It's the end of a long week. I’m writing to you with my latest
update on the response to the Coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic in
Harrow. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌


[Message from GT]

Dear John,

We've come to the end of a long week and the first, for many, under
lockdown. Below is my latest update on the response to the Coronavirus
or COVID-19 pandemic in Harrow. As the situation evolves, I continue
to update my website [[link removed]] –
covering where to find support, keep safe and assist local people in
Harrow. Be sure to share this message with friends, family, neighbours
and local businesses in order to strengthen our collective response to
COVID-19 in Harrow. The situation is rapidly changing and the response
to Coronavirus is being directed by Government centrally working with
Public Health England, the Government’s advice is available here
[[link removed]].
Government assistance specifically for businesses is available here
[[link removed]].

As always, if you ever need to get in touch about the issues
covered here – or anything else – please contact my office on 0207
219 4243 or e-mail me at [email protected]. Please bear
with us, as we have received over 5 times our usual weekly amount of
correspondence. My team and I are working hard to respond as promptly
as possible. Although we have had to cancel face to face surgery
appointments, we are now scheduling regular Zoom surgeries and phone
calls with Harrow West constituents.

WORK IN PARLIAMENT

A lot of attention has been on Northwick Park Hospital this week after
the declaration of a “critical incident” last Thursday. At the
beginning of the week I sent this letter
[[link removed]]
to the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock asking what assurances the
hospital can expect in preparation for an increase in covid-19 cases,
as well as addressing the important need for personal protective
equipment and testing for staff. I will provide an update once I
receive a response.

Due to the situation at Northwick Park, it’s no surprise my question
at Prime Minister’s Questions this week was centred on the lack of
personal protective equipment and the urgent need for frontline staff
to gain access to coronavirus testing at Northwick Park. This can be
viewed here
[[link removed]]
.
[[link removed]]
I believe the response does not go far enough and will be deeply
concerning for many healthcare workers on the front-line in Northwick
Park Hospital. The Prime Minister is not providing the assurances
necessary to keep staff, their patients and their families safe. If we
are going to arrive at the promised 250,000 tests a day, we are going
to need to start with those working on the front-line. As the Harrow
Times reports
[[link removed]],
staff are reporting “a sense of paranoia”, as they deal with a
large influx of Covid-19 patients. One staff member describes having
to reuse visors previously discarded to prevent cross-contamination.

My interview with Get West London
[[link removed]]
outlines some of my most recent communication with staff at Northwick
Park - dedicated front-line workers who are under utmost pressure and
have not been prioritised for high quality personal protective
equipment. The staff at Northwick Park must be prioritised, and I will
continue to fight their corner – everyone is at risk while our
front-line staff is at risk.

The Easter recess of 2019 was cut short in order to ensure Brexit
legislation was voted on, this week the Government laid a motion
calling for Parliament to adjourn early on Wednesday. If we are
expecting key workers to be in work, I fundamentally believe
parliamentary scrutiny must be considered just as important at this
time. This is a time when the Government are trying to find the
answers to many far-reaching questions. My office is receiving
hundreds of letters of correspondence a day – with constituents
stuck in self-employment, waiting in a virtual queue for Universal
Credit, or stuck abroad. I echo what other Members have been saying,
that we are living in extraordinary times and Parliament should
respond dynamically, adapting with extraordinary measures.

FINDING SUPPORT

If you think you fall into a category that makes you vulnerable to
coronavirus – PLEASE REGISTER WITH THE GOVERNMENT HERE
[[link removed]]. For example,
you’ll be able to ask for help getting deliveries of essential
supplies like food.

If you’re not sure whether your medical condition makes you
extremely vulnerable, register anyway. This service is free. You can
register yourself, or on behalf of someone else.
[[link removed]]

ST MARY’S CHURCH - If you are in need of support or company – a
visit (where possible), a telephone call, help with shopping etc. St.
Mary’s would like you to get in contact. You can do this in a
variety of ways via the Church Office. The Office is open on Tuesdays
and Thursdays 9am – 2pm but the messages will be checked daily.

