Harrogate hospital bosses warn winter will be ‘more challenging than ever before’

Harrogate hospital bosses have warned this winter will be “more challenging than ever before” as staff continue to battle with covid backlogs and brace themselves for peak pressures.

Although covid patient numbers and deaths are much lower than this time last year, the hospital is now battling to clear a backlog of routine screenings, operations and other appointments delayed by the pandemic.

It is also preparing for a surge of seasonal illnesses.

Dr Matt Shepherd, deputy chief operating officer at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said: 

“Winter is always a challenging time and this year it will be more challenging than ever before as we continue to be affected by the pandemic.

“Whilst there are concerns about other respiratory virus infections occurring in high numbers, campaigns like the one for flu vaccinations are designed to protect the most vulnerable.

“The pandemic has also effected waiting lists, and waiting times have grown as it was not possible to sustain planned admissions for operations, outpatients and tests.

“It is now a major priority to return these services to pre-pandemic levels.”

Winter flu resurgence

Last year saw hardly any winter flu, while other respiratory viruses were only circulating at very low levels.

This was put down to lockdowns and social distancing, meaning the normal winter viruses did not get the chance to spread.

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But Public Health England has now warned that immunity to these viruses will have diminished, and very young children will not have been able to develop any at all.

This expected resurgence of winter flu, combined with the risk of increased covid hospitalisations in the colder months, means hospitals locally and nationally are now making preparations for peak pressures from October when seasonal illnesses usually escalate.

At Harrogate hospital, covid patient numbers have remained steady over recent weeks but have climbed into double figures with 11 people needing treatment as of yesterday.

Five recent covid deaths

The hospital has also reported five covid deaths in the last three weeks after going more than four months without any fatalities.

Dr Shepherd said this has shown the risks of covid remain “very real” – even with the success of the vaccination programme.

He also said the virus was still having a knock-on effect on routine health services and causing delays for patients.

He said: 

“Whilst the latest covid admissions are significantly lower than the waves we experienced in the past, this virus has not gone away, it is still affecting how we operate, and we must be prepared if there is an increase in infections.

“We have been able to manage patients with covid by looking after them in dedicated areas, which prevents further transmission of the virus and keeps other patients and our colleagues safe.

“Whilst we do our utmost to see patients as soon as possible, these measures have on occasion led to longer waiting times in the emergency department than we would have seen before the pandemic.

“We know this is not ideal and we are grateful to our visitors for their patience and understanding.”

Another 119 covid infections in Harrogate district — but hospitalisations stable

Another 119 covid infections have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to today’s Public Health England figures.

The district’s weekly infection rate now stands at 412 per 100,000 people, which is above the North Yorkshire rate of 362 and the England average of 337.

According to latest weekly figures released today at a North Yorkshire Resilience Forum covid media briefing, Harrogate District Hospital is treating 11 patients for covid — the same number as a week ago.

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The hospital has not recorded any covid deaths in the last 24 hours, according to NHS England statistics.

Elsewhere, 127,183 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 116,728 have had a second dose.

County council leader backs National Insurance hike to fund social care

The leader of North Yorkshire County Council has backed the government’s manifesto-breaking move to raise National Insurance to tackle NHS covid backlogs and reform the social care system.

Conservative Cllr Carl Les said the plan, which also includes capping care costs at £86,000, provided assurances that families won’t lose massive amounts of money due to relatives needing care and also showed the government was willing to tackle deep-rooted issues in the sectors.

However, some critics have said the plan, which would see National Insurance rise by 1.25%, does not go far enough. Social care leaders warned the money raised will be “too little, too late” as they struggle with staff shortages and surging demand for people needing care.

Cllr Les said: 

“We welcome the publication of the plan and I’m pleased that the government is tackling this issue.

“The measures announced will start to address the issue of uncertainty around care costs for individuals and families.

“However, we need to see more detailed proposals about the government’s plans for stabilising care provision and investing in the workforce.

“Adult social care is vitally important to our residents and to the council.

“The service accounts for nearly 50% of our budget, and we need to support the sector while it works through its numerous challenges.”

Announcing the plan on Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the tax rise would raise £36 billion for the NHS and social care in the next three years, but accepted it broke a manifesto promise.

He described the plan as “reasonable and fair” and said the majority of the funds would go towards increasing hospital capacity to catch up on backlogs created by covid.

Some of the money – £5.4 billion over the next three years – will also go towards changes to the social care system.

But there has been anger from some care leaders who say more immediate support is needed to address the current crisis in the sector.

“Too little, too late”

Mike Padgham, chairman of the Independent Care Group, which represents independent care providers in North Yorkshire and York, said the plan failed to address the staffing situation and was a “huge opportunity missed for radical, once-in-a-generation reform of the social care system”.

