A trade union has expressed concern that jobs could be lost as part of a staff review at Harrogate Borough Council’s new tourism organisation.
The authority set up a destination management organisation in September to ‘further grow economic impact and support the district’s recovery plans following the covid pandemic’.
Gemma Rio was recruited as head of destination management to lead the new organisation, which combines Visit Harrogate, Harrogate Convention Centre’s marketing team and the district’s tourist information centres.
The council is now consulting on the new structure.
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The Stray Ferret was contacted by a source worried the process would lead to staff being made redundant if they didn’t accept new roles.
We understand 25 to 30 staff in areas such as tourism information and museums fall under the review.
A consultation on the review is expected to end tomorrow.
The Stray Ferret approached Unison Harrogate local government branch and asked whether it had responded to the review.
A spokesman for Unison said it had concerns that staff were “at risk of being made redundant” and that it had “identified a number of concerns regarding the proposals but that there are also some things we believe we can support”.
He added:
“The key thing for us is our members jobs and pay but also that the council has a service that is fit for purpose once the review is completed.”
A council spokesperson said the destination management organisation “will ensure the best possible visitor experience and make the district of Harrogate a must visit destination for leisure and business tourists alike”.
The spokesperson added:
First covid vaccine tally in Harrogate district soars to 105,000“As part of the DMO being established, we will be ensuring we have the right roles across the organisation to help deliver these aims and provide best value for the taxpayer.
“These proposals are still being developed and will involve a consultation with staff.”
More than 105,000 first doses of a covid vaccine have now been given in the Harrogate district, according to Public Health England.
A total of 105,518 first and 68,854 second vaccines have been administered in the district.
It means the take-up rate in the district stands at 74% for a first dose and 48% for a second dose.
in other covid news today, two more cases of the infection have been reported in the Harrogate district.
According to Public Health England, 7,746 cases have been recorded since the start of the pandemic.
The daily number of cases reported is based on PCR and lateral flow tests returning positive results.
However, if someone with a positive lateral flow test later has a negative result with a PCR test, the earlier result will be removed.
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No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.
According to NHS England figures, the last death from a patient who tested positive for covid was recorded on April 11.
It means the death toll at the hospital since last March remains at 179.
Plans submitted to build 28 homes in Bishop MonktonDevelopers have submitted plans to build 28 homes in the village of Bishop Monkton, near Ripon.
Kebbell Development, which is based in Buckinghamshire, has lodged the proposal for land at Knaresborough Road in the village.
The plans submitted to Harrogate Borough Council would see two, three, four and five-bedroom homes built on the site.
In its plans, the developer said 40% of the homes proposed for the site would be allocated to affordable housing.
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It added that the homes would be in keeping with the local area and that the development will “positively contribute” to the community.
The site on Knaresborough Road in Bishop Monkton which has been proposed for housing.
A decision on the proposal will be made by the council at a later date.
The development comes after Alfa Homes, a sister company of Wetherby-based developer Berkeley DeVeer, lodged plans for 98 homes in the village.
The 98 homes have been proposed for the western edge of the village on Knaresborough Road and Moor Road.
Harrogate Town make first signing of summer transfer windowHarrogate Town have announced midfielder Alex Pattison as the club’s first signing of the summer.
Pattison joins from Wycombe Wanderers, where he made 24 appearances in all competitions.
The 23-year-old spent two seasons at Wycombe, whose nickname is the Chairboys, where he helped the club achieve promotion to the Championship in 2019/20.
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Pattison, who was born in Darlington, started his career at Middlesbrough before joining York City in 2017/18.
He went on to make 29 appearances for Yeovil Town in League Two in 2018/19.
Pattison will wear the number 16 shirt for Town, which was previously worn by striker Jon Stead, who retired at the end of last season after a long and successful career.
‘They’re only trying to help us’: GPs face verbal abuse over delays for non-covid servicesGP practices are facing a wave of abuse from patients frustrated with delays for non-covid health services stretched by the pandemic, an NHS boss has said.
Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, told a briefing today that patients are being aggressive on an “increasingly frequent basis” as GPs struggle to cope with huge demand for routine services including appointments and prescriptions.
Ms Bloor has issued a plea for patience and politeness towards staff which she said are working under difficult circumstances as they not only try to deal with this demand but also spearhead the covid vaccination drive.
She told a North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum briefing:
“We are continuing to see significant system pressures across North Yorkshire and York in all of our health care settings but we are also now sadly hearing some feedback about abusive behaviour towards staff.
“A number of our GP surgeries have said their practice teams are being subject to verbal abuse on an increasingly frequent basis, particularly receptionists.
“The wider NHS and all of its staff are here to help you, so please do work with us and be kind. I don’t think anybody deserves to be abused at work particularly when in challenging situations they are only trying to help us.”
Over the past 14 months, while all GPs have been working throughout the pandemic, surgeries have reduced face-to-face appointments which have been replaced with telephone and online consultations.
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It has meant long telephone queues and online forms for patients seeking the medical help they need, however, surgeries have now begun restarting more services.
Earlier this month, the NHS published updated guidance which said patients should be able to request an in-person appointment with their doctor unless they have covid symptoms.
But in order to keep the pressure off staff, Ms Bloor said patients should still use online and telephone services where they can, including 111 for any urgent medical help and the NHS app for ordering prescriptions.
