This report provides the Committee with an update on plans to develop a local Health Protection response for Wirral, evolving from the Local Outbreak Hub model, established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020.

Wirral’s existing Local Outbreak Hub is funded until 30th September 2022, by the Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF). The COMF grant will continue to fund the newly revised Health Protection Delivery Service for six months, from October 2022 until March 2023, when this funding stream will conclude.

This report seeks approval for the Core Public Health Grant to be used to fund the Health Protection Delivery Service for twelve months from April 2023 to March 2024, to ensure local resilience and continuity. The service will be evaluated throughout this period, to inform future plans.

 The continuation of the local Heath Protection Service will contribute to the Wirral Plan Aims, in particular ‘Active and Healthy Lives’, supporting Wirral residents and communities to live safely with COVID-19 and protect the health of communities from infectious diseases and environmental hazards.

Resolved (10:1) – That the funding of Wirral’s Health Protection Delivery Service from April 2023 to March 2024 through the core Public Health Grant in the sum of £705,756 be approved.

This report provides an overview of the review, re-shape and transition of the existing Local Outbreak Hub to a Health Protection Delivery Service by September 2022, supporting and building upon Living Safely and Fairly with Covid-19 and wider Public Health priorities.

Other options have been considered, including the extension of the existing service at the same scale, or the removal entirely of a local health protection delivery service. The preferred option is based upon key learning from the pandemic response. The proposal recommended is financially viable and can best respond to local needs and deliver locally agreed health protection priorities, agreed by the Wirral Health Protection Board. The preferred option will ensure we have ongoing capacity and resilience to enable us to live with COVID-19, continue to work with partners to Keep Wirral Well and protect residents from the impact of Covid-19 and other health protection threats.