I am extremely proud of our public health team, whose expertise and dedication has been superb throughout this crisis and who pulled all this together so rapidly – even while continuing to provide their usual round-the-clock support.

“We will continue to adapt to whatever challenges the pandemic may bring.”

Sandwell’s Director of Public Health Dr Lisa McNally said she submitted the plan to the DHSC (Department of Health & Social Care) and the feedback has been very positive. 

She said: “The local DHSC co-ordinator has put it forward to the national team as an example of good practice.”

She said: “Our Outbreak Plan really brings together everything we do into one place – and will be something we keep adding to. 

“The latest version will always be available on the council’s website along with a short video summary and other resources to help people understand more about what we do.

“Our key aim is to be ready for whatever this pandemic throws at us next. 

Second wave

“Obviously we don’t know whether the ‘second wave’ will just be a modest increase in cases, or something much bigger that will once again threaten health and social care service capacity.   

“Either way we’ll make sure that we do everything possible to protect our local community.”

The plan sets out in detail how the Public Health Team, in collaboration with other local and regional organisations, are responding to the challenge of COVID-19 outbreaks. 

Obviously we don’t know whether the ‘second wave’ will just be a modest increase in cases, or something much bigger that will once again threaten health and social care service capacity.   

Dr Lisa McNally, Sandwell’s Director of Public Health

It includes information on how outbreaks are managed in schools, care homes and workplaces by a seven-day-a-week outbreak response team.

There are explanations about how testing and contract tracing are managed and how to protect the needs of those most vulnerable to COVID-19.

To date Sandwell has had 1090 confirmed cases which, for purposes of comparison with other areas, is a rate of 332.9 per 100k population. 

In the ‘league table’ of case rates this puts Sandwell 51st highest nationally and third highest out of the four Black Country local authorities.

Factory

Dr McNally said there was currently a factory outbreak where a multi-agency team was working with the company to manage the situation and conduct testing across the workforce.

Two schools have also had positive cases since they reopened. In both cases the school benefited from having excellent infection control procedures in place, including good maintenance of ‘bubbles’, which meant that only a small number of children were exposed and minimal disruption to the school. 

Awesome

She said: “School staff have really done an awesome job in working with us to get these measures in place.  I must have done over 30 risk assessments with head teachers myself – so I know first-hand how hard they’ve worked.

“We continue to see a few cases in care homes – but it’s greatly reduced, as thankfully are the number of deaths in care homes from COVID-19. 

“Overall, across the pandemic we have seen a lower death rate in Sandwell’s care homes that in other areas. 

“Again, that’s thanks to continuous efforts of care home staff to work with us in making care homes as safe as possible.  The PPE supply is now good.”