With less than four weeks remaining in the contract between the NHS and Harrogate Convention Centre, both parties are remaining tight-lipped about the future of the Nightingale Hospital.

The initial agreement allowed the NHS to establish the emergency hospital across eight halls at Harrogate Convention Centre and was set to last until the end of June. No rent was payable to HCC – which, owned by Harrogate Borough Council, had to cover costs using taxpayers’ money.

Now, with the end of the contract looming, the council has refused to comment on whether any further agreement has been made.

However, with national government advisors speaking publicly about the likelihood of a second wave of Covid-19, it seems unlikely the NHS will take down the facility in the near future. England’s chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, said this week:

“It may be that there’s a seasonal element and if so, for most respiratory viruses, they are more likely to be transmitted, there is a higher likelihood of transmission, in the winter.

“The winter is always worse than summer, spring and autumn for health services, and we need to think about this in terms of how we come out for the next phase.”

While having the NHS Nightingale on stand-by has been described by many as reassuring, concerns have been raised repeatedly about the potential impact on the local economy – especially as hospitality businesses prepare to reopen in early July.

Harrogate’s businesses are heavily reliant upon tourist and conference visitors to the centre, which says that it contributes around £60m to the local economy. Hotels, restaurants and bars have already spoken out about the need to fill the gap left by the conference trade.

Read more:

• Harrogate District Hospital had a fifth of its workforce off sick
• Why one leading hotelier believes the Nightingale hospital could cause problems for the town’s hospitality trade

Harrogate Borough Council refused to make any comment on the status of negotiations with the NHS over the future of the Nightingale hospital, saying the contract was confidential. Last month, HCC director Paula Lorimer told The Stray Ferret that the next events were scheduled for August and, in the meantime, she was doing all she could to reschedule events which could not be held.

This week, Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce’s chief executive, Sandra Doherty, told The Stray Ferret it was a “feather in Harrogate’s cap” to be chosen to host the NHS Nightingale for the region. However, she warned:

“The conference and exhibition industry is the life blood of Harrogate’s economy, and those businesses that rely on this vitally important trade need clarification as to when these venues will be handed back.

“Whilst the coronavirus lockdown has resulted in the cancellation and postponement of many events, organisers will now be looking to reschedule them for later in the year. Harrogate is blessed with a number of other superb conference facilities, and we need to do everything we can to encourage organisers to consider using them as an alternative.

“We must do everything in our power to keep new and existing business here.”

Nearly 1000 staff at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust were absent from work because of coronavirus in the first month of lockdown.

The vast majority of the 974 took time off to self-isolate with coronavirus symptoms for an average of nine days – the rest will shield themselves until the end of June.

It means that one in five of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust’s staff have taken time off and it has come at a major cost.

In the first month of the financial year, from April 6, the Trust paid out £478,000 for sickness at full pay. The figures come from a report from the Trust’s Board of Directors seen by The Stray Ferret which details its finances.

What has Harrogate District Hospital Trust spent coronavirus money on?

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust spent just over £1 million on its coronavirus response in the same period – which was in line with other Trusts in the region. The report says the Trust received money from the NHS centrally to cover it.

Most of the money was spent on sick pay but the report also highlights what else the Trust has spent its money on:

• £216,000 to help set up the NHS Nightingale Yorkshire and the Humber
• £145,000 on other costs
• £101,000 on expanding the Trust’s medical, nursing and other workforces
• £40,000 on additional shifts for the existing workforce
• £34,000 on the segregation of patient pathways
• £22,000 on increasing capacity in the Intensive Treatment Unit
• £17,000 on coronavirus testing in NHS laboratories

Read more on this story:

• Why the clock is ticking on the NHS Nightingale Yorkshire and the Humber

Harrogate District Hospital has not reported any coronavirus deaths in today’s figures from the NHS.

The number of deaths at the hospital stands at 66. The hospital reported two coronavirus deaths yesterday.

Read more on this story

• Watch how Harrogate thanked its carers during the coronavirus lockdown
• The last time Harrogate hospital reported coronavirus deaths

A further 179 people, who tested positive for coronavirus, have died in England’s hospitals. It brings the total number of confirmed reported deaths to 27,044.

Patients were aged between 12 and 97 years old. Four of the 179 patients, who were aged between 78 and 93, had no known underlying health conditions.

Harrogate town centre is set to undergo a deep clean next week ahead of non-essential retail shops reopening after 10 weeks of lockdown.

Harrogate BID has contracted Yorkshire-based UK Nationwide Cleaning Services for the work which will be carried out from Monday (June 8).

The four-year contract will see the company power wash pavements and street furniture on a night and is expected to take two weeks to complete.

