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. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌


[COVID Update]

Dear
John,

Below is my latest update on the response to the Coronavirus or
COVID-19 pandemic locally. 

Ramadan Mubarak to all of my Muslim friends and constituents in
Harrow. I know this holy month will be different for so many, with
prayers taken at home and not at the mosque. I’m sure the joy of
attending the Iftar with close family and friends will be missed but I
know that everyone is doing their best to respect social distancing
and keep everyone safe at this time. The immense generosity and
charitable efforts of religious communities and many secular groups
continue stronger than ever, ensuring those impacted by the
coronavirus are being supported across Harrow.

My thoughts continue to be with the loved ones of those who have sadly
died, and with those who have contracted the virus. I can only begin
to imagine the sense of fear and loss the families must be
feeling.  As a community, we are immensely grateful to all of our
NHS staff, social care workers and all of our key workers, who are
working tirelessly to help us deal with this crisis. I hope readers
continue to stay safe, stay indoors and regularly check in on loved
ones. A minute’s silence will be held across the UK on TUESDAY
(28TH APRIL) at 11AM to honour all healthcare and key workers who
have died from coronavirus. Read more
[[link removed]]

I continue to update my website
[[link removed]] – covering where to
find support, keep safe and assist local people in Harrow. If you have
anything you would like to me to feature in this update please send me
an e-mail with the subject “Covid-19 newsletter” and be sure to
share this message with friends, family, neighbours and local
businesses in order to strengthen our collective response to COVID-19.
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. 

[Twyford Rd rainbows]

WEST HARROW’S MOST COLOURFUL NOTICEBOARD FOUND ON TWYFORD RD, SENT
TO ME FROM @MARTIN_THOMAS ON TWITTER

PARLIAMENT

[Virtual parliament]

As I mentioned last week, decades are taking places in weeks and this
week, Parliament returned from Easter recess into the Twenty First
Century. This week, my parliamentary colleagues and I were able to
quiz ministers via Zoom for the first time in the House of Commons
700-year history.

AIRPORT AND PORT CHECKS

Following my correspondence with the Sec of State for Transport, I
have been calling for urgent temperature testing to be implemented at
UK ports and Airports. 

During this lockdown period, on average over 15,000 people per day are
travelling into the UK. We now know that places where the pandemic has
successfully been contained, such as Hong Kong, have required everyone
passing through their ports and airports to be tested and if
necessary, to then isolate themselves. Such a move here would also
help to protect staff and other passengers and crucially help to
maintain confidence in Britain’s key trading routes.

As testing has rapidly becoming the norm at Airports and Ports across
and the globe, the UK’s current position is likely to be
increasingly questioned in the face of more robust testing regimes
across the world.  Read my comments in The Mirror.
[[link removed]]

TRADE QUESTIONS

As I have been raising over the past month, the lack of Personal
Protective Equipment and other supplies essential to fight Covid-19
has left the Government with serious questions to answer regarding
their handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

In my role as Shadow Minister for International Trade I have tabled a
selection of urgent questions to the Department of International Trade
to study why procurement of these essential resources from overseas
has been a reoccurring problem. 

I hope the answers to these questions will help us understand what
lessons can be learned to ensure our frontline staff have the
equipment they need to keep themselves and their families safe as they
work in our NHS and care homes across the UK.

HARROW COUNCIL

[HC Coronavirus response]

The council has a webpage covering their own response, this is
regularly being updated and IS AVAILABLE HERE
[[link removed]] .

The economic implications of Covid-19 for our community are too early
to tell and there is some way to go before the lockdown and social
distancing measures are eased. However, I have been having very
preliminary conversations with the leader and Chief executive of our
council to discuss what economic levers can be used alongside central
government support to help kick start our economy so that our town
centre and other local shopping areas can return with confidence.

Councils across London are estimating a cost between £40-60 million
so far in dealing with the pandemic but while some money has arrived
from Central Government, councils are still waiting on vital funds. If
the Council are not properly reimbursed this could impact Council Tax
levels for many of the most vulnerable, or have a drastic impact on
public services. I will be campaigning alongside my colleagues to make
sure our councils are in receipt of these vital funds. 

As of Friday, the council have processed 580 applications and paid out
£10,785,000 of HARDSHIP AND BUSINESS SUPPORT GRANTS. The council
are working around the clock, 7 days a week, continuing to communicate
to business owners and are planning a (possible virtual) surgery for
business owners. Sadly not all businesses are eligible for assistance
from the Government scheme and I am supporting the “raise the
bar” campaign for local businesses like Harrow’s much loved
independent music venue and bar, Trinity to secure access to the
grant. I have joined a number of colleagues in calling on the
Government to raise "the bar", to expand the rateable value threshold
for all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses from £51,000 to
any business with a rateable value up to and including £150,000. This
will allow businesses like Trinity to gain access to the £25,000
grant imperative for its survival. For more details on Trinity Bar’s
funding and ways to support – please check out their Go Fund Me
[[link removed]] and
you can   Read more about the “Raise the Bar” campaign here.
[[link removed]]

The Headstone Manor’s planned V-E Day events, including the
exhibition, have been postponed. The exhibition has been re-scheduled
to open on Tuesday, 21 July 2020. Harrow Arts Centre has launched two
initiatives, #HACFromHome where the council showcases its own online
content and #HACSupports highlighting activity from Harrow artists and
performance companies.

