Task group meets to discuss care home visits

A task group designed to come up with a solution for care home visits met for the first time this week amid county-wide restrictions.

North Yorkshire County Council restricted visits to care homes throughout October following an increase in coronavirus cases.

It comes as 12 homes in the Harrogate district have so far reported outbreaks of coronavirus since the start of the second wave of infections.

The group, which is made up of care home managers, residents, family members and dementia experts, met online for the first time and said a flexible approach with risk assessments for individual people was needed.

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Richard Webb, director of adult care at the county council, had promised that the restrictions would be reviewed at the end of the month.

He said the meeting was positive and that the group wanted to find solutions for visiting.

Mr Webb said:

“This was a really positive meeting and members of the task group welcomed the opportunity to tell their personal stories of the hardship and impact in terms of people’s mental well-being of stopping visits.

“Everybody at that meeting also acknowledged the challenges of protecting residents from covid but showed great focus on finding solutions to enable visits if at all possible beyond October.

“My own preference is for regular covid testing for designated visitors. However, given the current capacity issues with the national testing programme, it is difficult to guarantee this approach will be practicable at the present time.”

The authority said that care homes are still encouraged to allow window visits for residents so that relatives can still see their loved ones.

Homes are also being urged to use telephones and other technology to allow residents to contact relatives.

Protesters demonstrate outside Harrogate MP’s office against agriculture bill

Protesters gathered outside Andrew Jones’s office to urge the Harrogate MP to vote against the government’s Agriculture Bill.

Demonstrators staged a peaceful protest with placards amid fears the bill will open the door to low-standard meat from the United States.

It came as part of other protests by farmers and campaigners held around the North Yorkshire and the country. Campaigners also urged the five other North Yorkshire MPs, including Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith and Selby and Ainsty’s Nigel Adams, to vote against the bill.

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MPs are due to vote on the legislation on Monday when it returns to the House of Commons. The House of Lords recently voted for an amendment to require any any imported food products to meet UK standards.

Richard Sadler, volunteer organiser for Save British Farming in North Yorkshire, said the purpose of today’s demonstration was to call on MPs to “do the right thing”.

He said:

“We want to shine a spotlight on what our MPs are doing in our name.

“What we are asking Andrew Jones and other MPs is to do the right thing and vote for the amendment to the Agriculture Bill.

“This is symbolic, but it is all we can do to bring attention to what is going on.”

Philip Knight, a teacher from Shaw Mills, was among the protesters outside Mr Jones’s office this afternoon. He said he was worried that the government would make a mistake by passing the bill.

Mr Knight said:

“Personally, I’m worried that because of Brexit and a frenzy for a trade deal that the government is going to make some mistakes and lower food standards in this country which will affect not only what we eat but the livelihoods of farmers.”

The Stray Ferret approached Andrew Jones for a comment on the demonstration, but received no response.

Alongside today’s protest, farmers demonstrated in Stokesley and Swindon where tractors were driven through the towns with placards which read “save British food”.

48 more coronavirus cases in Harrogate district

Another 48 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district in the last 24 hours.

The figure is double the daily rise of 24 reported yesterday.

Today’s figure from Public Health England takes the total amount of cases in the district since the start of the pandemic to 1,302.

A total of 133 cases have been confirmed county-wide today.

The weekly rate for North Yorkshire up to October 5 stands at 102.3 per 100,000 population.

North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which is a partnership of agencies that tackle emergencies, has warned the county is at a “tipping point” amid increased infections.

Richard Flinton, chief executive at North Yorkshire County Council and chair of the forum, said in a newsletter today the county was in a “more serious position” than last week.

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He said:

“Infections of covid continue to rise across the county – as they do in many areas – and specifically in the north of England. 

“We are by no means in the perilous position of some of our close neighbours, but, unfortunately, without an urgent, sustained and collective effort from everyone – we are heading that way.”

Meanwhile, the government announced £60 million funding for police and local councils today to step up enforcement of covid restrictions as a result of increased cases.

Harrogate Borough Council has been allocated nearly £58,000, while the Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Crime and Fire Commissioner has been handed £291,987.

Harrogate police prioritise cybercrime after 52% increase

Cybercrime, anti-social behaviour, road safety and burglary are the four priority areas for police in the Harrogate district, according to North Yorkshire’s Police, Crime and Fire Commissioner.

The priority areas are revealed in Policing and Crime Annual Report 2019/20, which will be scrutinised by North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel next week.

Cybercrime incidents rose from 131 to 200 in 12 months, representing a 52% increase.

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But the number of road safety, burglary and anti-social behaviour incidents all fell.

Burglary fell by 5%, anti-social behaviour by 8% and road incidents by nearly 20%.

A spokesperson for Julia Mulligan, the police, fire and crime commissioner for North Yorkshire, said the four areas would remain as priorities for police over the next year as set out in the commissioner’s police plan.

