Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 21 April 1926 to 8 September 2022 Rest In Peace
On Sunday 25 September: INEVITABLE WINTER RISE IN COVID INFECTIONS & HOSPITALISATIONS HAS STARTED? IT’S STILL AWFUL FOR THOSE WHO CATCH IT. PLEASE GET VACCINATED. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests SWF had 228* Covid cases. 2m people (3.1% of our population) have long Covid.
Recent good news included: £500m funding to help hospitals discharge patients to free up beds; cancer-killing herpes simplex virus shows promise in early human trials; 7,000 extra hospital beds are promised for the coming winter. Scientists have developed a virus-killing plastic to be trialled that could make it harder for bugs, including Covid, to spread in hospitals and care homes. But winter pressures loom ahead; the rise in Covid infections looks as though it’s started already, particularly in schools and colleges; more flu and respiratory illnesses are also predicted this winter as resistance is lower after isolations and distancing in last two winters.
Most hospital patients and care home residents are no longer tested for Covid unless they have symptoms. NHS and care home staff will also only be offered LFD tests if they fall sick.
The Autumn Booster vaccine campaign is being delivered in stages. Care home residents and housebound people are first to get jabs. On 12 September rollout prioritised the oldest and most vulnerable. IF YOU AREN’T IN THESE CATEGORIES PLEASE BE PATIENT AND DON’T CONTACT GPs OR OTHERS UNNECESSARILY. YOUR TIME WILL COME. During Autumn 2022 boosters will be offered in stages to over-50s, carers, health & care staff and clinically vulnerable people 5-49.
The most reliable data says in w/e 17 September in England there were 289 (p/w 327) Covid deaths and in w/e 19 September 4,015 (p/w 3,628) patients admitted to hospital. There’s a 3-week lag between infections and subsequent hospitalisations and deaths. The *ONS data estimates 927,000 (1 in 70) people in England had Covid in w/e 23 September (p/w 881,200 = 1 in 75). Taking the ONS estimate and SWF’s population as 16,000 that means there were 228 (p/w 213) SWF residents with Covid in w/e 23 September. Clusters of cases making people very ill are occurring where people are in close proximity for instance on cruises, public transport and at indoor events.
To avoid catching and spreading Covid the Government says: GET VACCINATED; ventilate indoor meetings; meet outdoors; wear face coverings in crowded enclosed spaces. If you get Covid stay home if you can and avoid contact with other people.
10%+ OF SWF PEOPLE ARE UNVACCINATED. On 21 September, in SWF 89.1% of 12+ year olds have had 1st jab (p/w 89.1%); 86.7% have had 2nd jab (p/w 86.7%); and 72.3% have had a 3rd dose or booster (72.3% p/w). SWF is below the national averages of 93.6% for 1st doses and 88.2% for 2nd doses, and above the national average of 69.4% for 3rd & booster doses. Most deaths from Covid in Essex and England are of people not fully vaccinated.
Ambulance services and GPs are under severe pressure. Hospitals are postponing surgery & appointments and say don’t attend A&E unless life is threatened, or you’re seriously injured.
Free Covid tests for the public are no longer provided. Reasonably priced LFD (Lateral Flow Device) kits are available from some pharmacies and online providers.
Vaccination Centres continue to deliver 1st, 2nd , 3rd (where appropriate) & previous booster Covid vaccinations. Information about all vaccination centres in Essex is at: https://www.essexcovidvaccine.nhs.uk/coronavirus-vaccine/walk-in-vaccination-clinics/ .
National informationis at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/find-a-walk-in-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-site/ . Covid vaccinations can be booked online at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/ or phone 119.
Vaccines and vaccination policy information is at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/. Everyone aged 5+ can get a 1st and 2nd dose of Covid vaccine. People aged 16+ and children aged 12-15 who are immunosuppressed or living with someone seriously vulnerable can also get a booster dose. People aged 5+ with severely weakened immune systems are being offered a 3rd dose before any booster doses.
Ring 999 for life-threatening emergencies. Ring 111 to book other A&E attendance slots at any time or for all other out of hours’ services. Following recent changes: To contact Greenwood Surgery use e-consultations (patchs & Systemonline) for all clinical matters; full contact guidance and details are at: https://greenwoodsurgery.com/contact-us/ . Contact details for Kingsway Surgery are at https://www.kingswaysurgerysouthwoodhamferrers.nhs.uk/ . For queries about hospital appointments for which you’ve been referred ring the Central Referral Service on 0300 123 0771 or Broomfield Hospital Appointments on 01245 513900; the Practices can’t provide hospital appointment details. SWF Health & Social Care Group provides health & social care information and signposting to people, especially those at risk, isolating, housebound, and without local support. Information is on our website https://swfhealthsocial.co.uk/ . Contact us on swfhealthsocial@outlook.com or leave a voicemail on 01245 322079 which is monitored daily.
SWF Health & Social Care Group 