Autumn covid booster vaccination clinics are only available at Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground for less than a month.
Tim Yarrow, operations manager at Yorkshire Health Network, which is overseeing the vaccination programme, today urged anyone eligible to book now.
Those showground site, which is currently seeing 1,400 patients a day, is due to close on November 23 and there are currently no plans to re-open it.
It means people will have to seek appointments at local pharmacies when the showground site closes.
People aged 50 and over, pregnant women, carers, frontline health and care workers, care home residents and people of all ages who are vulnerable are eligible for a covid booster jab now.
Those who are able to book their vaccinations can do so via the NHS website.
The showground is not accepting walk-in appointments. Access to the site is available by car from the road alongside Sainsbury’s.
The NHS is ramping up its winter vaccination campaign.
Health bosses in Harrogate previously said that they expect to see more covid patients in hospitals in the coming weeks.
Dr Bruce Willoughby, Harrogate GP and part of the Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, said:
“Health and care services in North Yorkshire and York, like everywhere, are already extremely busy. We do expect to see more cases of covid in the coming weeks as people mix freely again and spend more time indoors as the weather gets colder. The risk of catching covid is highest indoors and in crowded places.
“More people are likely to get flu this winter as fewer people will have built up natural immunity to it during the pandemic. The best time to have the flu vaccine is in the autumn or early winter before it starts spreading.”
Health officials are also urging people to book a flu vaccine this winter. People can book their jab via their GP surgery.
Book collection launched across district to support teenagers’ mental health
Books that support the mental health of teenagers have been put in libraries across the Harrogate district.
The North Yorkshire’s library service initiative coincides with today’s World Mental Health Day.
The pandemic’s disruption to young people’s lives, alongside issues such as growing concern about global warming, has increased uncertainty about identity, position in society and future plans.
In 2020, almost half of young people said they did not feel in control of their lives and almost a third felt overwhelmed by feelings of panic and anxiety on a daily basis, according to North Yorkshire County Council.
The new books, which are recommended by health professionals as part of the Reading Well initiative, cover topics such as body image, bereavement, social anxiety, boosting confidence, surviving online, sexuality, gender identity and mental health.
They cater for a wide range of reading levels and formats to support less confident readers and encourage engagement.
North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for libraries, Cllr Greg White, said:
“Our libraries have embraced the Reading Well scheme for some years, already focusing on mental health, dementia and issues facing young people.
“This latest collection adds another strand to the support that young people can find at their library, again showcasing their important role in maintaining the health and wellbeing of the communities they serve.”
Every library in North Yorkshire, including Harrogate, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge and Ripon, will be displaying titles from the new collection and any title which is unavailable can be requested and borrowed free of charge.
The Reading Well collection is curated by The Reading Agency in partnership with experts from organisations and professionals including NHS England, leading mental health charities and library staff.
More information about the Reading Well collection can be found here.
More Harrogate district covid booster clinics in coming weeksPeople in the Harrogate district are urged to book their covid booster vaccines as more clinics are set to open.
Currently, appointments are being offered at the Yorkshire Events Centre and Chain Lane vaccination centre in Knaresborough as well as some local surgeries.
The autumn booster campaign began across most of the UK last week, with care home residents being vaccinated first.
Those aged 65 and over are now being invited to have their booster vaccine.
In Harrogate, some appointments will be available at the Great Yorkshire Showground’s Event Centre, although booking is advised via the NHS website or by calling 119.
A clinic was held from Monday to Thursday this week and another will take place in three weeks’ time.
In Knaresborough, Homecare Pharmacy Services are offering a clinic at Chain Lane on Wednesday (September 21) and Saturday (September 24). Both clinics will be held from 9am until 4pm.
Other sites delivering autumn vaccinations in the Harrogate district include Ripon Spa Surgery, Kingswood Medical Centre and East Parade Surgery.
Appointments at the site must be booked through the NHS. Patients are urged not to call surgeries to book their vaccines.
Steve Russell, NHS director of vaccinations and screening, said:
Covid infections in Harrogate district lowest for 15 months“There is no room for complacency in keeping covid-19 on the backfoot, and this autumn booster will help protect those most at risk.”
