Health bosses have issued a plea to visitors to Harrogate District Hospital to wear face masks amid a growing number of people refusing to follow guidance.
Officials at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said they had seen increasing number of people being verbally aggressive towards staff when they are asked to wear a face mask or replace one after removing it.
The plea comes as the hospital has warned that covid remains a “significant threat” and that it is seeing further admissions for the virus and flu going into winter.
Dr Jacqueline Andrews, medical director at HDFT said:
“We may no longer be at the height of the pandemic, but covid continues to be a threat for the people in our care and we must do all we can to protect them and the staff who look after them.
“Should a patient contract covid from a visitor, it can lead to a prolonged stay at the hospital due to the need for them isolate. This can impact on bed availability for people needing other forms of treatment.
“Wearing a face mask is simple to do and can make a real difference. If you are asked to wear a mask, please remember it is for the protection of the loved one you are visiting. We are merely asking visitors to follow mask wearing guidance in certain areas of our hospital and we will not tolerate aggressive or abusive behaviour towards our staff at HDFT.
“I would also encourage anyone who is eligible to get a covid booster and a flu vaccination to do so to protect themselves and their loved ones.”
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Visitors to inpatient wards are expected to wear masks as part of hospital guidance unless they are exempt.
The Harrogate district covid infection rate is currently 35 cases per 100,000 people.
Knaresborough woman who refused to wear face mask unfairly dismissed, tribunal rulesAn employment tribunal has ruled that a Knaresborough woman was unfairly treated when she was dismissed from her job for refusing to wear a face mask.
Laura Convery worked at the Volkswagen dealership in Knaresborough from July 2019 until October 2020.
Staff at the dealership were sent an email in May 2020 by British Street Fourth Investments Ltd, which owns the dealership, about a return to work and to follow a covid policy in which they were asked to wear masks and social distance.
The tribunal, which was held in Leeds, heard that Ms Convery had refused to wear a face mask because it gave her “panic attacks” and anxiety.
She said she had tried to wear a face covering in supermarkets when the government made them mandatory, but it caused her “severe distress”.
The company offered her the chance to wear a visor instead, but she declined. This led her line manager, Matt Brodgen, to suspend her.
Ms Convery later told Mr Brogden, in a text message in September 2020:
“I physically cannot wear one [a face covering], I have tried on more than one occasion since July 24 and I just can’t do it.
“It creates severe distress for a number of reasons. The main one being that I have a complete aversion to anything covering my face, which stems back from my teenage years I believe.
“I wasn’t aware that this was even a problem until I have tried to wear a face covering in recent months, but it transpires that it is a huge problem for me.”
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Ms Convery was invited to a disciplinary meeting the following October, but said she did not attend after increased stress and anxiety had led to her to being signed off work by her GP.
The dealership terminated her employment with immediate effect on October 15.
Anxiety impairment
However, the tribunal found that Ms Convery had been unfairly treated in her dismissal because “of something arising in consequence of her disability in contravention of section 15 of the Equality Act 2010”.
A judgement published by the tribunal concluded that she was “unable to wear a face covering because of her anxiety impairment”.
The tribunal also found that the company could not have known about Ms Convery’s disability before her text message in September.
However, it added:
Harrogate hospital to recycle face masks using new machine“The respondent, the tribunal concludes, ought reasonably to have made further enquiries whether through its occupational health service provider or directly to the claimants own GP from which it is likely it would have become aware of the claimant’s disabling condition.”
Harrogate District Hospital has ordered a machine that turns single use plastics, including face masks, into reusable material.
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust is one of eight health trusts pioneering the new technology.
Covid has forced hospital staff to use far more personal protective equipment (PPE).
But some face masks are thrown away after just a few hours.
Research from a waste company suggested the UK throws away 53 million masks every day and just 10% are recycled.
Official government guidance urges people to dispose of face masks as waste rather than recycling.
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But with so many masks going to landfill and incinerators, hospitals have turned to Cardiff company TCG Solutions’ new machine.
Called a Sterimelt, it melts down polypropylene, which is a material used in the manufacture of face masks, into solid blocks of plastic that can be repurposed and used as items such as bins.
Philip Davison-Sebry, founder and managing director of the company, said:
“What was once going out to landfill, can now be turned into new material.”
The machine, which costs £55,000, turns polypropylene into reusable plastic blocks, which can be used to make bins, chairs and other items.
Although the machine is not up and running yet in Harrogate, the trust hopes to start recycling as soon as possible.
Face mask sales support Harrogate charitiesSales of face masks have resulted in a donation of £2,500 to a Harrogate charity this Christmas.
