Calvin Robinson Chief Reporter, Author at The Stray Ferret

Great Yorkshire Showground vaccination site to close this weekend

Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground vaccination centre is set to close this weekend.

After six months in operation, the site will give its final jab on Saturday.

Vaccinations will still continue in Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge. However, Ripon Racecourse will only be offering second doses, including to people who had their first jab at the showground and still need to receive their second.

The move comes as the government aims to give as many vaccinations as possible ahead of a potential lifting of the remaining covid restrictions on July 19.

A post on the Harrogate Spa Surgery Facebook page said:

“We would like to extend our huge gratitude to all the local GP practices, Yorkshire Health Network and volunteers involved in setting up and running the centre over the past six months.

“The vaccine uptake across the region has been fantastic. Thank you to our patients for their willingness to come forward for vaccination and their patience in waiting for their invitations to arrive.

“Clinics will continue to run at Ripon Racecourse over the coming weeks for second doses only.”

The Great Yorkshire Showground site first opened its doors on December 22.

Seventeen GP practices in the district and the Yorkshire Health Network, the federation of GPs, came together to look for a suitable venue to hold vaccinations.

They settled on the showground because of its size and the need to keep batches of the Pfizer vaccine refrigerated on site.

At full capacity, the centre could give up to 1,800 vaccines a day and reached its 100,000th jab in April.

Dr Chris Preece, a GP partner in Boroughbridge and Knaresborough and one of the practitioners who helped to set up the site, told the Stray Ferret previously that people had been left “very emotional” after having their vaccine.

So far, a total of 205,231 vaccinations have been given across the Harrogate district.

The figure includes 111,517 first doses and 93,174 second doses, according to latest Public Health England data.

It means the take-up for a first vaccine in the district is currently 78%, while for a second dose it is 65%.

Pateley Bridge GP surgery reassures patients after appointment frustration

A Pateley Bridge surgery has reassured patients that face-to-face appointments are available after people expressed frustration at not being able to see a GP.

It follows a backlash from patients after Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for North Yorkshire CCG, said national reports that surgeries were closed were “a myth”.

Ernie Butler, a Darley parish councillor, told the Stray Ferret that he often had to wait weeks to get an appointment at Pateley Bridge surgery.

Now, the surgery has sought to reassure patients that it has been open throughout the pandemic and that it continues to have face-to-face appointments “where clinically appropriate”.

A statement from the Pateley Bridge practice said:

“We would like to reassure all our patients that we have been open throughout the pandemic. Since the first lockdown we have and continue to offer telephone, video and online consultation as well as face to face appointments where clinically appropriate.

“We remain open and whilst we are (like most surgeries) running a total triage service, we continue to see patients face-to-face. In the interests of keeping patients safe we have been using our three sites differently over the last year by having a designated site for potential or confirmed covid patients as well as having a separate site for shielding patients to be seen.

“This has worked really well and we are confident this has reduced the risk of infection to all our patients and staff but in particular our most vulnerable patients.

“Given the massively successful vaccination campaign and easing of lockdown restrictions, we are constantly reviewing our protocols but understandably this is being done cautiously in the interests of our patients’ safety.

“We’d like to thank our patients for being so supportive and understanding during an unprecedented 15-month period.”

Local GP practices have been running telephone and online assessments for patients since March last year.

The process, known as “total triage” assesses people first before offering face-to-face appointments.

It has been used throughout the pandemic and NHS England guidance says it has been used to “reduce avoidable footfall in practices and protect patients and staff from the risks of infection”.

Wetherby Road Starbucks developer to seek legal costs if plan approved

A developer behind a planned Starbucks drive-thru on Wetherby Road has said it will seek full legal costs if the proposal is approved by a planning inspector.

Alan Evans, counsel for Euro Garages, told an inquiry earlier this week that the company would seek costs from Harrogate Borough Council for “unreasonable behaviour”.

Residents fighting the controversial proposal, which is planned for the former 1st Dental surgery site, appeared before the hearing to defend the refusal after the borough council withdrew its objection.

Alan Evans, a legal representative for Euro Garages, told the appeal that the planning committee’s latest decision of refusal should be overturned.

He said:

“Members of the committee were themselves unwilling to defend their reasons for refusal so if you wanted to have a bird’s-eye view of unreasonableness, then I don’t think you could have a better one.

“No evidence has been brought forward, there never was any evidence and our application was based soundly at the outset.

“If the council can’t defend any reasons for refusal, then the obvious opposite side of the coin is that it should have been granted permission.”

Residents living next to the potential site of the drive-thru told the inquiry into the plans that it would “completely destroy” their enjoyment of their homes.

