Harrogate hospital appointments rearranged after CT scanner breakdown

Harrogate hospital has been forced to rearrange 76 scan appointments after one of its CT scanners broke down.

Patients due appointments this past week were either told their scans were rearranged or referred to Leeds.

Officials at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said the scanner had “a number of breakdowns”  over the last four weeks, each of which left it non-operational for up to two days.

CT scans create detailed images of inside the body which can identify issues such as tumours.

In total, 76 patients had their non-urgent appointments rearranged and 41 who required urgent scans were sent to Leeds.

Hospital managers say the scanner has since been repaired and will be replaced in June.

A spokesperson for the hospital trust said:

“Over the last four weeks, one of the machines has experienced a number of breakdowns, each lasting one or two days. This has unfortunately meant that some non-urgent scans have needed to be re-arranged, which we have done so as a priority.

“The health and safety of our patients is our primary concern and those people needing urgent scans during the periods in which our CT scanner was not working, were transferred to hospitals in Leeds to ensure their scan could take place.

“The scanner has now been repaired. By early June, a new CT scanner will be installed at Harrogate District Hospital, which will work alongside our other CT scanners, ensuring we have additional resilience in the future.

“We are committed to providing the best possible healthcare service for our community and over the next few years, we are investing around £3 million in our imaging department to provide new digital x-ray and CT scanners. This will further improve on the service we provide and significantly reduce waiting times for patients.”

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Yorkshire Water chief executive apologises for sewage failures

The chief executive of Yorkshire Water has apologised today for its record on sewage and said she will refuse any bonus this year.

Nicola Shaw admitted the company has not done enough to tackle storm overflows, which release raw sewage into rivers at times of high rainfall.

Yorkshire Water has been widely criticised for its record on storm overflows and was fined £233,000 in January for discharging 20 million litres of raw sewage into Tong Beck at Bradford.

Ms Shaw joined the company in May last year and has yet to receive an annual bonus. Her predecessor Liz Barber’s last bonus was £679,000 in the 2021/22 financial year.

In a letter to customers, Ms Shaw said:

“There has been a huge amount of criticism of, and anger at, the water industry over recent months.

“I get why people are angry – seeing sewage in our rivers and seas isn’t right. We should have a system that befits the 21st century. So, on behalf of Yorkshire Water, I am sorry.

“We should have acted more quickly to change the situation. That’s why I have decided to refuse any bonus this year as I want us to make progress.”

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Ms Shaw pledged the company would “up its game” by improving the 190 storm overflows “that we know are operating much more than they should” and by “delivering our largest environmental investment ever”.

Yorkshire Water will spend £180m on storm overflow improvements in the next two years, which it said would help to reduce discharges by at least 20%.

The £180m investment will be spent on:

Business Breakfast: Harrogate marketing agency to oversee rail recruitment firm PR

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. Our next networking event is after-work drinks at Manahatta, on May 25th at 5:30.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate marketing agency has been appointed to run a leading rail recruitment firm’s social media and PR.

Clemtech has hired The Big Bamboo Agency, which is based at Windsor House, to oversee its marketing activity, including social media management, strategic communications and PR.

The Hampshire-based recruitment company was founded 25 years ago and provides labour and professionals to the rail sector.

Rob Rose, general manager at Clemtech, which is responsible for the company’s business development and marketing functions, said: 

“Big Bamboo was recommended to us by one of our long-standing customers. They presented to us and we were impressed by what we heard and saw.”

Nicola Stamford, founding director at Big Bamboo, said: 

“We work in many sectors, rail being one of them, so we understand the industry well. It is fantastic to be appointed to work with a business that has so much history and heritage, and therefore a great story to tell.”

Harrogate bar to celebrate reopening of courtyard

A Harrogate bar is set to is set to reopen its courtyard this weekend.

Jesper’s Bar and Kitchen, which is based on Prince Albert Row, will celebrate the reopening of its yard with a beer festival.

The event will take place on Friday (May 19) and Saturday (May 20) between 12pm and 10pm. It will include seven real cask ales and draft beer by Harrogate Brewing Co.

