Monthly Archives: September 2020

New campaign urges Shropshire residents to step up fight against Covid19

Shropshire residents are being asked to ‘step up’ and play their part in stopping the spread of coronavirus and keep themselves and others safe.

‘Step Up Shropshire’ is the new countywide campaign launched to reinforce key public health messages.

Last week in Shropshire saw a further 75 confirmed cases, and we are strongly encouraging people of all ages, particularly the younger and working age population, to continue to play their part by keeping themselves and others safe

To reduce the county’s COVID-19 cases, Shropshire Council are urging residents to protect themselves and others by continuing to wash their hands, cover their faces if in enclosed spaces, and to socially distance from people not in their own household.

In addition, people are being asked to:

  • Work from home if you can
  • Limit contact with other people
  • Keep your distance from people not in your household bubble (2 metres apart where possible)
  • Stick to a maximum group of 6 people when meeting socially – indoors or outdoors
  • Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • If you are unable to wash hands and they are visibly clean, use hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol content
  • Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms
  • Wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will meet people you do not normally meet.
  • Anyone who has any symptoms should book a test and not leave home for at least 10 days. Those living in households should self-isolate for 14 days if they or any members of the household receive a positive test.

Rachel Robinson, Shropshire Council’s director of public health, said:

“All across the county, from Clun to Craven Arms and Wem to Whitchurch, everyone has made enormous sacrifices over the past few months

“But we are at a point where we need everyone across Shropshire to step up and help cut the rate of infections. The recent rise in local cases and the Government’s latest measures means we cannot afford to let our guard down.

“We need to do everything we can to keep our case rate down and avoid another lockdown.

“The message of this campaign is simple: everyone in Shropshire needs to step up and play our part. Wash your hands, keep your distance and wear a face covering when you need to.

“If you think you have symptoms, no matter how mild, book a test immediately, and if you test positive make sure you self-isolate for at least 10 days. If you fall ill, everyone who lives at your property must also self-isolate. Staying at home means not going out for any reason, including to work, or to the shops.”

Dean Carroll, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care, public health and climate change, said:

“Salopians are famous for stepping up when faced with adversity – and now we need people to do this more than ever.

“To put it bluntly, Shropshire cannot afford another lockdown.

“Everyone in Shropshire has a role to play – by getting tested if they have any symptoms, making sure they continue to socially distance, washing their hands, wearing face coverings, and meeting socially in groups of a maximum of six people, indoors or outdoors.

“Tests can be booked for yourself or any member of your household, if they have symptoms. All tests must be booked in advance. Residents can register online or by calling NHS Test and Trace on 119.”

Further information

For local advice and support during the pandemic (especially if you are self-isolating), call Shropshire Council’s COVID-19 Helpline on 0345 678 9028 (lines open on the weekend on Saturday from 9am-4pm and Sunday 9am-12pm) or visit Shropshire Council website at  www.shropshire.gov.uk/coronavirus.

NHS COVID-19 App

The new NHS COVID-19 app, now available to download for free in England and Wales, is the fastest way to see if you’re at risk from coronavirus. The faster you know, the quicker you can alert and protect your loved ones and community.

The app has a number of tools to protect you, including contact tracing, local area alerts and venue check-in. It uses proven technology from Apple and Google, designed to protect every user’s privacy. Read more about how we protect your data and privacy

Video: NHS COVID-19 app – download it today. Watch the video by clicking on the link below:

https://youtu.be/Pj_tV1v9MR8

Below we give a transcript of the above video.

The NHS COVID-19 app is a vital part in the fight against coronavirus.

Now based on Apple and Google’s privacy preserving technology the app will help us safely live our lives protecting you and others.

If your postcode district becomes high risk, the app will let you know – and give you advice on what action to take.

If you come into close contact with another user who reports a positive test result the app will send you an anonymous alert.

A built-in QR scanner lets you check in to venues quickly and easily.

You can check your symptoms in the app and if they suggest you may have coronavirus, the app is an easy way to get tested.

Any data shared with the app is held on your phone.

Nobody will know who or where you are. You can delete the app and all data at any time.

The NHS COVID-19 app is the fastest way to see if you’re at risk from the virus. The faster you know, the quicker you can alert and protect your loved ones. Download it today.