He also said the amount promised “isn’t going to touch the crisis in the sector and will certainly not address the 120,000 vacancies in staffing, which is sending the sector into meltdown on a daily basis as care providers struggle to cover shifts.”

Mr Padgham said: 

“It will not fund the proper recruitment and training of the thousands of staff we need, nor will it allow the sector to properly reward those staff who have played such a vital, life-saving role during Covid-19.

“It is too little and, it looks like being, too late.”

The new tax will begin as a rise in National Insurance from next April, paid by both employers and workers, and will then become a separate tax on earned income from 2023.

It will cost an extra £130 a year for someone earning £20,000, £505 more for someone on £50,000, and £1,130 extra for someone earning £100,000, the government said.

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Under the plans to fix social care, people will no longer pay more than £86,000 in care costs – not including food and accommodation – over their lifetime, from October 2023.

Once people have reached this cap, ongoing costs for personal care will be paid for by local councils.

£1,055 a week for Harrogate district care homes

In North Yorkshire, the Harrogate district is the most expensive area to get care for loved ones with the average weekly cost of residential care this year reaching £1,055 and the same figure for nursing climbing to £1,061.

Over a one-year period, this can equate to more than £55,000.

The government’s announcement to cap these costs comes at a time when the social care sector is in the midst of a staffing crisis and battling with a long backlog of people needing to be assessed for care.

Richard Webb, director of health and adult services at the county council, last month said the sector was facing “unrelenting” pressures and that it had reached “tipping point” with a 70 per cent drop in applications for the around 1,000 jobs currently vacant.

He said the NHS had also not escaped the staffing problems which existed before the pandemic but have only been exacerbated by the virus outbreak.

The staffing situation looks set to worsen when compulsory vaccines for care workers come into force on November 11.

From this date, it will become a legal requirement for all staff working in care homes to be fully vaccinated against covid – unless they are exempt – in order to protect the elderly and vulnerable residents most at risk from the virus.

In North Yorkshire, it has been estimated that around 500 workers could be forced out of their jobs because of this unless more staff come forward for their vaccines.

Announcing the tax hike on Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

“No Conservative government wants to raise taxes, but nor could we in good conscience meet the cost of this plan simply by borrowing the money.

“This new levy will break our manifesto commitment, but a global pandemic wasn’t in our manifesto either.

“After everything we’ve spent to protect people through that crisis, we cannot now shirk the challenge of putting the NHS back on its feet, which requires fixing the problem of social care, and investing the money needed.”

Plan to convert former Hampsthwaite surgery into a house

Plans have been submitted ti turn a former doctors surgery in Hampsthwaite into a house.

Dr Bannatyne and Partners, which was based at Winksey Cottage, High Street, in the village closed in March.

The surgery was part of Church Avenue Medical Group and shut down after practitioners felt the cottage was no longer a viable place for a medical practice.

A proposal to close the surgery submitted to North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group said:

“The branch surgery is no longer fit for purpose and has limited possible use. Approximately 800 patients are registered as using the branch but the majority of these patients also use the main site at Church Avenue.

“The practice is not asking patients to re-register with another practice and will accommodate all clinical capacity provided in Hampsthwaite within the Church Avenue site so there is no loss of service delivery.”

Now, Mozaffar Mari, a developer who bought the property, has submitted plans to Harrogate Borough Council to convert the former surgery into a house.

The developer said in an application to the council that the building had been previously used as a house before becoming a surgery and could be “readily converted back” into a home.

The borough council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.

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Otley Road cycle route work confirmed to start in 12 days

North Yorkshire County Council today published details of the forthcoming roadworks on Otley Road due to the construction of a cycle route.

The scheme, which has been beset by delays, will start on September 20, with work taking place between 7am and 5.30pm every weekday.

Temporary traffic lights will also be used and there will be overnight road closures for resurfacing,

The council said it was liaising with Harrogate Grammar School to ensure pupils and vehicles travel safely to the school. Pedestrian access to homes and businesses will remain in place throughout the works.

Officials at the county council said they expected the work to be completed within 10 weeks, dependent on weather conditions.

The Stray Ferret reported this month that Hull-based PBS Constructed Ltd has been commissioned to construct the first phase of the route as part of a £827,100 contract.

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Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, said:

“These improvements are being delivered as part of the government’s £4.6 million award to the council from the National Productivity Investment Fund for sustainable transport in the west of Harrogate.

“The measures will help to improve safety and alleviate the congestion experienced along the Otley Road corridor. 

“They are essential to accommodating existing traffic and supporting future growth, as set out in Harrogate Borough Council’s Local Plan. The improvements will significantly benefit the community and help to create a better-connected and safer network for pedestrians and cyclists.”

