Harrogate district care homes ‘ravaged’ by covid

A care home company boss has spoken of the struggle to contain recent outbreaks of covid that have “ravaged” homes in the Harrogate district.

A total of 258 care home residents and staff in North Yorkshire currently have covid, according to figures from North Yorkshire County Council this week.

Tracey Holroyd is chairman of Warmest Welcome, whose Westfield House Nursing Home in Killinghall has suffered one death recently and currently has 12 infections.

Warmest Welcome owns eight other homes, including The Crest Care Home in Harrogate, and Ms Holroyd said all but one had been hit hard by covid recently, along with many others in the care sector.

She said the new mutant strain of covid struck Westfield House over Christmas.

“This new variant is so fast, it just ripped through the home. It’s horrible.”

Westfield House had hardly suffered any covid infections until Christmas.

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Ms Holroyd said staff followed all the correct protocols but the speed of transmission in a building full of vulnerable older people was devastating. She said:

“The care home is the community so if the virus is in the care home it’s in the community. And this virus is so fast.

“It’s just been awful but we are over the worst. We’ve just got to keep on keeping on.”

Ms Holroyd said the manager and deputy manager had both been off but were now back, and that having so many staff absent had been a “massive problem”.

The infections are also delaying the vaccination programme at Westfield House. Ms Holroyd paid tribute to the dedication of staff during such a difficult time, adding:

“The vaccine can’t happen soon enough.”

North Yorkshire County Council said this week 76 out of 235 care settings in the county, which includes care homes and extra care facilities, has one or more positive covid case.

Of that number, 55 have recorded outbreaks, which is two or more cases. Nine have large outbreaks, which is defined as 10 or more cases.

 

Facebook image of Harrogate radiographer gets 13,000 shares

A photo of a radiographer at Harrogate District Hospital, accompanied by a message urging people to follow lockdown rules and get vaccinated, has gone viral.

Dr Jon Sharpe, a consultant musculoskeletal radiologist, posted the simple but powerful image of radiographer Jo Huddart on his Facebook page on Saturday.

Since then it has received 13,000 shares, 12,000 reactions and 1,800 comments.

Annie Garlick took the image of fellow radiographer Jo Huddart on Ms Huddart’s phone.

Dr Sharpe’s post says the NHS faces its toughest fortnight in history and then explains the extraordinary lengths these “unsung heroes” go to daily.

Every patient with covid or suspected covid meets a radiographer for scans so they are on the front line, at significant personal risk. He adds:

“They wear PPE that is hot and uncomfortable for most of their shift. They do this day after day, shift after shift. Twenty four hours a day.

“Some of them have been doing this job for decades. Some of them are fresh out of university. I doubt any of them ever thought radiography would look like this.

“They are unsung heroes and I am immensely proud of each and every one of my colleagues.

“The clapping was nice, the odd free pizza was appreciated and the pictures of rainbows that children drew for us made us smile – but all we ask of you now is this:

“Please stay at home. Please follow the rules and please, please – get vaccinated when you are offered an appointment.”

‘Superb outcome’

Dr Sharpe told the Stray Ferret he only expected the post to be of passing interest to friends but he was pleased it had raised awareness of the value of radiographers. He added:

“If even just one more person elects to receive the vaccine because of this then it will have been a superb outcome.”

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Asked why the post had been shared so many times, he said it was due to a combination of factors:

“Jo is wearing so much PPE that even though I’ve worked with her daily for the last 9 years, she’s not instantly recognisable — the fact that my colleagues are having to go to such lengths just to be able to perform their daily duties with a modicum of safety is immensely sobering.

“The inclusion of the CT scanner, prepped and ready to receive the next patient also increased the impact of the image, minutes after this image was taken another patient would have been lying on the scanner prior to their examination.

“The picture of Jo and the scanner ready for the next patient emphasised the fact that this is not a unique situation, but just part of the daily work of the radiography staff — there will be another patient going on that scanner shortly.

“Maybe if people stayed at home and accepted the vaccine then that patient won’t be them or somebody they care about.”

Claims Harrogate McColl’s worker with covid symptoms was told to work

A Harrogate McColl’s store has been forced to close after the manager allegedly told a staff member who had coronavirus symptoms to work.

Peter Lythe booked a coronavirus test after experiencing symptoms and claims he told his boss at the King Edward’s Drive store on Saturday ahead of a shift.

In text messages, seen by the Stray Ferret, Mr Lythe said told his manager that he “might have to isolate from today [until] my tests comes back.”

The manager replied: “You don’t unless you’ve had a text message.”

After being unable to find cover for his Saturday or Sunday shifts Mr Lythe reluctantly went into work.

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On Sunday evening at around 7pm, Mr Lythe received a positive coronavirus test result which told him to self-isolate for 10 days.

The next day the McColl’s store closed and put a sign in the window to say that it would re-open as soon as possible.

We approached North Yorkshire Police, Harrogate Borough Council and McColl’s with a request for comment.

