Coronavirus Doncaster: Update
Introduction
Hi, my name is Dr Rupert Suckling and I am the Director of Public Health in Doncaster.
Week 8 of the pandemic and the work of the council and partners continues at a pace, to ensure residents across Doncaster are supported through this challenging period.
A thank you to our colleagues at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH), who have cared for almost 300 COVID-19 positive patients with 125 people now at home. The hospital has also been working tirelessly to ensure they have ample stocks of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to keep patients and staff safe, and are also grateful for numerous donations received from companies, schools and individuals. They have also doubled their capacity to swab colleagues for COVID-19.
Sadly, 96 people have lost their lives to COVID-19 and I join with colleagues at the Trust and all our partners in extending my deepest condolences to the families and friends of those we have lost.
For a full update, here’s the latest open letter from Richard Parker OBE (published on Monday)
Just a quick note before I sign off – please share the information in the newsletter with family, friends and neighbours who may not be online or haven’t signed up yet (whilst observing physical distancing guidelines). They can also sign up here
I’d like to leave you with this, take it away Doncaster…
We are Donny
A massive thank you to all our key workers!
Dr Rupert Suckling
Director of Public Health
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Milestone for Community Hub
Doncaster’s Community Hub reached a major milestone this week with over 10,000 calls being received by the Hub from Doncastrians requesting support.
The Hub was set up to support residents across Doncaster who have been affected by coronavirus. Its original focus was on delivering food and medication supplies to the most vulnerable people, who had no other means of support. Although this remains one of the key functions, since it opened in late March, it has also supported residents in lots of other ways.
Take a look at this video which features one of the examples of the many residents we’ve helped so far…Community Hub
The Hub can also offer help with concerns about neighbours or family members, money troubles, support caring for children, safeguarding worries and much more - Community Hub webpage
Domestic Abuse Reporting Portal
A new dedicated online domestic abuse portal for victims of Domestic Abuse who are unable to use a telephone to call 101 has been launched this week by the police. The link to the portal to report any concerns is www.reportingcrime.uk/SYPDA.
The following helplines are also available:
- Doncaster Domestic Abuse Helpline: 01302 737080
- National LGBT Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0800 999 5428
- Men's Advice Line: 0808 801 0327
- If you're a child or young person and domestic abuse is happening in your home or relationship, then call ChildLine on 0800 1111.
- Please remember you should call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger
Fraud prevention during coronavirus
We are seeing some remarkable acts of kindness from people in our communities with many volunteers supporting vulnerable people during this challenging time. Unfortunately, fraudsters are taking advantage of these kind acts and are putting some people at risk of fraud. Victim Support has produced two information booklets; one for community groups who are supporting people and one for individuals which you can view on the following links.
Coronavirus: Scammers and fraudsters
Advice for community groups
In addition to fraud, Victim Support help people who have been affected by a number of crimes including burglary, violence, theft, robbery, arson, cyber crime including online harassment, bullying and online fraud. They also receive referrals for domestic or sexual violence cases as these are referred to specialist agencies across the region.
Visit Contact us - Victim Support Humberside and South Yorkshire for details on how to get in touch.
Be a Doncaster hero, don’t ignore cancer symptoms
GPs and nurses in Doncaster are calling for patients to be a hero and not ignore cancer symptoms.
It is important that patients seek advice if they have a worrying symptom. All local practices in Doncaster are offering online consultations and speaking with patients remotely; this is to ensure that patients don’t have to travel unnecessarily and provides a reassuring option during the Coronavirus outbreak.
Dr David Crichton, local GP & Clinical Chair, NHS Doncaster Clinical Commissioning Group said "NHS staff are working together to ensure cancer treatment continues in a way that ensures patient and staff safety, and balances the risk from treatment, clinical need and capacity. If you’re worried about something; a change, a lump, blood in your urine or stool, please contact your local practice by telephone. If we catch cancer early, more people are likely to live and treatment can be more effective."
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Join in the online VE Day celebrations
 Doncaster residents are encouraged to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day on Friday 8 May at home and online.
Doncaster Council has organised a special virtual event on the recently launched online platform www.dnconnects.com which will include lots of Second World War related content and appropriate entertainment.
There will be footage from the archives, a rendition of ‘We’ll Meet Again’ and a specially recorded version of ‘The Last Post’ filmed during the lockdown period by a solo trumpeter, part of Doncaster Council’s School Music team. Add to this messages from Mayor Ros Jones and Doncaster’s Armed Forces Champion Cllr Paul Wray and the event promises to be entertaining and informative for people of all ages and a fitting tribute to the anniversary.
The film will premiere at 2pm and be shown again at 7pm. It can be accessed by links on www.dnconnects.com and will be posted on Doncaster Council and Visit Doncaster social media with links through to the YouTube platform hosting the event.
As well as this Doncaster event, the Royal British Legion have organised a host of national activities starting with a two minute silence at 11am. There is a VE75 livestream to enable people across the country to access activities at www.rbl.org.uk/veday75 and on social media using #VEDay75 and #VEDay75Live from 11.15am to 12noon.
Business Grants
We are continuing to process business grant payments daily, paying 3,806 businesses £42.5 million so far. There are still around 1000 eligible businesses in Doncaster who have not yet submitted a web form to receive the Business Grant, so if you are one of these or know a business that might be, you can find more details on the advice for businesses page on the Doncaster Council website.
Are you self isolating?
Let us know by filling in the self-isolation form - self isolation form .
This will help us to identify and provide support to the people and areas of Doncaster most affected.
Suspended Services
Here are all the council services affected or suspended due to Coronavirus
And finally…
Keeping yourself fit and healthy at home
 There are lots of ways to stay active in the home or out in your garden – just like the people in this video - 5 ways to wellbeing
For lots more details, visit the 5 ways to wellbeing webpage
Also take a look at the exercise videos posted to the DN Connects and if you head to the national Sport England campaign - their website has loads of useful resources for people looking for advice, inspiration and support to be active under lockdown #StayInWorkOut
And introducing...
Dynamic Dave, aka Dave Ketteridge, is the former owner of Tickled Pink Bridalwear in Hatfield and is bringing fitness and cheer to local people with his video 'Dynamic Dave Does Easy Exercise.'
Dave, who turns 80 next month, is an avid gym-goer with his wife Sandra and was a regular at the local squash courts before the current lockdown kicked in. He has asked for a table tennis table for his 80th!
He said: “We wanted to try one of the online fitness classes at home and cleared the lounge all ready to go. Before long, we realised there was lots of leaping around and bouncing about and I thought, we’re going to end up in A&E at this rate!
“So I struck upon the idea of making my own video based on the exercises I used to do when I was learning Shiatsu massage, called Shiatsu warm ups. They’re designed to loosen up your energy flow from your top to your toes and they really help you to feel good in yourself afterwards.”
He added: “The video took some filming! We had an easel as a prompt and Sandra was first grip and best boy like they have in the movies! We also had to create a fuzzy microphone cover out of one of Sandra’s old hats and gaffer tape to drown out any background noise.
“But we got there in the end and on the seventh take, we’d nailed it!”
“We’ve had around 100 views so far and a good response from friends. It would be lovely if others could benefit from it – you can get the whole family involved and it’s great to do outside in the garden, surrounded by nature. I’ve also given advice on meditational breathing to help you relax and promote calmness.”
Tune into Dave on YouTube at Dynamic Dave does easy exercise
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