On Tuesday 27 December (this article reports the latest available data on this copy deadline): COVID INFECTIONS, HOSPITALISATIONS & DEATHS ARE RISING AGAIN. A NEW STRAIN OF COVID HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED & FOUND IN ENGLAND. WINTER WEATHER IS HARSH AND SERIOUS CASES OF COVID, FLU & OTHER RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES ARE INCREASING. BUT VACCINATION CENTRES HAVE CLOSED BECAUSE THEY WEREN’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 355* Covid cases w/e 8 December. 2.2m people in the UK have long Covid; 80+ in the SWF & Dengie area. If you may have long-Covid see your GP for a diagnosis & referral to a local recovery service.
On 18 December 2022 in England only: 63.8% (14,855,555 out of 23,300,461) of people over 50 had had their autumn Covid booster; and only 77.9% of 65+ yr olds, 45.5% of under 65s with clinical risk, 38.1% of 50-64 yr olds & 32.4% 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; out of hours ring 111. Latest information: https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2022/12/05/group-a-strep-what-you-need-to-know/ .
Winter pressures are with us. Covid infections are rising again; in the last week hospitalisations with flu increased by two thirds and flu patients in intensive care skyrocketed up 70%; 111 service has near record demand; staff sickness absences are up a fifth & Covid absences are up one third; on average 13,607 hospital beds are blocked by patients fit for discharge; whilst 100,101 hospital beds are available (up from 90,621 last year). Record numbers of staff are leaving the NHS; some ambulance staff not in East of England will strike on 11 & 23 January. Some nurses will strike on 18 & 19 January. 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.
The Dashboard says in w/e 17 December in England there were 508 (p/w 402) Covid deaths and in w/e 19 December 7,158 (p/w 5,250) patients admitted to hospital. Hospitalisations and deaths lag behind infections. The *ONS data estimates 1,243,500 (1 in 45) people in England had Covid in w/e 8 December (p/w 933,000 = 1 in 60). Taking the ONS estimate and SWF’s population as 16,000 that means there were 355 (p/w 266) SWF residents with Covid in w/e 8 December.
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 public Covid tests aren’t available. LFD (Lateral Flow Device) kits are available from some pharmacies and online providers.
Most deaths with Covid in Essex and England are of people not fully vaccinated.
Covid Vaccination Centres in Essex are closed because they weren’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. If you can’t go online phone 119 about Covid. Covid vaccinations can still be booked with many pharmacies.
Flu vaccinations aren’t available at Covid vaccination centres. Those eligible for free flu jabs had GP invitations when they had supplies. Due to 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 and hospitalisations are much higher than in normal years.
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 