Notices
Parish Council – Coronavirus (Covid 19) – Post 6.
Some of this is a duplication of previous posts which is to ensure the relevant previous information remains easily accessible.
The government advice on isolating yourself and family if you show symptoms and advice on isolating/shielding is on the link below.
https://www.nhs.uk/
The Government has launched its Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp. The free service is an automated ‘chatbot’ that will provide information on coronavirus prevention and symptoms, the latest number of cases in the UK, advice on staying at home, travel advice and myth busting. More information can be found on the Government website.
The link below is the the government advice site for employees with information about entitlements etc. This is clearly evolving quickly but the site should be updated frequently.
The Money Saving Expert is a good source of advice on benefits, potential help for the self employed and salary and rental protection schemes.
Devon County Council and South Hams District Council have advice pages on their websites.
The Citizens Advice Service is continuing to work but only offers advice remotely. You can contact them in the following ways.
Adviceline 03444 111 444 (Monday - Friday 9am - 4pm)
Email: www.southhamscab.org.
WhatsApp 07497 758779
Letter: Citizens Advice, Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes TQ9 5NE
If you have a fever it is recommended that paracetamol is the first line drug to take. Many branded products also contain paracetamol so please check ingredients and do not exceed the recommended daily dose. If you do please seek medical advice.
The Minor Injuries Unit at Totnes has been closed .
The Minor Injuries units at Kingsbridge and the Cumberland Centre in Plymouth remain open. Please use them appropriately.
MIU - Cumberland Centre (Plymouth)
Damerel Close
Plymouth
PL1 4JZ
Tel: (01752) 434390
Opening times: 08:30 - 22:00 (09:00 - 22:00 Thursdays)
Opening days: 7 days per week
X-ray available: 09:00 - 20:45 (7 days)
MIU - South Hams Hospital (Kingsbridge)
Plymouth Road
Kingsbridge
Devon
TQ7 1AT
Tel: (01548) 852349
Opening times: 09:00 - 17:00
Opening days: 7 days per week
X-ray available: 09:00 - 17:00 (Mon-Fri)
If family carers become ill the following organisations may be able to assist:
Care Direct
Social Services
Disability Information Service 0345 155 1005
If you believe that you might need support from the community please contact Cllr Andrew Hollett, details below. If you have neighbours or friends who may not be accessing this site but you feel they may benefit please ask them to contact Andrew or give permission for you to do so.
If you are willing to be a Community Volunteer to help with the above or be willing to make regular phone contact to someone to ease the isolation please contact Cllr Trudie Timlin Brown also details below.
Cllr Andrew Hollett. Tel. 830361 Email: andrew.hollett@btinternet.com
Cllr Trudie Timlin Brown Tel 830683 Email: bathebrown@aol.com
As mentioned in our previous post we are aware that the level of media coverage can make this situation feel overwhelming and frightening leading to anxiety in people. If you are concerned or don't understand some of the terms in the media or advice sites Clr Baumer (Retired Consultant) and Di Baumer ( Retired Public Health Nurse) have kindly offered to give telephone or email advice. They can be contacted as detailed below. This is NOT an alternative to receiving individual advice from your GP or Specialist Medical Care Team. It is part of our broader community response.
Dr H. Baumer Tel.830274 Email: harry@luson.plus.com
Di Baumer Tel. 830274 Email: dianaebaumer@googlemail.com
Many people will have stocked up on staples but be finding fresh produce more difficult. Holbeton Village Stores already delivers milk and will be happy to deliver vegetable boxes/bags. Please discuss with Jack Purkis. 830246 or holbetonvillagestores@
To protect the shop staff it is safer to order a delivery. If you go into use the Post Office please follow the guidelines posted on the door about accessing the premises.
We have been liaising with Ivybridge Food Bank about providing support for those in need. The Parish Council have been issued with a supply of vouchers. If you need to access the food bank for food parcels please contact Mark Sims 07771 818358 email: markandjanice2805@outlook.com Mark can also collect parcels for those who are shielding/isolating themselves. Food banks are really struggling as people prioritise themselves. If you are able to donate food locally it will be much appreciated. Financial donations can be made online to the Trussell Trust.
Prescription Collection Service.
We have some noble volunteers who have agreed to collect prescriptions from those who are isolating or are unable to for other reasons. Cllr Baumer has kindly agreed to support this service.
Bel Dixon 07803608418.mailto: roughbel@hotmail.com and Laura Kirkland 07815917519 mailto: laws072@hotmail.com will collect from Yealm Medical Centre
Sue Howard 01752830644 or 07909 888 739; howardsue25@gmail.com or Gina Hay 01752 830516 or 07880 720 580; georginahay@aol.com will collect from Modbury H.C.
For those who have a laptop or mobile phone they can be an invaluable way of maintaining contact with family and friends, locally, nationally or internationally. Many of us have them but are unsure of how to use these features to for example make video calls so we can chat for example with grandchildren. Jack Purkis has kindly offered to help anyone who would like to set up a What's app group on an android mobile phone. Pete Stevens can assist with setting up Skype on laptops, and What's App/Facetime on phones Tel :830780 Email: petestevens150@gmail.com. Andrew Hollett can also offer help in this area if needed. There are also advice/tutorials on You Tube that are easy to follow.
Being physically active is a really good way to maintain your physical and mental wellbeing as you adjust to the challenges of these difficult times. Whether you’re young or old, a first timer or a gym regular, doing it on your own or with your family, Active Devon has some great ideas for how you can keep active while you're staying at home to protect the NHS and save lives.Visit their #StayInWorkOut page for more information.
Although the libraries are closed books can still be downloaded from Devon County Council library website.https://www.
