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STEP 3
Some Coronavirus restrictions are being lifted across England today, as we move to Step 3 of the roadmap.
The Kent Police Rural Team takes action against fly-tippers, wildlife criminals, illegal shellfish harvesters, hare coursers, soft fruit thieves, poachers, heritage looters as well as agricultural machinery and equestrian tack and trailer thieves.
Rural Team - North Division contact details:
Tel: 07528 989095Email: rural.task.force@kent.police.uk
PC Paul WilliamsPC Adrian Goodsall
PC Nathan Southern
PC Mark Pennicott
Team Leader - Inspector Dave Smith: 07800 675376
Rural Sergeant - Darren Walshaw: 07870 252185
Rural Crime Co-ordinator - Doug Robertson: 07972 004578
New assessment service for people with 'Long Covid'
Kent and Medway’s Post-Covid Assessment Service opened on 14th May 2021 to help people suffering from Long Covid, also known as Post-Covid Syndrome.
Symptoms can include fatigue, breathlessness, anxiety and depression, joint or muscle pain, chest pains, not being able to focus or to think straight.
If the effects of a Covid infection last for more than 12 weeks, patients should contact their GP practice, so any alternative diagnosis for the condition can be ruled out and to decide if the Post-Covid Assessment Service would be suitable.
Once referred, the Post-Covid Assessment Service will make contact with the patient and an expert team of professionals will assess their condition and provide support in accessing services to support their recovery.
Visit our website to find out more.
Update on accessing General Practice
The latest Kent and Medway data on appointments with general practice teams shows nearly 460,000 patients were seen face-to-face in March 2021.
That’s very close to the number of face-to-face appointments that were taking place monthly before the pandemic. Combined with many more telephone and online appointments, our 198 practices held over 200,000 more appointments this March compared to February 2020.
As Covid-19 restrictions lift further on Monday (17th May 2021) GP surgeries across the country are being asked to have receptions open to patients whilst following social distancing and covid-secure guidance.
GPs have also played a key role in the vaccination effort, managing the delivery of almost one million of Kent and Medway’s vaccines so far.
This increase in demand, as well as continuing to support vaccinations, means that your local practice will remain very busy.
To help manage this and make sure that you get the right care from the right professional as quickly as possible, triage systems will remain in place. You will be asked to first discuss your conditions with a member of the healthcare team to assess the most appropriate next steps and which of the practice team it would be best to see.
If you are able to use online forms for your initial contact please do, so that phone lines can be kept clearer for those who cannot.
GP practices will continue to offer telephone and video consultations. These can be convenient and flexible ways to receive healthcare for many people but where patients need to be seen by a health professional face-to-face, this will be arranged.
If you have a preference about how to access care you can discuss this with your practice.
People at risk of Type 2 diabetes referred to national programme
The CCG’s diabetes team has been hard at work identifying those at risk of Type 2 diabetes and encouraging them to get help through referring them to the National Diabetes Prevention Programme.
From March 2020 to March 2021, 8,927 people in Kent and Medway were given details of the programme, which helps people make positive lifestyle changes and avoid the disease. Read more on this story on our website.
This week is Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week (10th May - 16th May) and a wealth of information to stay healthy is available on our website.
Keeping safe after third step in lockdown easing
The Prime Minister has confirmed that the third step of England’s lockdown roadmap can proceed as scheduled on 17th May.
Despite the further easing of restrictions, social distancing will remain in place in social care, medical, retail, hospitality and business settings. People will still need to wear face coverings on transport and in shops - unless they are exempt.
Social distancing with close family and friends will be a matter of personal judgement. But people are asked to remain cautious around close contact, like hugging.
Visit the GOV.UK website for more information on the roadmap out of lockdown.
NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group
23 Days of Art, Music, Literature and Film
Estuary 2021 is the second edition of the large-scale arts festival that celebrates the lives, landscapes and histories of the spectacular Thames Estuary.
The festival takes place on the river itself and along the 107 miles of South Essex and North Kent coastline. Contemporary artworks, discussion and events explore and respond to powerful themes resonant to the estuary.
Artworks are set in the landscape, online and within Covid-safe venues and aim to bring new audiences to a deeper understanding of the estuary.
