West Sussex COVID-19 Vaccination Update 6th Jan 2021
West Sussex COVID-19 Vaccination Update
Introduction
Work continues at pace to roll out the vaccination across Sussex.
Vaccinations are taking place in
- Hospital hubs;
- GP led vaccination services;
- Roving service to care homes and housebound; and
- Planning for large vaccination services (formerly known as mass sites).
Hospital hubs
Hospital hubs in Sussex were launched at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on 08 December 2020. Teams at the hospital have been vaccinating those over the age of 80 who were attending the hospital and health and care staff.
In West Sussex, Worthing Hospital went live as a hospital hub last week, Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath went live today and St Richard’s Hospital and East Surrey Hospital (for residents in the north of the county) go live this week.
Princess Royal Hospital is one of the first in the country to use the new AstraZeneca vaccine.
Other hospital hubs in Sussex include The Conquest Hospital in Hastings (went live last week) and Eastbourne Hospital (due to go live this week).
GP led vaccination services
GP led vaccination services went live on the 15 December.
These are sites run by groups of GP practices working together. In total in Sussex there are 15 sites which have gone live to date.
To date there have been eight sites in West Sussex which have started vaccinating their patients who are over the age of 80:
- Crawley – two sites
- Horsham – two sites
- Pulborough
- Storrington
- Haywards Heath
- Angmering
Further sites in West Sussex are going live this week:
- Bognor Regis
- Durrington on Sea, Worthing
- Shoreham by Sea
- Crawley
- Goring by Sea, Worthing
There are then further sites expected next week following final approvals, including Chichester.
A full list of sites is available here: https://www.sussexhealthandcare.uk/keepsussexsafe/sussex-covid-19-vaccination-programme/covid-19-vaccination-sites/
Care homes – roving service
This week, Sussex Primary Care Networks (PCNs), GPs and Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust have started vaccinating residents and staff in care homes, with the first eight care homes now vaccinated across Sussex. Care homes in West Sussex will be vaccinated over the coming weeks starting with those with over 50 residents.
COVID-19 vaccination scam alert
We are aware that some people are receiving fraudulent calls and text messages offering the COVID-19 vaccination. In some cases, people are asked to press a number on their keypad or to send a text message to confirm they wish to receive the vaccine. Doing so is likely to result in a charge being applied to their phone bill. In other cases, callers are offering the vaccine for a fee or asking for bank details.
People are warned to be alert to these scams. The vaccine is only available from the NHS and the NHS will contact you when it is your turn. At present, appointments are only being offered to members of the public over 80 years old.
The NHS will:
NEVER ask you to press a button on your keypad or send a text asking you to confirm you want the vaccine.
NEVER ask for payment for the vaccine or for your bank details.
If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up. If you believe you have been the victim of fraud or identity theft you should report this directly to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. Where the victim is vulnerable, report it to Sussex Police online or by calling 101.
More information
The roll out of the COVID-19 vaccination programme continues to be an incredible effort from our Trusts, member practices and from teams across the CCGs, showing true partnership working at its best.
We continue to publish all of the latest information on the vaccine of the Sussex Health and Care Partnership website including a public FAQ, which you may find useful. An FAQ with suggested replies to common enquiries is also attached to this briefing to help you with the questions you may be receiving.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS about vaccinations and when you will receive it
NHS FAQ's Comms (1) Jan 5th 2021
Making Council Offices Greener at CDC
Date of Release: 5 January 2021 Ref: 3965
Key projects will make council buildings greener and consider options to bring disused land in Chichester into use
Making its buildings more energy efficient and looking at potential uses for unused land at the western end of Terminus Road in Chichester are two of the key projects that Chichester District Council will be looking at during the next year.
The projects, agreed by the council’s Cabinet at its meeting on Tuesday 5 January, are part of the updated Corporate Plan until 2022.
Cabinet has agreed to release £30,000 so that a feasibility study can be carried out for the decarbonisation of council buildings. The study will look at the costs and benefits of putting in place measures to improve energy efficiency in the council’s buildings and car parks as well as options for generating its own renewable energy.
