The speed of COVID’s acceleration is spelt out in stark data on HSJ today which shows the number of COVID positive inpatients in English hospitals rose 2,256 to 16,183 over the seven days to 19 December.
The 16.2 per cent increase compares to one of 7.4 per cent in the previous seven-day period, underlining how the pandemic is speeding up.
If this rate is maintained, the English NHS will end 2020 with approximately the same number of COVID positive inpatients as at the peak of the pandemic on 12 April.
The Health Service paints the following picture for the regions:
London: Responsible for the largest rise in patients, up 817 (39 per cent) to 2,909 on the 12 December figure.
Eastern: Inpatient numbers jumped 536 (38 per cent) to 1,943, the highest ever total recorded in the region.
South East: A rise of 376 inpatients (19.3 per cent) to 1,943, the highest total recorded since 20 April.
South West: The fourth region to see a dramatic increase in inpatient numbers, up 208 (24.7 per cent) to 1,051, a figure last recorded on 17 April.
Midlands: The region with the highest number of COVID positive inpatients. The number rose 7 per cent to a level equivalent to that on 14 April.
North East and Yorkshire: Rose 4.5 per cent to 2,413. The region reported a similar number on 9 April.
North West: Inpatient numbers remained flat for a fortnight. Its 2,253 inpatients is very similar to the number recorded on 28 April in the region.
WORRyIng. No Plan B for The Big C!
The ending of contracts with the independent sector has put cancer surgery in the capital under threat,writes Ben Clover on HSJ today.
COVID admissions have put pressure on services that can no longer turn to alternative providers. Although many of Waverley’s patients receive their cancer care at The Royal Surrey Hospital, some are also in the care of London hospitals.
The HSJ discovered that NHS England ended contracts with HCA, The London Clinic and the Cromwell Hospital at the end of August, after concerns about underutilisation.
Under the previous deal with the private sector, rules were in place to make sure low-priority private patients were not treated ahead of NHS patients who needed surgery urgently.
HCA and The Cromwell have confirmed the contracts were ended in August and were not renewed.
HSJ understands NHSE, under pressure from the Treasury, was not willing to pay the prices asked by the three private providers.
Since the start of the Pandemic private hospitals received millions in Government funding despite most extra capacity going unused. The NHS contract with the Nuffield Hospital in Guildford has ended. Around two-thirds of beds in private hospitals like The Nuffield in Guildford and Mount Alvernia were not used during the summer. However, the Independent Provider Network, which represents private providers said any profits made were returned under the terms of the contract.
Just a little something to make you smile – after all this gloomy news.
We see that Sainsbury’s is saying that if the travel ban on UK freight continues for much longer we could see shortages of lettuce in our shops.
Don’t mess with me – when I say the word ‘Confidential’ I mean it!
A couple of days ago we wrote about the Ding-Dong not so Merrily on High at Waverley Towers in the bad-tempered pre-Christmas council meeting. But we reported on only half the Pantomime! The curtain then rose on the second act – during which The Borough Solicitor’s advice – no, actually more like an instruction – was ignored by all but one of the Tory opposition.
The political fracas followed Mayor Penny Marriott’s motion to hold a ‘sensitive property matter’ that was subject to a legally binding confidentially agreement’ behind closed doors. Enter, centre-stage on her broomstick, or was it the parachute she used to protect her backside in the last election came Julia Potts, leader of the Tory Group. The lady did protest her ‘extreme concern’ that the matter that had generated extreme public interest was to be debated in private.
Galloping in as the pantomime horse – the *rse end, of course, came ‘Oh Carole’ Cockburn claiming it was perfectly easy to debate confidential items in public just as she had done many times when she was Mayor – “provided the meeting is well chaired!”Giving a second kick to the present Worshipful Mayor for the second time in one evening.Neigh!!
Next on stage in a bid to halt the “Tories political grandstanding” came Baron Hardup AKA Deputy Leader Cllr Paul Follows, who said the council was merely “adhering to legal obligations it was forced to abide by.” In part made necessary in view of the “disinformation” that had already been spread publicly on the subject by the Tories!
