New crack team set up to tackle any local outbreaks in Hartlepool

The Local Outbreak Engagement Board is to be made up of council representatives, health chiefs, community sector representatives and more, and will help shape the next steps in dealing with Covid-19 in Hartlepool.

Hartlepool Health and Wellbeing Board approved the creation of the working group, which will report back to them at scheduled quarterly meetings.

The key principles of the group will be around partnership working, supporting the local delivery of government objectives in response to Covid-19, and bringing together the responses of different organisations.

Council leader Coun Shane Moore said one of the most important points for the group is to be able to communicate messages quickly and clearly to residents.

He said “One of the key purposes of the engagement board is going to be around communication.

“We’re going to need to act quickly to respond to potential local outbreaks and we’re going to need to take communities, workforces or other organisations with us.

“There does need to be the requirement to act quite promptly.”

Sally Robinson, council director of children’s and joint commissioning services, said it is about bringing together messages on the wider response to Covid-19 and ensuring a ‘robust community focus’.

The working group meetings will not require statutory notice, meaning they can be arranged more quickly, and can still be open to the public.

Coun Brenda Harrison said it is important many organisations are involved to tackle the ‘nitty-gritty’ of the Covid-19 response.

She said: “It’s really imperative to get as many people involved as possible.

“As long as the right sort of people are on the board to actually meet more regularly, going back to the health and wellbeing board to report on a regular basis… and having the extra engagement board looking at the nitty-gritty really of this pandemic as far as Hartlepool is concerned.”

Coun Stephen Thomas, who is part of Healthwatch Hartlepool, said the group has to be transparent and sought assurances from health chiefs.

He said: “This issue is the most vital thing we face going forward in our town, within our communities, within our wider society.

“I think the working group is the best way forward but it has got to be done on an absolute transparent basis.”

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