North Yorkshire Police faces a reduction in income this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The force has forecast a shortfall of £1.3 million due to loss of income from speed vans, prosecutions and sports events during the crisis.

Michael Porter, chief finance officer at the commissioner’s office, told a meeting of the police, fire and crime panel last month that the public sector faced “significant areas of concern”.

He said:

“I think it would would be no surprise if I were to say that it is challenging times for all public sector organisations and organisations wider than that and some of that will start to play through into some of the financial reports.”

 

Harrogate Borough Council gets £58,000 for covid enforcement

Harrogate Borough Council has been allocated £57,951 today as part of government attempts to enforce coronavirus restrictions.

The government has awarded £60 million to councils and police forces across the country.

North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has been allocated £291,987 as part of the deal.

Councils are expected to use the money for compliance and enforcement, such as recruiting covid marshals, carrying out inspections, issuing fines and closing premises in the case of non-compliance.

Although covid marshals will not have any enforcement powers, government guidance says they should “engage, explain and encourage best practice and national covid secure guidance”.

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Last month, the borough council said it had received no detail on covid marshals so could not plan for how they could be used in the district.

A council spokesman said: “In partnership with the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, the development of any scheme is still under review.”

The government also said the funding would allow police to increase patrols in town centres and ensure that people are complying with the new restrictions, particularly in high-risk areas.

Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said more clarity was needed on the guidance before plans could be put in place.

She said:

““With an area as large and diverse as North Yorkshire and York, it is likely what’s needed in one place will be very different to another so it’s important we get that right.

“We now have some information from government, but we await more clarity so we can progress the plans.”

Robert Jenrick, local government secretary, said:

“Councils play a crucial role in protecting people’s safety, supporting businesses and helping the public to better understand the guidance. This new funding will ensure they can step this up further and continue to act proactively.”

Officials at North Yorkshire’s Local Resilience Forum, which is a partnership of public agencies that responds to emergencies, has warned that the county faced a “tipping point” amid increased infections.

In Harrogate, the weekly case rate stands at 97.6 per 100,000 people and the district saw a further 24 coronavirus cases confirmed yesterday.

The highest rate in the county is in Craven at 136.5. Local resilience forum officials expect the district to be added to the government’s coronavirus watchlist this week.

Council leader pledges “genuine consultation” on Green Hammerton development

Harrogate Borough Council will press ahead with a consultation on 3,000 new homes in Green Hammerton.

Last night the council’s cabinet approved the move, which will see the consultation take place over a six-week period this Autumn.

The council will now publish documents for the consultation, which includes a preferred option of land south of Cattal train station.

Richard Cooper, leader of the borough council, told the cabinet meeting it was “critically important” that the council get the consultation right.

He said:

“I am really keen that the planning team put their money where their mouth is and where our mouth is as councillors and really have a strong consultation process because at the end of it, even if we do not agree, there can be no doubt at all that the consultation process was inclusive, valuable and that all sides felt that it was an honest and genuine consultation.

“I’m relying on the planning team to take that forward and I am sure that is what is going to happen.”

Meanwhile, Cllr Rebecca Burnett, cabinet member for planning, said the options set out in the documents were “not fixed” and that putting forward a preferred option would help to “stimulate response”.

It comes as a campaign group in Green Hammerton raised “grave concerns” over the process.

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Chris Eaton, from Keep Green Hammerton Green, disputed the council’s claim it had engaged with stakeholders in drawing up its plans.

In a letter to Cllr Burnett, seen by the Stray Ferret, Mr Eaton said he was writing “to express our disappointment and grave concern about the process of creating the new settlement development plan document”.

He said the council’s preferred option had been chosen without input from local residents.

His letter said:

“For your officers to say in cabinet papers that there has been some engagement is highly misleading.

“We believe that you have a moral obligation, if not a legal one, to fulfil your promise and to urgently facilitate meaningful engagement with those communities most affected by the new settlement.”

Responding to campaigners’ concerns at the cabinet meeting, Natasha Durham, planning manager for policy at the authority, said the options are not “set in stone” and that the consultation was the “first step of wider discussions” on the development.

The site was chosen after planning consultants Gillespies produced a report for the council setting out three possible sites.

HBC’s decision to choose Green Hammerton over Flaxby for a new settlement will be examined at a judicial review, which will take place on October 27, 28, and 29 at the High Court in London.

If found to be unlawful, the decision on where to place the new settlement may have to made again.

HBC’s planning committee is expected to reject the 2,750-home Flaxby development on October 13.

The date has been pushed back a week after a “technical error” meant the developer Flaxby Park Ltd was not informed.

Residents can find out more on the settlement and fill out the consultation here from October 19.