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
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.
Nigel Adams MP resigns from cabinetHarrogate district MP Nigel Adams has resigned from the cabinet ahead of new Conservative Party leader Liz Truss becoming Prime Minister today.
Mr Adams was minister without portfolio in Boris Johnson’s cabinet. In a letter to the outgoing PM he congratulated Ms Truss but wrote “it is important that a new PM is able to appoint a team based on who they want, rather than who they inherit”.
During Mr Johnson’s premiership, he was previously the minister for Asia.
The letter also praised Mr Johnson for breaking the “Brexit deadlock”, delivering the covid vaccine rollout and supporting Ukraine following the Russian invasion.
The letter ended by saying “there has never been a dull moment and I am honoured to call you a friend.”
Mr Adams was one of Mr Johnson’s most trusted allies and there have been rumours that he will be rewarded for his loyalty with a peerage. It would trigger a by-election as MPs can not also sit in the House of Lords.
Other cabinet ministers Nadine Dorries and Priti Patel have also resigned from cabinet.
Mr Adams has been the Selby & Ainsty MP since 2010 and the constituency includes several villages in our district including Weeton, Huby, Spofforth and Kirkby Overblow.
The MP has already announced he plans to step down at the next general election.
Harrogate care boss relieved as government ends mandatory covid testing
A Harrogate care boss says she is relieved after the government announced an end to mandatory covid testing in care homes.
Sue Cawthray, chief executive at Harrogate Neighbours, said homes were now trying to adapt to the “new normal” and scrapping testing would save time.
The Department of Health and Social Care announced that routine asymptomatic testing will end on August 31 in hospitals and care homes as covid cases fall nationally.
However, testing for symptomatic cases among residents and staff and those being admitted to a home from hospital will continue.
Ms Cawthray said the ending of asymptotic testing will also be a relief for care home residents.
She said:
“Removing mandatory testing in care homes is a huge relief as testing takes up considerable time – not only administering the tests, but logging the results as well as having to ensure all staff are doing it within the guidelines, Residents have been fed up with the testing regime too – we are all trying to return to the new normal.
“We are still being asked to wear PPE and we will continue to be vigilant with staff and residents by reporting any positive cases. Staff will still have to let us know through our sickness reporting system if they have any symptoms and then they will test as per the guidelines.”
The end of mandatory testing comes as the NHS is set to roll out Autumn covid booster vaccines for those aged over 75 and who are most susceptible to serious illness.
Ministers have encouraged people to take up the jab, which will be available to book through the National Booking Service ahead of a rollout starting from September 12.
Steve Barclay, health and social care secretary, said:
Nidderdale campsite owner calls for more regulation of ‘pop-up campsites’“Thanks to the success of our world-leading vaccination roll-out, we are able to continue living with covid and, from August 31, we will pause routine asymptomatic testing in most high-risk settings.
“This reflects the fact case rates have fallen and the risk of transmission has reduced, though we will continue to closely monitor the situation and work with sectors to resume testing should it be needed. Those being admitted into care homes will continue to be tested.
“Our upcoming autumn booster programme will offer jabs to protect those at greatest risk from severe COVID-19, and I urge everyone who is eligible to take up the offer.”
The owner of a Nidderdale campsite has called for more regulation of “pop-up campsites” which she claims are impacting established businesses.
Louise Pullan co-owns the Breaks Fold Farm camping and glamping site in the Washburn Valley, next to Thruscross Reservoir, in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
She said the pop-up campsite trend was having a big impact on established sites and needed regulating by local authorities.
A change in regulations to allow landowners to establish pop-up campsites for up to 56 days was introduced in July 2020, to help the rural economy recover from the covid pandemic.
Previously, they were able to operate for only 28 days a year without applying for planning permission.
This 28-day rule is now back in place.
Ms Pullan said:
“It should be being enforced by local authorities, as many are operating well over and above this. It is time for the rules to stop being bent to suit now.”