The police and council decline to comment but a spokesperson for McColl’s told the Stray Ferret:

“We can confirm that our store on King Edward’s Drive, Harrogate, has been closed since Monday after a colleague tested positive for coronavirus.

“Following the store’s closure, we conducted a deep clean in line with the latest health and safety standards, and all colleagues are following isolation guidelines.”

“The health, safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and customers remains our absolute priority during his time.

“We continue to proactively follow Public Health England guidelines and keep our protocols under constant review.”

The McColl’s store is due to reopen on today after a deep clean.

Harrogate district reports 79 further coronavirus cases

The Harrogate district has had a further 79 cases of coronavirus confirmed, according to today’s Public Health England figures.

It takes the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 6,163.

The seven-day average rate of infection for the district stands at 325 people per 100,000.

The county-wide average is 303 and the national rate 467.

Killinghall and Hampsthwaite remains the area in the district with the most covid infections in the past seven-days, with 60 cases.

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Amanda Bloor, accountable officer at North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, told a press briefing of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum today that 44 covid patients were currently being treated at Harrogate District Hospital.

Hospitals across the county have 471 positive covid patients — an increase of 84 on last week.

The current figure is 169 more than the peak of the first lockdown.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for coronavirus have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England data.

Number of lockdown fines increases in North Yorkshire

The number of fines issued to people for flouting lockdown restrictions in North Yorkshire has increased this week.

North Yorkshire Police revealed today it handed out 134 fixed penalty notices during the second week of lockdown, compared with 107 during the first week.

But the number of fines specifically in the Harrogate district fell from 22 in the first week of lockdown to 12 in the second.

Of that number, eight were for being outside without reasonable excuse, one for an outdoor gathering and three for an indoor gathering.

A breakdown of the number of fines issued by North Yorkshire Police for lockdown breaches since January 12. Data: North Yorkshire Police.

A breakdown of the number of fines issued by North Yorkshire Police for lockdown breaches since January 12. Data: North Yorkshire Police.

Police issued 10 of the fines to visitors to the district; two were to local residents.

It comes as the force said it would be tougher enforcing lockdown restrictions and “no longer waste time” with covid rule breakers.

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Chief inspector Charlotte Bloxham said today it was disappointing to see the rise in fines.

She said:

“Many people do understand the seriousness of the situation and are staying at home and saving lives and I’ll say thank you to those people who make daily sacrifices to protect the vulnerable among us.

“However there is a stubborn minority who do not believe the rules apply to them and do not understand the risk they pose to themselves and the wider community.

“That is why when we encounter these people we will take enforcement action against them.”

Last week Superintendent Mike Walker said that the fear of lockdown needed to be restored for people to comply with restrictions.

He said there was less compliance and fear among people under current restrictions compared with the first lockdown last year, which saw streets empty and more businesses close.

Ripon to get its own coronavirus vaccination site

Ripon is to get its own coronavirus vaccination site, North Yorkshire health bosses revealed today.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer at North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said a site would be set up in the city.

However, a location has yet to be confirmed.

It comes days after councillors on Ripon City Council called for a vaccination site for the city and surrounding areas earlier.

They suggested Hugh Ripley Hall would be a suitable location.

Councillors said it was “unacceptable” for older people to have to travel to Harrogate or York, particularly as the government has pledged nobody should have to travel further than 10 miles for inoculations.

Ms Bloor told a press briefing of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which is a partnership of emergency agencies, the CCG would continue to look at whether further sites were needed in the county.

Hugh Ripley Hall, which Ripon councillors have offered for use as a covid vaccination centre.

Hugh Ripley Hall, which Ripon councillors have offered for use as a covid vaccination centre.

She said:

“We are continuing to review whether further may be needed, particularly given the availability of a more mobile vaccine in the AstraZeneca vaccine.

“I am pleased to say that subject to final checks and NHS England approval, we do now have plans in place to open a site in Ripon in the next week or so.”

 

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Meanwhile, Ms Bloor said residents in the district may also be invited to a new national vaccination hub at Askham Bar in York.

She said:

“The way that the site is operating is that anybody within a 45 minute drive of the site who has not yet received a vaccination through their local site may receive a letter from the national team to book an appointment.”

However, she added patients could wait for a local invite if they received a letter from the York hub and could not attend.

The site opened on Monday and will operate seven days a week from 8am until 8pm.

Professor Mike Holmes, a GP in York, told a City of York Council Executive meeting last week that the new centre will offer up to 8,000 extra appointments in the first phase of the expansion of the site.

The centre became the latest vaccine site to open near Harrogate, with another due to be set up at Elland Road stadium in Leeds.

Killinghall and Hampsthwaite becomes Harrogate district’s covid hotspot

Killinghall and Hampsthwaite has recorded more covid cases than anywhere else in the Harrogate district in the last seven days.

According to government figures, Killinghall and Hampsthwaite had 54 infections in the last week.

The next highest sub-district areas are Harrogate West and Pannal and Knaresborough Central, which both had 50 cases.

Across North Yorkshire as a whole, Catterick Garrison and Colburn reported the most infections with 99.

