District Council News

Look at our Gallery for useful reminder signs that came with this news letter

 

Dear members, volunteer coordinators and parish councillors

 

With many more shops and hospitality venues reopening for business there is a sense that things are returning to normal, but you may be aware that there is a Countywide campaign to encourage everyone to #KeepCaring for each other, as the virus hasn’t gone away. You can read a little more about the campaign or share our Facebook or Twitter posts to help remind your communities that there is still a need to stay alert and to look out for others by doing things such as wearing face coverings, keeping a safe distance, and regularly washing hands.

 

The work of community groups will continue to be vitally important and we continue to be grateful for the support you have provided to people in your communities. Patch leads are contacting your groups to check in and see whether any additional support is needed as some of you may have less time as people begin to return to work and life returns a little more to normal.

Shielding relaxed from 6 July

From 6 July, anyone shielding has been able to spend more time outdoors, meeting up to six other people. Social distancing will not be needed with other members of their own household and people shielding who live alone can join a support bubble with another household and these can be in each other’s homes.

 

From 1 August, people will be advised that they no longer need to shield. This group will then be able to visit shops or other public places and return to work if they can’t work from home. However, they still need to follow social distancing. Government food parcels will also end, on 31 July, but supermarkets will continue priority online slots beyond that date. It might be helpful to be aware of Age UK’s shopping service for people aged 65+ or vulnerable people who need help to get their weekly groceries.

 

Priority food slots for Tesco and Iceland deliveries

The Council now has access to a system set up by DEFRA (The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) to allow us to add residents to receive priority online food delivery slots from Tesco and Iceland.

 

Who is the service for?

This service is different to the shielding priority food slot scheme run nationally. As outlined above, the shielding scheme is being paused at the end of July and everyone on the scheme is being urged to ensure they have updated their profiles to secure online priority with a range of supermarkets.

 

This new scheme allows residents who cannot go food shopping due to Covid-related reasons access to priority slots with Tesco and Iceland for a defined amount of time depending on their need. This can be between 2 and 40 weeks (up until 31 March 2021).

 

The systems for the two supermarkets work slightly differently, but are both applied for by completing the online form on our website. A member of the Sustainable Communities team will get back to the resident with details once their application has been assessed and processed. The resident will need an online account for either supermarket to place their order.

We are not setting tight criteria on who can access the scheme but will ask people why they need the online priority when applying. The online priority we can provide will help people who may need to isolate due to the national track and trace system, help people manage any future local lockdown, or support a vulnerable resident who has needed to be protected from Coronavirus and has ongoing issues with securing a supermarket delivery slot.

 

If you have any queries about this scheme or need any support to help residents sign up, please contact your patch lead or the ku.vo1786749641g.sbm1786749641acs@s1786749641eitin1786749641ummoc1786749641.ytud1786749641 team.

 

Best wishes

 

Bridget Smith

Leader South Cambridgeshire District Council

From NHS England

On 5 July 2020, it will be 72 years since the NHS and social care system was established.

2020 has been the most challenging year in NHS history. This year, the birthday is an opportunity to recognise, reflect and remember. To recognise the skills, commitment, achievements, compassion and diversity of all our 1.9 million people, across more than 350 different professions.

Over the last few months staff have worked around the clock to tackle coronavirus – caring for the 100,000 patients with COVID-19 who needed specialist hospital treatment and treating countless others besides, redesigning services and creating backup Nightingale hospitals.

None of this would have been possible without the help and support of countless individuals and organisations around the country.

Everyone across the NHS is hugely grateful to the thousands of former doctors, nurses and other health service staff who came out of retirement to battle coronavirus, the fellow key workers – from bus drivers and refuse collectors to social care staff and teachers – who kept the country running  and, of course, all those who stopped the spread of the virus by following the expert advice and staying home to save lives.

Everyone has had a part to play and, in the most difficult days, frontline workers were sustained by the support of the public.

On Sunday 5 July we invite everyone to come together at 5pm to come together and applaud the commitment, courage and sacrifice shown by so many. #ThankYouTogether.

Saturday 4 July, the day before the birthday, will be a moment of remembrance and reflection for all the lives of those we have lost during the pandemic. This chance for the nation to come together and pay our respects is being led by the Together Coalition. We are asking people to place a light in their window, and buildings and landmarks will be lit up as part of this collective act of remembrance.

Lockdown has been a tremendously challenging time for everyone, but at the same time we have seen countless examples of people doing their best and achieving amazing things – fundraising, volunteering, returning to NHS careers, helping out neighbours, being more active, and a greater willingness to talk about and address mental health issues.

