Although unknown to most local people, the North East Essex Health & Wellbeing Alliance has been in existence for 18 months. It is a partnership of 12 public, private and third sector organisations (including the councils, healthcare providers along with voluntary and charitable bodies), all working together to help everyone live well locally.
The Alliance was already working collaboratively across the region but with onset of COVID-19, relationship working has been taken to a new level. One area in which the Alliance has invested a great deal of time and energy is the care sector.
Care homes and care workers have been thrust into the spotlight as key frontline staff, sitting alongside NHS teams but often without the same level of support, hence the reason the Alliance stepped forward.
Dr Karen Chumbley, Deputy Chief Executive of St Helena Hospice was a key instigator of the care home programme piece of work: “Very earlier on in this crisis I knew that we needed to focus on our care home sector” said Dr Chumbley.
“They look after the most vulnerable people in our society; the same cohort of people who are most susceptible to be affected by COVID-19”.
Over 35% of care homes in Essex are situated within our north east region (over 170 homes) caring for approximately 3850 people. Each home has regular contact with an Essex County Council associate but in addition to this, a team of professionals from various organisations now come together on a daily call to discuss any homes who have an outbreak.
Emma Mills, Lead for the Enhanced Health in Care Homes programme at the North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group explains: “We have brought together colleagues from Essex County Council, the community nursing teams as well as the CCG to provide support to the care home sector in whatever form they need. On a daily basis we review those homes that we know have had an outbreak, to understand what assistance they might need. Infection prevention control (IPC) training has been offered to every home and so far 104 homes have taken up this offer with more sessions booked in the coming weeks.
“In addition, we have set up a Facebook group to specifically support the front line care workers in our region: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CareWorkersDuringC19/ Within this safe space they are able to ask questions to us and to one another, and we can provide them with the most up to date information”.
Another tool that has been fast-tracked due to COVID-19 is the My Care Choices Register. Hosted by St Helena, this register holds end of life care choices for those people with a life limiting illness, dementia or frailty. Dr Chumbley explains:
“The My Care Choices Register (MCCR) allows people in north east Essex to record their end of life care choices which is so important.”
“In recent weeks we have been able to extend access to register, to allow senior care home staff to view their residents’ choices and manage their care in accordance with their wishes which has been so beneficial during this difficult time.”