CORONAVIRUS HOTLINE

The council have set up a hotline telephone number to support those in
need of assistance in Harrow, if you are in need of support due to
Covid please give the hotline a call - 0208 901 2698

[The brightest rainbow on top of Harrow on the Hill outside St
Anselm's Primary School]

THE BRIGHTEST RAINBOW ON TOP OF HARROW ON THE HILL OUTSIDE ST ANSELM'S
PRIMARY SCHOOL

NHS

A lot of people will feel they shouldn’t burden the NHS with serious
matters that are not related to Covid-19, but the NHS message is that
you should seek help when you need it, call your GP or 111 for advice,
in a life threatening emergency call 999. Primary care is still
ongoing for serious cancer, stroke and chest pain referrals, while
less urgent cases are being put on hold.

NHS dentists are still operating but only emergency procedures are
taking place at this time. All NHS practices are expected to be
providing urgent telephone advice and triage. Anyone with a regular
dentist should, as a first step, call their practice. PATIENTS SHOULD
NOT VISIT THE PRACTICE. The dentist will assess the patient’s
condition, give advice, and if needed, issue prescriptions for
painkillers or antibiotics which can then be collected from, or
delivered by a local pharmacy. Anyone without a regular dentist may
refer to [link removed]
[[link removed]] to obtain details
of a local practice. 

COVID 19 HOT HUB DEVELOPMENT

With the number of cases of Coronavirus escalating during early and
mid-March 2020, NHS England requested that CCGs develop a COVID-19
Clinic Hot Hubs where potentially infected patients could be assessed,
with clinical interventions undertaken. The primary patient cohort for
the hub would be any patients suspected as having Coronavirus, and
those patients confirmed as having the COVID-19 infection but who did
not require hospitalisation.

NHS Harrow CCG reviewed potential sites for this service, looking at
the Pinn Medical Centre, Belmont Health Centre, and the Alexandra
Avenue Health & Care Centre. Following detailed discussions it was
agreed that the Alexandra Avenue site was best able to deliver the
service model specified by NHS England. The CCG entered into
discussions with the Alexandra Avenue GP Access Centre (GPAC)  Hub
provider and they agreed to repurpose the GPAC to create the COVID-19
Hub. 

The COVID-19 Hub opened on Tuesday 21st March receiving patients.
Patients can only be seen at the Hub if they have first been assessed
by their registered GP, or undergone assessment by the NHS 111
service. There is no Walk-In element to the COVID 19 hub, for obvious
infection control reasons. 

The table and graph below give details of the referral source,
activity and outcomes for the COVID 19 Hub since opening.

[Covid HotHub Booked Apps]

[Daily Hot Hub utilisation]

VCS FEEDING HARROW

[HVCS]

This week, Stanmore Temple and mosque have joined the collaborative
‘Feeding Harrow’ operation – between Harrow Council, the
Voluntary Community Sector (VCS), Harrow Community Transport (HCT),
The Bridge, My Yard, The Breaking Bread Trust, Harrow School and
others.

Over 5000 food deliveries have now taken place across Harrow and VCS
have setup an online system combining food requests with available
stocks at hubs and delivery allocation -  www.helpharrow.org
[/www.helpharrow.org] will take direct food requests from residents.
All of the Harrow Council and central government shielded list has
already been referred for delivery. 

If you can donate any food - KIND CAFÉ @ THE BRIDGE, WEALDSTONE,
HARROW HA3 5AB Monday to Friday 10:30AM-4PM, and they can arrange
larger quantities for collection. 

FINDING SUPPORT

Do you have a medical condition that makes you vulnerable? Please
register.

A reminder, if you think you fall into a category that makes you
vulnerable to coronavirus – register with the Government here
[[link removed]]. For example,
you’ll be able to ask for help getting deliveries of essential
supplies like food. The council has just started to receive this
information and is working with local organisations to provide support
to those who apply.

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]]

HARROW TALKING THERAPIES - The coronavirus crisis is unlike anything
many of us will have encountered before and will, at some point, take
its toll on our own mental well-being and the well-being of those
closest to us. For anyone who is struggling with their mental health
at this current time - Harrow Talking Therapies is a FREE NHS service
offering support to those who are finding the current situation
difficult. They offer 1:1 support via telephone or Video call. They
offer bereavement support, anxiety and worry management support, low
mood support and also help if you are self-isolating, or feel isolated
being on your own at this time amongst other support you might be
needing at this time. 

Please get in touch by calling 0208 515 5015 (lines are open
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) or emailing  [email protected]. You will be
assessed very quickly and booked in for treatment quickly too.

CORONAVIRUS SCAMS - The Government are advising the public to be extra
vigilant and be wary of scams related to Covid-19, please read the
Government's guidance here -
[link removed]
[[link removed]]

A COVID-19 COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUP has been set-up, coordinating
action within WhatsApp groups for every ward in Harrow in order to
provide support to local residents – you are welcome to  join the
Facebook group here
[[link removed]] 
[[link removed]]and
if you are not a Facebook member but would like to join your ward’s
WhatsApp group – e-mail [email protected] with your postcode
and the coordinators will add you to the correct group.

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]

CAN YOU PROVIDE SUPPORT?

VOLUNTARY ACTION HARROW, YOUNG HARROW FOUNDATION and HARROW
COMMUNITY ACTION continue to work with Harrow Council to help
coordinate a Harrow wide response to the Coronavirus outbreak and a
database is being compiled of people who are willing to volunteer.
Voluntary Action Harrow are using this database to inform people of
organisations looking for volunteers. Please sign up here: 
[link removed]
[[link removed]]

SPARE ROOM?

My office have been able to match key workers with free rooms for
those with family or housemates self-isolating. If you are able to
temporarily offer a spare room to a key worker currently unable to be
at home due to a family member or a housemate self-isolating, please
get in touch with my office by e-mailing
[email protected] with subject “spare room”.

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 continue to
hold 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

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