The Brora shop on Prospect Crescent has raised £10 from the sale of every £19 Liberty print face mask. It chose local charities Harrogate Homeless Project and Harrogate Easier Living Project (HELP) to receive the proceeds from the sales.
The money will be used to fund the latter’s Here to HELP covid-19 response service, providing practical and emotional support to people in Harrogate and Ripon who are struggling at home during the pandemic. Anna Woollven, Project Development Worker at HELP, said:
“With many people struggling in the wake of Covid-19, we are seeing lots of people turn to our trusted services. This fantastic donation will help ensure we can continue to be ‘Here to HELP’ those who need us at this challenging time. Thank you to Brora and its customers for their incredible generosity.”
HELP has seen a significant rise in demand for its support during the pandemic, with more than 5,000 calls for help received since March. The charity’s volunteers have assisted with tasks including shopping, collecting prescriptions and phone befriending.
Meanwhile, most of its usual fundraising opportunities have been called off.
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Across the country, Brora’s mask sales have raised £250,000 for charities chosen by each local shop. Victoria Stapleton, founder and creative director of Brora, said:
“So many of our communities across the UK have been really impacted by Covid-19. We felt it was particularly vital to support smaller charities so we could make a real difference to their work.
“Kate Heyworth from our Harrogate store identified HELP and the Harrogate Homeless Project as two charities who would really benefit from our donation. We are delighted to be able to contribute to their frontline work.”
The charity face masks are still available at Brora’s shop in Harrogate or on the website. For more information about HELP’s support services and volunteering opportunities, visit www.helpharrogate.org.uk or call 01423 813096.
Harrogate face mask litter a ‘sign of the times’A Harrogate resident who takes pictures of discarded face masks believes they are a “sad sign of the times”.
Glyn Hambrook, a retired university lecturer, has built up a collection of images over the past couple of weeks.
He doesn’t go out of his way to find them littered on the ground but has still managed to snap 17 on his daily school run.
The official guidance in England is to wear reusable masks when possible. If you use a single use mask you should dispose of it in a black bin bag.
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However, Mr Hambrook has noticed an increasing amount thrown on the floor, leaving them to others to clean up.
He told the Stray Ferret:
“I am by no means an environmental activist but I noticed how, as coronavirus restrictions eased, the truce we had with nature seemed to become lost. To me, these images I have taken are quite poignant. They blend the tragedy of the pandemic with the melancholy of autumn.”
Besides creating a sad sight on the streets, the masks pose risks to wildlife. The RSPCA has encouraged people to “snip the straps” of masks amid concerns about the number of animals caught in litter since lockdown.
Have you noticed face mask litter on your street? Send in your pictures and stories to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.
WATCH: How do you feel about wearing face masks in shops?Today was the first day wearing face masks is mandatory when visiting shops in England.
The Stray Ferret has been asking people how they feel about having to wear face masks in shops.
Kate Baker is a nurse and said:
“I can’t understand it, it makes me said. I think people think its finished and all over and they aren’t realising what can happen. We don’t know whats going to happen in the next few months.
I think we should absolutely be wearing them in shops but for how long is up to the scientists. As a nurse it feels wrong not having one on because I’m used to wearing them at work.”
A nurse from Harrogate said she feels “sad” when she sees people not wearing masks in shops.
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- The police have said that fining people for not wearing a mask will be “a last resort”.
- We have compiled a list of local in-store and online retailers selling masks.
Mask wearing has been called for by some people since shops reopened on last month.
The government has introduced this mandatory rule which could leave people with a £100 fine if they choose not to wear one.
Where can you buy a face mask in Harrogate?On Friday it will be mandatory to wear face coverings in shops and supermarkets.
So we have created a list of independent shops and individuals selling masks in Harrogate, both in-store and online.
Face coverings have been in high demand in the run-up to Friday. We hope our guide will make it easier for you to find one from a local supplier.
Just some of the designs available from nipNstitch.
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Harrogate tailors Golden Stitches told The Stray Ferret that it is currently selling over 40 coverings in store a day. Similarly, Harrogate based seamstress nipNstich received 200 orders online in less than 24 hours.
You can grab a face covering at the following places:
In-store
Dizzy Duck Harrogate, Albert St.
Georgies, West Park
Golden Stitches, Cheltenham Parade
Morgan Clare, Montpellier Gardens
Rose Velvet, Montpellier St.
Sophie Likes, Beulah St – www.sophielikes.com/face-masks
Sowa Polish Shop, Bower Road
The Luxe Company, West Park
Online
Aggie’s Craft Harrogate – Facebook “AggiesCraftHarrogate”
Bee and Duck – www.etsy.com/BeeandDuck
Boho Chic – https://www.bohochic.co.uk
CyclingShorts, Harrogate – www.cyclingshorts.uk.com/face-masks/ – Stray Ferret readers can use the code FERRET10 for 10% off online mask orders.