For further information visit The NHS COVID-19 app support pages at this link: https://covid19.nhs.uk/

Only order the medicines you need!

Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group and Telford CCG ask you to order only the medication you need. Patients are being advised to stop panic ordering prescriptions by health leaders in Shropshire, and Telford and Wrekin.

Shropshire CCG, and Telford and Wrekin CCG, have seen a second rise in the public trying to order their prescriptions ahead of time or asking for more than they need.

The CCGs have separate Prescription Ordering Services, known as POD.

Before lockdown, both services were flooded with requests from people unnecessarily stockpiling medication and trying to reactivate old prescription requests which were years out of date.

Both PODs introduced an email system in response to increased activity and to ease the pressure on phone lines. Emailing remains an option for people ordering repeat prescriptions.

Stephanie Munro-Jones, Lead Pharmacy Technician – POD at Shropshire CCG, said:

“We are asking people not to try ordering their medicines if they have more than seven days’ supply left, as their request will not be dealt with.”

Vicky Clayton, Senior Pharmacy Technician – POD Lead at Telford and Wrekin CCG, said:

“If patients are trying to order medicines before they should be, they are holding up the phone lines and clogging up the emails. This is stopping patients who really need medication from getting essential help.

“We will also not be requesting longer supplies than a person usually has.”

For patients registered with a Shropshire GP practice please call 033 33 583 509  or email: shropshire.pod@nhs.net.

Please visit https://www.shropshireccg.nhs.uk/local-services/prescription-ordering-direct-pod/ for more information on Shropshire’s POD service.

For patients registered with a Telford and Wrekin GP practice please call 01952 580350 or email: tw.pod@nhs.net.

Please visit https://www.telfordccg.nhs.uk/your-health/prescription-ordering-direct-pod for more information on Telford and Wrekin’s POD service.

Repeat prescription requests can also be submitted electronically by using the NHS app (download the app and register to use it) and patients can check their practice website about registering to use ‘Patient Access’ to submit prescription requests electronically.

Raising accessibility standards for new homes

Start Date:
1st October 2020

End Date:
30th November 2020

Start Time:
0001

End Time:
2345

The UK Government is consulting on “Raising accessibility standards for new homes”

This consultation considers how to raise accessibility standards, recognising the importance of suitable homes for older and disabled people.

In particular, it considers how the existing optional accessible and adaptable standard for homes and the wheelchair user standard are used and whether government should mandate a higher standard or reconsider the way the existing optional standards are used.

This link takes you to a PDF document ” Raising Accessible Standards in new homes”:   https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/917626/200813_con_doc_-_final.pdf takes you to a 21 page document on the proposals. It opens in a new window so you can read it and/or download it.

The above file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.  If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@communities.gov.ukPlease tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

This link takes you to a HTML document ” Raising Accessible Standards in new homes”:   https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/raising-accessibility-standards-for-new-homes/raising-accessibility-standards-for-new-homes-html-version

How to respond to this consultation:

On-line at this link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=EGg0v32c3kOociSi7zmVqHlYLEWClc5Jtgm6IQAhFnpUNzNLWFBQM0U0M1dNQVZQMTQ2N0kxU0I2VS4u

By email to: accessiblehomes@communities.gov.uk

Or you can send your comments to:

Accessible Homes Consultation
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
2nd Floor SW, Fry Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

Note this consultation closes on Tuesday 1st December at 2325

Telford and Wrekin Customer Strategy Consultation

Telford & Wrekin Council are asking residents and stakeholders for their views on the Council’s new Customer Strategy and new Customer Contract, which outlines their aims for how they want to serve their customers and sets out the standards of service that customers should expect to receive.

The consultation will give customers the opportunity to tell them about their previous experiences of contacting the Council, which will help them understand what they are currently doing well and what areas they need to improve.

The consultation starts on 25th September 2020 and 16th October 2020 but the deadline has now been extended by one week. Note the deadline for this consultation has now been changed to Friday 23rd October 2020 as Telford & Wrekin Council wish to receive as much feedback as possible.

To take part in this consultation please visit www.telford.gov.uk/customerconsultation .’

