3 March 2020

Help for patients requiring urgent and emergency care is still available across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin while health experts deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Although the advice for most people remains ‘Stay at Home’, medical care is still available through GP surgeries and the Emergency Departments at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) and the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford.

Emergency Departments at RSH and PRH remain open for patients who have suffered a serious injury, severe Illness or a medical emergency.

An emergency is a critical or life-threatening situation, such as:

• loss of consciousness
• acute confused state and fits that are not stopping
• persistent, severe chest pain
• persistent, severe abdominal pain
• breathing difficulties
• swelling, redness or pain around a cut or wound and a very high or low temperature
• severe bleeding that cannot be stopped
• severe allergic reactions
• severe burns or scalds

Choking, chest pain, blacking out, blood loss and fractures are all considered emergencies and those with these symptoms should not hesitate to visit the Emergency Department.

Dr Arne Rose, Medical Director at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), which runs RSH and PRH, said: “Whilst the general advice is to stay at home as much as possible, and whilst we do have restrictions on visiting to our hospitals, it is important that people who need emergency care get that care as soon as possible.

“Some people may think that they are doing the right thing by not contacting their GP or not coming to A&E, but they could actually be making things worse for themselves in the long run.

“Our Emergency Departments are only for serious injury, severe illness or medical emergencies but, throughout this outbreak, they remain open and to ready help.”

GP practices are still operating but patients must not turn up at their practice with an appointment.

Nicky Wilde, Director of Primary Care for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin CCGs, said: “Anyone with Covid-19 related symptoms must contact 111 in the first instance, however GP practices are still open and during this period of Covid-19 we are asking patients not to turn up at their practice without a pre-booked appointment and to contact their practice by telephone.” 

Patients will be asked a set of questions to ensure that they are referred to the best healthcare professional to help.

Further information can be found by visiting www.shropshireccg.nhs.uk/news/important-information-for-patients-booking-appointments-at-gp-practices-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/

There is also lots of information on a whole range of health issues and conditions online at 111.nhs.uk along with details on how to treat symptoms and where to get help.

COVID-19: Working together to beat the virus

The Coronavirus is a concern for us all across West Mercia and during these uncertain times we must work together to ease the situation. We all have our part to play and there are many ways to offer support to our communities’ most vulnerable whilst ensuring personal safety. I have seen communities come together throughout Shropshire to provide services such as collecting prescriptions, shopping or even offering phone calls to ensure those most vulnerable are still cared for and not lonely. As Commissioner I would encourage you all to keep safe and listen to guidelines issued by the Government and local authorities but keep community spirit going and look out for each other.

More information about offering support across Shropshire can be found here: https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/coronavirus/resources-for-local-communities/

Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion

The West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner is launching hi draft Road Safety Strategy for consultation. This strategy has three key themes:

• Reducing Casualties through Prevention;
• Effective Enforcement; and
• Offender Rehabilitation and Victim Support.

The survey only takes a few minutes to complete. The survey can be found through this link https://www.surveygizmo.eu/s3/90214147/Road-Safety-Strategy-Consultation

The consultation will close on Friday 20^th March, information can be found at www.westmercia-pcc.gov.uk

Thanks to the hard work and generosity of members of the Whittington community, local businesses and organisations, Whittington residents and visitors will be able to enjoy a light display this Christmas. The Parish Council were devastated when they were told by their lighting contractor last Friday that the Christmas Tree lights on the Green has been vandalised and damaged so badly during the year that they were no longer fit for purpose. These lights have lit up the centre of Whittington for several years and were added to last Christmas, with an additional set, to further enhance the display. With only 7 working days until Christmas, it seemed unlikely that the Parish Council would be able to replace them this year but thanks to the generosity of a neighbouring Town Council and a team of local electrical engineers, a set of lights have now gone up on the Tree in the Car Park of the Ye Olde Boote Inn.

Mrs Amy Jones, Clerk to the Parish Council, commented, “As it is so close to Christmas, we sent out a plea to neighbouring Town Councils to see if anyone had any lights available to borrow and by a stroke of luck, Ellesmere Town Council had a spare set of tree lights that they were not using this year. They very kindly offered them to Whittington Parish Council to borrow this year and the landlord of the Boote Inn kindly agreed to having the lights on the tree in the car park as the Green was now too wet to get machinery on to erect the display. Our electrical engineers, Highline, pulled out all the stops and put up the lights for us the Friday before Christmas meaning there will be light in the village this year!”

Mrs Jones added, “To top it all off, when an initial message went out on the Parish Council Facebook Page to explain why the lights were not on this Christmas, members of the community rallied around and set up a Crowd Funding Page to support the Parish Council with purchasing a new set of lights for next year. They managed to raise a fantastic £300 which is being transferred to the council and will be used to put on an enhanced display for Christmas 2020. We can’t thank everybody enough for their generosity and hard work; pulling together to make this happen for the village”.

Mrs Jill Whitby, Chair of the Parish Council, added “I am overwhelmed by the offers of support, and at our meeting on Tuesday, the Council agreed to try and pull out all the stops to ensure that the Village once again had the Christmas Spirit. On behalf of the Council, I personally would like to thank Ellesmere Town Council, Highline Electrical, Nick and the Boote Inn, and all the Parishioners who helped to make this possible”.

Local NHS health professionals are advising residents where to go to get medical help and advice when their GP practice is closed this festive period.

Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are reminding people that although GP practices will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, there are other services available.

For anyone who needs urgent medical help or advice they can call NHS 111 for free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or they can access the service online at 111.nhs.uk.

A number of pharmacies will be open for limited hours, on a rota on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Your pharmacist will be able to give you free advice on minor conditions and over-the-counter treatments.

You can also download the NHS App to check symptoms, book GP appointments during normal opening hours, and request repeat prescriptions.

Dr Julian Povey, Chair of Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “Christmas is a busy time of year and that’s why it is really important people think about their healthcare needs.

“If you have a regular prescription, make sure you have enough to cover the festive period and you collect it in advance.

“Remember your local pharmacist can offer you free health advice without the need of an appointment, or if you are feeling unwell and need urgent health advice call NHS 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk.”

Dr Jo Leahy, Chair of Telford & Wrekin CCG, said: “We can all help ourselves stay well by making sure we have the essentials to treat minor coughs, colds and sore throats ready, to hand in our medicine cabinets. Please remember, as well as looking after yourself, to pop in and check on your elderly family, friends and neighbours too.”

For pharmacy opening times in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin click here (insert links).

For more information on what you can do to stay well this winter, please visit: www.nhs.uk/staywell.

Community Speed Watch schemes are coordinated by the police but managed and run by volunteers in the community.

The scheme enables local people to take an active role in road safety and help to make their community safer.

If you would like to find out more and are interested in becoming a volunteer with the Whittington Community Speed Watch Scheme, please contact the Parish Clerk: 01691 829571 / clerk@whittingtonpc.com

At the September 2019 meeting of the council, councillors discussed Oswestry Town Council’s recent pledge to aim to plant 17 thousand trees by 2023 and the NALC report and Tree Charter. Whittington Parish Council agreed to support the pledge to plant more trees in the parish and will actively engage with Oswestry Town Council to support them in achieving this goal.

If you would like to plant your own tree(s) on land that you own, trees can be purchased from the Woodland Trust:

https://shop.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees