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.”

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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:

“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.”

Harrogate Neighbours set to relocate residents to Boroughbridge

Harrogate Neighbours is set to relocate some of its residents to a new home in Boroughbridge.

The not-for-profit organisation, which provides residential and community care, has acquired a new site formerly known as Springfield Garth in Boroughbridge from North Yorkshire County Council.

The site is undergoing refurbishment and will see residents from 28-bedroom Heath Lodge on Pannal Ash Road, Harrogate, moved to the new facility.

Sue Cawthray, chief executive of Harrogate Neighbours, said: 

“We have been working very closely with North Yorkshire County Council and the local authorities to identify a suitable site that will allow us to offer and deliver excellent quality care to residents and clients now and in the future.

“The site in Boroughbridge will enable us to grow and develop our services into the community, as well as providing job opportunities within the care sector. We are delighted to be moving to the area and we look forward to being part of a supportive and caring community.

“Heath Lodge residents and their relatives have been updated on the relocation and have all been very supportive on the move. We look forward to welcoming them and new residents to the newly named ‘Heath Lodge Community Haven’ in the next few months.”

Harrogate Neighbours said the new building has larger communal areas, wider corridors and improved facilities.

Heath Lodge Community Haven is due to open November 2022.

Cllr Michael Harrison, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for Health and Adult Services, added: 

“Harrogate Neighbours provides much needed services in this part of North Yorkshire and we have been very pleased to help make sure this very positive development could happen.

“It not only brings a building back into use but offers potential for growth and an opportunity to be more sustainable, whilst caring for older people in the local area, which is of paramount importance for our ageing population.”

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Tributes paid across Harrogate district for Harry Gration

People across the Harrogate district have been paying tribute to Yorkshire broadcasting legend Harry Gration, who died suddenly on Friday.

Helen Mackenzie won Harry’s Heroes last year — a Stray Ferret  competition in partnership with Harrogate Spring Water and Harry to find the people in the district doing exceptional things to help others in the community.

Helen won for her role in starting Back to Basics in 2019 in Ripon, which gives families ingredients and instructions on how to make meals.

Today she said:

“I was so shocked and saddened to hear of Harry’s sudden passing.

“As Harry’s Heroes last summer I had the pleasure of meeting him in the flesh when he presented my award. It’s so lovely when you finally meet a celebrity and he turns out to be just as nice as he is on the telly.

“I was honoured to be the first Harry’s Hero. I am devastated that I am also the last. Hopefully this wonderful accolade can still be kept alive by Harry’s colleagues in his memory.

“My love and prayers go to his wife and family. Rest in Peace, Harry.”

Helen Mackenzie with Harry and Alex Hutton (centre), who nominated Helen.

Harrogate Spring Water described Harry as a “true gentleman” in a tweet.

We were honoured to have worked with Harry on our Harry’s Heroes campaign. What a true gentleman. RIP Harry. https://t.co/Qat66Km7ne

— HarrogateSpringWater (@HarrogateSpring) June 27, 2022

 

Sue Cawthray, from elderly care charity Harrogate Neighbours sent us this message:

“Together with Yorkshire, I am still in shock at such sad news. Can’t believe I was only sat listening to him last Saturday 18 June at the Harrogate Brigantes Rotary Dinner. So funny, entertaining and interesting. Always a supporter of local charities.

“Lovely memory of a news story we did with him on our meals service at Harrogate Neighbours. Was a pleasure to meet him on several occasions through the work I do as a member of the ICG board.”

Artist Caryl Hallett designed the stained glass monument in Harrogate’s Montpellier district that was commissioned by Harrogate Borough Council to celebrate the town hosting the Tour De France Grand Depart. Harry came along to support when it was unveiled.

Caryl’s husband, Shaun Hallett, said:

“He was interested, inquisitive, friendly, helpful, and charming.
 “Hopefully, Caryl’s piece will be enjoyed by many for years to come and will help to represent a legacy that has been steadily building in terms of local cycling participation.
“There can be no doubt that Harry’s legacy as a journalist, presenter, and reporter of the very highest quality is firmly cemented in the hearts and minds of Yorkshire people. “
Caryl Hallett with Harry in 2014

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Harrogate law firm Hempsons sponsors play

Harrogate law firm Hempsons has sponsored a play about the struggle to access care for elderly relatives.  

