Calvin Robinson Chief Reporter, Author at The Stray Ferret

Inquiry reveals Harrogate Nightingale cost £31.6 million

An inquiry into Harrogate’s Nightingale hospital has revealed the facility cost £31.6 million.

The 500-bed hospital at Harrogate Convention Centre was one of eight Nightingale hospitals set up at the start of the covid pandemic in March 2020. It was dismantled last year without treating a single covid patient.

Of its £31.6 million costs, £17 million was spent on building and dismantling works, £10.4 million on running costs and £4.1 million on equipment.

A further £1.1 million was spent on security and around £500,000 on cleaning and food.

Members of West Yorkshire Joint Health Overview Scrutiny Committee launched the inquiry into the hospital after raising questions over why it was not used to treat any covid patients and how it would have been staffed if needed.

The committee has now concluded that while these questions remain unanswered, the need for the eight Nightingale hospitals across the UK showed there was insufficient critical care capacity in regular hospitals.

Harrogate Borough Council – which owns the convention centre – also charged £4.2 million for staffing, utilities, business rates.

The committee said while it had not reached a conclusion on the costs, it had asked for its findings to be presented to a full public inquiry into the government’s handling of the pandemic set to be launched later this year.

Meanwhile, the inquiry also found that the nation had to be better prepared for future pandemics.

It said:

“The country needs to learn from this experience to plan for future pandemics.

“Although we learnt that staffing the Nightingale hospital would have only required 0.6% of the NHS hospital workforce across Yorkshire and the Humber, this only worked when nearly all elective hospital work had been suspended.

“This still feels like it would have been very tight and put significant pressure on certain key professions.”

‘Most frightening experience of my life’

The Nightingale hospital opened in April 2020 amid fears that the NHS might be overwhelmed by covid and it was dismantled almost a year later at a total cost of £31.6 million.

Members of the West Yorkshire Joint Health Overview Scrutiny Committee suggested there was a public view that the seven Nightingale hospitals were a “major waste of money”.

However, senior NHS officials have argued that had the hospitals not been built and it subsequently proved they were needed, the consequences would have been “unthinkable”.

Speaking at a meeting with the committee in September, Steve Russell, chief executive of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“If they had been needed and they hadn’t been built, we would have been asked far more difficult questions than why did you spend £30 million.

“I cannot describe to you the feeling of sitting in the convention centre looking at the chart that in four days we will run out of ventilation beds until you get this hospital mobilised.

“It was the most frightening experience of my life.”

The committee also praised the thousands of staff involved in setting up and running the Nightingale, including NHS workers, council staff, contractors and volunteers.

The committee said:

“The predicted numbers of covid patients for Yorkshire and the Humber far outweighed the number of hospital beds that could be provided for all levels of care, which was why it was important to have the further capacity that the Nightingale hospitals gave us.

“We have nothing but admiration for the way in which they, NHS colleagues throughout Yorkshire and the Humber and partner organisations responded.

“It is a tribute to the work of the NHS, local authorities, the community and voluntary sector and many others that we did not need to use the Nightingale Hospital.”

Harrogate covid rate falls again — but hospitalisations increase

The Harrogate district’s covid rate has continued to fall but the number of patents in hospital who have tested positive for coronavirus has increased.

Latest government figures show that the district’s seven-day covid average has dropped to 1,286 per 100,000 people, down on yesterday’s figure of 1,487.

It remains below both the county average, which is 1,243, and the England rate of 1,274.

However, latest figure show that the number of covid patients being treated at Harrogate District Hospital stands at 27 as of January 11.

The number is an increase from 23 on last week.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England.

According to government figures, 105,580 booster or third jabs have been given in the Harrogate district, as of today.

Andrew Jones MP welcomes pause in smart motorway rollout

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has supported the government’s decision to pause the rollout of smart motorways.

Mr Jones was a key advocate of smart motorways during his time as a minister at the Department for Transport between 2015 and 2019.

The government this week shelved any further implementations of the scheme “until five years worth of safety data becomes available” for motorways built before 2020.

There have been mounting concerns about the technology after multiple deaths and near misses have been reported.

Government figures show 38 deaths on smart motorways were recorded between 2014 and 2019, including John Mercer, who died on a stretch of the M1 without a hard shoulder in 2019.

Speaking at a Westminster Hall debate on the issue yesterday, Mr Jones said:

“The pause that has been announced gives us the chance to retrofit, implement and review the stopped vehicle detection technology and perhaps improve it.