“This project is part of the council’s Climate Change Action Plan,” explains Councillor Penny Plant, Cabinet Member for Environment at Chichester District Council. “Over the years we have taken a number of steps to ‘green’ our buildings such as adding solar electric panels to the roof of East Pallant House, and solar water heating panels to the north wing extension and installing electric solar panels to our pay and display parking machines. This project will build on the work we have already carried out and help to reduce our carbon footprint further.”
A second key project will look at options to bring unused land at the western end of Terminus Road back into use. The land is situated between the district council-owned Enterprise Centre and the Fishbourne roundabout.
“Supporting our district’s businesses is one of the key actions in our Covid Economic Recovery Plan,” explains Councillor Tony Dignum, Cabinet Member for Growth, Place and Regeneration at Chichester District Council. “We know that current occupiers of premises on Terminus Road need storage space and extra parking. The project will look at whether these options are possible as well as other potential uses for the land. The work will take account of the council’s Climate Change Action Plan, including consideration of the trees and hedges on site.
Cabinet has agreed to release £10,000 to progress this project.
Chichester Local plan - why it is important - 3rd December 2020
District Dispatch – Why the Local Plan is vital in protecting our area
Over the past couple of weeks, I have read with interest the articles claiming that we must ‘delay the local plan,’ and I felt I needed to respond to explain why this is the worst thing we could do.
There is one thing all of us have in common – we all want to protect our district for years to come and retain its character and beauty. The only way we can achieve this is by having a Local Plan, because it is the only way we can control development – and this is why it is so important we continue to progress with this important piece of work.
The message from Government has never been clearer – progress your plan or risk losing local control over the plan. The Secretary of State has powers to intervene in the production of the Plan, where he considers that a local planning authority is failing to prepare, revise or adopt a Plan. I’m sure that you will agree that we must not reach this point and it is vital that we keep this control locally.
You may also remember that we have already strongly requested an extension of time in which to prepare our plan from the Government, pointing out the unique character of the area and the challenging environmental constraints we face. We have also made strong representations to the Government about the proposed changes to the planning system. Unfortunately, as things stand, no extension has been given to us and we wait to see with interest how the Government proceeds with its proposals for the future planning system.
In one of the articles written it suggested that a moratorium must be imposed on all new large housing developments. This isn’t possible. Even if we could delay investment in homes and jobs, under the law, developers have the right to submit planning applications which must be determined within agreed timescales. If not, they have a right of appeal to Planning Inspectors and we would be likely to be found to have acted unreasonably, with applicants appeal costs awarded against us.
Now, let us focus on what the Local Plan can deliver. Firstly, it is a chance for us all come together to protect our area and take control of how we want our district to look in the future. The issues raised by the Harbour Trust and its campaign – nitrates, sewerage capacity and roads infrastructure - require long term thinking that a Local Plan provides.
But the Plan is not just about housing. There are proposals for jobs – something that is more vital than ever – wildlife corridors and other environmental improvements. These all need the Plan to proceed.
The Plan gives us the chance to take control and to make sure that we access the infrastructure we so desperately need. Without the Plan, we will not be able to access the funding for this. This type of funding pays for roads, schools, medical facilities, community facilities, parks and more.
By progressing with the Plan, we are testing the evidence to see whether we can deliver our identified development needs in a way which will have weight with Government Planning Inspectors. This will strengthen our case with Developers, Planning Inspectors and the Government, when considering development proposals and making the case for investment in our area, which is vital for the future of our children and grandchildren.
Unfortunately, planning issues are never simple. To get through them, we need to work together, look at the evidence and build a plan that will protect our local plan area while delivering much needed jobs, housing and infrastructure. Your views and involvement are at the heart of this – which is why we consult with you regularly throughout the whole process. We are aware that concerns have been raised that decisions around the A27 are being taken in secret. You can be absolutely assured that this is not the case. Any proposals that are part of the Chichester Local Plan will be fully consulted on with both our partners and our communities.
