Harrogate care boss ‘frustrated’ at vaccine rollout

The chief executive of a care charity in the Harrogate district has spoken of her frustration over the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine.

Care home residents and staff are classed as high risk groups and are among the first to be vaccinated as part of the national programme.

The government has set a target of February 15 to offer the vaccine to all vulnerable groups.

But Sue Cawthray, chief executive of Harrogate Neighbours, which provides accommodation for older people, has said so far no residents or staff at its premises have been vaccinated.

Harrogate Neighbours operates Heath Lodge on Pannal Ash Road and the Cuttings on Station View. 

Ms Cawthray told the Stray Ferret she understood GPs were under pressure but the lack of communication was frustrating.

She said:

“Personally, I think the whole vaccine thing is a bit of a nightmare. None of us have had it yet. We’ve got a handful of people at the Cuttings who have got appointments at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

“The vaccine only arrived in Yorkshire on Thursday so I’ve got to give them a chance. I’ve been told they’re giving it to the larger care homes first. When they had the first vaccine, they did that because of the way it came in quantities and had to be used quickly or it was thrown away.

“The GPs are under so much pressure anyway. People are still ill with other bugs. They’ve just finished doing flu vaccines and now they’ve got this to do. Part of me feels sorry for them because it’s such a big undertaking for them.

“The communication is really bad still. Everything comes out late. We’re just finding it frustrating. We were asked way before Christmas for lists and forms ready to receive the vaccine. Now here we are in mid-January and we’ve not even had a phone call.”

According to North Yorkshire County Council figures today, 79 out of 235 North Yorkshire care settings, which includes care homes and extra care facilities, has one or more covid cases among residents of staff.

Health chiefs have urged care homes to be vigilant over visits from family and friends, even with the vaccine rollout.

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Richard Webb, director of health and adult care at the authority, said:

“Though it’s hard with a new lockdown, the vaccines have arrived and in the coming weeks and months more and more people in our settings will have much greater protection against the virus.

“But for now, we have to assume that the new, more transmissible variant of covid is in our county so, although everybody is tired, we must redouble our efforts to stay safe and to protect our care home residents and staff. Above all we must all stay vigilant with facemasks, hand washing and social distancing.”

Mr Webb added he has also asked care homes to be patient on the rollout of the vaccine.

“My main message to providers today is please be patient. The vaccination will be made available to people using your services and to your staff and this will happen in the coming weeks as more doses of the different vaccines become available. It is better that the vaccination programme is implemented in a safe way, than rushed.

“Local NHS colleagues are working around the clock and, as soon as the national distribution system delivers new vaccine batches to North Yorkshire, they will be contacting people to vaccinate them. In most cases, GPs and their teams will be contacting you. However, in some cases, your local hospital may also offer vaccinations to staff and to people using services.”

 

Harrogate district covid cases increase again as 145 reported

A further 145 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district today, according to Public Health England figures.

The number takes the total cases since the start of the pandemic to 5,694.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day rate of infection currently stands at 411 people per 100,000.

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The rate for North Yorkshire is 380 and the national figure is 582.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for coronavirus have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

Earlier today, North Yorkshire Police said officers would get tougher on covid rule breakers.

Superintendent Mike Walker, gold commander for the police response in the county to covid, said officers had dealt with cases of people coming from outside the county to beauty spots and others holding birthday parties.

 

North Yorkshire Police pledge to get tougher on covid rule breakers

North Yorkshire Police has today pledged to get tougher on people breaking lockdown rules and “no longer waste time” with covid rule breakers.

Superintendent Mike Walker, gold commander for the police response in the county to covid, said officers had dealt with cases of people coming from outside the county to beauty spots and others holding birthday parties.

He said while those flouting lockdown rules were in the minority, police would come down harder on those found breaking restrictions.

Superintendent Walker told a press briefing of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which is a partnership of emergency agencies:

“We will no longer waste time reasoning with people who do not have regard for the safety of others.

“This is not just down to the police, this is a matter of personal responsibility. Everyone should ask themselves ‘do I need to make this journey’. If the answer is no, then stay at home.”

Since the start of the new national lockdown, police have issued a total of 107 fixed penalty notices – more than double that in the first week of the lockdown in March when 46 were handed out.

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Of the amount handed out so far, 57 were to people outside North Yorkshire and 50 were to those living in the county.

