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.