Harrogate district hospitalisations and covid rate falls

The number of patients who tested positive for covid at Harrogate District Hospital has fallen.

Latest figures from Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust show 30 patients are currently being treated at the hospital – down on 34 last week.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day covid rate has also fallen to 1,175 cases per 100,000 people.

But this remains above the county-wide average which is 856 and the England rate of 873.

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UK Health Security Agency data shows the daily number positive covid cases yesterday was 158.

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

The death toll at the hospital since March 2020 remains at 220.

Harrogate and Ripon hospitals maintain visitor restrictions due to high covid rates

The NHS trust that runs hospitals in Harrogate and Ripon is to maintain visitor restrictions while coronavirus case rates remain high.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust imposed restrictions at Harrogate District Hospital and Ripon Community Hospital on December 23 amid concerns about the Omicron variant.

It means visitors are only allowed for patients on end of life care, patients with a learning disability or severe cognitive impairment such as dementia. Parents or carers of children and birthing partners are also permitted.

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At the time, the hospital said it would review the restrictions regularly and relax them “at the earliest opportunity”.

However, although the government removed all Plan B measures a week ago, the trust has yet to say when regular visits will resume.

A spokesperson for the trust said today:

“Visitor guidance has not changed since December 23, 2021, although it is regularly reviewed.

“While infection rates remain at the current levels, we need to maintain the current restrictions on visitors to our wards for the safety of our patients and staff.

“These restriction also still apply to those people wanting to accompany outpatients to their appointments.

“Anyone entering our hospital will also need to wear a mask, ensure they sanitise their hands and maintain social distancing.”

Another 339 covid infections were recorded in the Harrogate district yesterday, bringing the seven-day average to 1,305 cases per 100,000 people — the highest in North Yorkshire and considerably above the England rate of 1,048.

Booming Boroughbridge trade inspires clothes shop relocation

A women’s clothes shop has moved to bigger premises in Boroughbridge after customers flocked to support independents in the town during coronavirus.

Espada Boutique, which opened its flagship store on St James Square around nine years ago, has now relocated to a new unit on Fishergate next to G Craggs Ltd.

The independent clothes shop, which is owned by Wendy Hepworth, also has a branch in Wetherby.

Alison Auckland, manager at Espada Boutique, told the Stray Ferret the move had been planned for a while but the extra customer support during coronavirus helped move it along.

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She added:

“We have just outgrown the old shop. Everyone has supported us and Boroughbridge on a whole during the coronavirus lockdowns.

“At the old shop we had lots of new brands coming in but they were going straight off the shelves. We could not stock enough.

“Already we have a lot more stock coming in. It is heaven here. We have plenty of room but I am sure we will soon fill it.”

Espada Boutique Boroughbridge reopened yesterday but it will hold a big launch on Saturday with prizes and prosecco up for grabs.

More pictures from inside the shop:

The shop has moved to a bigger unit.

A customer browsing the new shelves.

Number of covid patients at Harrogate Hospital increases sharply to 34

The number of positive covid patients at Harrogate District Hospital has increased significantly in the last seven days.

Currently 34 patients are confirmed to have covid — nine more than last week.

The figures come as the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 1,290 per 100,000 people. The rate has steadily increased since dropping to 1,171 on January 17.

The North Yorkshire average is 1,090 and the England rate is 1,082.

UK Health Security Agency statistics now include figures for reinfections.

Latest figures show that since January 24, the Harrogate district has recorded a total of 1,953 infections.

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Meanwhile, the number of deaths from patients who tested positive for covid at Harrogate District Hospital since March 2020 stands at 220.

Latest NHS England figures show that two patients died on January 28.

The government lifted Plan B restrictions, which included mandatory face coverings and vaccine passports for major events, last Thursday.

Three covid deaths reported at Harrogate hospital

Harrogate District Hospital has reported another three deaths from patients who tested positive for coronavirus.