If you or someone you know would like to receive this survey in an alternative format, please email customer.insight@telford.gov.uk or telephone 01952 382006. Telford & Wrekin Council want this survey to be inclusive and would like to hear from SDN members.

To review the draft Customer Strategy and Customer Contract please visit   www.telford.gov.uk/customerconsultation this page also contains a link to the online survey.

For further general information about the consultation or would like to receive the consultation in a different format please email customer.insight@telford.gov.uk.

Raising accessibility standards for new homes

The UK Government is consulting on “Raising accessibility standards for new homes”

This consultation considers how to raise accessibility standards, recognising the importance of suitable homes for older and disabled people.

In particular, it considers how the existing optional accessible and adaptable standard for homes and the wheelchair user standard are used and whether government should mandate a higher standard or reconsider the way the existing optional standards are used.

This link takes you to a PDF document ” Raising Accessible Standards in new homes”:   https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/917626/200813_con_doc_-_final.pdf takes you to a 21 page document on the proposals. It opens in a new window so you can read it and/or download it.

The above file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.  If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@communities.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

This link takes you to a HTML document ” Raising Accessible Standards in new homes”:   https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/raising-accessibility-standards-for-new-homes/raising-accessibility-standards-for-new-homes-html-version

How to respond to this consultation:

On-line at this link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=EGg0v32c3kOociSi7zmVqHlYLEWClc5Jtgm6IQAhFnpUNzNLWFBQM0U0M1dNQVZQMTQ2N0kxU0I2VS4u

By email to: accessiblehomes@communities.gov.uk

Or you can send your comments to:

Accessible Homes Consultation
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
2nd Floor SW, Fry Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

Note this consultation closes on Tuesday 1st December at 2325

Telford and Wrekin Customer Strategy Consultation-Deadline extended to 23 October

Start Date:
25th September 2020

End Date:
23rd October 2020

Start Time:
0001

End Time:
2359

Telford & Wrekin Council are asking residents and stakeholders for their views on the Council’s new Customer Strategy and new Customer Contract, which outlines their aims for how they want to serve their customers and sets out the standards of service that customers should expect to receive.

The consultation will give customers the opportunity to tell them about their previous experiences of contacting the Council, which will help them understand what they are currently doing well and what areas they need to improve.

The consultation starts on 25th September 2020 and ends on Friday 16th October 2020 but the deadline has now been extended by one week. Note the deadline for this consultation has now been changed to Friday 23rd October 2020 as Telford & Wrekin Council wish to receive as much feedback as possible.

To take part in this consultation please visit www.telford.gov.uk/customerconsultation .’

If you or someone you know would like to receive this survey in an alternative format, please email customer.insight@telford.gov.uk or telephone 01952 382006. Telford & Wrekin Council want this survey to be inclusive and would like to hear from SDN members.

To review the draft Customer Strategy and Customer Contract please visit   www.telford.gov.uk/customerconsultation this page also contains a link to the online survey.

For further general information about the consultation or would like to receive the consultation in a different format please email customer.insight@telford.gov.uk.

New town centre shop will make it easier for people to access council services

Since Monday 7th September people have been able to drop into a shop unit in Shrewsbury’s Darwin Shopping Centre  to find out about new ways of accessing Shropshire Council and other local services, and to tell the council how they would like to access them, in light of the coronavirus lockdown.

The ‘Shropshire Local’ shop will be located in the former Disney Store, and aims to enable people to engage with the council, and to discuss their changing needs and preferred methods of accessing local services.

The shop will be staffed by an experienced team who will be able to talk to people about how they can – or would like to – access services provided by Shropshire Council and its partners, with an emphasis on doing so online and digitally.

It will be open six days a week, from 9am to 5.30pm from Monday to Friday, and from 10am to 4pm on Saturday.

Andy Begley, Shropshire Council’s acting interim chief executive, said:

“This is a new approach to help make the council more accessible to local people and to make it easier for people to find out more about local support services and how to best access them.

“Shropshire Local will give Shropshire Council a positive presence within the community while some of our main buildings remain closed to public access. Staffed by a team capable of having conversations around local support services and the most efficient way to access them, it will offer a space for people to come and talk to us to gain information, learn something or give us feedback.  The information gathered will be analysed and will be the basis for developing Shropshire Council’s new ways of working in the future.”