The bar and kitchen will also have an all-day burger menu to choose from over the weekend.

Jesper’s said in a Facebook post:

“Our little gem out the back has been closed since October but with the weather warming up, it is time to enjoy our little slice of heaven once more.”

For more information on the event and to book a ticket, visit the Jesper’s Bar and Kitchen website here.

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Harrogate Borough Council spent £15,000 on staff leaving party

Harrogate Borough Council spent £14,910 on a final day leaving party for staff, a freedom of information request has revealed.

The bill, footed by council taxpayers, included £3,031 on drink and £4,750 on food. The other £7,000 is unaccounted for.

The Stray Ferret has submitted a freedom of information request seeking a fuller breakdown of the costs.

Seven district councils and North Yorkshire County Council were abolished on March 31 to make way for the new North Yorkshire Council.

Harrogate Borough Council’s final day staff party cost the most.

Scarborough was the next highest, spending £9,004, followed by Hambleton at £3,783. Ryedale awarded staff a £148 bonus and spent £3,001 on a party. North Yorkshire County Council did not spend anything.

When the Stray Ferret contacted Conservative-run Harrogate Borough Council in March about a leaving party, a spokesperson replied:

“I’m not aware of any events today to mark the end of Harrogate Borough Council.”

Now it has emerged a party did take place, a public sector worker in Harrogate described it as a “spit in the face of every taxpayer in these difficult financial times”.

The person, who asked not to be named, said:

“The money could have been put towards a million and one other uses.

“I am appalled, disgusted and downright annoyed that this amount was spent without the prior knowledge and consent of the people paying for it.”

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Conor Holohan, media campaign manager of the pressure group the TaxPayers’ Alliance, echoed the concerns. He said:

“Taxpayers will be shocked to find they were funding parties for council staff.

“While residents were struggling with the cost of living crisis, town hall officials were charging them for dinner and drinks.

“Bosses in the new North Yorkshire Council should be more considerate when spending taxpayers’ cash than some of their predecessors were.”

North Yorkshire Council civic centre Knapping Mount

The new signs at Harrogate’s Civic Centre

Staff from the district councils, except the chief executives, transferred to North Yorkshire Council on April 1. It said in a statement:

“The new council for North Yorkshire did not play any part in sanctioning or organising any parties.

“For any further comment you will need to ask the district and borough council decision-makers who were in place at those councils at the time.”

When he stepped down as leader of Harrogate Borough Council, Richard Cooper said he would not give any further public comments and he declined to comment when asked about this matter.

 

A-ha’s sound man opens record shop and bar in Harrogate

A sound engineer who has worked for some of the biggest names in pop has opened a vinyl coffee house and bar in Harrogate. 

Dave Swallow’s CV includes stints with Amy Winehouse, Erasure and James, and he still routinely joins Norwegian mega-band A-ha on tour. But he’s launched a new venture that brings his love of music to the town he now calls home.  

AAA (pronounced triple-A) on Cold Bath Road is currently operating as a coffee house, open from 9 to 5pm, but a temporary licence over the spring bank holiday weekend will see it function as the bar it is meant to be, open till 11pm. 

Photo of the exterior of AAA on Cold Bath Road, showing a customer seated at one of the four outdoor tables, with neighbouring businesses Hopscotch and Travelstar also in view.

AAA on Cold Bath Road also has outdoor seating.

From early July, when it receives its full alcohol licence, AAA will be a coffee house and bar that also sells vinyl records and clothes from another of Dave’s ventures, clothing brand Audio Architect Apparel. 

Dave, who is originally from Southend-on-Sea but has lived in Harrogate for 16 years, said: 

“Last July, I was touring with A-ha, playing Rio de Janeiro and the Hollywood Bowl, and then just two days later I was back here, being handed the keys to this place.  

“Ultimately, I just want to create a nice, cool place where people can come to listen to good music on a good sound system, drinking good drinks.” 