A local resident has suggested Wok Your Way Devon who are delivering asian food to this area once a week. Their facebook page has more information.
Lawsons in Ivybridge has closed but is still taking orders for home delivery (charges apply). They can supply crafting, baking, gardening, DIY equipment.Ivybridge - 01752 892543
Fordbrook Nursery ( the one below Otter) are also still supplying via delivery only. For home delivery Tel. 01752 880315 between 9 and 12 am. Minimum order - £20 Orders under £50 - £5 delivery charge
Devon shows it's Proud to Care
| Hundreds of people have stepped up to help support the county’s most vulnerable by applying for roles in health and social care, following the launch of our Proud to Care campaign this week.
The coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) means there’s an even greater demand for Healthcare Assistants in residential homes, people’s own homes and hospitals in Devon so temporary and permanent workers are needed to fill a variety of shift work. You don’t necessarily need qualifications or previous work experience. What’s important are your values and attitude towards working with people who need care, and your ability to cope in challenging environments. Find out more, including how to register, on the Proud To Care website. |
If you have other suggestions for activities please share with me via email: carolackroyd@tiscali.co.uk
When having shopping delivered it is suggested you wash all packaging with a disinfected cloth before putting it away, other people will have handled it. Run vegetables under the tap before putting away. Stand at least 3 steps away from the person delivering and ideally do not answer the door until the items have been left on the doorstep. Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds after putting items away. Soap and water is more effective than using hand sanitiser.
Many thanks to all the people who have volunteered, it is much appreciated . We are in this for the long haul and you will be needed. Can I also thank my fellow councillors for all they are doing.
We are keen for this information to be circulated as widely as possible so if you can pass the links on or print it off and give to neighbours that would be helpful.
NHS asks people to share their coronavirus symptoms to help others
A new Coronavirus Status Checker will help the NHS coordinate its response and build up additional data on the COVID-19 outbreak.
A new Coronavirus Status Checker that will help the NHS coordinate its response and build up additional data on the COVID-19 outbreak has been launched today by Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock.
People with potential coronavirus symptoms are now being asked to complete the status checker and answer a short series of questions which will tell the NHS about their experience.
It is open to anyone in the UK to use on the NHS website and in its initial phase the NHS is particularly keen for anyone who thinks they may be displaying potential coronavirus symptoms, no matter how mild, to complete it.
Status Checker users are clearly told at the beginning and the end of the survey that it is not a triage or clinical advice tool, and that they should visit 111 online for medical advice about their symptoms.
The information gathered will help the NHS to plan its response to the outbreak, indicating when and where more resources like oxygen, ventilators and additional staff might be needed and will provide valuable insight into the development and progression of the virus across the country.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:
Technology and data is playing a vital role in battling coronavirus and supporting our heroic NHS frontline workers to save lives, protect the vulnerable, and relive pressure on the NHS.
We must learn as much as possible about this virus, and we are asking the whole nation to join this effort.
If anyone has experienced symptoms of COVID-19 I would urge you to use our new status checker app to help us to collect essential information on the virus and allow us to better allocate NHS resources where they are needed most.
The service is hosted on the NHS website and is available to access openly, with links directly from the NHS 111 online coronavirus service and NHS coronavirus pages.
The initiative is a collaboration between NHS England, NHSX, NHS Digital and Public Health England at the request of the Health and Social Care Secretary.
The creators of a number of independent apps and websites which have already launched to collect similar data have agreed to work openly with the NHS and align their products and data as part of this central, national effort.
Information collected by the NHS Coronavirus Status Checker will form part of a core national COVID-19 dataset held by NHS England.
The tool is live now and people can complete the survey either for themselves or on behalf of someone else with their permission.
It asks them:
- why they are staying at home
- to choose from a series of options to describe how they are feeling
- whether they have any other health problems
- their date of birth
- their postcode
- how many people are living in their home.
The Coronavirus Status Checker, which is the latest example of the NHS harnessing the power of technology and data to help it tackle the epidemic, is part of the NHS coronavirus service. It complements the NHS 111 online coronavirus tool launched earlier this month, which gives the public digital access to health advice, isolation notes and a daily text messaging service for those self-isolating with symptoms.
The Status Checker will not identify users from the information they provide, although it will cross-reference data from other sources to ensure it avoids counting people twice.
The answers given by the public will only be used by the NHS and trusted organisations working directly with the NHS in response to coronavirus. The information will not be retained any longer than is strictly necessary post COVID-19.
Prof Keith Willett, Strategic Incident Director NHS England, said:
We know large volumes of people are visiting NHS 111 online each day, reporting potential coronavirus symptoms and being advised to self-isolate, and it will be hugely valuable for the NHS if we can learn more about these people and their experiences.
By taking a few moments to answer these questions, you can play your part in helping the NHS put its resources in the right places, at the right time, to save lives.
- The survey can be accessed on the NHS website at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus-status-checker
- The Coronavirus Status Checker has initially been developed for NHS England. Data will be made available for the devolved administrations to support their response needs
Devon County Council – TRANSPORT FOR KEY WORKERS
Due to the reduction of bus services across the county, Devon County Council are trialling an on-demand subsidised taxi service for Devon residents for key workers accessing employment only.
This service is intended to replace those journeys which were previously made by bus - a subsidised flat fare will be charged.
Requests can only be made by email and should be sent to devonbus@devon.gov.uk
Please include the following information in your email:
NAME, ADDRESS, KEY WORKER STATUS, EMPLOYER / PAYROLL REF
JOURNEY REQUIREMENTS (pick up/drop off)
DCC will aim to respond to all requests as soon as possible during normal office hours – journeys should be booked 48 hours in advance of travel.