Email: [email protected], Tel: 020 8423 4014 (answerphone:
leave your contact details)

HARROW CENTRAL MOSQUE – Harrow Mosque is providing a free food and
essentials transport service to elderly and vulnerable people in
Harrow who require assistance with medical collection or other
essentials –

Call or SMS: 07874869484 E-mail: [email protected]

KEEPING SAFE

Following the Prime Minister’s statement on Monday, the additional
powers announced by the government will make it an offence for
non-essential premises to remain open, and for people to gather in
groups.

THE MET POLICE have reported the vast majority of people are being
positive and are complying with the restrictions, however should it
become necessary, they will be able to issue penalty notices (PND) to
those aged 18+ only, starting at £60 (reduced to £30 if paid within
14 days) or £120 for second time offenders, doubling on each further
repeat offence.

TRANSPORT FOR LONDON have reported that every day this week, passenger
numbers on the tube overall have declined. Travel is now 93% down on
the same time last year. Despite this, on a very small number of
trains, on a handful of lines, some carriages can still be busy -
especially between the time of 05:45 and 07:30.

As you may have seen, TfL has put placards up at around 30 of
London’s stations that remain (in relative terms) the busiest,
including Harrow & Wealdstone. They state:

_CORONAVIRUS: STAY HOME, SAVE LIVES_

_DO NOT ENTER THIS STATION OR TRAVEL UNLESS YOU ARE A CRITICAL
WORKER._

_IF YOU ARE MAKING AN ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL JOURNEY, PLEASE AVOID:05:45
TO 07:30 AND 16:00 TO 17:30 IF YOU CAN._

TFL believe the occupations of a number of station users are leading
to demand that is still relatively high compared to stations elsewhere
– such as a high concentration of self-employed and public sector
workers as well as a high volume of construction workers using TfL
services from some stations.

On Friday (27/03), early-morning Tube use was down another 7 per cent
on yesterday and buses by 5 per cent across the city. But the Mayor
is absolutely clear that more Londoners need to do the right thing and
stay at home. Nearly 30% of tube staff are off sick or
self-isolating so it is not possible to run more public transport
services. 

HARROW COUNCIL has a webpage covering their own response, this is
regularly being updated and is available here
[[link removed]] .

This week, the council has announced a temporary relaxation in
Controlled Parking Zones for residents living in the CPZs and carers
on home visits. The COVID-19 SELF-EMPLOYMENT INCOME SUPPORT SCHEME
allows businesses to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of trading
profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for the next 3 months.
This may be extended. Read more
[[link removed]].
All eligible businesses in retail, hospitality and leisure sectors
have been informed they will not have to pay business rates for 12
months from 1 April 2020.

Some 6,400 households in Harrow will benefit from a £150 discount to
reduce their Council Tax. The funding is given to everyone who gets
Council Tax Support and is of working age. Find out more
[[link removed]].
Harrow Leisure Centre, Bannister Sports Centre, and Hatch End Swimming
Pool and Harrow Recycling Centre have all closed until further notice.

Council Leader Graham Henson released the below statement outlining
the need for Harrow residents to follow the rules put in place by the
Prime Minister earlier this week.

[Cllr Henson statement]

NORTHWICK PARK HOSPITAL has now put the below restrictions in
place 👇

VISITORS WILL NOW ONLY BE CONSIDERED IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES,
INCLUDING:

- for a patient at end of life

- one regular carer for a patient with additional needs, such as a
patient

- with dementia

- one parent/guardian for a child

- one birth partner

Please speak to the nurse or midwife in charge of the ward or unit to
consider any exceptional arrangements.

ANY VISITORS WHO ARE ALLOWED MUST:

- not come to the hospital if you are feeling unwell, including cold
or flu symptoms

- wash or gel your hands as soon as you enter a ward or unit

- follow the additional measures that will be requested by our staff
if you are visiting a patient with an infection.

THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT CAN BE FOUND HERE
[[link removed]]

CAN YOU PROVIDE SUPPORT?

#COFFEEVSCOVID - BUY AN NHS WORKER A COFFEE – Last week, a group of
friends began raising money to fund small acts of kindness in
support of London's NHS staff. They asked nurses, doctors and NHS
trusts what the public could do to help, and they replied by asking
for coffee and snacks to help keep morale high. We might not be in a
position to buy ventilators, but we can each send a cup of coffee.

Donate what you can, support is being given to Northwick Park staff
and all the money raised will be shared proportionately across
London's major hospitals at the end of each week in support of
existing staff welfare provisions. 

VCS – FEEDING HARROW

[VCS Feeding Harrow]

An emergency collaboration of voluntary groups has formed in response
to Covid-19, Feeding Harrow will provide meals and food for people in
isolation across Harrow. THE DROP OFF POINT is KIND CAFÉ @ THE
BRIDGE, MONDAY TO FRIDAY, 10:30AM-4PM

HARROW FOODBANK

Due to the number of volunteers over 70 or self isolating along with
the increase in demand Harrow Foodbank needs additional volunteers.
They are looking for volunteers.

If you are available please sign up here
[[link removed]]

DONATIONS OF HAND SANITISER NEEDED 

A number of our local organisations who work directly with clients;
providing home care or transport are not able to find hand sanitiser.

If you have any spare to donate to a local cause please contact us and
we will distribute it to local organisations.
[email protected]

MY YARD ARE REQUESTING MOBILE PHONES / ELECTRONIC DEVICES / FOOD

During this time My Yard is managing to source groceries and meals for
many vulnerable people. They have an amazing team of volunteers and
have been supported by City Harvest, who have donated food as well as
Marks and Spencer’s.

However, the group would like to reach out and ask if anyone could
spare any old iPads or phones for children to use and, if possible,
sponsor a sim and data to go with this. Children are really struggling
in overcrowded situations and little social contact.

Specific items are in shortage for young and old and many are without
gas or electricity so if you want to sponsor some food, donate or if
you have an old electronic spare, they could help someone unable to be
in communication with others. Please get in touch:

 [link removed] [[link removed]  ]   
[[link removed]  ]

[email protected]  

07939 917800

NHS VOLUNTEER RESPONDERS

NHS Volunteer Responders has been set up to support the NHS during the
COVID-19 outbreak. To do this the NHS is calling on an 'army' of
volunteers who can support the 1.5m people in England who are at most
risk from the virus to stay well. Our doctors, nurses and other
professionals will be able to refer people in to NHS Volunteer
Responders and be confident that they have been matched with a
reliable, named volunteer. Sign up here.
[[link removed]]

HELP FROM ME 

I appreciate that whilst this outbreak of Covid-19 is currently
dominating a lot of our thoughts, other concerns and problems do not
disappear. However, to help reduce the spread of infection, I am
asking members of the public who need to contact my office to do so by
phone or email rather than in person and further, I will now be
holding surgery appointments exclusively by telephone and Zoom video
conferencing. This is a temporary measure and a sensible precaution to
protect vulnerable people. Please be assured we continue to offer a
full service of advice and support to members of the public who need
it.

As always, my office can be contacted
on [email protected] or by telephone on 0207 219 4243
(Monday-Friday).

STAY AT HOME AND SAVE LIVES.

Best wishes,

GARETH

[Facebook: [link removed]]
[[link removed]]
[Twitter: [link removed]]
[[link removed]]

If you'd rather not receive future emails from us, please click here
to manage your communication preferences
[[link removed]].

Sent by email from the Labour Party, promoted by Keith Ferry on behalf
of Gareth Thomas, both at 132-134 Blenheim Road, Harrow, HA2 7AA
Website: www.labour.org.uk to join or renew call 0345 092 2299.

                                             
             

The Labour Party, 105 Victoria St Westminster, London, SW1E 6QT, United Kingdom
[link removed]