Upchurch Surgery - COVID-19 Vaccinations and Changes to 16th December Surgery Opening Hours

Dr Supriya Das & Dr Lakshmi Subbiah

COVID-19 vaccinations will begin on Wednesday the 16th of December at Parkwood Health Centre for patients at this practice.

The first 18 (over 80 patients) have been contacted by the NHS to attend.

As a result, there will be a MORNING SURGERY ONLY at Upchurch on Wednesday the 16th of December and NO SURGERY OPEN in the afternoon/evening as our GP’s will be at Parkwood assisting with the vaccinations.

Apologies for any inconvenience.

Ray Kemsley

Chair - Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham

Latest POLICE.UK Crime Data for the Area - October 2020

Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch

Here is a brief summary of crime information for the past 2 months:

56 crimes are shown on the map in October 2020 including:

16 Anti-social Behaviour

5 Criminal Damage and Arson
5 Other Theft
3 Public Order

1 Shoplifting

6 Vehicle Crime
15 Violence and Sexual Offences

5 Other Crime

33 crimes were shown on the map in September 2020.

Not all crime that occurs is shown on the map.

Please visit: www.police.uk for more information including outcomes for these crimes and contact information for your local policing team.

Lower Halstow and Iwade

Here is a brief summary of crime information for the past 2 months:

31crimes are shown on the map in October 2020 including:

11 Anti-social Behaviour

1 Burglary

4 Criminal Damage and Arson

1 Shoplifting

2 Vehicle Crime

11 Violence and Sexual Offences

1 Oher Crime

39 crimes were shown on the map in September 2020.

Not all crime that occurs is shown on the map.

Please visit: www.police.uk for more information including outcomes for these crimes and contact information for your local policing team.

Upchurch Matters

Medway Council - Businesses Encouraged to Apply for Financial Support

Medway Council is encouraging businesses which have been affected by Coronavirus restrictions to apply for the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG).

The council has received £5.571million ARG funding from government to support businesses between December 2020 and March 2022.

The funding has been split into two elements; a scheme which will provide grants to businesses impacted by national lockdown restrictions and a programme of business support interventions which will be developed over the coming months.

Medway businesses can apply for up to £3,000 ARG funding if they were forced to close, or were significantly affected, during the national lockdown (from Thursday 5th November to Wednesday 2nd December 2020) and are not eligible to apply for a Local Restrictions Grant. Businesses can apply for the grant on: Medway Council’s website

The deadline for applications is 12:00pm on Wednesday 6th January 2021. If businesses are unable to apply online they can Email: businessandskills@medway.gov.uk at least two working days before the application closing date.

Leader of Medway Council, Cllr Alan Jarrett, said:

“Throughout the pandemic we have continued to support Medway’s businesses and I am pleased that local business owners can now apply for funding from the Additional Restrictions Grant. There is a range of advice and support available for business owners on our website and I would also encourage residents to continue to shop local and support Medway’s businesses, especially in the run-up to Christmas. Medway is resilient and it is vital that we all act now to save lives in the fight against coronavirus.” 

For more information about the support available to businesses, and to apply for the ARG, visit: medway.gov.uk/coronavirusbusinesses

Medway Council

Temporary Road Closure - Horsham Lane, Upchurch

Kent County Council has made an order to temporarily prohibit through traffic travelling on Horsham Lane, Upchurch from Wednesday 13th January 2021 for up to 1 day between the hours of 09:30 and 15:30.

The road will be closed from outside number 97 to the junction with Woodruff Close, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route for any through traffic is via Horsham Lane, The Street, Oak Lane, Wallbridge Lane and vice versa.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while pole testing works are undertaken by BT.

For information regarding this closure please contact BT on: 0800 800150, who will be able to assist with the scope of the works.

Kent County Council 24hr Contact Centre:

03000 418181 (9:00am - 5:00pm)

03000 419191 (5:00pm - 9:00am)

For details of roadworks see: https://one.network

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

Upchurch Surgery - Christmas Opening Hours

Dr Supriya Das & Dr Lakshmi Subbiah

Upchurch Surgery will be open as usual over the Christmas period except on Monday the 28th of December 2020 when it will be CLOSED.

Apologies for any inconvenience.

Ray Kemsley

Chair - Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham

Swale Borough Council Leader Statement on Covid-19 Cases

 Councillor Roger Truelove.

In response to the number of cases in the borough, leader of the council, Cllr Roger Truelove, said:

“It is very disappointing to see that Swale is again being reported as having the highest infection rate in the country, an unwanted position that Swale and Medway appear to alternate around daily.

“We have seen fluctuations up and down over recent weeks and whilst we have not returned to the position of 648/100K that we had a few weeks ago, it is still of great concern.

“There have been very significant rises elsewhere in Kent and the decision to put the whole of Kent into Tier 3, because of the county-wide impact on the NHS, has now proven to be sound.

“Whilst not unique to Swale, and without wanting to condemn anyone which can be unhelpful, we do still have problems with compliance in our community.

“People are worried about the loss of income if they have Covid-19, so can be reluctant to get a test. Some are finding it difficult to maintain social distancing in their workplaces. People are also tired of seeing others’ non-compliance and unwillingness to abide by rules, and fatigue around how long this has gone on means not everyone is observing the rules about not mixing households in their own home.

“The situation facing the NHS over the next few months is going to be very critical - and could impact on other, non-Covid services in the busy winter period.

“To prevent this, we need to have greater willingness to comply with the public health guidance, not just in Swale, but across Kent.”

Swale Borough Council