It’s hoped that having a town centre presence will help people to more easily access the support on offer from the council and its partners, and improve the way that the council engages with local residents.

If it proves to be successful it’s hoped that similar Shropshire Local shops will open in other towns in the future.

Leisure Facilities Strategy 2018-2023 Consultation

Start Date:
16th September 2020

End Date:
29th October 2020

Start Time:
0001

End Time:
2359

In 2018 Shropshire Council developed an Indoor Leisure Facility Strategy 2018-2023 which set out a hierarchy of provision across our leisure facilities.

They’ve delivered on a number of actions identified within the strategy but there is now a need to update it in light of changing needs, and alongside the development of a new Rural and Community Strategy, Corporate Plan and a place-based approach to the delivery of all the services we offer as a council.

This updated strategy will be an ever-evolving document to support the delivery of sport and physical activity, and will be the basis on which they will take forward sport and physical activity and leisure services with partners and stakeholders. The strategy is about the facilities needed to support residents to engage in physical activity whilst also contributing to place-making and to the identity of a locality, and informing the local plan.

The new strategy seeks to remove the current three-tier system of investment in facilities  which would have resulted in the closure of a number of facilities. It seeks to replace it with an approach based on community needs, aspirations, partnership, sustainability and resilience, whilst enabling a more commercial approach to service delivery.

The strategy also focuses on partnership working alongside shared services and investment based on community priorities. It will ensure that Shropshire Council services provide value for money to the local community taxpayers by reducing subsidy across the leisure facilities portfolio through the development of a mixed economy of provision and activity.

In some instances, a commercial approach will be appropriate to service delivery. Other areas of Shropshire will require a more community-based health and wellbeing service-based approach, focusing on increasing activity and interaction, whilst other areas will require a mixed economy of provision. This approach should secure a more sustainable offer across the whole of Shropshire.

Download  this document at this link: Shropshire Council Leisure Facilities Strategy Summary.pdf

You can comment on Shropshire Council Leisure Facilities Strategy proposals by completing a short survey. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LeisureFacilitiesStrategy

To find out more about the draft Leisure Facilities Strategy please email: leisure@shropshire.gov.uk

Note this Consultation is open from Wednesday 16th September 2020 and closes on Thursday 29th October 2020

Leisure Facilities Strategy 2018-2023 Consultation

In 2018 Shropshire Council developed an Indoor Leisure Facility Strategy 2018-2023 which set out a hierarchy of provision across our leisure facilities.

They’ve delivered on a number of actions identified within the strategy but there is now a need to update it in light of changing needs, and alongside the development of a new Rural and Community Strategy, Corporate Plan and a place-based approach to the delivery of all the services we offer as a council.

This updated strategy will be an ever-evolving document to support the delivery of sport and physical activity, and will be the basis on which they will take forward sport and physical activity and leisure services with partners and stakeholders. The strategy is about the facilities needed to support residents to engage in physical activity whilst also contributing to place-making and to the identity of a locality, and informing the local plan.

The new strategy seeks to remove the current three-tier system of investment in facilities  which would have resulted in the closure of a number of facilities. It seeks to replace it with an approach based on community needs, aspirations, partnership, sustainability and resilience, whilst enabling a more commercial approach to service delivery.

The strategy also focuses on partnership working alongside shared services and investment based on community priorities. It will ensure that Shropshire Council services provide value for money to the local community taxpayers by reducing subsidy across the leisure facilities portfolio through the development of a mixed economy of provision and activity.

In some instances, a commercial approach will be appropriate to service delivery. Other areas of Shropshire will require a more community-based health and wellbeing service-based approach, focusing on increasing activity and interaction, whilst other areas will require a mixed economy of provision. This approach should secure a more sustainable offer across the whole of Shropshire.

Download  this document at this link: Shropshire Council Leisure Facilities Strategy Summary.pdf

You can comment on Shropshire Council Leisure Facilities Strategy proposals by completing a short survey. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LeisureFacilitiesStrategy

To find out more about the draft Leisure Facilities Strategy please email: leisure@shropshire.gov.uk

Note this Consultation is open from Wednesday 16th September 2020 and closes on Thursday 29th October 2020