“The pace of the development is so fast that I am sure that developments will come into play sooner rather than later.

“We should expect all modes of transport to become busier as we emerge from the pandemic, and that will include our roads. As that happens, road safety must never be compromised, but enhanced.”

During his time as a transport minister in May 2016, Mr Jones insisted that the rollout of smart motorways was not being done “on the cheap”, as opponents of the scheme had claimed. They said it compromised safety.

At a Transport Select Committee debate at the time, the Conservative MP said:

“Are these things being developed on the cheap? No, no they’re not. This is part of a comprehensive injection of capacity into our national strategic road network.

“This is a key ingredient in our first road investment strategy, that is a £15 billion budget.”

At the same debate, he later added that the government was monitoring the safety of the schemes and that he did not think it was “a question of having a back-up plan or pausing”.

The government has said pausing the rollout builds on its action plan for smart motorways, which includes adding emergency areas and upgrading cameras to detect red X offences.

Highways chief ‘confident’ Kex Gill scheme can still avoid inquiry

North Yorkshire’s highways chief has said he is hopeful that a £60 million project to realign Kex Gill will go ahead without a public inquiry.

A diversion is planned west of Blubberhouses on the A59 at Kex Gill, which has been blighted by a history of landslides and a recent “instability issue” that cost the council £1.4 million.

Following the publication of compulsory purchase orders, the council was faced with two objections which, if unresolved, could have led to a public inquiry.

However, Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at the county council, told the Stray Ferret the authority had now resolved one of the complaints.

He said:

“I’m very confident it will avoid an inquiry.”

Cllr Mackenzie previously told the Stray Ferret that he did not see the objections as a “severe risk” to the project.

He added that once construction started on the project, work could take up to 18 months to complete.

However, a start date for the scheme has yet to be confirmed.

Barrie Mason, assistant director of highways and transportation at North Yorkshire County Council, said the authority intended to progress the scheme “as soon as possible”.

He said:

“We remain committed to progressing the essential realignment of the A59 at Kex Gill as quickly as possible.

“The route is a vital east-west link within North Yorkshire, as well as into West Yorkshire, Lancashire and Humber ports, so we are pressing ahead with this scheme to provide a safe, reliable route for residents, businesses and visitors.

“However, there are statutory processes that must be completed before we can move to the next stage of the project. We are currently progressing through these processes. Subject to their satisfactory completion, we will move forward with the scheme as soon as possible.”

Harrogate hospital covid death toll rises to 205

Harrogate District Hospital has recorded another death from a patient who tested positive for coronavirus.

The hospital reported the death on Tuesday, according to NHS England figures. It takes the covid-related death toll at the hospital to 205.

Today’s figures from the UK Health Security Agency show that another 326 infections have been recorded in the Harrogate district.

Meanwhile, government figures show that the district’s seven-day covid average is 1,487 per 100,000 people, down on yesterday’s figure of 1,527.

It remains below both the county average, which is 1,475, and the England rate is also 1,475.

The data also shows that 105,412 booster or third jabs have been given in the Harrogate district, as of today.

Today, health bosses in North Yorkshire have sought to address fears from people who are hesitant to get the vaccine, in particular pregnant women.

‘Super-volunteer’ George Simpson – who has given over 1,500 hours of his time to the Knaresborough vaccination centre programme since it began in March 2021. Homecare Pharmacy vaccinator Janice John (in pink vest). Chain Lane Community Hub director Sue Vasey.

Dr Cath Dixon, executive chair and clinical lead of the Yorkshire Health Network a Federation of the 17 GP practices in the Harrogate district, said:

“Getting a covid vaccine is one of the most important things a pregnant woman can do this year to keep herself and her baby as safe from this virus as possible.

“There is now extensive evidence to show that the vaccines are safe and that the risks posed by covid to mum and baby are far greater. If any mums-to-be are having doubts about vaccination, I would urge them to talk to their midwife or doctor.”

Meanwhile, Knaresborough covid vaccination centre, based at Chain Lane Community Hub, administered its 125,000th jab today.

Officials at the centre reported that 40,000 of its vaccines which were given in November and December alone.

‘God help us!’ — fears over need for £31m to fund North Yorks fire service

Concerns have been raised after it was revealed North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service could be forced to borrow up to £31 million to fund new equipment after the government abolished its grant.

