New 4.04.2020 - Crisis Support Team
For vulnerable residents in crisis as a result of Covid-19. For those unable to access shopping essentials, obtain crucial medication or are in need of urgent temporary support as a result of Covid-19. The Council can make sure that you get the help you need during this period by putting you in touch community groups in your area, connecting you with online support and voluntary organisations, provide advice and guidance as well as providing practical support if needed.
So if you need help with accessing food and medication or if you are isolated and feeling alone or anxious – give the Council a call.
This service is specifically aimed at supporting vulnerable citizens. Please DO NOT use the service unless you are in crisis as your call will be redirected to Contact OneVale on 01446 700111.
The telephone number for the Crisis Support Team is 01446 729592 and this line will be staffed from Friday 0800-1700 Monday to Friday and outside of these times calls will be diverted to the emergency out of hours line.
New- 4.04.2020 - Shielding Letters
The Welsh Government are in the process of writing to approximately 150,000 people across Wales who have significant underlying health conditions and are being advised to shield themselves for 12 weeks.
This letter suggests that wherever possible, family, friends or neighbours should be asked to provide support in the form of food supplies, medication collection and general well-being.
However, should people not have these mechanisms in place, they are advised to contact their Local Authority.
In response, the Council have setup a Crisis Support Team who will be making contact with all of these residents to ask what arrangements they have in place.
Where people do not have support in place, the Crisis Support Team will offer to arrange for a basic free weekly food parcel to be delivered, as currently planned by Welsh Government.
Alternatively, if people would prefer for shopping to be done for them (paid for by themselves), or require befriending support, the Crisis Support Team will make a referral for this to be put in place. The Council are working with Age Connects and GVS (who will coordinate a local group) to do this.
Welsh Government are currently advising people to contact their community pharmacy if they need medication to be delivered and have no other means of getting this to them.
Additional information will be provided to all residents on other services available to them.
The Council continues to liaise with Welsh Government to provide supermarkets with information about our most vulnerable, shielding, residents who could be given access to preferential online shopping arrangements but at this time, this is not available in Wales.
NEW - 23.03.2020 - Letters to those most at risk
Letters are being sent to 70,000 people in Wales classed as the most at risk of catching coronavirus advising them to stay at home for 12 weeks. If that's you, you can read more about what to expect here
NEW 23.03.2020 - 10AM - NHS staff travel for free
Transport for Wales has said all NHS staff can travel on its rail services for free from today -23.03.2020
Health & Cancelled Operations
We understand that many are concerned about cancelled operations. We fully appreciate these concerns. With the current pressures placed on the health service, we understand that these decisions are made based on clinical need, with the most critical operations given priority. If you believe that your case is urgent and has been incorrectly cancelled, please be in touch with your local MP or Councillors will do what they can to ensure that it is investigated.
Barry Hospital
Following a lot of misinformation, Alun Cairns MP is pleased to clarify that only the Minor Injuries Unit at Barry Hospital will be closed on temporary basis to redeploy staff to other hospitals. However, the Health Board have plans in place to open additional wards in the hospital, so there could be bigger role for Barry in meeting the emerging challenges.
Anti-inflammatory medications
The NHS England Medical Director has released a message to all clinical staff advising "patients who have confirmed Covid-19 or believe they have it, use paracetamol in preference to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen. Those who are currently on NSAIDs, for other medical reasons (eg arthritis) should not stop using them".
This follows concern about the use of NSAIDs in relation to Covid-19 following a statement from the French Health Minister advising against the use of ibuprofen. The statement was based on provisional information reported from French care settings which UK authorities have not seen to date. There is no current literature on the impact of NSAIDs use in Covid-19 and no evidence that their use increases the chance of acquiring Covid-19. However, the evidence is not conclusive overall and it is currently under review.
Frontline NHS Staff in Wales
Frontline NHS staff in the Welsh NHS will be screened for Coronavirus (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-51953809)