Tree planted at Starbeck care home as covid living memorial

A tree has been planted at a care home in Starbeck as a living memorial to those who suffered or lost their lives to covid.

The tree, which is one of eight making up a new North Yorkshire tree trail, was planted on Monday at county council-run care home, Station View, by Councillor Michael Harrison, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for health and adult services.

The tree in Starbeck was the fourth of eight being planted by the council as part of its tree trail.

It follows planting ceremonies at County Hall in Northallerton, the Meadowfields Extra Care housing scheme in Thirsk, and the Fernbank Court Extra Care scheme in Selby.

Further ceremonies will be held at the county council’s Aireville Nurseries in Skipton, Sycamore Hall in Bainbridge, as well as Scarborough’s Cedear Court Extra Care complex and Deansfield Court Extra Care in Norton, Malton.

Cllr Harrison said:

“The covid-19 pandemic had tragic consequences for many people in North Yorkshire and it is important that we remember that loss, while also recognising the efforts of many people who worked to keep people safe.

“This tree trail will provide a permanent living memorial where local residents will be able to reflect on their experiences, if they so wish, and also to act as reminder of the way our communities pulled together to help each other.”

According to the latest data from the government, more than 1,700 people have lost their lives linked to the covid pandemic in North Yorkshire.

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Covid infections in Harrogate district lowest for 15 months

Covid infections in the Harrogate district have fallen to their lowest level since June last year.

Latest figures show the district’s weekly infection rate per 100,000 people currently stands at 47. The last time it was below this level was 15 months ago.

The rate is also well below its record of 1,906 in January when the Omicron variant fuelled a huge wave of infections at the peak of winter.

Health experts have predicted there will be a jump in covid and flu infections ahead of this winter, and they are urging anyone who is eligible for an extra vaccine to boost their protection against both illnesses.

The autumn booster campaign began across most of the UK last week, with care home residents being vaccinated first.

The other groups who qualify and will be invited over the coming weeks are:

Adults aged 50 and over

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In Harrogate, some walk-in appointments are available at the Great Yorkshire Showground’s Event Centre, although booking is advised via the NHS website or by calling 119.

North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is running covid vaccinations at the site everyday between 9am and 5pm until Friday.

The CCG said those eligible must be aged 80 and over, or work in health and social care, or were previously shielding.

Meanwhile, Harrogate District Hospital currently has 28 covid-positive patients, although only two of these are primarily receiving treatment for the virus.

The hospital last reported the death of a patient who tested within 28 days on 19 August, with its toll since the pandemic began standing at 274.

New omicron strain sees Harrogate district covid rate rise

The rate of covid in the Harrogate district has more than doubled since the end of May.

Latest North Yorkshire County Council data shows there are currently 113 positive cases per 100,000 people in the district.

The rate was at as low as 52 cases per 100,000 people on May 30.

Whilst the rate has begun to climb up again for the first time since March, it is still far below the peaks seen in January and April 2022.

Source – North Yorkshire County Council

North Yorkshire County Council public health consultant Dr Victoria Turner said the rise was being driven by the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of omicron.

The sub-variants have also caused high rates in other countries across the world.

She said:

“There is evidence that BA.4 and BA.5 are more transmissible than previous variants, and there is limited protection from infection with previous variants against BA.4 and BA.5.

“The ways to prevent the spread of BA.4 and BA.5 remain the same as for other covid variants. Meeting outdoors where possible or in well-ventilated areas indoors, wearing a face covering in enclosed or crowded spaces, and good hand and respiratory hygiene will all reduce the risk of transmission.”

Dr Turner said anyone who has tested positive for covid should stay at home for five days.

Covid tests are available to be purchased from pharmacies.

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Harrogate district covid rate halves in three weeks

The rate of covid in the Harrogate district has halved since the most recent wave of infections peaked on March 25.

Latest figures from North Yorkshire County Council show that 441 per 100,000 people currently have the virus.

The rate has fallen sharply since the end of March when it had risen to 1,005 per 100,000 people.

Cases rose due to the BA.2 subvariant of Omicron, a more contagious strain of Omicron that was circulating in January and February.

NHS figures show 110,794 people have had three doses of a covid vaccine in the district, which is 71% of the population aged over 12.

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Nun Monkton-Beningbrough Hall boat ride returns

The ferry which links Nun Monkton to National Trust property Beningbrough Hall will open once again on good Friday.

It had been temporarily closed by the pandemic.

The boat crosses the River Ouse, making one stop on the Moor Monkton bank of the Ouse.

It will operate every weekend during the warmer weather, up until the end of September. The service remains open for business on Good Friday, Easter Monday, and other bank holidays.