Widening Otley Road

Cllr Mackenzie also apologised for any disruption caused as part of construction of the scheme. He said:

“The work has been timed to start after the busy summer holiday period, but we realise there will be some disruption, so we apologise for that and thank people in anticipation for their patience.

“Most of the work will be carried out during the day, to minimise noise for residents at night, though some work, such as resurfacing, can be carried out only at night under a full road closure.”

Work will include widening Otley Road on the approach to Harlow Moor Road as well as the creation of a designated left turn lane on the western approach to Harlow Moor Road and designated right turn lane on the eastern approach.

An off-road cycle route will also be created between Harlow Moor Road and Cold Bath Road as part of the first phase.

 

‘Deep shame and regret’ at former Harrogate vicar’s child sex offences

The Diocese of Leeds has spoken of its “deep shame and regret” after a former Harrogate vicar was jailed for child sex offences.

Gordon Newton, who was a team vicar at St Wilfrid’s Church on Duchy Road until 2016 when he moved to his recent position in Batley, pleaded guilty to 12 charges at Leeds Crown Court on Friday.

Six of the charges were for sexual assault of a child aged under 13, three were for engaging in sexual activity with a child aged under 13 and three were for making indecent photos of a child.

He was sentenced to nine years and seven months in prison.

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The Diocese of Leeds oversees five episcopal areas, one of which is Ripon, which includes churches in Harrogate.

The Stray Ferret asked the diocese whether any investigation was being undertaken regarding Newton’s time in Harrogate, but it said it would not be offering any comment on St Wilfrid’s, which is an Anglican parish church.

However, the Stray Ferret understands there is no previous or ongoing North Yorkshire Police investigation into Newton.

In response to the sentencing, a spokesperson for the diocese said:

“It is a matter of deep shame and regret that Gordon Newton has been sentenced for offences of child sexual abuse.

“Child sexual abuse is a terrible crime and a grievous breach of trust, which has life-long effects.

“This is deeply shocking and of course, the victims of any such crimes must be foremost in our thoughts and prayers.

“The Anglican Diocese of Leeds safeguarding team has worked closely with all concerned since it was made aware of these allegations and has offered pastoral care and support.

“The Diocese of Leeds is committed to making the church a safer place for all and has clear safeguarding procedures in place, but we are aware we can never be complacent.”

The Stray Ferret has approached St Wilfrid’s Church for comment but has not received a response.

According to an annual report published by the church, which is on Duchy Road, Newton joined as assistant curate in May 2012 before being licensed as team vicar in April 2013.

He was also member of the management team at the Jennyfield Styan Community Centre and a chaplain with the Harrogate and District Sea Cadets.

Harrogate district records highest daily covid infections since July

The Harrogate district has reported its highest daily number of covid infections for two months.

According to today’s Pubic Health England figures, 132 cases have been confirmed in the district.

It’s the highest number of daily infections since July 16 when 138 were recorded.

The district’s weekly infection rate now stands at 386 per 100,000 people, which is above the North Yorkshire rate of 341 and the England average of 321.

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According to the latest figures, Harrogate District Hospital is treating 11 patients for covid.

The hospital has not recorded any covid deaths in the last 24 hours, according to NHS England statistics.

Elsewhere, 127,193 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 116,681 have had a second dose.

Findings of UCI review to be published before end of the year

The findings of a council-run review into Harrogate’s hosting of the 2019 UCI Road World Championships could be revealed before the end of this year.

Members of Harrogate Borough Council’s overview and scrutiny commission are running the review into the cycling event, which was hailed as a success by organisers but criticised by many businesses and residents who had complaints over road closures and diversions.

The nine-day event will also be remembered for leaving West Park Stray severely damaged after it was used as a spectator area during heavy rainfall, with repairs works and upgrades later costing £130,000.

Cllr Nick Brown, who is one of several councillors leading the cross-party review, told a meeting on Monday that the commission had asked residents to give their views on the event as part of a consultation which will now be opened up to businesses.

He said: 

“The public consultation has been undertaken – we have got about 700 responses which for a consultation is quite a lot.

“Those have been analysed and we are going to do some further consultation with the business community and a number of other organisations.

“This has taken rather longer than I would have liked, but obviously we have had covid so it has not been a very easy time.

“We will hopefully have a report to the commission in December.”

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If the findings are published in December, it will mark more than two years since the event was held in September 2019 when hundreds of international cyclists competed in races starting in different towns and cities across Yorkshire but with each finishing in Harrogate.

The review of the event was launched last year with the aim of “building on its successes and identifying any areas for improvement to inform the organisation of future events,” the council previously said.

It is also separate to an economic impact study of the event which was carried out by accountancy firm Ernst and Young at a cost of £19,000 to the council.

The study concluded the championships was watched by a global television audience of 329 million and resulted in an economic boost to the local economy of £17.8 million.