A spokesman for Harrogate Borough Council said:
“Should anyone believe an area of land is being used as a campsite for more than the allocated number of days per year they are advised to get in touch with us by emailing planningenforcement@harrogate.gov.uk.”
Ms Pullan said outdoor accommodation search and booking platform Pitchup.com had a lot to answer for in relation to the issue.
Encouraging people to support the #bookdirect movement, which encourages customers to book direct with businesses to avoid fees, she said:
“People are setting up sites thinking they can make a massive profit. They are encouraging this trend of unregulated sites and pushing for the 56-day rule to be made permanent.
“We feel these sites are a risk to public health, in the same way an unregulated food business is, and they are ruining places like the national parks and AONB areas.
“If people want to support small accommodation businesses book direct, not through booking agents. They should support their favourite established sites to help them get through and recover from the impact of covid, when we only had a very limited window to open our businesses.”
She said that she was grateful to her client base for their continued support, but added:
“At the moment it is a fight to keep going, especially after we lost a huge part of our business in the form of our bistro Flock to the Fold. But everyday we feel lucky to still be here, because many haven’t made it through.”
Pitchup.com founder and managing director Dan Yates said booking platform currently lists more than 3,100 sites and aims to be the most “comprehensive and user-friendly” online resource for outdoor accommodation in the UK.
He said that as a result, it includes detailed listings for sites that take bookings through the platform, as well as basic listings for sites that don’t.
He said:
Harrogate district’s economic growth slow after £438 million hit from covid“Pop-ups are a recent innovation and represent only a small part of Pitchup’s business (less than 10 per cent).
“In the past two years, pop-up campsites have brought desperately-needed revenue to farms and rural businesses across the UK as they negotiate the double whammy of a farming crisis and the aftermath of the pandemic.
“Following the reduction in the permitted development rights (PDR) allowance for pop-up sites to open from 56 to 28 days in England and Wales, a quarter fewer popups are using Pitchup this year and our popup bookings so far this year are down 27 per cent on last year.
“Although camping searches in the UK for 2022 are slightly down (-6 per cent) on the record volumes of 2021, double the number of Pitchup bookings by Brits have been made compared to 2019, equating to 720,000 additional customers – the vast majority of those are for established sites.
“From our side it’s great to see more and more people enjoying the beautiful UK countryside, ensuring the camping and caravan sector is best placed of any accommodation type to enjoy a bright future.”
Economic growth in the Harrogate district has been slower than regional and national averages since the district took a £438 million hit during covid.
Gross Value Added (GVA) data published by Harrogate Borough Council shows the local economy contracted by 10% – or £438 million – during 2020 and that growth has lagged behind Yorkshire and the Humber and the UK.
GVA measures the value of goods and services produced in an area, and Harrogate’s figure was set to reach £4.3 billion before the pandemic struck.
It now stands at £3.87 billion – down from £4.26 billion in 2017/18.
A council report said economic performance has been “positive” given the impacts of covid and Brexit, but added there are “continuing challenges that need to be addressed” as experts forecast a gloomy outlook with a UK recession on the horizon.
The report said:
“Overall the performance has been positive but key factors that must be taken into account are that of the UK’s exit from the European Union and the covid-19 pandemic.
“Covid-19 in particular has had a significant impact on GVA with the district seeing a 10% reduction in the economy.
“Looking forward post pandemic, forecasts show that job numbers will not return to pre-covid levels and therefore increasing productivity becomes more of a priority than ever.”
Other figures show the total number of businesses registered in Harrogate increased by 4% between 2016 and 2021 – below both the regional and national averages of 8% and 13%.
In more positive figures, unemployment is low at 3.1% and the council has been keen to highlight its support for businesses during covid when it handed out more than £96 million to firms which were severely impacted by lockdown restrictions.
The report to a cabinet meeting on Wednesday has recommended “closing down” the council’s covid recovery plan, whilst also providing a review of its economic growth strategy which was adopted in 2017.
At the time it was adopted, the strategy identified a low wage economy and high house prices leading to a “brain drain” of people moving out of Harrogate as key problems facing the district.