Speaking at the hearing on Tuesday, resident Joanne Richardson, who lives behind the proposed site, said:

“If this proposal is accepted then the impact on residents will be huge – it is seven days a week, unsociable hours and our amenity will be completely destroyed.”

Helen Hockenhull, a government planning inspector, opened the hearing into the proposed Starbucks drive-thru on Wetherby Road on Tuesday

Mrs Richardson also said revisions to the plans – including a re-jigged car park, reduction in the size of the coffee shop and an acoustic fence – did not go far enough to address local concern.

She said:

“What this current proposal does is move the drive-thru lane to literally metres from the windows of living areas directly adjacent to the site.

“It is absurd to think that a two-metre boarded fence and a planted area of a few metres will mitigate the impact on residents surrounding the site.”

Another resident, Mark Hinchliffe, told the appeal that the nearby Woodlands junction was “probably the busiest” in Harrogate as he also warned the town was already at “breaking point” with traffic congestion.

He said:

“Regardless of Starbucks arriving, there is already a major problem with that road – I can only describe it as the North Circular around London.”

The plans were first refused by Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee in 2017 before the applicant lodged an unsuccessful appeal, then submitted a revised application two years later.

These latest proposals were still rejected in 2019 but the council, nor its planning committee, chose not to contest the appeal because it had previously made a recommendation in support of the plans.

The council also said it was unable to find lawyers willing to fight the appeal on its behalf.

Helen Hockenhull, the planning inspector in charge of the appeal, will make a decision on the plan at a later date.

Plan submitted to extend Knaresborough caravan park

Plans have been submitted to extend a holiday park in Knaresborough with 28 caravans.

The proposal by Lido Leisure Parks would see the Low Bridge Holiday Park, Abbey Road, expanded.

Documents submitted to Harrogate Borough Council say the plan would the see the development built on Orchard Cliffs on Briggate.

As well as the holiday lodges, car parking and access is also included in the application.

The current holiday park includes 36 privately owned static caravans.

The site layout for the caravan park in Knaresborough as submitted to Harrogate Borough Council.

In a design and access statement lodged to council, the developer said:

“Detailed and careful consideration has been given to the proposals. The proposals create a development that not only respects the site and its surroundings but also provides a high quality and well considered place to live and holiday.

“The proposal will be a valuable investment in the town’s tourism offer.”

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

Another 19 covid cases reported in Harrogate district

Another 19 cases of covid have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to latest Public Health England figures.

It takes the total cases since last March to 7,970.

No further covid deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital. The last death was recorded on April 11.

There are currently no covid patients being treated at the hospital, according to latest Public Health England statistics.

Meanwhile, the total number of vaccinations given in the district has reached 205,231.

According to latest government figures, 111,517 people have had a first dose of a covid vaccine and 93,714 have had a second dose so far.

Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate currently stands at 63 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average is 52 and the England rate is 81.

Self-isolation payments widened for Harrogate district low-income earners

Self-isolation payments of £500 are to be made available to more low-income earners in the Harrogate district.

The one-off payments were introduced by the government and administered by Harrogate Borough Council from September to compensate for any loss of earnings workers may suffer as a result of having to self-isolate because of covid.

More than £119,000 has been allocated to the council but as of this month around £68,000 remains unspent so officials have proposed to widen the rules around who can apply.

Those currently eligible must be on benefits such as Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowances, however, people who do not receive these and are still in need of help can get discretionary payments.

The proposal to widen the rules will mean a limit on those who can apply for discretionary payments based on their earnings is increased from £280 to £450 weekly.

Julie Gillett, revenues, welfare and customer services manager at the borough council, said in a report this will mean the scheme is”available to more customers, providing more financial support within the Harrogate district.”

She said:

“The council, together with the government, recognises that self-isolation is an important tool for controlling the transmission of the covid-19 virus.

“The self-isolation support payment schemes ensure that individuals with low incomes facing financial hardship as a result of not being able to work will be supported through this scheme.”

In December, there were warnings that thousands of people in England were being excluded from the scheme as councils reported running out of cash and loopholes leaving families ineligible.

The council said at the time that this was not an issue in the district, although it had rejected almost as many applicants as it had accepted as many who applied did not have a valid Test and Trace reference number or were not on one of the required benefits.

Currently, the scheme is due to end nationally on June 30, however, it is expected that there will be an extension as the legal requirement to self-isolate will remain in place.

How to apply

The borough council has set up a dedicated claims page on its website with information on eligibility and how to apply.