It comes as a further 72 coronavirus cases were confirmed in the Harrogate district today by Public Health England.

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The total number of cases since the start of the pandemic is now 6,084.

The district’s seven-day rate of infection has increased slightly again to 322 people per 100,000. The county-wide average is 308, while the national rate stands at 478.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for coronavirus have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

Urgent call for covid vaccination centre in Ripon

An urgent call has been made for Ripon to have its own covid vaccination centre to serve the city and surrounding areas.

Ripon City Council heard last night it was “unacceptable” for older people to have to travel to Harrogate or York, particularly as the government has pledged nobody should have to travel further than 10 miles for inoculations.

Councillors at last night’s virtual full council meeting said Ripon should not miss out and suggested Hugh Ripley Hall could become a vaccination centre.

They unanimously supported a motion by council leader Andrew Williams, who said:

“We currently have a situation in which elderly people are having to travel to the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate or the centre in York as the nearest places where they can be vaccinated.

“This is clearly unacceptable.

“The government told us that people would not have to travel more than 10 miles to receive their vaccine, so we need to take urgent action to ensure our citizens and the thousands more who live in areas to the north of Ripon do not have to make a long journey — which in itself adds to the risk of spreading the virus.”

At a Downing Street press briefing on January 7, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said people in the UK would not have to travel more than 10 miles to receive a vaccination.

Ripon is 12 miles from Harrogate and 26 miles from York.

During the same briefing, the PM unveiled plans for another 1,200 vaccination hubs to open across the country.

Photo of Ripon Covid testing unit

Covid testing takes place at Ripon coach park each Wednesday — but could this be a potential location for a vaccination centre if Hugh Ripley Hall is unsuitable?

It was agreed the council will contact Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, offering Hugh Ripley Hall on Skellbank as a possible location for a dedicated Ripon vaccination centre.

Councillor Pauline McHardy, who worked as an NHS nurse for 41 years, told the meeting:

“The hall is a good location, everybody knows where it is and there is sufficient space for social distancing.”

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Councillor Stuart Martin, whose wife April was seriously ill and hospitalised with coronavirus last year, said:

“I’m not an expert on what the NHS requires to set up a vaccination centre, but I fully support offering Hugh Ripley Hall in the first instance.

“If the hall doesn’t meet their requirements, they should look at other options in Ripon, such as putting a temporary building on a car park.”

Councillor Stephen Craggs, whose business is located close to the coach park where the NHS has been carrying out Covid tests on Wednesdays, said:

“We need to ensure that Ripon is not overlooked again, when it comes to providing a place where people living in this area can receive their vaccination.”

Harrogate district records 73 further covid infections

The Harrogate district has recorded a further 73 covid cases in the latest daily figures from Public Health England.

The seven-day average is now 317 people per 100,000, which is slightly up on yesterday but well down on the record high of 498 on January 7.

No further covid hospital deaths were announced today.

Meanwhile, NHS England figures show that more than 3.5 million people nationally have now received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

The figure, which is data for up to yesterday, also revealed that 610,684 people have had the first dose in North East and Yorkshire.

There is currently no data available on how many people specifically in the district have been vaccinated.

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It comes as the government has said those aged 70 and over will be invited to be vaccinated this week.

According to the latest census data, 26,278 people in the Harrogate district are aged between 65 and 84 – which is 16% of the local population.

 

Duke and Duchess learn how Harrogate based helpline supports frontline medical staff

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spoke with frontline workers and members of the Harrogate based Just ‘B’ team about the mental health impact of the coronavirus crisis on medical staff.

Just ‘B’ is part of charity North Yorkshire Hospice Care and provides emotional wellbeing and bereavement support, both locally and nationally, through a support line.

Frontline health staff often cite exhaustion and the relentless nature of the crisis as their reasons for calling the helpline.

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Tony Collins, a volunteer for the Hospice UK Just ‘B’ helpline and Chief Executive of North Yorkshire Hospice Care and St Michael’s Hospice in Harrogate, urged frontline workers to access the helpline.

When speaking to the Duke and Duchess, Tony said:

“I think there’s something about reticence to call at the moment, and also around calling when they feel they have space to start processing and reflecting on the experiences they’ve been through.

“The phrases and the words we hear time and time again are ‘exhaustion,’ ‘relentless,’ ‘there’s so much death, when is it going to finish.

“We know that anxiety is high among frontline workers as they continue to work through the Covid-19 pandemic. This is why the helpline is so important in providing a safe space for frontline workers to reflect and process what they have been through, talking to someone else without the fear that they’ll be burdening loved ones.

“People often think: ‘I’ve got my friends, family and colleagues, you’ve just got to knuckle down and get on with it’. Frontline staff are used to putting others first, forgetting that they also need to look after themselves.

During the call, NHS staff and emergency responders spoke about their personal experiences with mental health, and how services such as Just ‘B’ have allowed them to cope better and begin to come to terms with their grief.

The Just ‘B’ emotional wellbeing, bereavement and trauma helpline can be accessed daily between 8am and 8pm at 0300 303 4434.