On 31 January, Essex remains in Lockdown3 for COVID-19. SWF Health & Social Care Group continues to work collaboratively with the Town’s GPs & Pharmacists. Since March 2020 we’ve delivered over 5300 tasks.
On 29 December our local NHS declared a Major Incident due to significant demand on hospitals and social care services across Essex. This continues to be the case as non-Covid related services are seriously affected and hospitals are overloaded with Covid patients.
SWF continues to see new Covid cases falling with 46 in the week ended 25 January, down from the peak of 213 in the week ended 2 January. Thanks to everyone for minimising contact with others to reduce the spread. We were near the top of the country-wide range and rocketed up from 27 new cases in the week ended 8 December. We continue to publish daily and less frequent local data.
We must remember the time lag of at least three weeks from initial infections to hospitalisations, and then sadly to patients going into Intensive Care and some deaths. Our situation has to be taken in the contexts of the regional and continuing dangerous national situations. Some hospital patients in Essex have had to be transferred to other parts of the country. As things improve here whilst they worsen elsewhere it will be our turn to help the rest of the country.
There is cautious optimism that some restrictions will be able to be lifted during March if Covid trends continue downwards, no mutant strains increase risks and the roll out of vaccinations continues. Our ongoing ‘good behaviour’ throughout February will be crucial. One benefit is that ‘flu is down 95% at its lowest for 130 years.
Covid vaccinations continue to roll out in SWF, at the mass hub in Runwell and at Broomfield, Basildon and Southend Hospitals. Further new outlets are due to open soon. Nearly 4000 vaccinations have been delivered at Crouch Vale Medical Centre to SWF and Dengie patients, health and social care workers. The latest information about local vaccination supplies and clinics is at: https://greenwoodsurgery.com/covid-vaccine/ .
The supply of the vaccines is the limiting factor. The schedule is set by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination & Immunisation. Written Invitations will be sent to patients in order of the published clinical priorities; PLEASE DON’T ring to ask for an appointment.
Do still ring 999 for life-threatening emergencies like a possible heart attack, stroke or a bad accident. Otherwise ring 111 if you need to book an A&E attendance slot at any time or for all other out of hours services. For a Covid test go online to https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test ; only if you can’t book online ring 119.
We provide health & social care support, information and signposting to patients & people in SWF and surrounds, especially those at risk, isolating, staying at home, and without local support. Information is on this website. Do contact us with queries or comments on swfhealthsocial@outlook.com ; if you don’t have internet access leave a voicemail on 01245 322079 which is monitored daily.
Please Remember; Hands-Face-Space; stay safe & at home, protect our NHS, save lives.
SWF Health & Social Care Group 