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Coronavirus Doncaster: Update

Introduction

Hi, my name is Dr Rupert Suckling and I am the Director of Public Health in Doncaster. This week is the end of the school year, a week that traditionally includes proms, sports days and other end of year celebrations. This year, however, we've had months of unprecedented challenges and upheaval for staff working for and within schools, and for local parents and children.  A huge thank you to schools across Doncaster for their work to support children and young people with their schooling during this challenging time. So the school holidays have begun and although our holiday plans may have had to be cancelled or rearranged, we now have the freedom to explore locations across the country and revisit our favourite places in Doncaster. We've included details about some of the activities taking place for families in our Staycation article later on in this newsletter. When we are out and about, it is vitally important we all continue to do the basics well including washing our hands frequently, maintaining physical distancing and wearing a face covering which is mandatory on public transport and in hospitals. From 24 July, it will also be mandatory to wear a face covering in shops and supermarkets. If we, or our family, develop symptoms of coronavirus, we need to self-isolate and organise to get tested, details below.  Let's follow advice and behave responsibly so that everyone can continue to enjoy their favourite places and keep themselves and others safe. Let's do it for Doncaster! Dr Rupert Suckling Director of Public Health

Don't forget your face covering from 24 July

From 24 July, we’ll all need to wear a face covering in a shop, even if we’re just nipping for some milk. We also need to wear them on public transport.

Let’s make sure we can all feel safe when we go shopping.

Let’s try and get some sense of normality back in our lives as soon as possible.

Play your part in stopping the spread of coronavirus

We all have a part to play in stopping the spread of coronavirus. If you develop symptoms, you must continue to follow the rules to self-isolate with other members of your household and order a test to find out if you have coronavirus. It’s really easy to get a test. You can order a home testing kit or pre-book a drive-through test.

If you test positive for coronavirus, you must share information promptly about your recent contacts through the NHS test and trace service to help them alert other people who may need to self-isolate.

Make sure you save the NHS Test and Trace number in your phone, and answer if they call you. The number is 0300 0135000. Remember the test and trace team will NEVER ask you for bank details, request payments or tell you to set up a PIN or password. 

Find out more here

Doncaster town centre update

From this weekend (Saturday, 18 July), we’re making some changes to the pedestrian zone to support businesses and trade in Doncaster town centre.

You can see on the map at Doncaster town centre that the following will be reopened:

• Scot Lane
• Printing Office Street
• Priory Place
• part of the High Street

The pedestrian zone will stay in place for our busiest streets to help people physically distance themselves from other visitors. The pedestrian zone was brought in for safety reasons during the coronavirus pandemic, but we’ve been constantly reviewing it throughout this time.

That’s included listening to feedback and requests from businesses and other town centre users, looking at how people are using the town centre and monitoring and reacting to government guidance. Based on all of this, we feel the time is right to amend the existing pedestrian zone and reopen a number of town centre streets which will not impact on the ability for people to physical distance or the safety of town centre users. If you do visit the town centre please continue to observe the safety guidelines in place to keep each other safe. Find out more: www.doncaster.gov.uk/towncentrechanges

Supporting children and young people's mental health in Doncaster

Life has been turned upside down for all of us due to the coronavirus pandemic, with normal routines and everyday life looking different at the moment. Children and young people in particular have experienced some major changes in both their schooling and their social lives over the past few months.

You may have noticed changes in your child’s behaviour, or that your child has shown signs of being worried or anxious during this time. If you are a parent/carer, and have any concerns about your child’s mental health at the moment, there is help at hand to support you and your child. There’s lots of information, advice and guidance on our webpages, including information on the signs of anxiety and worry in children, and practical support and ideas on how to support your child, as well as how to get help from services in Doncaster if needed.

• For children’s mental health advice (3-11 years) please visit: www.doncaster.gov.uk/worrymonster
• For young people’s mental health advice (11 years+) please visit doncaster.gov.uk/dontfilter
• There is also a new Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) website which has recently launched which has local information to support young people to cope with the effects of coronavirus or anything else that might be worrying them, as well as information on how young people can access and benefit from CAMHS services. Visit: https://camhs.rdash.nhs.uk/

Doncaster Summer Staycation - activities galore!

We might be stuck at home this summer, but there are plenty of reasons to stick around! Doncaster Summer Staycation is a huge timetable of FREE virtual and face-to-face activities available throughout the six-week summer break!

The Summer Staycation includes a mixture of arts and crafts, sports and physical activity, employability sessions for older children, reading challenges and much more. You can also access resources, activities and ideas for staying home, such as the Doncaster ‘101 things to do indoors’ guide.

Many of the activities are virtual due to the restrictions of physical distancing and safety, and will be hosted online but there are also a limited number of face-to-face activities available. Both virtual and face-to-face activities are delivered by a variety of exciting Doncaster organisations including CAST Theatre, Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust (DCLT), National Literacy Trust, EXPECT Youth, Active Fusion, Doncaster Community Arts (DARTs) and many more. Find out more at Staycation

Listening Ear bereavement service extended

Launched earlier in the year, the Listening Ear South Yorkshire bereavement service has been extended until December to help people who have lost loved ones during the coronavirus pandemic.

Open to anyone who has lost loved ones during this difficult time, whether from the virus or otherwise, local health and care organisations across South Yorkshire wanted to make sure there were services available to support people whilst they may be physically distant from their families and friends.

Since launching in April, almost 500 appointments have been accessed by people from across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield with overwhelmingly positive feedback. Further information and how to access this service.

New Order and Collect service at Central Library

Doncaster Central Library has started taking orders via a new Order and Collect service.

This service, in which they hand over books to you at the library door, will be available from Central Library in the town centre for the moment - details of this new service can be found in the image below.

From today (Friday 17 July), Central Library will re-open for returns and book collections ONLY. There will be no access to the building for browsing or PC access. The library is open on the following reduced hours - Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10am-2pm and Saturday 10am-1pm.

For library members who are vulnerable and unable to collect their books from Central Library, while they continue to work on a phased opening of other libraries across the borough, there is an option to have your books delivered to your door through the Home Library Service.  If you feel you are unable to collect from Central Library, please call 01302 734315 or email Central.lending@doncaster.gov.uk and a member of the library staff will take your details and pass them through to our dedicated Home Library team to make the arrangements with you.   

There's also a wide choice of digital content including eBooks, eAudio books, eMagazines, eNewspapers, eComics for you to choose from through RBDigital, Borrowbox and Overdrive. Explore the digital collection at https://library.doncaster.gov.uk/web/arena/a-z-eresources

Council services update

Here are all the council services affected or suspended due to coronavirus

Sharing is caring

Don’t forget to share the messages in this newsletter with people who may not be online, whilst following government guidance on physical distancing.

And finally…

RDaSH launch art competition

RDaSH are inviting patients, carers and others linked to RDaSH to get creative and take part in their new art competition The Value of Values.