Health

Herefordshire Council are currently supporting Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in the control of an outbreak of Avian Influenza (H5N1 strain) affecting poultry in an intensive rearing unit in the Shobdon area near Leominster. This follows the Government’s confirmation of such a case, yesterday evening (Thursday 2^nd December).

I would personally like to reassure you that our officers are working closely with the APHA and other agencies in a coordinated response. These agencies are working together to contain the infection and our enforcement officers will therefore be visiting residents in the 3km radius surrounding the site to monitor, engage and inform those keeping birds and to assess or report any risks that might exist.

Latest updates on Avian Flu and related restrictions and protective measures can be found on the Government website . You can also see the location of the protection zone on the DEFRA website

You are probably aware that since the 3^rd November, the UK has been covered by a national Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) which means that it is now a legal requirement for all bird keepers to keep their birds indoors and to follow strict biosecurity measures.

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone means that bird keepers all across the country must:

• House or net all poultry and captive birds to keep them separate from wild birds;
• Cleanse and disinfect clothing, footwear, equipment and vehicles before and after contact with poultry and captive birds – if practical, use disposable protective clothing;
• Reduce the movement of people, vehicles or equipment to and from areas where poultry and captive birds are kept, to minimise contamination from manure, slurry and other products, and use effective vermin control;
• Thoroughly cleanse and disinfect housing on a continuous basis;
• Keep fresh disinfectant at the right concentration at all farm and poultry housing entry and exit points and
• Minimise direct and indirect contact between poultry and captive birds and wild birds, including making sure all feed and water is not accessible to wild birds.

Bird keepers can be guided to the gov.uk website for full details of the AIPZ and updated biosecurity guidance.

Your residents should be reminded not touch or pick up any dead or sick birds that they may find. If they do find dead wild birds these are likely to be swans, geese or ducks although it can affect any other wild bird, such as gulls or birds of prey. They should report this to the Defra helpline on: 03459 33 55 77.

Bird keepers can also report any suspicion of disease to the Animal and Plant Health Agency on 03000 200301.

Talk Community Helpline – In order to support people to remain at home the Talk Community Covid-19 helpline continues to operate for those more vulnerable residents who are unable to source support from family, friends or their local community with food supplies, medication delivery or befriending.  The Talk Community helpline can also support registration for online shopping slots that have been allocated to Herefordshire with Tesco and Iceland and for CEV’s through the national system. Please contact us or forward our contact details onto those requiring support to 01432 260027 or email talkcommunityhelpline@herefordshire.gov.uk or go to Coronavirus – Talk Community support for more information and to complete an online support form. The WISH website provides information on food and local suppliers. Contact NHS 111 for any urgent medication supplies.

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Volunteer register and support – Herefordshire Voluntary Organisations Support Service (HVOSS) continues working as part of the ‘Talk Community Herefordshire COVID-19 Response’ to help ensure all members of the community are supported, for as long as is needed. Volunteers can Register here and roles include -Vaccination Programme Support (non-medical), Shopping for food and essentials, Collecting prescriptions, Leaflet Distribution, Check in and chat. Local Community groups offering support to residents through the pandemic that need extra volunteer help can e-mail talkcommunity@hvoss.org.uk or call 01432 343932. 

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Latest local Covid data –Herefordshire Council Coronavirus information is updated regularly. The weekly summaries about the impact of Covid-19 in Herefordshire are published, each week and latest version is attached.

An easy read coronavirus information page, which links to two Government booklets (national lockdown and Covid-19 vaccination) is available on the Herefordshire WISH website

Students from Hereford College of Arts, Herefordshire and Ludlow College and Hereford Sixth Form College have come together in this video to show their commitment to keeping Herefordshire safe from #Covid_19.

Healthwatch live Webinar, Covid Q & A, Tuesday February 23^rd 7-8pm

No registration required, follow Healthwatch on facebook and you will be notified when they go live http://www.facebook.com/hwherefordshire Poster attached, for sharing.

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National Covid guidance is available on the Government website.

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The vaccination programme is being led by our NHS colleagues in partnership with colleagues across the health and social care system.  Colleagues directly involved with administering and coordinating the vaccination are working extremely hard to ensure that the priority list advised by the government is followed and Herefordshire are currently the leading area in the country on rolling out the vaccine, it has vaccinated a higher percentage of people than any other county so far. The following links provide some information on the vaccinations and programme:

Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG website

Hereford Times website

Understanding Herefordshire website

Healthwatch Facebook page has the recording of their recent Covid19 vaccine Question and Answer webinar

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Community wellbeing telephone survey We are currently carrying out a survey to understand the current mental and physical wellbeing of our communities and assess the impact of the coronavirus (COIVD-19) on resident’s lives. The results of the survey will be published on the Understanding Herefordshire website later this year and will be used by the council to identify trends and areas for attention in local communities. For more information please visit our wellbeing survey webpage The survey will end on 28 February.

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Lockdown activities

The Big Skill are posting out FREE Crafts@Home stoneware Clay Mosaic Memory Tile kits to local residents. To order your free Clay Mosaic Memory Tiles kit (HR postcodes only) drop by the Big Skill Crafts Stall. 

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Talk Community Hub in a Nutshell

A Talk Community Hub is a place or scheme, which helps connect people to their local area. Trained volunteers or staff can support people in accessing information and activities to enhance their wellbeing and independence. Although at the moment, government restrictions are not allowing people to meet physically, virtual platforms are being offered by communities as an alternative. For example, WellLINK operate Wellington Talk Community Hub and offer residents a wide range of information using their website and Facebook page.

Find contact details for your local Talk Community Hub on the WISH website hubs section and Wellington hub section

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CLIMB is a commissioned service, run by The Children’s Society, which seeks to deliver an early intervention and prevention service for those at risk of being criminally exploited.
Mark Roberts, CLIMB Project Lead, will be holding a briefing on the 21 September 2020 commencing at 2.00pm to let you know about the project, how to make referrals and what benefits / services are provided for the young people who are referred.
To book your free place please email admin.sbu@herefordshire.gov.uk
 
Service for 10-17 years olds at risk of Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)
The service will work with 10-17 year olds and is a pan-West Mercia service. Climb offers a ‘trusted adult’ to engage with the young person in order to provide support and education on the Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) risks. In addition, with both existing provision and through seeking to develop new opportunities within your local areas, that trusted adult will seek to divert the young person into an activity with both positive peers and adult role models. These activities will include sport, but will also cater for those young persons who are not sport orientated such as dance, arts and vocational training.
Who can refer?
This service enables anyone to make a referral: police, partner agencies, third sector agencies, peer and self referral.
How to refer into the service?
The link at www.childrenssociety.org.uk/climb will take you directly to the landing page of Climb. From this page you can access the referral form. You can then forward your completed referral form to climb@childrenssociety.org.uk.
What is the criteria for referral?

1. Those missing education, excluded, not in training or employment (NEET)
2. Those going missing with indications they are being ‘pulled’ into an environment where they would be susceptible to CCE – as early as the first missing episode
3. Intel/arrest for possession of class A drugs
4. Intel/arrest for possession of weapons/knives
5. Those engaging in ASB
6. Those at risk of entering the Criminal Justice System.

For any further information, I would encourage you initially to view the website, which is a good informative source. Please also contact me for any clarity required.
Author: Mark Roberts, Climb Project Lead, OPCC, 07772 896312