Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Advice For People Helping Others During Lock Down
Many people across our communities are doing their bit to help others during the Coronavirus health emergency.
 
From supporting people who are self-isolating with food supplies, to picking up medical prescriptions, all of these efforts are helping to save lives and protect our NHS.
 
Below is some advice from Cambridgeshire police about what you should do if you are concerned about someone.
 
If you are keeping an eye on someone in your neighbourhood and are concerned for their welfare, for example, if you knock on someone’s door or try to reach them by telephone and they don’t respond, there are some simple steps you can take.
 
Have a quick check through windows to see if you can see the person involved (make sure you exercise social distancing and don’t touch any surfaces);
 
Check for signs that the person may not be at home or may need assistance, such as a build-up of post, milk on the doorstep or anything else that may suggest the occupant needs help;
 
Speak to neighbours, making sure you keep the 2 metre social distancing rule to see if they know of any close friends or relatives that may be able to help or know where the person might be; could you contact them to confirm their whereabouts?
 
If the person is home but does not wish to answer the door/telephone but requires food or medication, you can email communityCV@cambridgeshire.gov.uk who will be able to help;
 
If you are still concerned, call the police on 101 giving the person’s name, address and telephone number if possible; the police call handler will then go through a set of questions to establish if an officer should attend;
 
If you see someone whose life is in danger, for example, they are lying on the floor, always call 999 and request an ambulance.
 
Cambridgeshire Constabulary have pulled together a list of responses to commonly-asked questions during the coronavirus lock down. For more details visit: https://www.cambs.police.uk/information-and-services/Coronavirus-COVID-19/Coronavirus-COVID-19-FAQs2

Deborah Slater’s Group – Helping Whittlesey have put out 5,000 flyers advicing help they can give.

Tonight being Wednesday  – The 3rd week A Free Hot Meal +++ Dessert will be delivered to some 150 residents later today.

Tonight’s delight – Sausage & !!!!
 

A few residents have asked me – Can they still go to New Queen Street Surgery to do their own Blood Pressure check on the machine in the waiting room.
I have spoken with the surgery and the answer is NO
If you require to have your Blood Pressure checked you will have to phone the surgery and speak to the receptionist.

The information below is a national bullitin – initiatives contained may not be available at NQS

eBulletin Issue 149 April 2020

2. Shielding Letters to ‘At Risk’ patients
   Over a million patients have been informed that they are extremely vulnerable and fall into the shielded category requiring such people to remain at home for 12 weeks. These people have been identified from the GP records forwarded to NHS digital. NHS is in the process of identifying many more such patients. 
   Unfortunately there has been some confusion about whose responsibility – GP or hospital – to identify and notify NHS digital about which patients are vulnerable and whose condition(s) do not fall in the official list. This will include, for example, some rare conditions where patients are cared for in hospital. GPs are not expected to be familiar with all conditions. Many hospitals have assumed that GPs are responsible for notifying NHS digital about patients with rarer conditions, while GPs have assumed that it is the responsibility of the hospital. The enclosed information makes it very clear where responsibility lies. It is very important that everyone knows what they should be doing in relation to corona virus and are supported appropriately. More info here
3. Reducing the burden of fit notes during Covid-19
   Individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 or those having to self-isolate due to residing with someone with COVID-19 symptoms can obtain an Isolation Note in line with current guidance. More info here

3A. Understanding people’s concerns about the mental health impacts of the COVID-19   
       pandemic The Academy of Medical Sciences, together with the research charity MQ:
       Transforming Mental Health, is working with researchers and those with lived
       experience to ensure that mental health is at the heart of research into the impacts of
       Covid-19. This report describes the findings of a consultation undertaken in late March
2020, the week that the prime minister announced the UK lockdown in response to
the Covid-19 pandemic. There is also some guidance on supporting children and young
people’s mental health and wellbeing here

4. Ways in which PPGs are helping support their GP Practice in the current crisis

• PPGs are successfully using Zoom (or similar) to hold virtual PPG meetings. (Zoom offers a free 40 minutes time limit on meetings, other video conferencing apps are available also)
• In some cases, Practice Managers are contacting all local pharmacies to find out which ones are delivering medication and recommend sources of help where there are no deliveries. PPGs are then assisting by co-ordinating volunteers
• Sending out weekly updates to patients on various aspects of their service at this unusual time.
• One PPG has set up a small group of volunteers to check the language being used in updates before these are sent to suggest alternatives to any jargon and to simplify where appropriate.
• At the request of one practice, the PPG is setting up a small group to come together (virtually) with a couple of lead doctors to share ideas about how the doctors might approach seriously ill patients to consider their choices should their condition deteriorate.