Started up six years ago, the ride began as a charitable endeavour. Now, it is a paid-for service run by a team of volunteers and operates regularly from 11am to 4pm.

Volunteers are trained to drive the boat in preparation for the summer season.

Wally Grout, who has been leading the training, said:

“All the skippers and crew have been out on the water to prepare for the opening weekend.

“We’re a good, friendly team and there’s no better way of spending a morning or an afternoon pottering about on the River Ouse. At the same time, we’re providing a service that people really value and enjoy.”

At Beningbrough Hall, children can enjoy an Easter egg hunt and nature trail as part of the Easter celebrations. A collection of paintings from the National Portrait Gallery are also displayed at the Hall.

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Tributes to long-serving Harrogate hospital cardiologist

Dr Hugh Larkin, a retired cardiologist and consultant in acute medicine at Harrogate District Hospital for 39 years, has died.

Dr Larkin, who was 78, died on April 1 following a battle with cancer. He leaves behind wife Lynn, children Hugh, Philip, Samantha, Nicola and Tristan and grandson, Hugh.

He joined the cardiology department at the hospital in 1983 and worked through the pandemic until his retirement in January 2021.

Dr Jacqueline Andrews, executive medical director at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT), said:

“Dr Larkin was one of our longest serving consultants, joining HDFT in 1983 and working with us during the covid pandemic where he returned to support his colleagues and patients at a time of great need.

“He was a kind, caring and talented doctor who was highly respected by colleagues and patients and he will be greatly missed. Our sincere condolences to his family and friends at this very sad time.”

Born in 1943, Dr Larkin grew up in Glasgow, joining the navy at 16 years old and before studying Medicine at the University of Glasgow.

On graduation in 1974, Dr Larkin became a resident at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary before working at the Western Infirmary and Sydney’s North Shore Hospital.

Dr David Earl, deputy medical director at HDFT said:

“Hugh was a gentle and kind man. He was a wonderful teacher, who was respected as a colleague and friend, and most importantly by the population of Harrogate itself.”

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Sammy Lambert, business development, charity and volunteer manager at HDFT said:

“Hugh was an amazing person and highly thought of by so many people.  He saved so many lives – including my own father. His passing is such a sad loss, but his legacy will live on not only with the funds raised in his memory, but also through the difference he made to so many people’s lives.”

The Larkin family said in a statement:

“Hugh was a cherished husband and loving father; he was a family man in the truest sense of the word and was happiest when surrounded by his wife and children.

“As a family, we knew how much his work meant to him and we were incredibly proud of everything he did as a doctor. We hope his legacy in cardiology, as well as the positive impact he had on the lives of the people of Harrogate, lives on.”

Dr Larkin’s funeral will take place on Tuesday 19 April at 12pm at Our Lady Immaculate and St Robert’s Catholic Church in Harrogate.

Dr Larkin’s family have asked for donations in his memory to go to the cardiology department at Harrogate District Hospital via a dedicated donation page at https://hhcc.co.uk/hhcc-post/in-memory-of-dr-hugh-larkin/

 

Harrogate district covid rate almost trebles in a month

The rate of covid-19 in the Harrogate district has climbed to 997 per 100,000 people, according to the latest figures from North Yorkshire County Council.

On March 1, the rate was 343 per 100,000 people, the lowest it had been since September 2021.

But cases have risen due to the BA.2 subvariant of Omicron, a more contagious strain of Omicron that was circulating in January and February.

Council health officials also believe a change in social behaviour, as well as waning vaccine protection, are behind the rise in case numbers.

Second highest in the county

The Harrogate district has the second-highest infection rate in North Yorkshire. Selby is the next highest at 1,015. The England average is 879.

The government no longer publishes daily data on how many people have caught the virus.

From Wednesday, testing sites across North Yorkshire, including on Tower Street in Harrogate and Ripon’s coach park, will close.

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Whilst covid rates have continued to rise, Dr Victoria Turner, public health consultant at North Yorkshire County Council, said there were early signs rates were “flattening off”.

However, she said waning vaccine immunity, a change in behaviour and more social contacts are still driving cases up.

She told a meeting on Friday:

“There has been a general behaviour change amongst the population. People are out and about more, and having more social contacts.

“There is also potentially a little bit of an effect of waning vaccines which are still holding strong in terms of preventing serious illness, but there is potentially some waning for those who had their booster doses first in terms of acquiring infection.”

Covid testing sites in Harrogate district to close next week

Covid testing sites across North Yorkshire, including on Tower Street in Harrogate and Ripon’s coach park, will be closed next week.

As free testing comes to an end from Friday, April 1, the last day for the testing sites to operate will be Wednesday, March 30, North Yorkshire County Council‘s Outbreak Management Advisory Board heard today.