Photo of sound engineer Dave Swallow, who has opened AAA (pronounced 'triple A'), a vinyl coffee house and bar on Cold Bath Road in Harrogate. This picture shows Dave leaning against the bar, with a lit-up sign above the door to the stairway that says 'Recording Studio In Use'.

Dave Swallow wants to create a cool place, with good music and drinks.

AAA currently serves hot drinks, cakes and traybakes, but as a bar it will offer wines, spirits, a range of bottled beers, and two brews on tap – a pilsner and an IPA, both made by music-inspired brewer Signature Brew. 

In addition, anyone who still has any old vinyl records but no means to play them can take their discs along to AAA and Dave will play them. He said: 

“Music is a language without words. It’s emotional. You can take a band from Liverpool and drop them in South America, and their sound travels. It crosses boundaries and brings people together. That’s what I’m doing here.” 

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MP calls for clarity over Scotton solar farm plan

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has called for clarity over a planned 88-hectare solar farm on farmland north of Scotton.

Sustainable energy company Gridserve is proposing to build the power plant and substation at Lawrence Moor Farm.

Its plans envisage thousands of solar panels generating up to 49.9 megawatts of green energy that could power up to 14,000 homes.

However, Mr Jones has called for clarity over the plans after the proposals have yet to be finalised.

The Conservative MP was prompted to write to the company in March after residents in Scotton, Farnham and Brearton contacted him concerned about the lack of information about the proposals.

Mr Jones wrote to Gridserve, which is headquartered in Buckinghamshire, to ask for an update, but was told there had not been “any material update to the status of our potential development in Scotton”.

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At the end of July 2021, Harrogate Borough Council confirmed that a detailed EIA would be required, but Gridserve has taken no action since.

Now, Mr Jones has called on the company to decide whether it wishes to continue with the proposal.

Andrew Jones

He said:

“People in the area need certainty on what is happening with this proposal. I want Gridserve to bring them that certainty sooner rather than later. 

“All that we really know about the proposal is that it covers a massive area and will dominate the landscape. 

“Surely after all this time Gridserve can decide whether it wishes to proceed and, if it does, get a formal planning application in so that its merits and otherwise can be properly debated.”

£2 bus fare cap to be extended in Harrogate district until October

The £2 cap on single bus fares is set to be extended in the Harrogate district until October 31.

The government announced an extra £300 million funding for the scheme today.

From November, the cap will rise to £2.50 for another 12 months.

A list of bus companies and routes in Yorkshire and the Humber taking part in the initiative is available here.

The scheme, which was introduced in January, was due to end in June.

Ministers at the Department for Transport said the extension will help people with the cost of living.

It means bus companies in Harrogate look set to continue the £2 cap on single fares.

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A spokesman for Transdev, which runs Harrogate Bus Company, said: 

“We wish to participate in the extended arrangements announced today, and will confirm further details with our customers and colleagues shortly.”

DalesBus also confirmed it would participate in the scheme.

Meanwhile, Mark Harper, transport secretary, said:

“Taking the bus is the most popular form of public transport and millions of people rely on these vital services every day.

“That’s why we’re investing half a billion pounds to help people save money amid cost of living pressures and continue to level up transport in all parts of the country, doing our bit to help halve inflation and grow the economy.”

Harrogate’s Archie Gray named in England under-17s Euro squad

Archie Gray has been called up to the England under-17s squad for this year’s European Championships.

Gray, who recently signed a professional contract with Leeds United, will join the 21-man squad heading to Hungary for the tournament this week.

England will kick off their Euro campaign against Croatia tomorrow night, before facing Netherlands on Sunday (May 21) and Switzerland on Wednesday (May 24) in the group stage.

The final will take place in Budapest on June 2.

The England team

It comes as Gray recently celebrated winning promotion with Leeds United’s under 21s this week.

The 17-year-old started in the Premier League 2 play off final against Nottingham Forest at Elland Road on Monday evening, which saw the Whites win 3-0.

Gray completed his GCSEs at St John Fisher Catholic High School in Harrogate last year.

He is also great-nephew of Leeds legend, and Kirkby Overblow resident, Eddie Gray.

