Harrogate hospital currently treating 10 coronavirus patients

Harrogate District Hospital currently has 10 coronavirus patients with one in intensive care.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer at North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, revealed the figures at a North Yorkshire Resilience Forum press briefing yesterday.

Ms Bloor said there were 116 coronavirus patients in hospitals across the county, which was well below the level in the early days of the pandemic in spring.

She said:

“We are seeing the number of inpatient admissions with covid increasing, but we are not yet at the levels of hospitalisations that we were back at the beginning and in the middle of April.

“We have currently got 116 people in hospital beds; we had in excess of 300 in early April.

“It is a relatively stable position, although we are seeing a slight upward trend in terms of those numbers.”

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She added that accident and emergency and 999 call demand had returned to pre-covid levels.

Harrogate District Hospital set aside 100 beds for covid patients in preparation for the second wave.

Hospital bosses said last month that they were more confident of coping this time.

The number of coronavirus cases in the Harrogate district has increased sharply since the start of September.

However, there has not been a death reported at Harrogate hospital since September 29.

Harrogate coronavirus testing site opens with 57 appointments

Harrogate’s new full-time coronavirus testing site opened this afternoon with 57 appointments made available.

The site in the Dragon Road car park, which is run by the Department of Health and Social Care, is capable of testing up to 320 people a day.

The number was expected to be lower during the initial pilot period.

After the pilot period, the facility will be open between 8am and 8pm, seven days a week.

Appointments are available to book online and officials expect the site to be used predominantly by Harrogate residents.

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Forty-four covid cases were confirmed in the district in the last 24 hours, according to Public Health England figures today.

The total number of cases in Harrogate since the start of the pandemic now stands at 1,805.

A further 207 positive cases have been reported across North Yorkshire.

 

North Yorkshire bids to be part of care home visiting pilot

North Yorkshire has bid to be part of a new pilot scheme that would enable care home visits.

The scheme, which was revealed by care minister Helen Whately last week, would allow one relative or friend of a care home resident to be treated as a key worker.

This would enable people to visit loved ones in homes during the winter, though no dates when this might be implemented have been revealed.

Richard Webb, director of care at North Yorkshire County Council, and Mike Padgham, chair of the Independent Care Group, have written to the government offering the county’s homes to be part of the pilot.

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In a letter to Ms Whately, they said:

“The lockdown of care and nursing homes has been vital to protect residents and staff. However, it has taken its toll on residents, particularly those with dementia whose mental health and happiness has suffered as a result.

“The lockdown has also been distressing for their relatives, as in some cases it has been months since they had visited in person.

“We very much welcome the pilot and hope it is carried out quickly so that, if it is successful, we can speedily roll out the system to all care and nursing homes across the country.”

Last week Ms Whately told MPs on the health and social care committee that the government would soon pilot the proposal.

She said:

“I can’t give you a date, but what I can say is we’re moving forward with it and we are going to pilot it.

“Visiting is incredibly important for residents and their families and care homes. I really want us to enable visiting but it must be safe.”

Judy Bass, whose 99-year-old father lives in a Harrogate care home and who is campaigning for visits to care homes, questioned whether the project would even be possible, given the struggle to deliver testing around the country.

She told the Stray Ferret last week:

“I don’t think it’s particularly a step forward. I think it’s placatory, because they have known about this for so long. It just needs to be put in place.

“Piloting it – I don’t even know how that would operate or if it would have any effect. They just need to put it in place. Relatives need to be given key worker status and tested and allowed to visit.”

North Yorkshire care homes have restricted visits throughout October.

 

Discussions ‘ongoing’ over moving North Yorkshire into tier two

Discussions are ongoing over whether to move North Yorkshire into tier two of the local lockdown restrictions.

Dr Lincoln Sargeant, director of public health for North Yorkshire, said today that although the county’s infection rate was low compared with its neighbours, it was still influenced by what goes on in surrounding areas.

Dr Sargeant told a press briefing of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which is a partnership of organisations that respond to emergencies:

“We have to consider that North Yorkshire is surrounded by areas that are already in higher tiers or moving in that direction.

“We have to consider that although our rates have thankfully remained lower than most of our neighbours, we will probably still be part of discussions that will take in what is happening with our neighbours.

“That will probably colour how the discussions about further interventions might occur. We need to be mindful of that.

“We have to balance what is needed to control infections against the considerations from our business leaders in terms of what impact restrictions might have on the hospitality sector in particular.”

North Yorkshire currently sits in tier one, but is surrounded by tier two areas including York and West Yorkshire.

A move into tier two would ban gatherings with other households indoors.

Dr Sargeant said public health bosses in North Yorkshire and elsewhere in the county were in “ongoing discussions” with government about what tier the wider area, which would also include East Riding of Yorkshire, York, Hull, North East and North Lincolnshire should be in.

However, officials said any decision on moving the region up a tier would be made by Matt Hancock, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

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Dr Sargeant added that, if the county did change tier, there was a lack of clarity on how an area could move back down.