5. Patients now able to nominate pharmacy using the NHS App
   New functionality has been added to the NHS App allowing patients across England to use it to choose a pharmacy to have their repeat prescriptions sent to directly. More info here

6. On demand remote BSL Interpreting Service launches for UK’s deaf community
   The Deaf Health Charity, SignHealth and online interpreting company InterpreterNow, have launched ‘BSLHealthAccess’ which enables the provision of immediate, on demand access to British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters for communication with deaf people in health settings free of charge during the current coronavirus situation. More info here
7. Returning to pharmacy or volunteering
   The Royal Pharmaceutical Society have provided advice on roles or activities for volunteers or those who may wish to return temporarily to the register, based on their skills and experience. More info here
   The national voice for patient participation in primary care 
   eBulletin 149 April 2020  
   www.napp.org.uk
   

Well after a few false starts, it is the first time most of us have been on a conference video streaming meeting. This was done by software Zoom, most have used Skype or WhatsApp platforms. One appology from Cllr Lang-Whiston.
The agenda for this trial meeting was published on this web-blog on the 24th April, there is no report as this meeting dealt with proceedural aspects of virtual meetings and the Councils standing orders. The other item was confidential under Council rules.
A Full meeting will be held on the same format on Thursday 30th April and again details were published below on the 24th April.
Here is a screen shot, unfortunately I took the screen after some Councillors had left.

Some updates for you that have come in over the last week, thank you to those who have sent this through.  Apologies if you have seen any of them before, hopefully they will be useful for you as you continue with your volunteering and community work.

Additional support from Anglian Water
Anglian water are circulating the attached leaflet that provides information to customers about the extra services and support that they are providing.  It especially encourages vulnerable people to register on the ‘Priority Services Register’ so that they are known to them.  The register also applies to energy companies. 

Co-op Gift Card Scheme
Co-op are allowing gift cards to be topped up and/or ordered and paid for by calling 0800 029 4592.  Cards will then be posted within 2/3 working days.  People who are self isolating can then ask family members or volunteers to use these  to purchase groceries if they wish.  https://www.coop.co.uk/coronavirus/updates-on-our-stores 

Voluntary sector virtual network – 6^th May
stay connected. More info can be Cambridge Council for Volunteer Services will be running a voluntary sector virtual network especially  for Fenland groups on 6^th May, which looks set to be a great way to found here
http://www.cambridgecvs.org.uk/training-events/view/339
CVS are also there to answer any questions charities or community groups may have, this is under the Support Cambridgeshire banner but please feel free to contact them on the main email enquiries@cambridgecvs.org.uk 

Business Grants still to be claimed
Despite having contacted eligible businesses, several hundred are still yet to make a claim to Fenland District Council for a Small Business Grant or a Retail Hospitality and Leisure Grant to which they are entitled.  These grants do not need to be repaid. If you have friends or family that run a potentially eligible business, please encourage them to email covid19.businessgrants@fenland.gov.uk  
More information can be found here:
https://www.fenland.gov.uk/coronavirusbusinessadvice 

Volunteer guidance issued to the Good Sam Network
The Royal Voluntary Service have issued guidance to the NHS Good Same Volunteers.  It is worth a read as the principles are likely to apply to many groups and businesses who are also volunteering.
https://volunteering.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/documents/2-rvs-getting-started-as-a-community-response-volunteer-v116-981.pdf

Food Hygiene advice for those handling food
I know a number of you are preparing and delivering food to residents.  Just to update you on the guidance in its current state; Environmental Health colleagues have kindly provided the following useful links.   They note that: “You do not need a food hygiene certificate to provide food for charity or community groups. However, you need to make sure that you handle food safely”

https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/food-safety-for-food-delivery

https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/food-safety-for-community-cooking-and-food-banks

Again I hope this is of use.
Best wishes
Isabel
Isabel Edgington
Senior Events and Projects Officer
Fenland District Council

Why not join in for just one minute

There will be a minute’s silence across the UK at 11:00 BST on Tuesday to remember key workers who have lost their lives to coronavirus.

Government workers will take part, and No 10 said it hoped others will too.

Boris Johnson has backed the plan, following a campaign by the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Nursing, and Unison, the union.

At least 90 NHS staff have died since 25 March, as have many care and transport workers.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said the government supported the idea.
“We will be asking everybody who works in the government to take part and we would hope that others will take part nationwide as well,” the spokesman said.