On Sunday 4 December: COVID INFECTIONS & HOSPITALISATIONS ARE RISING AGAIN & DEATHS REMAIN HIGH. WINTER WEATHER HAS STARTED AND SERIOUS CASES OF COVID, FLU & OTHER RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES ARE INCREASING. BUT VACCINATION CENTRES ARE CLOSING BECAUSE THEY AREN’T BEING USED AND GP VACCINATIONS AREN’T BEING BOOKED. THE NHS IS IN A PERILOUS STATE. ILLNESS OF UNVACCINATED PEOPLE IS UNNECESSARY AND REDUCES OTHER NHS SERVICES.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests SWF had 266* Covid cases. 2.2m people in the UK have long Covid; there are 80+ in the SWF & Dengie area. If you may have long-Covid see your GP for a diagnosis and referral to a new local long-Covid recovery service.
On 27 November 2022 in England only: 61.9% of people over 50 had had their autumn Covid booster; and only 75.5% of 65+ yr olds, 41.8% of under 65s with clinical risk, 34.7% of 50-64 yr olds & 29.3% of pregnant women had had their flu jab.
PLEASE GET VACCINATED FOR COVID & FLU.
Cases of Scarlet Fever and Strep A are increasing. Most people don’t get extremely sick but they can be a serious illness, particularly for young children. Both are treated with antibiotics; there isn’t a vaccine. As always, you know your children best; if your child is seriously ill speak to your doctor; if they are unwell ask your pharmacist for advice or ring 111 out of hours.
Winter pressures are with us. Covid infections are now accompanied by more flu & respiratory illnesses as immunity is lower after isolations and distancing in last two winters, particularly in young children. Record numbers of staff are leaving the NHS; some ambulance staff may strike. Some nurses will strike on 15 & 20 December; the only ones in Essex are at Colchester Hospital; details about the effects of this will be published nearer the days. The NHS Boss says The challenges faced by today’s NHS are greater than at the height of the pandemic.
Essex County Council has launched its Warm Bank initiative; places where people can go during the day to stay warm. SWF Library provides this when open and we hope somewhere else in the Town Centre will help on days the Library is closed.
The Dashboard says in w/e 26 November in England there were 350 (p/w 433) Covid deaths and in w/e 28 November 3,682 (p/w 3,407) patients admitted to hospital. Hospitalisations and deaths lag behind infections. The *ONS data estimates 933,000 (1 in 60) people in England had Covid in w/e 21 November (p/w 861,500 = 1 in 65). Taking the ONS estimate and SWF’s population as 16,000 that means there were 266 (p/w 246) SWF residents with Covid in w/e 21 November.
To AVOID CATCHING & SPREADING Covid 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. Free Covid tests for the public aren’t available. LFD (Lateral Flow Device) kits are available from some pharmacies and online providers.
Most deaths from Covid in Essex and England are of people not fully vaccinated.
Covid Vaccination Centres in Essex will be closing by 10 December because they aren’t being used. 1st, 2nd , 3rd (where appropriate) & previous booster Covid vaccinations, as well as the 2022 Autumn Boosters remain available. Information about vaccinations is at: https://www.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk/health/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-vaccinations/ . Covid vaccinations can be booked online or phone 119; some walk-ins may be available. Covid vaccinations can still be booked with many pharmacies.
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 have had an invitation from your GP when they had supplies and it was your turn. Because of lack of take up of these invitations no GP vaccination sessions are planned at present. NHS flu jabs can be booked with pharmacies offering this service and pharmacies can answer queries about flu and flu jabs. Flu infections are already rising more than in a normal year and highest hospital flu admissions are for under-4s and 85+ year olds.
Ambulance services & GPs are under severe pressure. Hospitals are postponing surgery & appointments & say don’t attend A&E unless life is threatened, or you’re seriously injured. Some infection protection measures are increasing, with restrictions on visiting.
Ring 999 for life-threatening emergencies. Ring 111 to book other A&E attendance at all times or for all out of hours’ services. 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; GP 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 