Harrogate’s Convention Centre turned blue tonight as it took part in a special ‘Clap for Carers’ ahead of its opening.

NHS Teams, emergency services and construction workers stood outside the front of the centre itself to join in with the applause. There was a real sense of community support as residents clapped from nearby gardens, balconies and doorways.

Yorkshire Lighting and Electrical Services, which is based in Harrogate, has installed 20 blue lights around the front of the building. Views For Fun also based in Harrogate donated blue fairy lights for the 12 trees that line the Kings Road beside the centre.

Blue lights will be switched on tonight at 8pm at the Harrogate Nightingale Hospital as part of a special Clap for Carers to mark its construction.

Harrogate Convention Centre and the NHS Nightingale Hospital Yorkshire and Humber want to encourage residents nearby to ‘Clap for Carers’ or to bang pots, cheer and generally make a noise. Emergency services, construction workers and NHS teams will also be invited to join the applause at the centre itself.

The lighting is part of a national movement to light theatres, bridges and cathedrals, castles, sports stadiums, and national landmarks for the #lightitblue campaign.

Around 20 blue lights have been lent to the HCC by AV Matrix from Wetherby and Yorkshire Lighting and Electrical Services which is based in Harrogate installed them around the front of the building.  Glen Molloy, the owner of Yorkshire Lighting and Electrical Services, said:

“Normally it would take about 2 weeks to get it organised but on this occasion we turned it around in a matter or hours.

Lights For Fun also based in Harrogate have donated blue fairy lights for the 12 trees that line the Kings Road beside the centre. Jo Naughton Co-Founder of Lights for Fun told The Stray Ferret:

“The whole centre will be illuminated blue. The idea is that we are all behind the NHS and that Harrogate is in full support of having a Nightingale hospital here in our town. We just wanted to show appreciation for what the NHS does for us and it feels good to help.”

Paula Lorimer, the HCC’s Director said:

“All who have worked on the project, including Convention Centre staff from caterers to electricians, have put their heart, soul, sweat and tears into the transformation, working around the clock to support the NHS. I am incredibly proud of my team, and I hope all the town will want to show their thanks tonight.”

NOTE: Residents in or near Kings Road are asked to please not leave gardens, balconies, doorsteps etc. or congregate in any way outside of the venue. Residents across Harrogate are also asked to not congregate in any way at the venue, and to stay in their homes and comply with government guidelines on social isolating.

A Harrogate man claims to be one of thousands who has fallen through the cracks of government support because he changed jobs after February 28.

Mark Foster left his office job in Leeds on good terms on March 13 to work at a Harrogate pub before joining the police’s new graduate scheme in July.

Just a couple of days into his new role, the pub he was working for had to close in line with government social distancing advice.

In response to the pandemic, the government announced a package of support that included the provision to furlough staff and pay 80% of their wages up to £2,500 a month.

But that support is only open for employees who were on payroll on February 28. The pub could only put Mark on unpaid leave and his previous employers refused to help.

He is one of over 64,000 people who has signed a petition to demand that the furlough scheme is opened up to new starters because it is a “major oversight.”

Mark has been left to rely on his partner Aimee Beckett, who is working as a digital content designer from home. He told the Stray Ferret:

“I am not entitled to Universal Credit because I have been put on unpaid leave and because my partner Aimee Beckett is still working. We are fortunate because we have some money saved up in a Help to Buy ISA but we don’t know how long we will be able to last. I don’t think that anybody is at fault. It is just a loophole in the government support that needs to be filled. I have been paying tax and national insurance for over ten years but when I need support it isn’t there.”

Mark Foster (left) says he is being punished for trying to further his career.

The pressure is increasing on the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to open up the furlough scheme to new starters with the Chair of the Treasury Committee admitting that “urgent action is needed.”

Mel Stride MP has sent the following letter to the Chancellor:

“The Chancellor has provided a detailed explanation of the support measures that he has announced so far. However, as the summaries of evidence that we have published show, some people appear to have been left behind. Significant progress has been made and millions of people will be helped by the Government’s schemes, but some people have slipped through the net.”

Harrogate District Hospital bosses have welcomed the government’s decision to write off its £4.8 million debt.

The hospital took out the multi-million-pound loan to pay back its suppliers more quickly but said the “reset of finances” was helpful going forward.

107 hospital trusts have an average of £100 million in revenue debt, with the two trusts with the highest debts reaching a combined total of over £1 billion.

In total, the government will write off £13.4 billion of NHS debt to ensure hospitals have the “necessary funding and support to respond to coronavirus.”

Under new rules, hospitals in need of extra cash will be given it with equity, rather than needing to borrow from the government and repay a loan.

Jonathan Coulter, finance director at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“The loan we took out was to enable us to be able to pay our suppliers more quickly. In line with the rest of the NHS, we think this ‘reset’ of finances is helpful for trusts both at this point in time and going forward over the coming years.”

The government has said that while many NHS trusts manage strong finances, some took out loans to plug financial gaps in their day-to-day revenue or capital infrastructure budgets.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said:

“As we tackle this crisis, nobody in our health service should be distracted by their hospital’s past finances. Today’s £13.4 billion debt write off will wipe the slate clean and allow NHS hospitals to plan for the future and invest in vital services.”

St Michael’s Chief Executive has welcomed the announcement by Chancellor Rishi Sunak that a £750m fund had been set aside to help charities during the coronavirus crisis. Many charities in the Harrogate district have seen huge falls in revenue with their shops shut and fundraising activities postponed. 