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Alastair Campbell pays visit to Harrogate sixth form

Former journalist Alastair Campbell paid a visit to sixth form students at St Aidan’s Church of England High School in Harrogate yesterday.

Mr Campbell, who became well known for being press secretary to Prime Minister Tony Blair, was in town to record the latest edition of The Rest is Politics podcast.

He visited the school give an interview to pupils from the PPE Society and answer questions from students studying history and politics A Level from the associated sixth form, Harrogate Grammar and Ashville

Among the topics covered were his views on the House of Lords, Brexit, the role of the media in politics and the prospects for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

A spokesperson for St Aidan’s said:

“Throughout he was patient and charming, answering each question with insight, honesty and humour.

“It was fantastic to have someone of his stature and experience in school, and there is no doubt he inspired the audience of young people to get involved in politics.”

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Critical report finds ‘significant shortfalls’ at Harrogate care home

A care home in Harrogate has been found to have “widespread and significant shortfalls in leadership” in a highly critical inspection report.

Avon Lodge on Harlow Moor Drive was rated ‘requires improvement’ by the Care Quality Commission, while its leadership was found to be ‘inadequate’ in a report published this week.

In the report, which followed an unannounced two-day inspection in February, inspectors downgraded Avon Lodge from its previous ‘good’ rating and said:

“The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the quality of care being provided to people. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks… We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements…

“The provider acknowledged the shortfalls found during this inspection. They took some action following the first day of inspection to begin to address some of the shortfalls found regarding the environment and fire safety.

“The overall rating for the service has changed from ‘good’ to ‘requires improvement’ based on the findings of this inspection.”

The inspection assessed three key areas, asking if the service was safe, effective, and well-led. The latter was rated ‘inadequate;, while the other two were ‘good’.

The areas of ‘caring’ and ‘responsive’ were not assessed during the inspection and are still rated ‘good’, having last been assessed in 2019.

In their latest visit, inspectors found there were multiple breaches of regulations relating to administering medicine, reporting concerns about safeguarding, and carrying out risk assessments. They concluded:

“Some aspects of the service were not always safe and there was limited assurance about safety. There was an increased risk that people could be harmed.”

Personal care needs

Avon Lodge cares for adults with personal care needs, including some with mental health issues, learning disabilities and autism. It has space for up to 12 people and 11 were resident when the inspection took place.

At that time, the home was being run by a temporary manager, after its registered manager had left the post. A permanent replacement was being recruited, the report said.

Looking at the leadership of the care home, the inspectors said:

“There were widespread and significant shortfalls in service leadership. Leaders and the culture they created did not assure the delivery of high-quality care.”

They added:

“There had been no recent engagement with people or their relatives to gather their views on the service. All the relatives we spoke with told us they had not received a questionnaire or been asked for their views. One relative told us, ‘Not for a long while, we got invited to a meeting once that was cancelled.’

“Professional visits to the home or people’s visit to healthcare professionals were not recorded effectively therefore there was no oversight of this contact.”

Inspectors also looked at the way the Mental Capacity Act was used. It is designed to ensure people are allowed to make their own decisions where possible, and when they are not able to do so that the decisions made are in their best interests.

They found there was inadequate record-keeping relating to its use and decisions made for people who were unable to consent.

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Inspectors also found the environment of the care home was not always supportive of its residents.

They reported it was often loud and led to them being woken up, while some communal areas were out of use, and some soft furnishings to make it more homely, such as curtains, were missing.

There was poor record-keeping relating to residents’ allergies and family members said the meals provided at the home were not varied enough.

Inspectors made several recommendations in the report of ways in which Avon Lodge should be improved. They also said:

“The provider agreed with the shortfalls found during inspection and took some immediate action.

“The provider took on board the inspection feedback and discussed plans of how they would communicate with people and relatives about the inspection findings and action they were going to take as a result.”

The Stray Ferret contacted Avon Lodge and its owner, Care Network Solutions Ltd, to ask for a response to the report. However, we had not received a reply by the time of publication.