GP practices join fight to roll out Covid vaccinations

GPs in rural communities, including Denbighshire, are joining forces to set up community vaccination centres to help vaccinate more people closer to home.

This weekend three centres being run by a collaboration of GP practices will open allowing the Pfizer vaccination to be used at a local level as well as the Oxford AstraZeneca.

Previously, the Pfizer vaccine had to be used in Wales’ special mass vaccination centres due to the ultra-low temperatures it needs to be stored at.

The community vaccination centres have been set up by health boards as part of the Welsh Government’s covid-19 vaccination roll-out strategy with the first three located on the Llŷn Peninsula, in Denbighshire and North Bridgend.

The new centres will initially help with vaccinating people over 80 and those with mobility issues in rural communities. It is anticipated around 3,000 people will be vaccinated at the three centres this weekend.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething said: “Vaccination is our top priority so I want to thank all the GP practices right across Wales that are working in unison to set up these new community vaccination centres.

"This enables GPs to use both of the vaccines available to us and will help more people to be vaccinated somewhere that is much closer to home than the large vaccination centres.

“Every week, our vaccination programme speeds up as more centres are opened and more vaccines are available for the small army of healthcare professionals administering vaccines.

“I’d encourage any other GP practices in our rural communities who could work together to get in touch with their health board."

He added: “Seeing the dedication, the selflessness and the tireless work that these communities are undertaking to protect the most vulnerable in our society is truly inspiring. I want to thank all our amazing healthcare professionals and all those working in the NHS in delivering our vaccine rollout.”

New Llangollen Covid testing centre open this morning

* Staff prepare to open the new centre on Market Street car park this morning.

The new Covid-19 testing centre on Llangollen's Market Street car park is due to open this morning (Friday).

The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said on its social media yesterday it was opening the walk-in and drive-in centre to make it easier for people in the area to get tested closer to home.

It will open from 9.30am until 3.30pm, seven days a week.

No appointment is needed - anybody needing a test is invited to attend.

The testing unit located in Denbigh is now closed.

Welsh Government's coronavirus updates

Latest Welsh Government coronavirus update (dated yesterday) is:

·       Enhanced isolation requirements will come into force for travellers arriving into Wales who have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United Republic of Tanzania in the previous 10 days.

o   New exceptions are also being introduced to the ban on the arrival in Wales of aircrafts and vessels travelling directly from a country or territory subject to enhanced isolation measures to help prevent the spread of new variant strains of coronavirus.

o   https://gov.wales/written-statement-amendments-health-protection-coronavirus-international-travel-wales-regulations-2

·         The Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services Julie Morgan has increased the £1m Carers Support Fund, which was launched in October, by an extra £250k https://gov.wales/carers-support-fund-increased-quarter-million-pounds

·         Examination and assessment guidance: https://gov.wales/examination-and-assessment-guidance-2020-2021

·         Technical Advisory Cell, latest summary report: https://gov.wales/technical-advisory-cell-summary-advice-15-january-2021

 

·         More information about Covid vaccines: https://gov.wales/vaccine-coronavirus

 

Coronavirus in numbers

·         The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 1,153 newly reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 185,035 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.

o   Very sadly, there were 46 deaths reported by Public Health Wales today. The total number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is 4,392.

o   These figures are updated daily at: https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary

·         The number of people who have received a Covid vaccine in Wales is being published every weekday by Public Health Wales.

o   The latest figures show 190,435 people have received their first dose

o   And 396 people have received two doses of the vaccine

o   https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary

 

What to do if you have symptoms of coronavirus

·         The symptoms of coronavirus are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change in smell or taste.

·         If you have symptoms of coronavirus, however mild, you must self-isolate at home for 10 days from when your symptoms started.

·         Guidance about self-isolating: https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus

o   Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

o   You should arrange to have a test to see if you have coronavirus once you are self-isolating. You can book a test at https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-covid-19-test

o   You should continue to isolate while waiting for a test result.

·         Got a question about what to do if you’ve got coronavirus? Visit https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus
 

Where to find the latest information

·         Information about the new national measures in place in Wales is available at: https://gov.wales/alert-level-4

·         Public Health Wales provides a daily update about the number of cases of coronavirus in Wales. It is available at: https://covid19-phwstatement.nhs.wales/

·         Information about coronavirus is available on the Welsh Government’s website at https://gov.wales/coronavirus and https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws

·         Questions about Covid-19 vaccines? Visit: https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-information/

·         Information about support for businesses is available at the Business Wales website https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/

·         The Welsh Government holds a regular media briefing about coronavirus. These are on-the-record, on-camera and supported by a BSL interpreter. These are held at 12.15pm and live-streamed on our @WelshGovernment Twitter channel.

Father Lee's Pimm's and Hymns shows hit BBC headlines

* A screenshot of the BBC story on Father Lee.

St Collen's vicar Father Lee Taylor has hit the national headlines with his regular Pimm's and Hymns online singalongs.

A story about how his Sunday evening streamed shows have picked up audiences from as far away as Brazil is featured on the BBC Wales News website.

For the full story, see: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-55738385

* Father Lee at the keyboard in the vicarage.

MP praises emergency teams for way they coped with floods

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes (pictured) has spoken out in sympathy for the families affected by Storm Christoph and praised the frontline emergency service workers and council staff involved in tackling incidents of flooding locally. 

He also thanked the Plas Madoc Leisure Centre for accommodating residents from Bangor-on-Dee who were evacuated from their homes and the many residents who have helped their friends and neighbours affected by the flooding.

Mr Baynes said: “I want to thank all the staff at Wrexham and Denbighshire councils and emergency service personnel who have done such a fantastic job in helping people across Clwyd South during the terrible flooding that we are experiencing. 

"I have received and read many reports and first-hand accounts of the way in which they have gone above and beyond to help people. And this excellent service and kindness is on top of the exceptional demands created by the Coronavirus crisis.

“My constituency team has been very busy providing help to people affected by flooding and please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can be of help by emailing simon.baynes.mp@parliament.uk or phoning 01978 810319.”

 

Covid testing centre is returning to Llangollen

* The previous testing centre on Market Street car park.

A new walk-in and drive-in Covid testing centre will open in Llangollen on Friday January 22 to make it easier for people in the area to get tested for COVID-19 closer to home.

The Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board says the testing centre is located on Llangollen Market Street Car Park, opening from 9.30am until 3.30pm, seven days a week.

No appointment is needed - anybody needing a test is invited to attend.

The testing unit located in Denbigh is now closed

Carers Support Fund boosted by £250,000

A further £250k has been announced to help unpaid carers in Wales cope with the financial pressures of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Carers Support Fund, which launched in October last year originally saw £1m allocated, today (Thursday 21st January) the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, Julie Morgan has announced an additional quarter of a million pounds to the scheme.

Open to carers across Wales, the Carers Support Fund will see grants of up to £300 being made available for a range of essentials, including; food, household items such as furniture or white goods, or electronics such as a laptop for access to support and services.

There are around 55,300 people in Wales who receive a carer’s allowance and recent research suggests that almost 40% of carers are worried about their financial situation.

Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, Julie Morgan, said: “The pandemic has added more challenges to unpaid carers across the country and I want to thank them for everything they are doing. I’m pleased to announce a further quarter of a million pounds to the fund to help more unpaid carers and their families.

“Working with Carers Trust Wales, who play such a pivotal role in delivering advice and support, the Carers Support Fund will be continued to be delivered via them.”

* The Carers Support Fund will be available up to 31 March 2021 and further information is available here carers.org/wales