Read more on this story

• Primark announces Harrogate store will reopen
• Harrogate BID creates social distancing posters for businesses

It comes as non-essential shops, such as clothing stores and electronic outlets, will reopen from June 15 as the lockdown is eased.

Simon Kent, Harrogate BID interim-manager, said:

“In a recent survey of the town centre businesses, the vast majority of those who responded said their number one priority was a deep clean. I’m delighted to say that we are now just days away from fulfilling this.

“We have awarded this contract to UK Nationwide Cleaning Services. The company is no stranger to this type of work, as they already work with BIDs across the UK.

“From next week, life will slowly start to get back to normal, and we want Harrogate to look superb. The deep cleaning will be a major fact in helping us achieving this.”

Meanwhile, Harrogate Borough Council has been handed £141,000 as part of the European Union Regional Development Fund to help reopen high streets safely.

The money is designed to fund measures such as new signs, temporary barriers, street markings and marketing campaigns to reassure people that High Streets are safe. However, the authority said a plan for the money is still being devised.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee has been accused of going against its own guidance in approving plans for a fence on its land.

The council applied for permission to put up a 1m high fence along the boundary between its land and the privately-owned Tower House, which adjoins the Grade II listed Harlow Hill Tower on Nursery Lane, on the edge of the Pinewoods in Harrogate.

The council’s own design guide states:

New 2m high timber panel fences used as screens to maintain privacy for neighbours are generally acceptable in back gardens, however in sensitive locations, such as the boundary to a Listed Building or in a Conservation Area, the screen should be of brick or stone as appropriate to the setting.

A planning application was submitted earlier this year for a picket fence running 28m along the boundary behind Tower House. Reporting to the planning committee, principal conservation officer Emma Gibbens said:

“A stone wall of matching stone would be more appropriate, however, there are concerns over the creation of a significantly more permanent solution for what seems to be a short term requirement, whereas the picket fence represents an option that could easily be removed in the future when it is no longer required.”

Read more:

• How will use of public money be scrutinised during the pandemic?
• The agony of getting a single cycle route built in Harrogate

Tower House was bought eight years ago by Neil and Lucy Hind. The boundary in question is not visible from Nursery Lane because of high hedging, but separates the house from a piece of land owned by the council.

‘No change’

Mr Hind addressed the committee during yesterday’s virtual meeting, urging members to reject the proposal. He said nothing had changed since the last planning committee meeting in March, when councillors deferred their decision on the proposal, telling officers to reconsider whether a fence was the most suitable option.

Mr Hind told committee members yesterday there had been no change to the fence proposal which they had refused to accept in March, other than limiting its life span to five years. The committee’s previous requests for an explanation of why the fence was needed, and for council officers to consult with the neighbours, had not happened, he said.

Among those objecting to the plans was Cllr Pat Marsh, who said:

“I feel that if we’re doing this, we’re almost setting a precedent which will impact on other parts of our district that have got listed buildings. Why don’t we just make it a permanent fixture? Why mess around with temporary fences?”

Her views were shared by Cllr Robert Windass and Cllr Nigel Simms, who said a more suitable material should be used for a boundary so close to a listed building. However, the plans were passed by six votes to five.

After the meeting, Mr Hind told The Stray Ferret:

“The committee members were originally unanimous in their view that the plans were not acceptable, so it is somewhat a mystery as to who or what changed some of their minds over the last few months.

“It was clear from the discussion that these plans are still not in line with the council’s own guidance and policy. However, it seems there is one rule for the council and one for residents, especially where cost is a factor.”

The Liberal Democrats have labelled Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, “deeply irresponsible” for voting in favour of MPs returning to parliament.

Yesterday, MPs queued outside of Westminster for over 90 minutes to vote on whether or not they should return to London.  The Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg put forward the vote arguing that the virtual system didn’t allow MPs to hold the government to account effectively.

The proposal was carried forward, with 261 votes to 163. 31 Tory MPs though, voted against the return.

The Lib Dems said he was setting a “dangerous precedent”. Judith Rogerson, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said:

“With the Government continuing to advise that people should work from home where possible, it is extraordinary that the Conservatives have voted to take away the system which had allowed MPs to do just that. Forcing MPs to decide between risking their health and that of their family and constituents, and depriving their constituents of their voice in Parliament is deeply irresponsible.”

Read more: 

• Lib Dems call for the council to set up response teams to help the district’s economy recover from coronavirus. 
• COLUMN: District MPs are called to step up.

There has been criticism too from MPs who are at risk due to age or health conditions and those living with vulnerable people, who said they could be left without a voice in parliament.

