Issue - meetings

1.            Ms Watson and Mr McKenzie introduced the report and responded to comments and questions from the committee, including the following:-

a)    the 16 homes concerned in the contract were small and specialised in accommodation for people with a learning disability, a physical disability and mental health needs, and accommodated a total of only 109 residents; and

b)    concern was expressed about the rising number of cases of covid-19 in care homes. Asked about the policy around testing people for covid-19 before admitting them to homes, and the risk of patient transport staff spreading the virus to other homes they visit, and care home staff taking it home with them, Ms Watson advised that the number of cases of covid-19 in the specialist homes concerned was static, but she assured the committee that those homes would not accept new patients unless they had tested negative for covid-19.

2.            Mr McKenzie advised the committee that designated care homes would accept patients being discharged from hospital with covid-19 and care for them until such time as they tested negative for the virus and could be placed in a care home or returned to their own home.  He reassured the committee that, in line with statutory requirements, any patient being placed in a care home would first be tested for covid-19. 

3.         It was RESOLVED that the decision proposed to be taken by the

Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, to:

a) approve the use of the Dynamic Purchasing System to enable new services to join the Residential Care Home Contract for people with a learning disability, people with a physical disability and people with mental health needs, and:

b) delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Adult Social Care and Health to take other relevant actions, including, but not limited to, entering into and finalising the terms of the contracts or other legal agreement, as necessary, to implement the decision,

be endorsed.