It said applicants will have to provide evidence of the notification from NHS test and trace, such as a text message, when making an application, as well as a bank statement to show your income has fallen.

Employed people will be asked to show proof of employment, for example your contract or payslip, while the self-employed will need to show evidence of their trading income and that their business cannot be carried out without social contact.

Applications will need to be made within two weeks of your quarantine period ending.

Workers who have to self-isolate after travelling abroad and those who can work from home while they isolate won’t be able to claim.

Birstwith Show cancelled due to covid uncertainty

The organisers of Birstwith Show have cancelled this year’s event due to uncertainty over the lifting of lockdown restrictions.

The event, which has taken place most years since 1867, had been scheduled to return on July 31.

Traditionally held on the last Saturday in July, the village event attracts up to 2,000 people and is one of many country and agricultural shows in the Harrogate district.

However, organisers have now decided to cancel the show for the second year running due to concerns over health, logistics and the extension of social distancing restrictions.

A post on the Birstwith Horticultural Society Events Facebook page, said the organisers would not be able to know if it would be legal to put on the show until a week beforehand.

It added:

“Our decision was based on several points, first and most importantly the health of the community and those who would be visiting the village.

“There was also the logistics of what would be needed to be put in place to keep everyone safe.

“And lastly we would have only one week notice from a government announcement whether we could go ahead or not.

“This would not be fair to those supporting us, the acts, marquee, food and drink suppliers etc. It also normally takes a year to plan the event in normal times, with the ever changing rules and regulations one week would just not be possible.”

The show is the latest to be cancelled due to covid.

Both Tockwith Show and Ripley Show organisers cancelled the events earlier this year.

Masham Steam Engine and Fair Organ Rally has also postponed its event this year amid the uncertainty.

However, the Great Yorkshire Show announced yesterday it will go ahead next month.

The event had been in doubt following the government extending social distancing restrictions until July 19.

Weeton Show is also set to go-ahead as planned next month.

Paula Harper, chair of the show, said:

“Weeton Show 2021 was planned from the outset under the restrictions in force at the time – pre-purchase of tickets, masks when inside, social distancing, hand sanitisation and so on – and we continue to plan for a covid safe show.

“We are working closely with local authorities and for this year only the show will be scaled down, so that more of it will be held outdoors and certain competition sections will have fewer classes than usual.”

Harrogate social care a ‘ticking time bomb’, care boss warns

There are warnings social care in Harrogate is facing a “ticking time bomb” as costs for families soar above £1,000 a week and industry leaders call for swifter government action to bring about major reforms.

After years of promises to fix the system, the government is coming under renewed pressure for failing to establish a firm plan to tackle the sector’s funding crisis which experts believe is a major reason for the UK suffering Europe’s worst covid death toll.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will bring forward a 10-year plan later this year but, in the meantime, families across the country are feeling the financial and emotional fallout from a sector under strain.

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, these costs equate to more than £55,000.

While there are no legal limits on costs, North Yorkshire County Council does set an approved rate of £599 and £592 for residential and nursing respectively – and 90% of care providers in the Harrogate district currently exceed this.

These climbing costs driven by an inflated market are why Ross Kneller, director of St Margaret’s Home Care, believes social care is facing a “ticking time bomb” with worrying consequences for elderly and vulnerable residents who rely on the system.

He said his company – which provides 24/7 care services in Harrogate, York and Selby – is up against a wave of big businesses looking to cash in on these high prices by using less qualified and less skilled staff.

Mr Kneller said:

“There is a real feeling in the industry that we are at the cusp of a devastating wave that is about to crush the lives of thousands of vulnerable people.

“The domiciliary homecare market is an ever-growing giant of an industry. The nation is living longer, and they all want to stay at home for as long as possible.

“This booming industry is naturally attracting a host of new domiciliary care agencies all looking to take a share of the market.

“The private market is the preferred target for profit seekers. The private market pays the highest rates and is therefore the preferred choice for any venture looking to reap maximum profits from the industry.

“What about the majority of elderly, and vulnerable, across the country who rely on social services to provide them with quality care? They are being forgotten and will very soon suffer for the lack of care on offer to them.

“Thankfully there are many providers who still see the industry as a vocation led business, as well as a means to making profit.

“Unless the government helps agencies there will come a time when only the wealthy will receive the care they need as they grow older or become ill.”

After years of government cuts, local authorities including North Yorkshire County Council are under massive financial pressure, and in turn, care homes who they fund have been cash-strapped too.

Meanwhile, and in the midst of the pandemic, government plans to address an imbalance in the system have been blown out of the water.