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Jones for the reasons behind his vote in favour of a return to parliament. But we received no response.

NHS Nightingale Hospital Yorkshire and the Humber will offer CT scans to some patients from June 4.

The temporary hospital has been on standby since its launch in April. This will be the first time that the facility will offer appointments.

It is equipped with clinical imaging equipment, which means it can also support the NHS in its recovery phase. When it opens, the hospital will provide outpatient appointments seven days a week for patients with radiology referrals.

The service is for patients who are well and mobile and it will provide a combination of diagnostic scans and surveillance scans, which are used to monitor patients with a prior diagnosis of a medical condition.

Read more on this story

• What happened when the NHS Nightingale officially opened
• Why the NHS is not paying rent to use the HCC
• Watch how the NHS Nightingale was built in a few short weeks

Steve Russell, Chief Executive of NHS Nightingale Hospital Yorkshire and the Humber and Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“A number of NHS services have been significantly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic as hospitals have had to prioritise the care of patients with the virus. The measures taken to introduce social distancing and manage hospital demand have meant that we’ve not yet needed to use the NHS Nightingale Hospital for its original intended purpose. We’ve therefore taken the decision to utilise the equipment and begin offering CT scans at the facility so that we can get patients seen quickly.”

Every patient who attends the facility will be screened before their appointment to check that they don’t have the symptoms of Covid-19 and appointments will only be offered to those who are neither isolating, nor shielding.

Patients with additional needs, such as those who require interpreting services or patient transport, will continue to be seen at their local hospital to guarantee their specific needs can be met.

Harrogate and Ripon Food Angels were shocked and delighted to hear about their royal recognition as they arrived to deliver today’s hot meal service.

The Queens Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award a voluntary group can be given.

As well as receiving a crystal award and a signed certificate from the Queen, two volunteers will be chosen  out of a hat to attend the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May 2021.

Sue Cathwray (Right) joined by award winning volunteers.

Read more: 

• Meals on wheels service receive top award 
• Food bank use doubles as a result of lockdown 

A champagne celebration was arranged, typically though they put other people first, and postponed cracking open a bottle until they have made their lunch deliveries.

Instead, when asked how they might celebrate their success, Mr Clarkson said,

“I’ll tell my kids, they are very proud of me doing this, they like the fact that I’m helping out. It’s a warm day so I might have a beer later in the garden.”

Sue Cawthray the CEO of Harrogate Neighbours was excited to reveal the big secret and looks forward to celebrating properly when they are able.

Harrogate District Hospital has reported two more coronavirus deaths, taking its total number up to 66.

The hospital had not recorded any deaths for six days in a row until the NHS released today’s figures.

It comes as hospitals in England report a further 143 deaths, taking the country’s total up to 26,865.

Read more on this story

• The hospital had not reported any deaths for six days in a row
• Hear Harrogate Mayoress’ tribute to the carers who saved her life

Patients were aged between 36 and 100 years old. Eight of the 143 patients, aged between 48 and 91, had no known underlying health conditions.

On Thursday last week, the hospital reported a total of 109 patients had recovered from coronavirus and been discharged.

A disability charity has distanced itself from a Harrogate pub which repeatedly broke the lockdown rules.

Horticap had agreed to work with The Coach and Horses and supply it with plants just before it opened.

The pub dubbed itself ‘The Hanging Gardens of Harrogate’ and planned to open as a “garden centre” serving refreshments when it opened.

Read more on this story:

• What happened on Saturday afternoon?
• Harrogate pub owners said they followed government guidelines
• Why did the council serve The Coach and Horses with a prohibition notice?

John Nelson, the pub’s landlord, said that he would give all of the proceeds to Horticap. However, the charity said the pub did not tell them about his change of plans to sell alcohol.

The pub has been served a prohibition notice.

Steve Scarre, chair of Trustees at Horticap, told The Stray Ferret:

“John from the Coach and Horses has been a great supporter of Horticap over many years. He said he would be serving tea and coffee over the weekend. That changed on Friday night when unbeknown to us he decided to serve alcohol because the weather forecast looked good. He did not inform us of this and the first I knew was the social media reports on Sunday morning at 7.00am.”

As a result, the charity took out all of its plants and refused to take any money from the pub’s sales. Steve added: “We are not happy about what transpired and have told him so.”

Some of the plants inside The Coach and Horses.

The Stray Ferret approached the Coach and Horses for a comment but the pub refused the opportunity.

Harrogate Borough Council officers served the pub with a prohibition notice because it had repeatedly breached the lockdown rules.

The Coach and Horses has opened again today to sell alcohol but crowds have not gathered in the same way as last weekend.