Zoe Metcalfe, a Conservative who was elected North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner in November, described the funding settlement for the fire service as “very unfair” and pledged to lobby government for more support.

The service is currently running a deficit of £1 million and will require capital funding to pay for vehicles, maintenance of property and fire kit.

At a meeting today of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel, the commissioner’s office set out provisional plans for increasing the precept paid by council tax payers to fund both police and fire services.

Michael Porter, director of finance at the commissioner’s office, told the meeting that the fire precept can only be increased by 1.99% — which would amount to £1.46 per week — because it is not one of the eight lowest charging services in the country.

He added that there will be no capital grant from government, leaving the service requiring £31.1 million to fund its projects over the next five years.

Mr Porter said:

“The problem with this, which we alluded to earlier, is that there is no capital grant from a fire perspective.

“Almost the entirety of that £31 million would need to be borrowed. Borrowing would need to be around about £25 to £26 million to be able to fund that type of level of investment.

“We will probably get to a point where we have to make some really difficult choices around whether or not we can continue to do something or even be able to do something of this nature.”

Martin Walker, a co-opted member of the panel, said he was “horrified” by the financial situation the service was in.

He said:

“I have to say that I’m horrified, if that’s not too strong a word, about where the fire service is going to be.

“It’s in desperate need of capital injection and renewing stations, renewing fire engines and renewing all sorts of infrastructure.

“You’re talking about borrowing and having to borrow £30 million. I hesitate to say this, but god help us.

“The fire service is fighting so hard to provide the service that the public need and yet you’re telling us as a panel that it’s going to get worse, then it will get worse and after that it will get worse.”

Ms Metcalfe sought to reassure the panel and said she was “lobbying government and MPs very hard” over funding for the fire service, which she described as unfair.

She said:

“I am questioning the rationale about how they have come to deciding where we are on that chart [precept level], it does seem very unfair.

“I’m fighting very hard for a fairer funding formula for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.”

Meanwhile, Mr Porter added that there was “strong support” from the public for the precept level to be increased higher than 1.99%.

The commissioner’s office will set its budget for the police and fire service in February.

Harrogate district MPs silent over Prime Minister party apology

Two of the Harrogate district’s Conservative MPs have so far remained silent after Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologised for a party at 10 Downing Street at the height of the first lockdown.

Before Prime Minister’s Question Time yesterday, Mr Johnson issued a public apology after coming under fire for a “bring your own booze” event during lockdown in May 2020.

The reports sparked backlash from the public as many had to abide by restrictions at the same time, including not being at the bedside of loved ones when they died and missing funerals.

Mr Johnson confirmed he was at the event and said he understood the “rage” people felt. However, he added that he believed it was a “work event” and had not seen the invitation from his principle private secretary, Martin Reynolds.

Labour leader of the opposition, Keir Starmer, called for the Prime Minister to resign yesterday and alleged that he had misled parliament over the lockdown parties.

So far, Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP and Julian Smith, Ripon and Skipton MP, have yet to give their views on the issue.

Following the apology, Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty, which includes rural part of Harrogate, retweeted a tweet from Nadine Dorries, culture secretary, which backed the Prime Minister and said he was “right to personally apologise”.

Mr Adams is also minister without portfolio in the Cabinet Office.

https://twitter.com/nadams/status/1481342527684980740

The Stray Ferret has asked Mr Jones and Mr Smith whether they believe Mr Johnson should resign, but had yet to receive a response by the time of publication.

During an emergency debate in Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Jones asked paymaster general Michael Ellis for a specific date when an inquiry into the lockdown parties will be published. He was told that it would be a “swift” investigation.

Meanwhile, Matt Walker, vice-chair of the Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats, said he has written to Mr Jones urging him to join calls for the Prime Minister to resign.

Mr Walker said:

“Yesterday we heard an evasive apology from the Prime Minister for hosting a garden party at the height of lockdown.

“This is just one of many recent allegations made about government representatives and officials breaking the rules during the pandemic, but none so clear cut as the occasion on May 20, 2020.”

Review into Oatlands Drive traffic measures delayed

A review into traffic measures on Harrogate’s Oatlands Drive has been delayed.

North Yorkshire County Council was due to publish a list of measures to improve walking and cycling in the area last year.

However, Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at the council, told the Stray Ferret that publication of the review has been delayed as the council is working with consultants on the matter.

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.

It is expected to look into issues such as parking, access to the Saints area and the blocking of the cycle way on Oatlands Drive by cars.