Police issued 58 fines for people being outside with no reasonable excuse and 49 for indoor gatherings.

A total of 10 have so far been handed out by Harrogate police — all for being outside without good reason.

Yesterday, Mark Hewitt, chair of the National Police Chiefs Council, said he “made no apology” for the almost 45,000 fixed penalty notices for covid breaches with have been handed out nationally.

He said:

“It is very clear that we are now at the most dangerous stage of the pandemic.

“There is a real and present risk that our health service could be overwhelmed and people – our friends and family – could die needlessly from this virus.

“So, we must all play a part in stopping that from happening.”

70 further covid cases as hospital postpones surgeries

A further 70 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Harrogate district today, as hospital bosses postpone some non-emergency surgeries to deal with the increase in covid patients.

It takes the total amount of cases since the start of the pandemic to 5,549.

The district’s seven-day case rate stands at 426 people per 100,000. The county average is 401 and the national rate is 609.

All three figures are down on yesterday.

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One further death from a patient who tested positive for coronavirus has been confirmed today at Harrogate District Hospital.

It takes the total number of deaths since March to 116.

According to NHS England data, the death was reported on January 10.

Earlier today, the hospital announced it is to postpone some elective surgeries to deal with the rising number of coronavirus patients.

The number of coronavirus patients in the hospital has more than doubled from 19 to 46 in the past week.

Schools to be banned from releasing helium balloons and sky lanterns

Schools look set to be banned from releasing helium balloons and sky lanterns under a new charter adopted by North Yorkshire County Council.

The charter will forbid the activities amid fears they pose a “significant risk of harm to animals and the environment”.

The ban will apply on all county council owned land, including schools and care homes.

Lanterns and balloons are often released at charity events and celebratory occasions, such as weddings.

But fears over the impact on animals and the environment led charities and unions, including the Marine Conservation Society, National Farmers’ Union and the Countryside Alliance to campaign on the issue.

As there is no national policy on the issue, councils have had to adopt their own positions on the matter.

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North Yorkshire County Council passed a motion in November calling on the authority to prohibit the release of lanterns and balloons.

Now councillors will formalise this when they discuss the wording of the charter at a corporate and partnership overview and scrutiny meeting on January 18 before the full council votes.

According to a council report, the charter is expected to say:

“North Yorkshire County Council has banned the release of sky lanterns and helium balloons on any property and land which North Yorkshire County Council own or lease or have any interest in or control over.

“We are committed to encouraging businesses, communities, landowners, schools, residential homes and individuals to switch to alternative ways of celebrating and commemorating events.”

The county council will also call on town and parish councils to adopt a similar ban.

Hundreds of other local authorities have already introduced bans.

In January last year, South Kesteven District Council prohibited the release of lanterns and balloons in council-owned parks and open spaces.

Nottinghamshire County Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Lancashire County Council are among others that have adopted bans.

Although the move has not given authorities the power to enforce the ban, some use it to promote and “educate the public” on alternative ways to mark special occasions.

Four covid deaths in three days at Harrogate hospital

A further two deaths of patients who tested positive for coronavirus have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital today.

It means four covid-related deaths have been announced at the hospital in the last three days.

According to NHS England statistics, today’s two deaths were recorded on January 9.

Another 50 infections in the Harrogate district were confirmed today by Public Health England.

It takes the Harrogate District’s seven-day infection rate to 494 people per 100,000.

The England average is 611 and the North Yorkshire average is 436.

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Health bosses urge patience on covid vaccine as 76 further cases confirmed

Health bosses have urged people to be patient on the covid vaccine as a further 76 cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district.

The number takes the total number of coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic up to 5,236, according to Public Health England figures.

The district’s seven-day coronavirus rate stands at 471 per 100,000 people and is the fourth highest in North Yorkshire.

Meanwhile, health bosses in North Yorkshire have urged people to be patient over the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine.

It comes after vulnerable residents told the Stray Ferret earlier this week that they were frustrated at the lack of information on the vaccine locally.

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The jab is currently being offered to the over 80s, frontline health staff and care home workers and residents. Those over 75, over 70, as well as clinically and extremely vulnerable patients, will follow.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson set a target to vaccinate those four priority groups by February 15 following the country being placed into another national lockdown.

But local health officials have asked people to be patient and wait to be invited by their GP for their vaccine appointment as the programme is ramped up nationally.