We are asking people to carry on supporting the NHS and social care by continuing or embracing one or more of these positive changes to Live well, Work well and Care well. Be proud of what you are doing and share your story, or commitment, to inspire and motivate others.

The birth of the NHS

On 5 July 1948, the NHS was launched by Aneurin Bevan, Minister of Health, at Park Hospital in Manchester (known today as Trafford General Hospital).

For the first time, hospitals, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, opticians and dentists were brought together under one umbrella to provide care for free.

Since then, the NHS has transformed the health and wellbeing of the nation. The NHS has delivered huge medical advances and improvements to public health, meaning we can all expect to live longer, healthier lives.

Want to find out more? The Nuffield Trust produced an interactive timeline which charts the evolution of the NHS from its inception in the post-war years through to today.

The NHS’s birthday closely follows national Windrush Day which celebrates the anniversary of the Empire Windrush arriving at Tilbury Docks, London on 22 June 1948. Many of the passengers took up roles in the NHS and were instrumental in building our health service, which launched two weeks later. Read more in these blogs: Windrush and the NHS – an entwined history and Still on the journey: Windrush 2020.

From SCDC

You will be aware that the Government has announced a number of significant changes during the past week or so. From 4 July, many more businesses are to reopen and other restrictions eased – you can read FAQs about what you can and can’t do from 4 July here. From 6 July, updated guidance for people who have been shielding will come into effect – please see more below about this.

Despite this sense that more people will be returning to more of their normal activities, there is still a huge amount of support our communities need at this time, and the work of community groups will continue to be vitally important. We simply could not have supported people in the way we have without your efforts, and I want to thank you once again: thank you.

Shielding to be relaxed from 6 July

You will know that guidance for shielding people is to be relaxed from 6 July. From that date, anyone shielding will be able to spend more time outdoors, meeting up to six other people. Social distancing will not be needed with other members of their own household and people shielding who live alone can join a support bubble with another household. They can also be in each other’s homes.

 

From 1 August, people will be advised that they no longer need to shield. This group will then be able to visit shops or other public places, and return to work if they can’t work from home. However, they still need to follow social distancing. Government food parcels will also end, on 31 July, but supermarkets will continue priority online slots beyond that date. It might be helpful to be aware of Age UK’s shopping service for people aged 65+ or vulnerable people who need help to get their weekly groceries.

 

Letters will begin to go out to people shielding from the virus over the next few days and information will also be included in food parcels. The Government will also retain a list in case there is a need for shielding to be reintroduced in the future.

SCDC Food Hub

We have been running an emergency out of hours hub to fulfil residents’ emergency food/baby supplies requirements. We have reduced the hours the hub is open, so the team will now be checking for messages between 9am and 5pm, 7 days a week. We were operating until 8pm each day but demand over the last few weeks has dropped considerably. We will continue to monitor demand for the service and consider whether weekends are needed in a few more weeks.

Test and Trace

A document attached describes the NHS Test and Trace model Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are adopting to help control and contain Coronavirus.

Positive Difference Fund

The first half of Anglian Water’s £1 million Positive Difference Fund is available now to provide emergency funds for community organisations supporting people who are isolated, considered high risk and in need of practical support during the Coronavirus pandemic.

 

Eligible organisations will be able to apply through their local Community Foundation branch for grants from between £1,000 and £5,000. Organisations like food banks, outreach programmes and those helping the most vulnerable can ask for support to help those shielding or suffering from financial hardship, homelessness, loneliness and isolation. Anglian Water also offers support to customers through Extra Care Support, a service which helps customers to manage payments and debt through a range of tariffs and payment arrangements.

Psychological first aid

Staff and volunteers at the forefront of the national Coronavirus response across England are now able to access a new Psychological First Aid training course. The course has been developed by Public Health England and will be available to frontline workers and volunteers dealing with the public during the Coronavirus pandemic. It will enable responders to develop their skills and confidence in providing key psychological support to people affected by Coronavirus, including on issues such as job worries, bereavement or isolation as they carry out their vital work as part of the ongoing coronavirus response.

 

It will also help to develop understanding of how emergencies like the Coronavirus pandemic can affect us all, how to recognise people who may be at increased risk of distress, and how to offer practical and emotional support. You can sign up for the course here.

Booking system for HRCs extended

Cambridgeshire County Council has announced that all visitors to Milton and Thriplow Household Recycling Centres will need to book a slot to access the sites from next week. This is in addition to a booking system for all sites that was recently introduced for vans and trailers requiring e-permits. From Monday (29 June) you will only be able to visit the HRCs if you have pre-booked a slot. The booking system opened on 23 June. Please visit the County Council’s website for further information.

 

Best wishes

 

Bridget Smith

Leader South Cambridgeshire District Council