She said:
“Please do use the NHS wisely and that way we can best support everybody’s needs.”
Meanwhile, Ms Bloor also told today’s briefing that more than 482,000 people in North Yorkshire and York have now received their first covid vaccine dose, while 312,000 people have had their second.
There are, however, still more than 31,000 residents who belong in the top nine priority groups and have yet to come forward despite receiving their vaccine invites.
Ms Bloor said:
No covid deaths at Harrogate hospital for six weeks“We encourage everyone across North Yorkshire and York to take up the vaccination when they are invited and also make sure they do attend for the second dose when the time comes as we know that second dose does just make all the difference.
“We also know that over 31,000 people have not yet come forward and it is really important that we get as many people across all communities covered by the vaccination as possible.
“It is not just about stopping you getting the virus, it is about protecting families, loved ones and the wider community.”
Harrogate District Hospital has gone six weeks without reporting a covid death.
According to NHS England figures, the last death from a patient who tested positive for covid was recorded on April 11.
It means the death toll at the hospital since last March remains at 179.
Meanwhile, a further three cases of covid have been reported in the Harrogate district.
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Latest Public Health England data shows that 7,740 cases have been recorded since the start of the pandemic.
The daily number of cases reported is based on PCR and lateral flow tests returning positive results. However, if someone with a positive lateral flow test later has a negative result with a PCR test, the earlier result will be removed.
Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 11 per 100,000 people.
In North Yorkshire, the average is 13 and the England rate is 22.
Four covid cases reported in Harrogate districtFour positive cases of covid have been reported in the Harrogate district.
According to latest Public Health England figures, the total number of infections since last March stands at 7,737.
The daily number of cases reported is based on PCR and lateral flow tests returning positive results. However, if someone with a positive lateral flow test later has a negative result with a PCR test, the earlier result will be removed.
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Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 11 per 100,000 people.
In North Yorkshire, the average is 13 and the England rate is 22.
One covid case reported in Harrogate districtJust one positive case of covid have been reported in the Harrogate district.
According to latest Public Health England figures, the total number of infections since last March stands at 7,733.
Yesterday, the government has changed the way it records daily cases of coronavirus in England.
The daily number of cases reported is based on PCR and lateral flow tests returning positive results. However, if someone with a positive lateral flow test later has a negative result with a PCR test, the earlier result will be removed.
Meanwhile, no further deaths form patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.
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The death toll at the hospital remains at 179 since last March.
The last reported covid death at the hospital was on April 11.
Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 12 per 100,000 people.
In North Yorkshire, the average is 13 and the England rate is 22.
Total vaccine doses in Harrogate district near 170,000Nearly 170,000 covid vaccine doses have been given in the Harrogate district, according to the latest government figures.
Public Health England data show that a total of 168,858 have been given.
The number includes 104,487 first vaccines and 63,371 second jabs.
Figures show that first doses have steadily increased throughout this month, with the latest data showing 1,011 people received a first jab on May 19.
As demonstrated by the graph below, April saw the number of those receiving their first covid vaccine plateau due to a national shortage in supply.
First doses (green) and second doses (blue) of covid vaccines in the Harrogate district since December 2020. Data: Public Health England.
Since then, numbers have gradually increased and those in their 30s are now being invited to book their first appointment.
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Currently, those aged 32 and over are eligible to come forward for a vaccine.
It comes as two vaccination centres in the Harrogate district are set to close in August.
Both the Great Yorkshire Showground and Ripon Racecourse will close down. The two GP-led sites have administered more than 120,000 jabs so far.
However, the pharmacy sites in Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge will remain open.
Dr Ian Dilley, a GP partner at East Parade Surgery in Harrogate and clinical director of the Mowbray Square Primary Care Network, said earlier this week:
Deer rescued from rising water at How Stean Gorge“With the huge number of people now vaccinated in the local area, we feel August is an appropriate end date.
“We need to be mindful of the other pressures that will be placed on doctors’ surgeries as we head towards autumn and winter, and the annual flu vaccine campaigns that GP practices need to provide.
“We also need to enable our kind hosts at the Yorkshire Events Centre and Ripon Racecourse to provide their own events as restrictions continue to be eased and more public events are permitted.”
Staff at How Stean Gorge rescued a deer from high water yesterday after it got trapped.
Heavy rainfall across the Harrogate district caused water levels to rise high at the gorge.
Three members of staff rescued the deer, which had got trapped in the rising water yesterday morning.
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Jeff Stewart, who works at How Stean Gorge in Lofthouse, told the Stray Ferret that the deer was “pretty exhausted” following the rescue and was taken to shelter to rest.
Jeff along with Tony Liddy, head of operations, went out to rescue the deer after being alerted to its situation at 10.30am.
In order to reach the deer, Jeff led Tony out into the rising water on a rope so that he would not wash away.
By the time the deer was brought back to shelter, Jeff said the deer could not walk due to exhaustion.
He said:
“It was exhausted, but it was breathing fine and did not have any visible injuries.
“But it was absolutely exhausted and the moment it came in it went into the corner.”
The district was hit by persistent rainfall yesterday and is forecast more rain next week.
A flood warning is still in place for the River Are near Boroughbridge after several days of heavy rainfall.