NHS England figures show that one death was reported on January 20 and a further two were recorded on January 21.

It takes the covid-related death toll at the hospital from covid since March 2020 to 210.

The Harrogate district reported another 270 cases in to today’s UK Health Security Agency figures.

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Latest government figures show that the district’s seven-day covid average stands at 1,075 per 100,000 people, up marginally on yesterday’s figure of 1,073.

However, it remains above the county average, which is 981, and the England rate of 995.

The figures come as the government prepares to lift covid Plan B restrictions on Wednesday. It means mandatory face coverings will no longer be required and vaccine passports for large scale events will be removed.

Harrogate district covid rate begins to rise again

The recent rapid decline of the Harrogate district’s covid rate of infection appears to have halted, with the rate beginning to nudge up again.

A total of 226 cases were confirmed in today’s government figures, taking the seven-day infection rate to 1,073 per 100,000 people.

This is slightly up on yesterday’s figure of 1,059 and remains above both the county and England averages of 974 and 992 respectively.

Central Harrogate is worst affected, with 127 infections in the last seven days. Harrogate East has had 123 cases while Harrogate West and Pannal has had 120,

It was also revealed today that a total of 106.735 booster or third jabs have been administered in the district.

From Thursday, venues and events will no longer be required by law to use the NHS covid pass and face coverings will no longer be required by law in any setting.

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Harrogate district reports 222 positive covid cases

The Harrogate district has reported 222 positive covid cases today according to UK Health Security Agency figures.

Latest government figures show that the district’s seven-day covid average has dropped to 1,059 per 100,000 people.

However, it is above the county average, which is 970, and the England rate of 977.

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

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There are 20 covid patients currently being treated at Harrogate District Hospital.

According to government figures, 106,434 booster or third jabs have been given in the Harrogate district, as of today.

Harrogate covid rate stable as 285 cases recorded

The Harrogate district’s covid rate has stabilised after another 285 cases were reported today.

Latest government figures show that the district’s seven-day covid average has dropped to 1,078 per 100,000 people, up on yesterday’s figure of 1,074.

However, it is above the county average, which is 992, and the England rate of 972.

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

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The number of positive covid patients currently being treated at the hospital stands at 27.

According to government figures, 106,142 booster or third jabs have been given in the Harrogate district, as of today.

Staffing fears as Harrogate council enters final months

The staffing of council services in Harrogate has been raised as a key concern as budget proposals including a 1.99% tax increase move a step forward.

Members of Harrogate Borough Council’s overview and scrutiny commission yesterday quizzed senior officials over their spending plans for 2022/23, which will be the council’s final full year before it is replaced with a new unitary authority covering the whole of North Yorkshire.

Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Aldred, chair of the overview and scrutiny commission, said staffing would be a “big challenge” during the year as some workers worried about job security look to leave local government.

“It is really important that we hang onto the good staff we have.

“As we move closer to 1 April 2023 when our beloved Harrogate Borough Council will cease to exist, staff are going to be looking elsewhere for a guaranteed job.

“I know the new North Yorkshire Council isn’t going to get rid of people just like that, but everybody is looking for job security.”

Yesterday’s meeting heard complaints over areas including street cleaning and planning as committee members questioned how staff would keep services running until the council is abolished.

This follows the end of a recruitment freeze last August when the council restarted hiring after more than a year of trying to keep costs down during the pandemic.

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Covid has been named as a reason for the proposed 1.99% tax rise, as well as years of government cuts which have seen the council’s grant allocations reduced by £8.2m since 2010.

If approved next month, the tax rise will equate to an extra £5 for the average Band D property which will pay £255.92 a year to the council.

Harrogate Borough Council makes up just under 13% of council tax bills, while North Yorkshire County Council makes up 70% and police and fire services the remainder.

Parish councils also make up a small proportion of bills.

The county council has yet to reveal its budget proposals, while the new North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoe Metcalfe has outlined a budget based on a £10 increase for average households.

