On Sunday 16 October: COVID INFECTIONS, HOSPITALISATIONS & DEATHS CONTINUE RISING. PLEASE GET VACCINATED. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests SWF had 457* Covid cases. 2.3m people in the UK have long Covid.
Recent good news included: cancer-killing herpes simplex virus shows promise in early human trials; 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 has started, particularly in schools and colleges; more flu and respiratory illnesses are also predicted this winter as immunity is lower after isolations and distancing in last two winters, particularly with young children. Record numbers of nurses are leaving the NHS.
The Dashboard says in w/e 8 October in England there were 631 (p/w 450) Covid deaths and in w/e 10 October 8,198 (p/w 7,904) patients admitted to hospital. Hospitalisations and deaths lag behind infections. The *ONS data estimates 1,600,000 (1 in 35) people in England had Covid in w/e 3 October (p/w 1,300,000 = 1 in 50). Taking the ONS estimate and SWF’s population as 16,000 that means there were 457 (p/w 320) SWF residents with Covid in w/e 3 October.
To avoid catching and spreading Covid NOW RISING AGAIN the Government says: TAKE EXTRA CARE, IF UNWELL AVOID VULNERABLE FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES & RELATIVES, 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. Most deaths from Covid in Essex and England are of people not fully vaccinated.
The Autumn Booster vaccine campaign is being delivered in stages. Care home residents, housebound people, health and care staff and the most vulnerable are first to get jabs. Rollout is prioritising the oldest and most vulnerable. IF YOU AREN’T IN THESE CATEGORIES PLEASE BE PATIENT AND DON’T CONTACT GPs 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. If you get a letter, text or email from the NHS you should use a vaccination centre; only go to GPs if they invite you.
Vaccination Centres continue to deliver 1st, 2nd , 3rd (where appropriate) & previous booster Covid vaccinations, as well as the 2022 Autumn Boosters. 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 or phone 119; some Centres do welcome walk-ins.
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.
Lack of space makes it impossible to provide details about Covid and flu vaccination policies. If you can’t go online phone 119 about Covid. Flu vaccinations aren’t available at Covid vaccination centres. If you’re eligible for a free flu jab you’ll get an invitation from your GP when they have supplies and it’s your turn. NHS flu jabs can be booked with pharmacies offering this service and pharmacies can answer queries about flu and flu jabs.
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. Some infection protection measures are increasing, including restrictions on visiting.
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 