However, it did not take into account losses by businesses affected by road closures and a reported drop in town centre footfall – something the new review is aiming to cover.

Harrogate’s Oatlands Drive set to get double yellow lines?

A review into traffic measures on Harrogate’s Oatlands Drive is likely to include new double yellow lines, according to a senior county councillor.

North Yorkshire County Council is due to publish a new set of measures this autumn to improve walking and cycling in the Oatlands Drive area.

The Oatlands Constituency Feasibility Study is being drawn up after the council ditched proposals to introduce a one-way system on the road following complaints from residents.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive councillor for highways at North Yorkshire County Council, told the Stray Ferret that he expected double yellow lines to be included in the feasibility study.

It follows concern that drivers have been ignoring signs erected by Harrogate Borough Council warning drivers they face a £100 fine or being towed away if they park on Stray land next to the cycle lane on Oatlands Drive.

Oatlands Drive

The new signs on Oatlands Drive.

One side of Oatlands Drive has double yellow lines but the other side — where cars park — does not.

The signs only appeared last week but pictures have already emerged of cars parked right next to the signs blocking the cycle route.

Double yellows expected for Oatlands

Although Cllr Mackenzie said he could not guarantee where the proposals would suggest the double yellow lines be placed, he said they were likely to be included in a “comprehensive scheme” for the area.

He said:

“I’m pretty sure it will be included.”

Cllr Mackenzie added that the county council had outlined plans for double yellow lines in its rejected proposals for Oatlands.

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But he added that introducing double yellow lines might just increase parking congestion on other streets.

Cllr Mackenzie said:

“We could have put in yellow lines, but we are also aware that residents on St Hilda’s Road are already suffering from long term parkings problems.

“While those people are not breaking any laws, it does make it difficult to get in and out of driveways.

“Every time we introduce them [double yellow lines], it tends to shift the problem elsewhere. If it did not have a knock on affect then we would have done it.”

Cllr Mackenzie said he expected officers to bring the review into Oatlands to him “in the next few weeks”.

A ‘more permanent solution’ needed

Following the introduction of the signs on Oatlands, a borough council spokesperson said the authority hoped people would “think twice” before parking on the street.

The spokesperson added council officials were working with the county council on a “more permanent solution” to the parking problem.

They said that parking on the Stray breached the Stray Act 1985:

“A breach of the act allows the borough council — as custodians of the Stray — to issue a £100 fine to anyone caught parking on the Stray, or to have their vehicle towed away.

“We hope that the signage will make people think twice about parking on Oatlands Drive and allow cyclists to use the cycle path as intended.”

In a letter to the Stray Ferret, Judy d’Arcy-Thompson, chair of the Stray Defence Association, said yellow lines was the “simplest solution” to parking problems on Oatlands Drive but the county council had been “ridiculously uncooperative”.

Harrogate district covid rate increases as pupils head back to school

The Harrogate district’s covid infection rate is rising steadily as thousands of pupils make a return to classrooms this week.

The borough’s weekly rate per 100,000 people now stands at 386 and pre-term testing is being used to limit infections at schools and colleges, while rules on social distancing and face masks have been scrapped.

Meanwhile, a further 102 infections have been reported in the district, according to today’s daily Public Health England figures.

The return of schools has stoked concerns over a sharp spike in cases, similar to what has happened in Scotland where infections among under 15-year-olds have tripled since pupils restarted in mid-August.

Speaking last week, Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, said cases in the county are currently much higher than when schools returned last September – and that people should be “very aware” another spike can happen.

He said: 

“This time last year, the rates before schools went back and worse weather arrived were considerably lower than those we see now.

“Last year, we saw another big spike in cases, so we need to be very aware that that can still happen.”

Health officials at the county council last week urged all 16 and 17-year-olds to get vaccinated against covid “as soon as possible” ahead of the return to school this week.

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The calls came as scientists on the UK’s vaccine advisory body refused to give the green light to vaccinating healthy children aged 12 to 15 years on health grounds.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation said these children were at such a low risk from the virus that jabs would offer only a marginal benefit.

Infection rate almost up to 400

According to latest NHS figures, a total of 127,181 people in the Harrogate district have now received their first vaccine dose and 116,631 people their second.

Meanwhile, no further covid deaths have been recorded at Harrogate District Hospital.

The hospital reported three more covid deaths on Friday to take its toll since the pandemic began up to 184.

The latest infection rate for the Harrogate district of 386 is above both the North Yorkshire and England averages of 341 and 321.

The rate has been climbing steadily in recent weeks after falling sharply in mid-July from a record level of 536.

Elsewhere in North Yorkshire, Selby currently has the highest rate at 392, while Richmondshire has the lowest with 242.