Cllr Michael Harrison, the county council’s executive member for adult services and health integration, asked whether testing would still be made available for care homes and other key groups, such as schools, but was told an announcement on this had not been made yet. There was also no information about any free testing for care and education settings.

Public health consultant Victoria Turner said:

“I think it’s fair to say that is the one we are going to be looking at most closely. We are expecting care guidance coming out next week as well on this.

“From what was said in February we expect there to be some symptomatic testing remaining for care home staff but that’s about as detailed a picture as we get at the moment. Care homes are going to be the one area we still have a particular focus on from April 1.

“We are still seeing quite a lot of outbreaks in care settings, or rather whenever there’s a high degree of community transmission there’s an inevitability that that does affect care settings as well.

“We were hoping that we could have done some of that planning before April 1 but unfortunately the guidance just isn’t out yet.”

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The outbreak management advisory board, which was set up to recommend on the county’s covid response and communications, has also been stood down. It had been meeting monthly but members agreed there was little need to continue as national restrictions were removed.

However, the group said it will remain in abeyance, rather than being disbanded, so it can be brought back into action if required, such as with the emergence of a new variant.

Infection rate almost trebles this month

At present, cases are still rising, though at a slower rate than previously.

The Harrogate district’s infection rate, which was 343 per 100,000 people at the start of the month, is now at 923.

Hospitalisations are also rising at a slower rate, with 30 patients with covid currently being treated at Harrogate District Hospital.

Deaths among people who have tested positive for covid within the last 28 days remain steady, at an average of one each day across North Yorkshire.

Richard Webb, corporate director of health and adult services, said:

“Many of us are continuing to work on the impact of acute and long-term covid in many different ways.”

Meanwhile, covid vaccination centres are preparing to begin giving spring booster jabs to over-75s, and vulnerable children aged between five and 11 in the county are now being given their first doses.

Harrogate district covid rate more than doubles in 12 days

The rate of covid in the Harrogate district has almost doubled in just 12 days.

Latest data published by North Yorkshire County Council shows the seven-day rate of infection was 691 per 100,000 people on March 13.

On March 1, the rate was 343 per 100,000 people, the lowest it had been since September 2021.

The Harrogate district has the highest infection rate in North Yorkshire. Ryedale is the next highest at 632. The England average is 661.

The government no longer publishes daily data on how many people have caught the virus.

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Instead, it publishes the number of infections over the past seven days. In the Harrogate district, this was 1,207 people, a rise of almost 50% on the previous week.

NHS England figures show that the most recent covid-related death took place at Harrogate District Hospital on February 28.

There have been 232 covid-related deaths at the hospital since the pandemic started almost two years ago.

New environmentally friendly business to open in Ripon

New business opens in Ripon

The Green House, Ripon

A new environmentally and ecologically-focused business will open in Ripon next week 

The Green House, at 11 North Street, is being opened on Tuesday by Patricio Maglio, one of Ripon’s hornlblowers, and his partner Rebecca Crallan.

With a planet-friendly ethos, the store will sell home and garden supplies designed to have minimal impact on the environment. 

Patricio Maglio

Patricio Maglio

Ms Crallan said:  

“Our aim is to make it easier for people in the city and surrounding villages to make greener choices without compromising on aesthetics or function,

“We have done our research on refillables that do the job, along with plastic-free sponges that don’t disintegrate and compostable cloths that have a luxury feel.”

Harrogate start-up launches sustainable skincare range

Anna Daniels

Anna Daniels

Harrogate firm Josie Rose has launched a luxury overnight face mask.

Anna Daniels founded skincare brand Josie Rose in 2019 and has now entered the emerging ‘skin minimalism’ market with its first product: a hydrating retinol overnight face mask.

The new product has already appealed to local retailers, such as Hoopers in Harrogate, and sells direct to the consumer via its website.

Anna Daniels, managing director and founder said:

“Multifunctional products such as our overnight face mask deliver great results due to the concentrated formulas, this enables a simpler skincare and beauty routine, saving customers time and money and of course meaning less products, which is a more sustainable option.

Harrogate firm wins major NHS contract

A Harrogate-based company has won an NHS contract to scale up remote patient monitoring across Scotland.

Under the three-year contract, Inhealthcare will provide technology to enable people to record relevant information in the comfort of their own homes and relay readings to NHS teams for analysis.

inhealthcare CEO Bryn Sage

The technology is being rolled out across Scotland’s health boards. The service can be used to manage illnesses including hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, heart disease, diabetes, depression, malnutrition, cancer and Covid.

Georgia Nelson, senior business development manager at Inhealthcare, said:

“Winning this contract represents another major validation of technology-enabled care and provides the foundations for many more citizens to benefit from improved health and wellbeing at home and better quality of life.”

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