What you can be sure of is that our priority is to get the very best outcome for our district, our residents and our businesses – and with your help, I believe that we can achieve this.
Best Wishes,
Cllr Susan Taylor
Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning at Chichester District Council
Help from Community Hub 6th November 2020
Community hub is here to help
Our COVID-19 Community Hub remains open and continues to focus on helping the most vulnerable in our county, providing support, information and guidance. More details about how the Community Hub can help your local vulnerable residents, their families and carers can be found on our website.
If their request is urgent, for example, they are going to run out of food or medication within the next three days, please encourage them to call: 033 022 27980.
PLAYGROUND TO REMAIN OPEN - 6th November 2020
Crooked Lane Playground will remain open during this second lockdown. Please follow the guidance carefully and DO NOT use the play area if you or your children are showing symptoms.
PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE
During this second lockdown the playground will remain OPEN
Please use your own hand sanitiser before and after using the play equipment to keep everybody safe.
Anyone showing symptoms should NOT use the play area but stay at home and follow government guidance on self-isolation.
Social distancing remains in place which can be hard with little ones – please be vigilant!
- Limit your time so that everyone can use the playground safely
- Monitor and take responsibility for your children at all times
- Do not overcrowd play equipment
- Consider taking wipes to clean and disinfect touch points
- Avoid eating and drinking in the play area
- Please take your litter home with you – thank you!
Certificate of Employers' Public Liability Certificate
Support for early years - WSCC
Many families are looking forward to the time when we will be able to open the doors to our Children and Family and FindItOut centres again, and we will share news when it becomes available.
In the meantime, Early Help continues to deliver its core offer during the summer holidays. A new programme of services for families, children and young people aged 0-19 (25 with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)) is now available.
If you require support for your family, please call your local duty team for assistance. Contact details for our teams can be found at the rear of our programme.
Have your say - consultation on Dog control orders in public places
Council tax hardship scheme expanded to help more economically vulnerable residents in Chichester District
Leading councillors have agreed to expand a scheme which helps economically vulnerable people in Chichester District pay their council tax.
In March, the council was issued with £699,000 of Government funding to help those experiencing financial hardship as a direct result of COVID-19 to pay their council tax.
As a result, all working age recipients who already received the council’s own Council Tax Reduction support automatically received £150 and all new Council Tax Reduction recipients who are eligible will also receive £150 for the 2020-21 financial year, subject to funding being available.
It is estimated that providing support to existing and future working age recipients of Council Tax Reduction will account for around half of the funding. To ensure that as many people are supported as possible, councillors have agreed to extend this support to pension-age recipients of Council Tax Reduction and all council tax payers that are financially vulnerable as a result of the pandemic.
Applicants will need to demonstrate that they are financially vulnerable as a result of COVID-19 and are finding it difficult to pay their Council Tax.
“The funding is there to complement our own existing Council Tax Reduction Scheme which supports residents on low incomes,” explains Councillor Peter Wilding, Cabinet Member for Finance and Revenues at Chichester District Council. “The Government is allowing local authorities the freedom to decide how best to use any remaining funding for council tax support.
“We wanted to extend this support to include other council tax payers that may be financially vulnerable as a result of Covid-19 and it will allow us to support those who are in the most need. We already have plans to proactively contact those residents who will benefit from this help.
“We understand that this is a difficult time for many people and I would urge anyone who is struggling to make payments to apply for Council Tax Reduction. This is a means tested benefit and does not take account of outgoings. If you think you may be eligible, please visit our website for further details and to apply at: www.chichester.gov.uk/myaccount
“If you are already in receipt of Council Tax Reduction and are still having difficulties paying your bills, you can now apply for this new support by filling in the Discretionary Housing Payment application form at: www.chichester.gov.uk/benefitforms
“Residents can also contact us by emailing benefits@chichester.gov.uk or calling 01243 534509.”