After rises were agreed last year, average bills in the Harrogate district rose above £2,000 for the first time.

Frontline services remain ‘a priority’

Despite the funding challenges and covid impacts, Conservative councillor Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said major projects and frontline services would remain a priority ahead of the authority being abolished. He said:

“This budget is not part of a lull, hiatus or winding down.

“The strategy is to ‘bake in’ projects and initiatives that we want to see carried forward for the good of residents.”

Councillor Cooper, who will stand down after 24 years of service in 2023, added:

“We have young and senior talent all around this council and we will want to see those people represented at a very high level on the new authority.

“The proposal for a 1.99% council tax increase is way below the rate of inflation and is possible because of work over many years to reduce our cost base and make the best use of our assets.

“This is a budget that is a record of success that we are able to take forward into what is the final full year of Harrogate Borough Council.”

Harrogate theatre chair on the panto, scaffolding and being ‘cautiously optimistic’

Cancelled shows and a huge roof renovation have made the last 18 months “very difficult” for Harrogate Theatres but the chair says it is going into 2022 “cautiously optimistic”.

Knaresborough-born Deborah Larwood, who has been visiting the theatre for years, worked in the arts sector for over a decade before she took a seat on the board four years ago. She then became chair in December 2019.

Harrogate Theatres is a charity that hosts events at Harrogate Theatre, Royal Hall and Harrogate Convention Centre.

Its biggest challenge during the pandemic has been generating enough income to cover costs whilst being unable to get on stage.

It has held online workshops, socially distanced theatre and launched its HT Together fundraising campaign.

Ms Larwood said initiatives like these and grants from the likes of Arts Council England have been crucial to the theatre’s survival and allowed it to plan for upcoming events.

Cinderella ends today

The biggest event for the theatre each year is its annual pantomime. As Cinderella comes to a close today, after running since November, Ms Larwood said she was pleased with its success although it is unclear how well tickets sold compared with previous years. She said:

“People’s habits have changed during the pandemic and some of our usual audience members still aren’t comfortable in the auditorium. We still had huge success in terms of ticket sales, but it was different especially with some schools choosing to cancel their trip.

“When we lost the panto in 2020 it was a significant worry because we rely so heavily on that revenue we earn.”

Some of the cast of this year’s pantomime, Cinderella. Photograph: Karl Andre

She added tickets for this year’s pantomime, Aladdin, are already selling with a number of schools also choosing to book.

Roof completion date still set for March 

One of the biggest projects undertaken in the last 12 months has been the roof renovation. The project has been managed by Harrogate Borough Council, which owns the building.

Work began in May last year and with multiple setbacks due to covid and building materials it is now due to be completed by March.

Ms Larwood said workers on site were “determined” to stick to that date.

The theatre roof during works in June 2021.

The board has been trying to recruit new trustees. Last year, Ms Larwood, said multiple trustees came to the end of their tenure, which gave the opportunity to bring in new people and expertise.

She said:

“The pandemic allowed us to refocus and its exciting to hear from new people who are equally as passionate as us about the arts.”

So far the charity has added Fiona Hunt to its board but plans to speak to more potential new trustees after panto season.

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‘Necessary evil’ to make people redundant 

During the pandemic the theatre made staff redundant in an attempt to remain open. Ms Larwood said it was a “necessary evil”.

Long-term closures in 2020 and 2021 meant a big loss in revenue. Ms Larwood said despite the grants, cuts had to be made.

However, the charity hopes to start recruiting again this year. She said:

“We had terrible levels of redundancies but we had to make sure we made it through the other side. Recruitment will begin in earnest, but it’s all about striking a balance. We need people but we live in a time of rapid change and hiring too quickly is a big investment to lose.

“Our core team has been amazing throughout, doing the job of a team normally two or three times its size. It’s now time for us to bring in new people as we move into a busy year.”