Face Masks Harrogate – Facebook “Face Masks Harrogate”, Instagram @facemasks_hgate, email facemasksharrogate@outlook.com
Fanni Loves Fufu – Facebook “Fanni Loves Fufu”, email jaynecarle2@gmail.com
Funky face masks Harrogate – Facebook Group
Handmade by Emily Jane – www.etsy.com/uk/shop/HandmadebyEmilyJane
Harrogate Sewers for Face Masks – Facebook Group
Jaime Wilson – Message on Facebook
nipNstitch – nipnstitch.co.uk, @nipNstitch on Facebook
We got U covered – Facebook “wegotucovered”, www.wegotucovered.co.uk
If you are selling face coverings and would like to be added to our list, email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.
Face Masks Harrogate has 60 different patterns available to buy.
Whilst face masks are only compulsory in Hospitals and on public transport, many companies around the borough are asking staff to wear them, as they start to re-open in a COVID-secure way.
Face Mask Supply, a local company which is made up of 50 sewers, has provided 7,500 masks in a month.
£1 of each sale goes to Harrogate Hospital, with the aim of raising around £5000.
Read more on this story:
Cal Macpherson started the company, he told the Stray Ferret that the local spirit has been amazing:
“The story started when my grandparents felt uncomfortable leaving their house without suitable protection and couldn’t get hold of a great quality face covering. I got in touch with a local sewer who agreed to make a couple of masks for each of them, and included a third layer filter pocket to add a little more protection and to put their minds at ease!
They are now also offering personalised masks, allowing businesses or residents to get there logo or name written on the front. Cal said that this is an “effective and stylish solution for current times.”
The team are continuing to expand at a time when life starts to resume to a ‘new normal.’
Harrogate firm labelled as ‘disgrace for inflating prices on PPE’
A Harrogate firm has been labelled as disgraceful for selling medical face masks for up to three times the price of its competitors.
Following a tip-off, an investigation by the Stray Ferret found that Change Mobility has been listing five masks for £17.99 – £3.60 per mask.
The masks are graded as Type II and are normally destined for care homes or hospitals to protect staff from coronavirus.
Several other websites online have listed the same Type II masks for between £1 and £2 per mask.
UKMeds sells 50 of the masks for £49.99, The Glove Club sells ten of the masks for £19.99 and Medisave sells 50 of the masks for £54.99.
The Stray Ferret took its findings to Unison and the owner of a care home in the Harrogate district.
The listing on Change Mobility’s website from May 5.
Wendy Nichols, the branch secretary of the Unison North Yorkshire branch, told the Stray Ferret:
“I find it absolutely appalling that someone is trying to make extra money from the current crisis the country finds itself in. PPE has been difficult to secure and someone inflating the price could put at risk both residents and Unison members in care homes. It’s an absolute disgrace.”
Unison Yorkshire & Humberside’s head of health Tony Pearson added:
“Gowns, gloves, masks, and visors are vital in the fight to keep health and care workers safe. No-one should be looking to make a quick buck at this time of national crisis. It’s wrong to hike prices and charge VAT when the government scrapped it on PPE last week.”
The owner of a care home in the Harrogate district was disappointed by the price the local firm was charging:
“We are still up against a shortage of PPE in care homes. We have sourced masks from around the country and around the world but not many locally. I think that firm is charging too much. We normally pay around £2 to £2.50 for these Type II masks.”
Change Mobility changed the listing just 30 minutes after the Stray Ferret got in touch.
The Stray Ferret approached Change Mobility with its findings yesterday afternoon.
A spokesperson for the company told the Stray Ferret that increasing demand meant that price increases were inevitable and that it needed to update the website:
“Change Mobility is owned by Beaucare Medical and the shop is currently closed on Kings Road due to COVID19. Therefore due to the Government changes that took place on Thursday, we have concentrated on the Beaucare website amends and the Change Mobility site hasn’t been touched. This website doesn’t control stock and we are out of stock on this specific type. But I’m about to add some that we do have in stock. So feel free to check the website shortly and the Beaucare one. We are trying our utmost to not increase sell out price on PPE, but some increases are inevitable as raw materials and interest in the market is increasing demand.”
Within 30 minutes the listing was marked as out of stock and reduced in price.
Change Mobility wrongly charged VAT
While investigating Change Mobility’s masks, the Stray Ferret noticed that it was wrongly charging 20% VAT on top.
The government gave the sale of PPE a VAT zero-rating in effect from May 1 to July 31. Other sellers have removed VAT.
Change Mobility has since changed the listing to remove VAT.