A short queue of cars was waiting outside the Household Waste Recycling Centre on Penny Pot Lane in Harrogate this morning.

After North Yorkshire County Council announced yesterday afternoon that it was going to re-open some of its tips today, locals were ready to make use of the facility.

Traffic management was in place, forcing drivers to approach the site from the west only. Those arriving from the Harrogate side had to follow signposts to go along the A59 and down to join the queue on Penny Pot Lane.

NYCC said if the queue becomes too long, it will ask drivers to come back later in order to spread demand.

Diversion signs re-direct traffic arriving from the east

With 10 tips now open from 8.30am to 5pm, seven days a week across North Yorkshire, the county council said they are only to be used by people who cannot store their waste at home until lockdown is lifted. Commercial waste is not being accepted and nor are trailers, but charges are still being made for disposing of some non-commercial waste, including hardcore, rubble, plasterboard and tyres.

Coun Andrew Lee, NYCC’s executive member for Waste Management, said:

“Please consider others and go to the HWRC only if you are struggling. If you can store your waste at home, please do so. And please continue to try to minimise waste and where possible use your kerbside collection services rather than visiting a recycling centre. Ask yourself whether your trip to the centre is really an essential journey.

“As outlined in Government guidance, a visit to your local HWRC should only be considered essential if the waste materials cannot be stored at home without causing risk of injury or harm to health.

HWRCs on Wetherby Road in Harrogate and Dallamires Crescent in Ripon remain closed.

The hard work of NHS staff is being recognised with a piece of community artwork on Otley Road in Harrogate.

Railings at the junction with Harlow Moor Road have been decorated with blue ribbons, a yellow heart and the letters NHS in tribute to those saving lives around the country.

Andrew High, who put the ribbons onto the railings, said he wants members of the community to add their own decorations too. He said:

“If you’ve got family who have been treated, or people you know who work for the NHS, it doesn’t matter. In your own little way, just attach your bit of string or ribbon – whatever you have to hand.

“It will be nice to see more ribbons attached to it so we feel part of something. There are a few more slowly appearing.”

New ribbons are already being added to the railings by members of the community

Andrew was also the mastermind behind the decorations put up on Otley Road for the UCI Road World Championships last year. A member of the congregation at Harlow Hill Methodist Church, which was open every day for the community to gather and watch the cycling, he wanted to draw attention to the stretch of road which was a prominent feature in the racing routes throughout the week.

As well as the UCi colours in ribbons around the trees and benches, Andrew put lettering on the railings at the junction spelling out “Harlow Hill”, “Welcome” and “Yorkshire”. He said:

“I had planned this year to do the Olympic rings and every time someone from Yorkshire got a medal, I was going to put a gold, silver or bronze medal on with their name on. Of course, that hasn’t happened.

I thought it would be nice for the NHS to go up and people to add their own little bits. After the UCI, there was a nice feeling among the hill that we had joined together. That was an enjoyable experience. This isn’t, but it is nice to know we’re a community and people are thinking of and looking out for each other.”

Another patient has died at Harrogate District Hospital after being diagnosed with coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths under Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust to 48.

The hospital this week confirmed that it has treated and discharged 70 patients diagnosed with Covid-19.

The patient died yesterday, May 1st, according to details released today by NHS England, which confirmed 370 deaths across the country. It brings the total for England to 20,853.

Of those confirmed today to have died, 25 had no known underlying health conditions. All patients were aged between 38 and 100.

NHS England has this week begun releasing daily data for deaths where the patient did not have a confirmed diagnosis, but where Covid-19 was listed on the death certificate. The statistics are only available for deaths which have occurred since April 24th, and are only divided by region.

In the North East and Yorkshire, five patients have this week died with suspected Covid-19. The total number of deaths in the region since the outbreak is 2,839, but this does not include deaths outside hospitals, such as in care homes.

This week, for the first time, data was released to show the number of deaths in care homes and other areas of the community in patients with suspected Covid-19. In the Harrogate district, 22 people are reported to have died with symptoms of the virus up to April 17th.

Four more patients have died after being treated for coronavirus at Harrogate District Hospital, bringing the total to 42.

Released today, the latest report shows two patients died yesterday (Friday) while another died on Thursday. A fourth death was confirmed to have taken place on April 6th.

The statistics, released by NHS England, show that there have been 711 deaths confirmed across England in the last 24 hours, in patients were aged between 34 and 100. Of those, 87 had no known underlying health conditions.

The total number of covid-19 deaths across NHS England now stands at more than 18,000. These do not include patients who died elsewhere, such as in care homes.

On Thursday, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust confirmed it had treated and discharged 58 patients since the beginning of the crisis.

The death of a nurse who had been treating coronavirus patients at Harrogate District Hospital has prompted further concern about the level of protection given to staff.

Nurse Zauma Ekoli was known as Josie

Zauma Ekoli, who was 55 and had five children, died on Monday at Leeds General Infirmary after working on wards in Harrogate.