He added:

“If and when North Yorkshire were to move into tier two, it would be important for us to understand what would be the benchmarks and indicators that would signal that we have been successful in the various measures and step back down into tier one restrictions.”

Dan Jarvis, Mayor of Sheffield City region, confirmed this morning that a deal had been agreed with government to place South Yorkshire into tier three.

The movement of areas into tiers has raised concern over people travelling between different level of restrictions.

Superintendent Mike Walker, gold commander for covid response at North Yorkshire Police, said, while the force could not enforce limits on travel, people should follow the tier guidance.

He added:

“But for the public of North Yorkshire and the City of York who are worried what I can say is that officers will be patrolling, they will be visible and they will absolutely be enforcing face coverings and the rule of six as they have been doing throughout the pandemic.”

Councillor’s departure ‘will not affect’ High Court judicial review

Harrogate Borough Council has said the departure of its cabinet member for planning will not affect an upcoming judicial review over its local plan.

Cllr Rebecca Burnett, who was appointed to the position in 2015, stepped down yesterday with immediate effect.

Cllr Burnett oversaw the development of the borough’s local plan, which caused controversy after the council picked Green Hammerton over Flaxby for a 3,000 home settlement..

Residents in the village campaigned against the decision up until the plan was adopted in March 2020 and wrote to Cllr Burnett earlier this month “to express our disappointment and grave concern about the process of creating the new settlement development plan document”.

The borough council confirmed that Cllr Burnett’s had left to concentrate on her full-time job as marketing manager at bus company Transdev Blazefield.

But the news comes just a week before the borough council is set to appear before the High Court in London for a judicial review with developer Flaxby Park Ltd.

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The developer has claimed the council’s decision to choose Green Hammerton over its site in the local plan was based on “flawed information of a scant, conflicting and contradictory nature”.

Both Flaxby Park and Cllr Burnett have had a fractious relationship. In 2018, the company submitted a formal complaint to the council over “several factually misleading statements” regarding the basis for policies with in the then draft local plan.

The company wrote to her again in March 2019 over “a series of defamatory statements” made on the reopening of Golsborough Railway Station, but later decided not to make another complaint.

A spokesperson for the borough council said Cllr Burnett would not be involved in the hearing next week and that her departure would not affect proceedings.

Conservative councillor Cllr Burnett previously worked in Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones’ office as a caseworker.

Cllr Burnett will continue to serve as a councillor for the Harrogate St Georges ward in Rossett, a position she has held since 2014.

Cllr Tim Myatt has now been appointed as cabinet member for planning.

Covid infection rate falls marginally in Harrogate district

The rate of covid infections in Harrogate has fallen marginally, according to figures today.

North Yorkshire County Council revealed the seven-day rolling average to October 17 was 159 cases per 100,000 people.

This is down on 161 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to October 16.

Harrogate’s rate is the second highest of the seven district council areas in North Yorkshire. Selby’s is the highest at 179 cases per 100,000 people.

A further 41 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Harrogate district in the last 24 hours.

According to Public Health England figures, the increase takes the total number of cases in the district since the start of the pandemic to 1,761.

Another 164 cases have been confirmed county-wide, taking the total since the start of the pandemic to 6,134 in North Yorkshire.

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More than half of the cumulative total number of cases in the Harrogate district have occurred since the beginning of September.

Analysis of Public Health England data reveals the number of infections in the district has rocketed from 796 at the start of September to 1,720 yesterday.

 

Harrogate district covid cases have more than doubled since September

More than half of the cumulative total number of coronavirus cases in the Harrogate district have occurred since the beginning of last month.

Analysis of Public Health England data reveals the number of infections in the district has rocketed from 796 at the start of September to 1,720 yesterday.

This means 924 infections have been confirmed in the last seven weeks, compared with just 796 from the start of the pandemic to the beginning of September.

Other North Yorkshire districts, such as Ryedale, Hambleton and Craven, have registered similar sharp increases since the start of the second wave.

In September alone, the number of cases in the Harrogate district increased by 43%. A total of 349 cases were confirmed during the month.

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By comparison, two months earlier Harrogate recorded its lowest number of cases with just 35 during July.

Graph showing the increase in cumulative cases since the pandemic started. Data: Public Health England. Graph: The Stray Ferret

Graph showing the cumulative cases since the pandemic started in the Harrogate district. Data: Public Health England. Graph: The Stray Ferret.

The growing national rate of new cases has led to the government introducing a new three-tier local lockdown system. North Yorkshire has been placed in the lowest category.

Dr Lincoln Sargeant, director of public health at North Yorkshire County Council, said yesterday the majority of infections in the county were among “younger, fitter adults”.

He reiterated that the main cause of spread was within households, not in the hospitality sector or schools.

Meanwhile, Dr Sargeant said the authority was monitoring infections in vulnerable groups, particularly those aged over 65.

He said:

“The concern that we have is the rate of infection in the over 65s. In North Yorkshire, that rate is still relatively low.

“But we are concerned that it is increasing and that for us will be a key indicator of that spill over when [infections in] younger people begin to translate into infections in older people, who are by definition more vulnerable.”