Hempsons specialises in the health, social care and charity sectors so the theme of the play Fighting for Life chimed with its work.

The play was performed last Thursday at Harrogate Neighbours, a not-for-profit care organisation for the elderly.  

The performance was followed by a Q&A session where audience members could ask questions relating to the themes discussed in the play.

Audience members at Harrogate Neighbours’ play.

Philippa Doyle, head of social care at Hempsons, said:  

“As leading health, social care and charity lawyers, we assist these sectors with the challenges they face and take pride in offering support via free advice lines and training.” 

The play, written by Brian Daniels, is currently touring the UK after premiering in 2018 at Hampstead Marie Curie hospice in London.  

Harrogate Neighbours’ care fest event in July will see local companies including Powell Eddison Solicitors, Avery Walters and Full Circle Funerals give advice and support for people going through bereavement.  

Harrogate garden centre launch new hydrangea at Chelsea Flower Show 

Harrogate Garden Centre has launched a new hydrangea plant at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.  

The signature Red Butterfly Hydrangea is an exclusive at the show, and will be available to buy in garden centres across the country later this year.  

The Red Butterfly Hydrangea launched by British Garden Centres

£10 from each plant sold at the show will be donated to the charity Greenfingers, which create gardens for children in hospices around the UK.  

Tom Cook, plant buyer at British Garden Centres, which owns Harrogate Garden Centre, at Bishop Monkton, said:

“When looking for the perfect plant to launch as the group’s signature at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, a red hydrangea was the only option. It links to the group’s symbolism for passion through the colour and name, which is the Red Butterfly.” 

First established in 1913, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show will be open until Saturday. 

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Care home managers warn staffing crisis is ‘only getting worse’

Harrogate care home managers have warned the staffing crisis is only getting worse and that it will inevitably cause more bed blocking problems for the NHS.

Sue Cawthray, chief executive of Harrogate Neighbours, described the current situation as “dire” and said she has “never known it as bad as this”.

She said:

“The sector is desperately short of care staff.

“At Harrogate Neighbours we can’t increase our packages for home care and we are struggling to keep our care home above water, with staff having to work extra time to cover spare shifts.”

Susie Harrison, manager at Highgate Park care home and chair of Harrogate and District Registered Managers Network, also said the staff shortages were the “underlying cause” of delays in discharging hospital patients into care homes.

She said: 

“Care homes can’t take any more residents because they don’t have the staff and this means people end up stuck in hospital – that is the reality of the situation.”

Hospital can’t discharge patients

Harrogate District Hospital has confirmed it currently has around 40 patients who no longer require hospital care but can’t be discharged because they do not have a suitable location to continue their recovery.

This latest figure comes after the hospital recently warned it was “very full” and that this was having an impact on waiting times.

As well as the social care staffing shortages, Dr Matt Shepherd, deputy chief operating officer at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said covid is also playing a “big part” in the bed blocking problems.

He said: 

“When care homes have had to close due to covid outbreaks, or the service they provide has been affected due to their staff being unable to work after catching the virus or having to self-isolate, we have been unable to discharge patients into their care.

“We know how being in a more familiar location can aid recovery and we are working closely with our partners in social care to ensure patients who no longer require hospital care are able to be discharged as soon as possible.”

There are currently around 1,000 vacant care jobs across North Yorkshire and a recruitment campaign has been launched by North Yorkshire County Council to try address the shortfall.

Make Care Matter campaign

Make Care Matter aims to change perceptions about working in the sector which has endured a major challenge to attract and retain staff long before the current crisis.

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Since the campaign launched in January, 268 job applications have been progressed, with 197 interviews resulting in 91 job placements.

Senior officials at the county council have said this shows some progress has been made, although they added it will take more than a recruitment campaign to solve the staffing problems.

Richard Webb, corporate director for health and adult services at the county council, said government promises to reform how social care is funded and how much staff are paid will be the key.