These issues are still very much prevalent with average salaries of £25,000 below the UK figure of £30,000 and Harrogate house prices averaging £338,786 this year.
The report added:
Hospital ‘under greater pressure than winter’ as staff struggle to free up beds“Whilst positive progress has been made since the adoption of the economic growth strategy in 2017, there are continuing challenges that need to be addressed.
“In line with national and local strategies, the council will therefore continue to prioritise and support ‘good growth’ in the district, with an aim of embedding a more sustainable and resilient economy.”
The chief executive of Harrogate hospital has warned it is under greater pressure than in winter as staff struggle to free up beds occupied by covid patients and those waiting for social care.
Jonathan Coulter said the recent rise in covid cases and a lack of available care services meant patients were staying in hospital longer than they should.
He added this was having an impact on A&E waiting times which “remain below the standard we would want”, with over a quarter of patients waiting more than four hours to be seen.
Mr Coulter said in a report:
“We are now in mid-July, and the acute pressures, the bed occupancy, the community services workload are all greater than you would often experience in mid-January.
“During the month of June and into July, we have experienced a significant spike in people in hospital who are covid positive.
“We have currently over 35 people in hospital with covid, and whilst the severity of the illness is reduced due to vaccine uptake, the infection control measures that we have had in place result in flow through the hospital being more difficult.”
Mr Coulter said covid was also having an impact on staffing levels, with around 80 staff currently off work after absences climbed above 130 in June.
He described the pressures on the wider health and care system as “enormous” and said the problem of bed blocking – where patients are medically fit to be discharged from hospital but have no care packages available – needed to be addressed.
He said:
“We continue to have a significant number of patients who are medically fit within hospital, our length of stay has increased, and we have many times more patients in hospital over 14 days and 21 days than we ever had before the pandemic.
“This reflects the pressure in care services out of hospital, and we are discussing across the system how we can reduce this risk.
“We know that if people stay in hospital for a significant time that outcomes deteriorate, and we are currently at risk of worsening care for our population as a result of some of the urgent care pathway pressures being felt across all organisations.”
Mr Coulter added the hospital was continuing to take ambulance patients from outside the Harrogate district and that while this was creating added pressure, it was “absolutely the right response”.
He said:
More than 130 Harrogate hospital staff absent due to covid in June“Despite the pressures locally, we continue to offer significant support to colleagues in other parts of our system, in particular York Trust.
“During June, in line with previous months, we had numerous ambulances diverted to the Harrogate site, which resulted in on average around 15 additional beds occupied by patients admitted as a result.
“This is absolutely the right response to system support, but we need to recognise the impact upon our colleagues who have to organise and arrange this care.”
More than 130 Harrogate hospital staff were absent due to covid last month.
A report from Jonathan Coulter, acting chief executive of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, has revealed that the increase in spread in the community had led to staff being off sick.
The figure peaked at more than 130 in June amid the spread of the more transmissible Omicron variant.
Currently, 80 hospital staff are absent due to covid.
Mr Coulter said in a report, which will be presented to the trust board on Wednesday, that the spread of covid has put “additional pressure” on staff.
He added that “a small number of staff” would now be affected due to sick pay changes, as the virus is treated like “any other sickness”.
Mr Coulter said:
“The guidance in respect of sick pay for people off with covid has now changed, and covid sickness is now treated and managed in the same way as any other sickness.
“This will have an impact upon a small number of colleagues who continue to suffer with long covid, and who will now move into our usual sickness management arrangements with the risk that after a defined period of time, their pay is reduced or ultimately ceases altogether.
“We are in dialogue with all colleagues affected by this change, but we need to recognise that this will be a difficult time for some.”
Meanwhile, Mr Coulter confirmed that the trust is currently treating 35 patients who have tested positive for covid.
He added that while the severity of the disease remains low due to vaccine uptake, it has had an impact on flow through the hospital.
He said:
“During the month of June and into July, we have experienced a significant spike in people in hospital who are covid positive.
“We have currently over 35 people in hospital with CoVid, and whilst the severity of the illness is reduced due to vaccine uptake, the infection control measures that we have had in place result in flow through the hospital being more difficult.”