The study was earmarked to be finalised last autumn.

But Cllr Mackenzie said:

“It has been delayed. We are working with our consultants on that.

“It will look at parking and various issues in the Saints area. I am sorry that it has been delayed.”

Concerns over parking in the cycle lane on Oatlands Drive have been raised with the council over many years, Cllr Mackenzie added.

In September, Harrogate Borough Council erected no parking signs warning drivers they face a £100 fine or being towed away if they park on Stray land next to the cycle lane.

However, drivers were later pictured defying the “no parking” signs.

The parking signs which were erected on Oatlands Drive.

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

The county council is working with London-based consultancy firm WSP on the Oatlands study. The company also carried out work on the £60 million Kex Gill realignment project for the authority.

Victoria Avenue cycle scheme expected to hit delays

Another cycling project which is also expected to be delayed is the Victoria Avenue scheme in Harrogate.

The project is set to see cycle lanes implemented in order to connect with the nearby Beech Grove low traffic neighbourhood.

It comes as part of a £1.2 million government funded scheme to to get more people walking and cycling as the nation emerges from the pandemic.

The project which has been earmarked for Victoria Avenue in Harrogate.

However, Cllr Mackenzie told the Stray Ferret that the Victoria Avenue part of the project could require Stray land to be exchanged.

This could delay construction of the project as the county council would have to liaise with Harrogate Borough Council to identify land to be exchanged with the Duchy of Lancaster.

Cllr Mackenzie said he had hoped to start work on the Active Travel schemes, which also includes a project on the A59 Harrogate Road, this summer.

Street entertainer and litter ranger among plans to boost Harrogate footfall

Harrogate Business Improvement District is set to outline its plans for 2022, which will include street entertainment and pop-up markets.

Officials from the BID will hold their annual general meeting at the Crown Hotel today to outline plans for the year ahead.

The plans will include a “HastobeHarrogate” promotional campaign, as well as a street ranger whose remit will be to keep the town centre clean and tidy.

The BID is also planning street entertainment which will include home-grown theatrical talent, who will be performing in the town centre over a series of weekends throughout the year.

Sara Ferguson, chair of Harrogate BID, said:

“The good news is that we are going to do more to make Harrogate even more appealing, giving locals and visitors plenty of reasons to ‘pop into town’ time and time again.

“This month our street ranger, whose main remit is to keep the town centre looking spick and span, will make his official debut. So, look out for him and his branded electric vehicle complete with jet washer.

“Our street cleansing crew will be back in March for the first of four major cleaning and weeding sessions, and ensuring Harrogate looks fresh and clean in time for the Easter holiday.

“Our barrier baskets and planters will again be giving Harrogate a vibrant burst of colour and clearly demonstrating why it is renowned as a floral town.”

Proposals outlined by the organisation will coincide with the queen’s platinum jubilee, which will take place over four days in early June.

Officials at the BID said its plans for the year are designed to make the most of the event and entice ore people into the town centre.

Ms Ferguson said this would include a partnership with LoyalFree to create a series of ‘shop local’ campaigns, aimed at promoting Harrogate as Yorkshire’s number destination to “shop, eat and drink”.

She added that the BID also intended to look into “hosting a series of pop-up markets” off the back of the Christmas Fayre.

Harrogate district covid rate falls, raising hopes Omicron wave has peaked

The Harrogate district’s covid rate has fallen slightly, as 387 positive covid infections were reported today.

Latest government figures show that the district’s seven-day covid average is 1,527 per 100,000 people, down on yesterday’s figure of 1,533.

It remains below both the county average, which is 1,572, and the England rate of 1,592.

While the rate in the district has fallen, Amanda Bloor, accountable officer of the county’s NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, said it was “too soon to say with certainty” that infections are now levelling off.

Ms Bloor said while the rates were down overall, cases were climbing in older age groups and that this was a worry for under pressure hospitals.

She also said recent challenges around testing could be depressing the true rates of infection.

Ms Bloor said:

“Now is certainly not the time for complacency.

“The level of covid in our communities remains staggeringly high and regrettably, as the prevalence of covid spills over into older and more vulnerable parts of our society, we are beginning to see large numbers of people in North Yorkshire hospitalised with coronavirus.”

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England.

According to government figures, 105,178 booster or third jabs have been given in the Harrogate district, as of today.

Latest figure show that the number of covid patients being treated at Harrogate District Hospital remains at 23.

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