He said: 

“We have seen a step-change in the care market since summer 2021, with very tough competition in the labour market, which is having a significant impact on care providers being able to recruit.

“The county council and the NHS have put additional funding into the sector to help sustain services, manage covid-19 and, recently, to support the workforce, including a one-off pay bonus for 16,000 care workers.

“Whilst the council welcomes the government’s proposals for changing how much people pay for care, we also want to see national action to help stabilise care providers and to improve the pay and status of care workers.

“In the meantime, we work closely with our care providers and NHS colleagues to ensure that as many people can go home from hospital as soon as is safe and feasible to do so.”

Bin collections as usual on Monday despite England game

Bin collectors across the Harrogate district will still be out in force on Monday morning after England’s big game.

While some businesses are giving employees a day off after the Euro 2020 final, Harrogate Borough Council has said all refuse will still be collected at its usual time.

England are set to walk out at Wembley tomorrow evening to play Italy in their first major tournament final in 55 years.

A council spokesperson said:

“Garden waste, refuse and recycling will be collected as normal next week.

“We have a dedicated team who look after our parks, open spaces and streets across the district. They will be working hard next week, as they do every week, to make sure the Harrogate district looks as wonderful and presentable as residents expect.”

As pubs and beer gardens are expected to be packed, the council also urged punters to use the bins provided and to take rubbish home with them after the game.

Officials have said there are no plans for a big screen on the Stray to show the match, and no third parties had applied for a screen either.

While bin collections will continue as normal, other businesses have offered their employees time off.

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National firm McQueens Dairies delivers milk, eggs and other essential produce to homes in the Harrogate district every week and told its drivers they can take the night off on July 11 to watch the final.

Customers received an email saying there would be no deliveries on the morning of July 12 due to its anticipation of a victory for England.

The rescheduling “will allow our staff… to enjoy the celebrations”, the firm explained.

But the chief executive of Harrogate Neighbours housing association has said it is “unfair” that some workers and students have been given a late start to the working week.

Sue Cawthray said that although her team members will be watching the final, essential workers don’t have the option of a mass half-day off. She said:

“Its so unfair, we’ve been through enough with the pandemic and it feels like we’ve been forgotten about. We still have to get up for our shifts on Monday. We can’t say ‘oh, we can’t wake you up or help you get dressed this morning because England were in the finals’.”

Some Harrogate district care workers could quit over compulsory vaccines

Compulsory covid vaccines for care home staff could cause some care workers in the Harrogate district to quit their jobs, a local carer has warned.

But another described it as a positive move that would protect care home residents who were unable to be vaccinated for health reasons.

It was reported today that all care home staff in England will be given 16 weeks to be vaccinated or potentially lose their jobs.

A third of North Yorkshire’s 235 care homes are in the Harrogate district so many staff could be affected.

Alison Morgan, a carer from The Manor House Knaresborough, said she was pro-vaccination but opposed making it compulsory. She said:

“I disagree with it being compulsory because it could result in a loss of jobs.

“I do see both sides but it’s a choice at the end of the day. Some people pre-empted it and changed their minds and got the jab, others have already left the job.”

Ms Morgan said there were mixed feelings among the home’s 65 staff, and that she knew a few workers at other care homes that were likely to leave if vaccines became mandatory. She added:

“It’s almost like the government is making up for the mistakes they made at the beginning and saying ‘we’ll look after you now’. But making it compulsory messes with people’s human rights.”

Alison Morgan

Alison Morgan from The Manor House, Knaresborough

But Sue Cawthray chief executive of Harrogate Neighbours, which operates care homes as part of its mission to help older people, described it as a positive move.She said:

“We’ve been lucky at Harrogate Neighbours that all staff have been vaccinated. From a recruitment perspective, all new staff will need to have the vaccine, which is positive.

“We have a few residents who can’t be vaccinated for health reasons so we have to protect them and this is another way of doing that.”

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The government is expected to announce the move in the coming days following a Department of Health and Social Care consultation.