A cap on the costs of social care, a specific tax to help find the extra billions needed in funding and directing more cash straight to care homes are all ideas which have previously been brought to table.

But until the government eventually brings forward its exact proposals to reform the system, many struggling families will have to wait longer and dig deeper into their pockets.

How is social care funded?

Under current rules, those needing social care must fund it themselves down to their last £23,250, and only then will the local authority step in.

In the Harrogate district, it is North Yorkshire County Council which carries out assessments to determine how much support people should get.

Richard Webb, the council’s director of health and adult services, said around 70% of people using care services in the district fund it themselves.

He also said the authority had taken action on the climbing costs by carrying out a Covid-delayed actual cost of care exercise, as well as purchasing a £1.8m plot of land at Harrogate’s Cardale Park to build an extra care facility.

Mr Webb added there was also the potential for the council to buy other sites for more care facilities across the county as it looks to intervene in the market.

He said:

“The rising costs make the purchase of care more expensive for the Council and individuals who are contributing to the cost of their care.

“The council is considering a range of options in the care market with a view to supporting providers and ensuring sustainable costs can be achieved in the medium to long term.

“The consequence of an inflated care market is ultimately that people will pay more and their resources will be used more on the costs of care. When those resources deplete then the cost burden shifts to taxpayers via council funded care provision.”

What is the picture across the UK?

Unlike health care, social care is not generally provided for free in England.

In Scotland, free personal care is already available, while home care is free for the over 75s in Northern Ireland, and some care costs are capped in Wales too.

A personal cap on care costs in England was reportedly being considered by ministers prior to the coronavirus outbreak and is an idea which was first raised during talks with Sir Andrew Dilnot, the former UK statistics chief, whose proposals were previously abandoned in 2017.

Harrogate district covid infections hit four-month high

The Harrogate district has recorded the highest daily number of covid infections for four months.

Today’s 29 cases is the highest since February 17 when 31 infections were recorded, according to Public Health England statistics.

But no covid-related deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital since April 11.

According to NHS England statistics, the death toll at the hospital remains at 179.

Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate is marginally up to 59 cases per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average is 45 and the England average is 75.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the Delta variant is now the dominant strain of coronavirus in North Yorkshire and most cases are among under 30-year-olds.

Louise Wallace told a North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum briefing today that the variant – which was first identified in India and has delayed the final lifting of lockdown restrictions – was accelerating in most parts of the county at a rate of around 40 new cases per day.

She added the strain appeared to be spreading fastest amongst young people, who she urged to take vaccines. Jabs are now available to over 21-year-olds.

Ms Wallace said:

“The Delta variant does appear – as is the case nationally – to be the dominant strain of covid across North Yorkshire.

“In light of that, it is really important that given the variant is more transmissible we don’t let our guard down.”

Patients express frustration at seeing a GP in Harrogate district

Patients have expressed frustration at trying to see their GP after health bosses said face-to-face appointments were still available.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer at North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, last week said national reports that practices were closed and not offering face-to-face appointments were “a myth”.

But her comments sparked a backlash on social media, with some people saying they had “more chance of winning the lottery” than seeing a GP.

Ernie Butler, a parish councillor in Darley, said he could no longer book an appointment in person, which left him frustrated.

He added patients from his area were often sent to Pateley Bridge and Birstwith.

Mr Butler said:

“You cannot just go in and see them anymore. They have you waiting three weeks for an appointment.”

Others on social media claimed they could not book an appointment by going into Pateley Bridge surgery.

Local GP practices have been running telephone and online assessments since March last year for patients.

The process, known as “total triage” assesses people first before offering face-to-face appointments.

It has been used throughout the pandemic and NHS England guidance says it has been used to “reduce avoidable footfall in practices and protect patients and staff from the risks of infection”.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group said face-to-face appointments have been available to patients at GP practices.

Ms Bloor told a North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum press briefing last week:

“I just want to stress that our GP practices across North Yorkshire and York are open, they are seeing patients face-to-face and they have been open throughout the course of the pandemic.

“It is fair to say that services have been provided differently and that has been about protecting patients and staff, particularly through the time of the pandemic, to make sure that we kept people safe.

“But what I don’t want and what the wider NHS does not want is any misconceptions getting in the way of people coming forward, accessing services at their GP practice when they have got health care needs in the full confidence that they will get clinically appropriate personalised care.”

Ms Bloor said that in March there were 387,000 appointments in North Yorkshire and York, which was more than any month in the last two years and more than 60% of the appointments took place face-to-face.

The Stray Ferret approached Pateley Bridge surgery for comment.

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How to apply

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How is social care funded?

What is the picture across the UK?

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