The chancellor earmarked £360m of the money to charities “that were on the frontline of fighting the coronavirus”, such as the hospice.

St Michael’s needs £6m a year to run the hospice which cares for people living with terminal illness and its bereavement service- it traditionally gets little government money and is reliant on donations, shop revenue and fundraising activity to operate.

St Michael’s Chief Executive, Tony Collins

Saint Michael’s Hospice Chief Executive Tony Collins said:

“We welcome this investment in the hospice movement. It is exactly what we need to be able to continue to care for people affected by terminal illness and bereavement and support our community with their emotional wellbeing.

“This includes keeping as many of our traditional services running as possible so we can help release pressure from the NHS.”

As well as keeping its traditional services running to alleviate pressure on the NHS, the hospice’s bereavement service Just B, has a new helpline for those feeling anxious or struggling with their emotional wellbeing during this crisis. Hear to Help is available to everyone between 8am-8pm, seven days a week, and is staffed by specialist support workers. The number to ring is (01423) 856 799.

The hospice is also supporting the national NHS mental health hotline for staff. The phone number is 0300 131 7000 or staff can text FRONTLINE to 85258. Lines are open from 07:00 to 23:00 every day,

The number of coronavirus-related deaths at Harrogate District Hospital has risen to 16 in the latest figures released by the NHS.

No deaths were reported yesterday, but the number confirmed for Monday rose from one to three.

In the figures released today by NHS England, the number of deaths reported across the UK is 828, bringing the total to of hospital deaths of patients with coronavirus to 6,483.

Of those reported today, the youngest was 22 and the eldest 103. While most had underlying health conditions, 46 patients did not, and the youngest of these was 35 years old.

Figures for the number of patients who have been treated in hospital and discharged are not currently available.

Meanwhile, the Nightingale hospital being created at Harrogate Convention Centre is expected to be complete by this weekend.

The mayor of Harrogate has spoken about the emotional moment he had to say goodbye to his wife as she was taken to intensive care with coronavirus.

April Martin first developed a cough and a temperature before she started having trouble breathing. The NHS 111 service told the couple to self-isolate back in mid-March.

Councillor Stuart Martin today told the Stray Ferret April’s condition deteriorated last week before he called the ambulance to take her to Harrogate hospital.

“I had to say goodbye to her in the ambulance and I didn’t know whether or not I would ever see her again. I have still been able to speak to her on the phone. It’s not the same as being with her but I understand why I can’t go to the hospital.”

April is still on oxygen at the hospital but the consultant is said to be hopeful that she could be back home in the next few days.

“April and I would like to thank the NHS staff from the cleaners to the consultants. We are keen to thank all of them and wish them all the best, we are so grateful for all of their skills and efforts. If they hadn’t taken April to hospital last week, we would be having a very different conversation.”

One patient who tested positive for coronavirus died at Harrogate hospital yesterday.

It’s the fourth day running that Harrogate District Hospital has reported at least one COVID-19 related death.

So far, 14 coronavirus patients have died at the hospital.

88 out of the 758 latest deaths reported today were in Yorkshire and the North East.

Of the 758 deaths in England, the patients were aged between 23 and 102 years old.

29 of the patients, who were aged between 23 and 99 years old, had no known underlying health conditions.

There are no published figures for the number of patients who have recovered from the virus and been discharged from the hospital.

A Harrogate hotel will light up every night to show support for NHS staff battling on the frontline against coronavirus.

The Crowne Plaza, on King’s Road, is currently closed following government guidance but there are a few staff still working to maintain the building.

Last night was the first time the hotel staff lit up different rooms to spell out NHS and they will make some minor tweaks to improve it going forwards.

Vanessa Jackman, who is part of the hotel’s management, told the Stray Ferret:

“The hotel, along with the whole world, is so appreciative of the NHS staff and all of the key workers keeping us going during the coronavirus pandemic.”

The hotel is next door to the Harrogate Convention Centre, which is currently being converted into a Nightingale Hospital for Yorkshire and the Humber.

North Yorkshire councils and police will share over £15 million as part of a new emergency coronavirus fund.

The money, which is part of a £1.6 billion government fund, will help the local authorities deal with the pressure across their services.

It is designed to increase support for the adult social care workforce and for services helping the most vulnerable, including homeless people.

North Yorkshire County Council will get £15.2 million, the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner will get £108,000 and Harrogate Borough Council will get £65,900.

The Stray Ferret has approached each of the local authorities for a breakdown of how they will spend the money but has received no response by the time of publication.

Local Government Secretary, Robert Jenrick said:

“The work of local authorities to deliver social care and other vital public services has never been more important than it is now – and will be – in the days and weeks ahead.

 

“That’s why we’re giving local councils £1.6 billion of additional funding to spend where it’s needed most, to ensure they can meet the cost of the increased demand for social care, and continue to protect the most vulnerable people in society.”

The emergency coronavirus fund is separate from the support fund for small businesses, hospitality, and leisure businesses.

That business fund has recently increased by £10 million to a total of £50 million, and Harrogate Borough Council has already distributed £12 million.

Councillor Graham Swift, deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development for Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“We know businesses are under intense pressure. Our business rates team have worked extraordinarily hard to gear up to process tens of millions of pounds of government cash to support local businesses.

 

“We have drafted in extra staff to deal with grant payments and top priority is getting the money into the bank accounts of local businesses as quickly as we can.

 

“Many grants have already been received and we are busy processing others so that they should be hitting accounts early next week.”