‘Persuasion better than coercion’

Mike Padgham, chair of the Independent Care Group, which represents care providers in York and North Yorkshire, said on Radio 4’s Today programme this morning he was pro-vaccination but had doubts about making it mandatory for care home staff. He said:

“I do believe people should take up the vaccine but it should be by persuasion rather than coercion.

“There is already a recruitment crisis in social care, we’re already short of staff. I’m worried people looking to come in the sector might not come in now and the staff working here now may choose to leave.

“We just need a bit more help and time.”

Harrogate Neighbours walk 36 miles for Alzheimer’s Society

Care charity Harrogate Neighbours has hosted a walk and talk memory walk to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Tenants, staff, relatives and friends of Harrogate Neighbours, which provides housing and meals for older people, took part in the walk on Saturday.

The walkers, who ranged in age from 18 months to 95 years, completed a combined 36 miles by performing 144 laps of The Cuttings, which is an extra care housing scheme run by Harrogate Neighbours.

Nearly half of Harrogate Neighbours’ tenants and residents live with Alzheimer’s, which is why the event was held in support of Alzheimer’s Society.

The walk encouraged those suffering with social isolation to talk to others.

Sue Cawthray, chief executive of Harrogate Neighbours, said:

“We’ve only recently been allowed to welcome children outdoors on site, so it was wonderful to see the smiles and interaction of the tenants.

“Running an event like this is a great way to support not only a charity close to all of our hearts, but the wellbeing of our residents, tenants and staff by bringing everyone together to walk and talk in a covid-safe way.”

The group reached 36 miles on Saturday and ranged in age from 18 months to 95 years.

Further donations are expected to come in this week. To support the organisation click here.

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Harrogate’s young and old share stories to tackle isolation

Harrogate Neighbours and a Bilton primary school have joined forces to tackle isolation during National Storytelling Week.

Lockdown has left many people of all ages feeling lonely. Studies suggest intergenerational activities can have a positive impact on mental health in both older and younger people.

Older people have been more isolated than ever during lockdown and many younger people who have been unable to attend school have spent more time alone staring at screens.

Harrogate Neighbours, a charity that helps older people, and Richard Taylor Primary School have collaborated by exchanging stories during National Storytelling Week, which ends on Saturday.

Ten pupils from the school will record a short story or poem, which will be played this week to residents looked after by Harrogate Neighbours.

The residents will also record messages about the past for the pupils.

It is hoped the activity will be fun and break down barriers between generations.

Sue Cawthray, chief executive of Harrogate Neighbours, said:

“Storytelling in all forms is a key part of caring for the elderly and we know what a positive impact it has on our residents when they engage with the younger generation.

“We hope this initiative will be mutually beneficial to both our residents and the children taking part.”

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Andrew Symonds, head teacher at Richard Taylor, said:

“We were delighted when Harrogate Neighbours contacted us about the initiative. Storytelling is central to our curriculum.

“As a school, we are heavily involved in the community and pre-lockdown we would invite elderly members of the community into school for tea and a talk with our pupils. We believe strongly in the importance of intergenerational activities.”

Can you help deliver hot meals to vulnerable people?

A charity that delivers hot meals to older people has issued a plea for more volunteers during the lockdown.

Harrogate and Ripon Foods Angels needs extra help because of rising demand for its services and a reduction in volunteers due to shielding.

The food angels prepare and deliver about 120 meals daily for vulnerable people in Harrogate and Ripon.

Today’s plea is not only for individual volunteers but also for businesses: for instance, two staff at Harrogate firm Slingsby Gin help every Thursday.

The service not only provides meals but also helps reduce isolation among vulnerable people during the pandemic.

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Sue Cawthray, chief executive of Harrogate Neighbours, which oversees the food angels, said it expected demand for meals to increase in the weeks ahead and any help would be appreciated. She added:

“New shielding guidelines have forced regular and willing volunteers to take a step down, which has left a big gap in the number of people we need to deliver the meals each day.

“We are asking those individuals or local businesses who can spare some time to please do so, so that we can continue to provide the much-needed service into the community.

Volunteers follow government guidelines and protocol, including wearing PPE.

For more information on volunteering visit here or call 01423 888777.