MEETING CANCELLED - Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham

Dr Supriya Das & Dr Lakshmi Subbiah

The next PPG meeting at 12:00pm on Thursday 16th April 2020 has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

If you have any questions or suggestions on the local practice, please Email:

Jan Bunting - Secretary: janannbunting@outlook.com or 

Ray Kemsley - Chair: raykemsley@btinternet.com

Ray Kemsley

Chair - Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham

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Medway Council - Older and Disabled People Bus Pass Restrictions Lifted

Older and disabled people will be able to use their bus passes before 9:00am in Medway.

In Medway, the passes will be able to be used on services provided by Arriva, Nu-Venture and ASD Coaches before 9:00am.

In Kent, residents will be able to use the passes on services provided by Stagecoach, Arriva, Go Coach and Nu-Venture before 9.30am.

Holders of a senior citizen and disabled bus pass were previously able to travel for free on buses after 9:00am, but following discussions with these operators, this condition has been removed.

Cllr Phil Filmer, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Front Line Services, said:

“I would like to thank all of the operators who have worked with us to extend the use of the bus passes. This will help older residents access shops which are opening early for them. We are committed to supporting the most vulnerable members of our community as well as supporting residents with critical day-to-day services.”

The change will come into place tomorrow morning (Thursday, 19th March).

Medway Council and Kent County Council have a duty to provide passes for free bus travel throughout England for older and disabled people under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS).

Medway Council

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KCC - Older and Disabled Bus Passes Can be Used Before 9:30am

Cllr Michael Payne.

Older and disabled people will be able to use their bus passes before 9:30am, Kent County Council has announced.

The passes will be able to be used on services provided by Stagecoach, Arriva, Go Coach and Nu-Venture.

Holders of a senior citizen and disabled bus pass were previously able to travel for free on buses after 9:30am, but following discussions with these operators, this condition has been removed.

KCC Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport Michael Payne said:

“I’m very grateful to Stagecoach, Arriva, Go Coach and Nu-Venture who have worked with Kent Highways and Transport to extend the use of the bus pass on their services before 9:30am.

This is something that will be extremely helpful during a time when some shops are opening early specifically for the older generation to support them during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

Our public transport team is working hard to extend this to other operators in the coming days.

This change will come into force tomorrow morning (Thursday 19th March) and I’m very happy that we have been able to support those in our community during this period of disruption.”

Kent County Council has a statutory duty to provide passes for free bus travel throughout England for older and disabled people under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS).

Over 250,000 people in the county have a bus pass, with around 227,000 for older people and 22,000 for disabled people.

N.B.

Chalkwell Coach Hire, operator of the 326 / 327 / 328 bus service in our area will also be taking part.

Upchurch Matters

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Statement and Thank You from the Church Porch Sale Organisers

I’d like to thank all the bakers, donators, the purchasers and the tea & coffee drinkers, the lovely ladies Chris, Beryl, Sylvia and Eve who man the stalls.

Our first two Sales this year have raised over £400 towards the interior of this lovely old church.

The Church Porch Sales will commence again on the 2nd Saturday of every month at St. Mary's Church, Upchurch, from 9:30am until 11:30am when the Coronavirus crisis is over.

We hope you keep healthy and happy.

Thank you

Mary Stone

Church Porch Sale Organiser

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Medway Council - Coronavirus (COVID-19): Medway’s Response

Medway Council’s priority continues to be providing essential council services for its residents.

The health and wellbeing of our residents is our top priority and we have robust business continuity plans in place to ensure we can continue to support the most vulnerable members of our community, as well as support our residents with critical day-to-day services.

All of our sites and buildings remain open to the public including our libraries and leisure centres, museums and heritage sites.

However, in line with government advice to help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), we have taken the decision to cancel major events and all shows at The Brook and Central Theatres in Chatham up until the end of June.

Events cancelled include:
• Big Splash, 4th April

• English Festival, 18th April

• Sweeps, 2nd and 3rd May

• Focus On Rainham, 16th May

• Cycling Festival, 13th to 21st June

• Dickens Festival, 13th and 14th June

• Armed Forces Day, 27th June

• Focus On Walderslade, 28th June

There are currently no plans to reschedule these events. Tickets holders will be contacted as soon as possible.

All council sites and buildings remain open to the public, but under review. We have, however, cancelled group activities due to be held until the end of June at our libraries, community hubs, archives centre, museums and heritage sites. Leisure centres also remain open, with group classes continuing as usual.

All of our Medway Adult Education classes have been cancelled until the end of June. If you have booked onto a course within this time, you will be contacted.

We appreciate this may be disappointing news, but the health and wellbeing of everyone involved is paramount.

Any news on school closures will be announced by each school through their usual processes.

All other council services will continue to be delivered and we will continue to follow government advice and work with Public Health England to do everything we can to help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Coronavirus symptoms

Stay at home if you have either:

• a high temperature – you feel hot to touch on your chest or back

• a new, continuous cough – this means you've started coughing repeatedly

Length of time to stay at home:

• if you have symptoms, stay at home for 7 days

• if you live with other people, they should stay at home for 14 days from the day the first person got symptoms

For the latest advice and guidance on coronavirus, visit: www.nhs.uk/coronavirus

Medway Council

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Swale Borough Council - Leader's Response to Coronavirus

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak continues to develop, Swale Borough Council has begun activating plans to maintain essential services across the borough.

At present, council meetings are being scaled back to only those we are legally required to continue, and we are awaiting government advice on running these remotely - either online or by phone.

Council officers have begun working remotely, and for now council offices remain open to the public for essential services such as supporting rough sleepers and those at risk of homelessness.

Cllr Roger Truelove, leader of the council, said:

“These are serious times and we - officers and members of the council - will do all that is possible to protect people from this virus and maintain the services and decision making that we have to do.

“Over the last few weeks, we have been preparing for the potential impact on the borough.

“It is highly likely our services will be affected in some way, but we have been planning what we can do to minimise any disruption.

“Before any impacts become apparent it is important that people know where to get the right information. People should check our website and social media accounts for information and updates.

“We are already working with our partners across the public sector as part of the county-wide response to the outbreak, and we will continue to support each other throughout this crisis.

“We must also think about how we, as members of our communities, can support each other.

“When friends and neighbours are isolated, we need to support them too. Practical things like help with shopping can be a lifeline, but something as simple as a phone call to let them know someone cares can be a great morale boost.

“Our local businesses that employ thousands of people across the borough will most likely be affected, and it’s vital that we all support them however we can.

“We don’t know when this will end, but we do know that it will, and I want us to know we did everything we could to help each other through this difficult time.”

For information and advice about council services impacted during the coronavirus outbreak, visit www.swale.gov.uk/coronavirus

National information about the current situation, including travel advice and updates on what action is being taken, is available on the Gov.uk website

More specific health advice is available on the NHS website

If you are feeling unwell and worried about your symptoms, use the online NHS 111 coronavirus service

Do not go directly to your GP, pharmacy, hospital or other healthcare setting.

Swale Borough Council

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