Latest seven-day rolling averages show the Harrogate district rate of cases as of October 16 was 161 per 100,000 people.

Selby had the highest rate of the seven North Yorkshire districts at 166, while Richmondshire had the lowest with 91 cases.

Harrogate district covid rate rises to 158 per 100,000

The Harrogate district’s covid infection rate has risen to 157.9 per 100,000 people, it was revealed today.

The rate, which is based on a seven-day rolling average, is for the week to October 15.

It is marginally higher than the district’s seven-day rolling rate of 154 per 100,000 in the seven days to October 10.

Dr Lincoln Sargeant, director of public health at North Yorkshire County Council, gave the figure at a meeting of the North Yorkshire Outbreak Management Advisory Board.

It means the district has the second highest rate of the seven district council areas in North Yorkshire behind Selby, where the rate is 160. Scarborough has the lowest rate at 90.

The figure for Greater Manchester is 432.5.

Another 28 further coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district in the past 24 hours, according to Public Health England.

It takes the total amount of cases in the district since the start of the pandemic to 1,720.

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Dr Sargeant said last week the main cause of spread of infection in the county was between households.

He added there had been “very, very few” infections spread between customers in pubs and hospitality.

Planning reforms ‘unclear’, says North Yorkshire County Council

Government plans to reform the planning system have been described as “unclear” by North Yorkshire County Council.

The council is set to respond to a Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government consultation on sweeping changes to “streamline and modernise” the planning system.

Harrogate Borough Council’s response to the reforms last week said the changes would “erode local democracy”.

Now county council officials have said the proposals are unclear and lack detail, but added some ideas were “intriguing”.

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A report prepared for the county council’s business and environmental services meeting on Friday says the current planning system is “not completely broken”.

It adds the government white paper Planning for the Future “sets out a range of intriguing ideas, but is short on detail”. It adds:

“It does not address all aspects of planning, choosing instead to focus heavily on processes related to housing, speed and efficiency. 

“It is worth noting that the current planning system is not completely broken. In recent years, North Yorkshire local planning authorities have had a good track record in consenting new homes in line with plan targets, and good progress has been made on working towards comprehensive up to date local plan coverage.”

‘Tear it down and start again’

The white paper suggests local authorities could develop local plans by zoning land into three categories: “growth”, “renewal” or “protection”.

Other suggestions include digitalising the planning system, allowing more permitted development applications, replacing section 106 payments with a new system for developers and giving government the final say on how many homes should be built in an area.

In the foreword to the white paper, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was critical of the current planning system.

He said:

“Thanks to our planning system, we have nowhere near enough homes in the right places. People cannot afford to move to where their talents can be matched with opportunity. Businesses cannot afford to grow and create jobs.

“The whole thing is beginning to crumble and the time has come to do what too many have for too long lacked the courage to do – tear it down and start again.”

York to back county council’s single authority plan

City of York Council is set to support North Yorkshire County Council’s plan for a single council in the county ahead of a devolution bid.

Authority leaders in York said there is “no logical reason” for it to merge into a western council, as outlined in district leaders’ plan for two councils in the east and west of North Yorkshire.

At a press briefing, Cllr Keith Aspden, Liberal Democrat leader of City of York Council, said the authority will submit proposals to government to remain as a unitary authority and effectively support the county council’s model.

That would see a single authority created for North Yorkshire, alongside the City of York Council, and the seven district councils scrapped – including Harrogate Borough.

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Senior councillors at City of York Council are expected to back the proposal at an executive meeting on October 22, before the proposal goes to full council later this month.

Cllr Aspden said:

“Following consultation, we believe proposals that cause as little disruption as possible to allow City of York Council to concentrate on recovery at this critical time is the right way forward. 

“For this reason, the best way to support strong recovery, secure devolution quickly, and support the Levelling-Up agenda in York and North Yorkshire, is with City of York continuing as a unitary authority.  Any other model of local government would fail to effectively represent York’s history, communities and the unique characteristics of the city.

“York’s unique character, beautiful heritage and strong history is recognised across the world. Protecting our identity, whilst keeping costs low and minimising service disruption for our residents, is of paramount importance for our future long term prosperity.  

“Ultimately, any decision that affects York’s residents, businesses and communities, should be made in York.”

Cllr Carl Les, leader of the county council, said:

“We have been very clear from the beginning that we believe a new single council, bringing together the best of the county and seven district councils, presents the best possible opportunity for everyone in North Yorkshire. 

“In preparing our proposal for government, we have and continue, to listen very carefully to a broad range of partners, groups, organisations, individuals and businesses over many weeks.

“We believe it is crucial to retain the identity of North Yorkshire and to offer every single person here the best possible chances in life and the same high quality services and support, regardless of where they live in the county.

“Our proposal also protects the unique identity of the City of York, which is already served by an established unitary council.”

It comes as Robert Jenrick, secretary of state for local government, invited councils across North Yorkshire to submit plans for reorganisation.

Councils have until December 9 to submit final proposals for the new-look local government structure.

The government said it would aim for any unitary council plan to be implemented by April 2023.