Amanda Bloor, NHS North Yorkshire CCG accountable officer and chair of the North Yorkshire and York group of NHS and local government chief executives, said: 

“It’s heartening to see patients’ enthusiasm to have the covid vaccine, but it’s important those at most risk of falling seriously ill and dying from coronavirus are vaccinated first.

“Your GP surgery is following the necessary guidance and will be in touch with you when it’s your turn to be vaccinated – please do not contact them.”

Meanwhile, Harrogate District Hospital is currently treating 24 patients who tested positive for coronavirus.

The number is an increase on the 16 which the trust reported last week.

According to NHS England figures, a further patient who tested positive for covid died at the hospital on January 6. It takes the total number of deaths at the hospital since March up to 111.

The hospital has treated and discharged 335 people diagnosed with covid – 11 of these since last week – but its current number of in-patients with covid has risen from 16 on New Year’s Eve to 28 yesterday.

Killinghall bypass ‘could cost in excess of £20 million’

A new bypass for Killinghall could cost in excess of £20 million, county council officers have said.

The project would come as part of a plan proposed by North Yorkshire County Council to tackle congestion in the Harrogate district.

Councillors on the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Committee heard the proposals at a meeting today, along with other measures to cut traffic.

It comes after the county council conducted a study in 2019 to find ways to ease congestion in the district.

Initial proposals included building the bypass along with a western relief road. However, that idea has now been taken off the table and a standalone bypass has been suggested.

Allan McVeigh, senior highways officer at the authority, told the committee that the project is estimated to cost “in excess of £20 million”.

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But he added that the figure was a “high level estimate” at the moment and more work needed to be done on the scheme if it were to be taken forward.

A report before the committee said the current bypass proposal would cost less to construct than the relief road and would offer “high value for money”.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, speaking before the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Committee.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, speaking before the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Committee.

Meanwhile, concern was raised from residents and campaign groups over cycle routes and the increase in flow of traffic into Harrogate as part of the project.

Rod Beardshall, of Zero Carbon Harrogate, called on the county council to oppose the plan. He added that “all non-road solutions for Killinghall should be considered before a bypass.”.

In response to concerns, Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at the authority, said a bypass was necessary to remove congestion from the “fastest growing village in the county”.

He added that the scheme would include active travel measures, such as cycle routes..

He said:

“We have a duty to respond to the many residents and local members who feel that they want to take some of this traffic out of their village. 

“That includes 44-tonne lorries which could not be replaced by a person walking or cycling. That is why we firmly believe that certainly further consideration of a bypass to take this traffic out of the village is needed.”

The bypass is set to be added to the county council’s list of major schemes, which would require funding from the Department for Transport.

Harrogate district covid rate six times higher than a month ago

The Harrogate district’s seven-day covid rate has passed the 400 mark for the first time as infection rates continue to rocket.

The average now stands at 460 people per 100,000 and is the third highest in North Yorkshire.

The rate is now nearly six times higher than it was four weeks ago when the figure stood at just 79.

North Yorkshire’s average is 444 while the national rate is 636.

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Public health bosses in North Yorkshire warned this week that case rates were likely to worsen in the coming weeks.

A further 120 infections were confirmed today in the district by Public Health England.

The figure takes the total cases since the start of the pandemic up to 5,160.

Meanwhile, the vaccination centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground reopened today.

Residents raised concerns about a lack of information on the centre earlier this week when it appeared to have been closed for most days over the Christmas period.

Pateley Bridge police station to be sold

Pateley Bridge’s police station is to be sold for an estimated £142,000 to save money.

The building on King Street will be offloaded and officers relocated in an effort to save £19,000 per year.

Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, made the decision to sell the station shortly before Christmas after agreement with the force’s chief constable.

In a decision report, the commissioner said police officers will move to Harrogate Borough Council’s offices across the road.

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The report added the sale could bring in £142,000 on top of the estimated savings.

Ms Mulligan said the money could be reinvested in frontline policing and the decision was part of a strategy to relocate officers alongside other public and third sector services.

She added:

“Pateley Bridge station is a large building and is relatively expensive to run.  

“Whilst local officers and staff are based there, the building is far too large for the size of team based there.  

“New mobile working technology means officers are spending less time in the station and more time in the community, which has also affected how often the current station is occupied. This will decrease further as new applications are added to the technology.”

The commissioner said in the report that the front counter service, which is currently at Nidderdale Plus office due to coronavirus, will remain open.