Daughter Naomie said her mother, who had worked on a coronavirus ward, called the provisions of personal protective equipment (PPE) available “poor” but said her mother continued to work in the job that “meant everything to her”.

“If they don’t work, then we won’t be treated, so the least they could do is up the PPE so they can make sure it doesn’t happen to another family,” she said.

Harrogate NHS Foundation Trust said it has sufficient supplies.

A spokesperson said:

“The Coronavirus pandemic has presented the NHS with many challenges, one of which is the significant increase in the use of Personal Protective Equipment.

“We have implemented the national guidance as published by Public Health England. This is very clear about what PPE should be used in which situation to protect our staff. We have enough PPE in stock, and are getting regular deliveries of new items. It is a challenge and we’re doing all we can to maintain provision.”

The Stray Ferret has received a significant number of reports of staff going without vital equipment. Individual members of staff felt unable to speak openly about the problems they faced, but many have expressed their gratitude for the additional equipment being delivered by the community.

Groups in Harrogate have mobilised to source and create PPE, including sewing hundreds of sets of scrubs for staff to wear while on shift.

The spokesperson for Harrogate NHS Foundation Trust added:

“We would like to say thank you to local schools, businesses and organisations who have very generously supported us by producing and providing Personal Protective Equipment, complementing what we are receiving via the NHS supply chain.”

‘Top priority’

Meanwhile, the director of health and adult services at North Yorkshire County Council this week put a call out for support from businesses able to create medical-grade face masks for us across health and social care services.

Richard Webb said although a delivery of PPE was received in the county last week, it was not clear when more would arrive. With government guidance on the use of protective equipment changing frequently, and staff across the NHS and social care services all needing the same supplies, any deliveries would not last long.

Speaking to The Stray Ferret on Monday evening, he said:

“What we really want is a regular supply of this equipment and at the moment that’s not coming through in the way that the NHS and councils and care providers need it.

“The government have given it a really top priority on Friday night when they announced their new plan. We need to see during the coming week much more regular supplies of the right kit.”

The peak of the coronavirus crisis has not yet hit North Yorkshire, but irregular and unreliable supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) are putting front line workers at risk.

North Yorkshire County Council’s director of health and adult services, Richard Webb, told The Stray Ferret that constantly changing government guidelines on the use of PPE are making it hard to predict how much is needed – and he doesn’t yet know when the next supplies will be delivered.

While gloves, aprons and hand sanitiser are all needed, the most urgent problem is finding face masks offering the right grade of protection. The type IIR face masks are in high demand around the country because they prevent fluids from passing through when staff are caring for patients.

Richard Webb

Mr Webb said: “We are asking anyone who is a producer of the right type of PPE to get in touch. We are asking businesses or schools who might be able to produce PPE, can they begin to mobilise their production. That would be really appreciated.

“That’s across the board: it’s for us, it’s for the wider care sector, it’s for the hospitals and community health service and GPs. If people are able to produce what’s required to the right spec, we would really welcome them to get in touch.”

A new PPE plan was announced by the government on Friday, with additional guidance issued over the Easter weekend. These constantly changing requirements make it even harder for the council to know how long supplies will last.

Mr Webb said the local resilience forum, which is a combination of councils, the NHS, the military and police, has been working to try to find supplies and get them to the right places. With the peak of the crisis still to come in North Yorkshire, demand will only grow.

“The figures nationally and in Yorkshire are increasing so we are still not yet at the peak date. We will expect to see an increase in cases over the coming weeks.”

NYCC’s chief executive, Richard Flinton, had previously issued a call to suppliers to help get products to the front line, while community groups have been working together to source equipment. Mr Webb thanked everyone who has contributed supplies so far, as well as reiterating advice to stay at home and follow hand-washing guidelines in order to reduce the spread of the virus.

He added:

“What we really want is a regular supply of this equipment and at the moment that’s not coming through in the way that the NHS and councils and care providers need it. The government have given it a really top priority on Friday night when they announced their new plan. We need to see during the coming week much more regular supplies of the right kit.”

Anyone who can help supply equipment should email procurement@northyorks.gov.uk.

The ever-changing challenge of the crisis

Less than 10 days ago, North Yorkshire County Council said it was well supplied with PPE.

This new appeal shows just how quickly the situation is changing: demand grows by the day, with added pressure as the government issues further guidance on the use of PPE across medical and social settings.

Evidence from those on the front line confirms that supplies aren’t reaching where they’re most needed. Over the weekend, care home operator MHA confirmed a number of its residents had died after displaying symptoms of coronavirus, and said it was desperately short of PPE across its 133 homes.

Hundreds of thousands of people up and down the country are using the same kit. While visors are being produced by schools and hand sanitiser made by businesses, it is the high-grade protective equipment, such as masks, which are harder to procure from alternative sources.

Usual supplies have been depleted, with manufacturers struggling to meet demand coming not just from the UK but internationally. With the peak of the crisis expected to hit North Yorkshire in the coming weeks, front line workers will be more desperate than ever to have access to the equipment they need to reduce the risks they are taking while caring for the most vulnerable people in society.