Estuary 2021 is led by a partnership between estuary-based arts organisations, Metal (South Essex) and Cement Fields (North Kent).
The festival runs from Saturday 22nd May to Sunday 13th June 2021.
Upchurch Matters
Medway’s popular open-air pool in Gillingham will reopen later this month.
The Strand pool will reopen for weekends only from Saturday, 29th May. The pool will then open daily from Saturday, 24th July until Wednesday, 1st September.
The Strand boasts a leisure pool, a 25-metre swim area, a 300-metre lazy river and children’s slides.
A new, online pre-booking system will be in place and residents and visitors will be able to book a morning or afternoon session from 12:00pm (noon) on Saturday, 22nd May. Numbers for each session will be limited, in line with government social distancing requirements. All sessions must be booked online, in advance, by visiting medway.gov.uk/strand. If residents do not have access to the internet, they can visit Medway Park in Gillingham or Strood or Hoo Sports Centres to book online, or phone: 01634 336655, during office hours, to book a session.
Customers must bring their booking confirmation with them, either printed out or on their phones, for their session.
This year marks the 125th anniversary of The Strand and the council is currently creating an online exhibition, using fond memories and images from residents to celebrate the history of The Strand, along with new signs which look back at memorable moments over the last 125 years. The exhibition also forms part of Estuary 21, an arts festival that celebrates the lives, landscapes and histories of the Thames Estuary. There are more than 20 exciting events and activities happening across Medway during the festival, which supports Medway’s aspirations to become UK City of Culture in 2025
The iconic pink elephant is currently having a makeover and will be painted all the colours of the rainbow as a tribute to Medway’s keyworkers and the NHS for their hard work during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Medway Council has launched a competition to name the elephant. Residents are encouraged to email their suggestions to medwaysport@medway.gov.uk or message Medway Sport on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, before 5:00pm on Sunday, 20th June. The name will be announced by Saturday, 26th June. The winner will receive four complimentary entrance tickets for a swimming session at The Strand this year.
Cllr Howard Doe, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Services, said:
“I am pleased that we will be reopening The Strand pool later this month. As the pool is incredibly popular with residents, and visitors, we have introduced a booking system to avoid disappointment. All visitors must book a session in advance and bring their confirmation with them when they visit the pool. We are looking forward to welcoming residents back to the pool, especially as we will be celebrating The Strand’s 125th anniversary in June. As a tribute to Medway’s keyworkers and the NHS, for their hard work keeping residents safe during the coronavirus pandemic, the pink elephant, which is synonymous with The Strand, is currently being painted all the colours of the rainbow. We have launched a naming competition and I would encourage our youngest residents to enter. Medway is aspiring to become a Child-Friendly City, putting children and young people at the heart of everything it does.”
For more information, and to book your session (from Saturday, 22nd May), visit: medway.gov.uk/strand
Medway Council
Avenue of Remembrance, Sittingbourne.
Your views on Sittingbourne's Avenue of Remembrance
Swale Borough Councillors would like residents and interested parties to have an opportunity to share their views on how important the Avenue of Remembrance memorial is by completing a short survey.
Following the WW1 commemorative period, Swale Borough Council and a working group of interested parties (including Kent County Council, Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne, Sittingbourne Society, Royal British Legion and Veterans Breakfast Club), was set up to look at the Avenue of Remembrance in Sittingbourne. The group work with local schools to explore new methods and technologies to provide information about the fallen men.
The purpose of the survey is to ensure the views of the Sittingbourne community are considered in matters relating to the maintenance and future management of the Avenue of Remembrance. It will enable Swale Borough Council and the working group to make decisions about the specification and format and how much needs to be spent going forward.
Sittingbourne’s Avenue of Remembrance consisted of trees and 181 commemorative name plaques of local men who died during WW1 when inaugurated in 1923. A further 94 plaques were added to commemorate those who died during WW2.
Research into the Avenue reveals that it is probably the last remaining memorial of this type in the whole of the UK, which is an actual roadway.
The survey takes around 5 minutes to complete and will close at 5:00pm on Friday 25th June 2021. The information you provide is controlled by Swale Borough Council.
If you would rather have a paper copy of the survey posted out to you for completion, please request a copy by emailing lynnewton@swale.gov.uk or call 01795 417420.
Thank you
Upchurch Matters