12 Covid care home outbreaks in Harrogate since second wave

Twelve care homes in the Harrogate district have reported coronavirus outbreaks since the start of the second wave of the pandemic.

Across North Yorkshire as a whole, 33 homes have declared cases since the beginning of September when infection numbers began to rise.

An outbreak is defined as when two or more cases of covid have tested positive at a home.

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Richard Webb, director of adult social care at North Yorkshire County Council, revealed the figure at a briefing of North Yorkshire Resilience Forum, which is a partnership of agencies that manages emergencies.

North Yorkshire has 235 residential and nursing homes, plus extra care facilities. Homes in the Harrogate district make up a third of that figure.

Mr Webb said:

“We are working very closely with them and we have been doing a lot of drop-in visits to homes. I have to say we have found some really good practice around how residents are using their PPE, following the rules and supporting residents and families.

“Equally, where we have found poor practice we will act swiftly to address that and work with the Care Quality Commission as the care regulator to do so.”

Mr Webb added that a task group set up to look into how visits could be allowed in care homes in the county held its first meeting in the last seven days.

The group includes care providers, residents, relatives and a local charity that deals with support for people with dementia.

Visits have been restricted at homes throughout October in an effort to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

A further 24 positive cases of Covid have been confirmed in the Harrogate district in the last 24 hours, according to Public Health England figures.

The number takes the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 1,254.

The weekly rate of cases in the district stands at 97.6 cases per 100,000 population. 

Harrogate to get permanent Covid testing site

A permanent coronavirus testing centre for winter is to be built in Harrogate in the next few weeks.

A mobile testing site at the Dragon Road car park near Asda currently operates in the town, usually for four hours twice a week,

But with the number of infections rising, the same site will be upgraded to host a permanent testing centre over winter.

Advance bookings will still be required.

Victoria Turner, public health consultant at North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which is a partnership of public agencies, confirmed at a briefing today construction will begin on Thursday next week. It is hoped the site will be open by October 22.

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Currently, the Department of Health and Social Care runs mobile testing units in different areas of the county every week.

The new Harrogate site is expected to be similar to the one at the University of York, which opened last week and operates seven days a week.

What will happen to the facility beyond winter remains unclear,

Richard Webb, director of adult social care at North Yorkshire County Council, said the authority had worked hard to retain the testing capacity it has and to lobby the government for further sites.

He told the resilience forum briefing:

“We have been fortunate to retain our testing capacity when other parts of Yorkshire have seen it stretched.”

Use Harrogate’s Nightingale for other services, says councillor

Harrogate’s Nightingale hospital could be used for routine operations, flu jabs and patient recuperation, a local councillor has suggested.

Cllr Jim Clark, who represents North Yorkshire on the West Yorkshire Joint Health Overview Scrutiny Panel, suggested the 500-bed hospital could be used to relieve pressure on other health services.

The contract for the Nightingale was extended in August until March 2021.

A report to the panel said the hospital is currently on stand-by for any patients that need to be admitted amid the second wave of coronavirus infections.

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The hospital has been used for outpatient CT scans since June but Cllr Clark suggested it could be used for wider purposes.

Cllr Jim Clark, North Yorkshire county councillor and Harrogate borough councillor.

The Conservative, who represents Harrogate Harlow on North Yorkshire County Council, told the Stray Ferret it was a pity the hospital could not be used for other medical purposes besides coronavirus:

“It could be used for other things, such as flu vaccinations, routine operations or to give opportunities for people to recuperate.”

Cllr Clark added he had been assured the Nightingale would be ready for any patients that needed care during the second wave of the pandemic.

A report before scrutiny councillors last week said the hospital “could be reactivated at short notice” if critical care was needed.

NHS England took over Harrogate’s Convention Centre in April but so far the hospital has not been used to treat coronavirus patients.

Government figures last month showed the Nightingale cost £27 million to set up, the third highest of the seven hospitals set up during the pandemic.

The total cost of the seven hospitals stands at £220 million.

Harrogate Borough Council has not charged the NHS any rent for the town’s Nightingale.

But, figures published in August showed the authority had billed £126,000 a month for gas, electric and water.

34 new coronavirus cases in Harrogate district

The number of coronavirus cases in the Harrogate district since the started of the pandemic passed 1,200 today.

Pubic Health England figures from today show a daily increase of 34 cases in the district.

It takes the total number to 1,230.

Daily figures from across North Yorkshire show an increase of 137. NHS data shows the weekly case rate county-wide stands at 97 per 100,000 population.

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However, no deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital since September 29.

Hospital bosses have prepared for a second wave of coronavirus this winter by setting aside up to 100 beds for infected patients.

County council bosses have also restricted visits to care homes throughout October in an effort to protect residents.

However, officials have now set up a working group to come up with solutions to allow visitors into care homes to see loved ones.