He resented being accused of misleading the public and could if he wished, reveal e-mails written by non-other than former solicitor Wonersh Cllr Michael Goodridge and comments made in public – saying, “we can provide the evidence.” He claimed, the Tories had, either not read their papers, or were trying to present false information.”
Godalming’s Widow Twanky – Steve Cosser – so steamed up and puffed up we thought he was going to implode – claimed the confidential papers revealed how the matter – the identity of which we at the WW know not – has been handled. “The secrecy that surrounds this site, could and should be scrutinised by the public. “You are setting a dangerous precedent shoving an issue into Exempt that doesn’t need to be there” he yelled!
Is this coming from an experienced councillor who has seen numerous items debated in private by his crowd during its controlling years – mainly in a Conservative Group Pre-Meeting?
Perhaps we should ask our legal advisors’ for their view, said ‘Aunty Elsey’ – Cllr Jenny Else, who regularly claims she always obeys the council’s Code of Conduct and its rules!
Borough Solicitor Daniel Bainbridge told members” “The recommendation from officers is that you debate EVERYTHING on this item IN EXEMPT. This is not the first time the council has been asked to consider something entirely in private, and there are very good legal reasons why at this stage in the proceedings this should happen.”
“I cannot stress more strongly the risk to the council if the contents of the report are discussed in open session.”
Having listened, but obviously didn’t hear his advice, or chose to ignore it – Cllr Else, together with 19 of her colleagues voted against; Only one Tory – Cranleigh’s Cllr Mary Foryszewski opposed the Tory whip. The remaining 34 councillors, based on the legal advice voted to exclude the press and public.
Will ignoring the whip find former Mayor Mary chained to her dog kennel?
Despite the latest gloomy news, and despite Waverley being in Tier 2 – Christmas is going to be a shadow of its former self for many of us – as we now border other towns and villages in Tier 4 with much tighter restrictions.
Only Waverley residents among Surrey boroughs will be able to mix indoors and only on Christmas Day, as opposed to the five-day period originally proposed. But we cannot be complacent. Waverley is still reporting 217 cases in the past seven days, an increase of 104 on the previous week.
It was reported earlier today that there were 608 reported new infections in Surrey and six deaths in Surrey hospitals overnight (Saturday). This brings the death toll in Surrey to 1,553.
new Christmas rules?
A brief summary is below:
Anyone in Tier 4 areas, this is all of Surrey except for Waverley, should not mix with anyone outside their households.
Across the rest of the country including Waverley, the rules allowing up to three households to meet will now be limited to Christmas Day only rather than the five days.
People must not break the rules at New Year – as before there will be no relaxation of rules on December 31.
What are the restrictions now in place for most of Surrey?
The new Tier 4 rules are similar to that of the national lockdown in November. They include:
Non-essential shops and gyms in Tier 4 areas must close
Plans to allow social bubbles over five days will be scrapped with only those in Tiers 1 to 3 allowed to form a bubble on Christmas Day itself
People should not enter or leave Tier 4
People can only meet one person from another household in an outside space
The majority of Surrey is now in Tier 4 after new tougher restrictions came into place at 12.01 am this morning.
‘We will not be having the Christmas we all hoped for’
Tim Oliver, Leader of Surrey County Council, has issued a statement.
I know this will come as a blow to residents and businesses across Surrey, but it is absolutely necessary that we act fast to save lives.
We are essentially heading back into the lockdown restrictions the whole country was under in November, and unfortunately, we will not be having the Christmas that we all hoped for.
It is tough to take, after a really difficult year but we must keep up the fight. Let’s not let our guard down, let’s all play our part and keep Surrey safe.
Surrey’s Local Resilience Forum, including the county council, will continue our work to ensure that help is available for those in need and our Public Health team will continue to monitor local data every single day to track this virus and stop the spread.
“We will continue to support our NHS colleagues in rolling out the vaccine as fast as possible across Surrey – this is our hope of returning to normal life and we will do everything we can to make this happen.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) latest advice and statistics for Waverley
Waverley is in Tier 2
The borough of Waverley has been in Tier 2 (High Alert Level) since Wednesday 2 December. You can find Tier 2 FAQs by visiting ourCovid FAQs page.
Currently, Waverley remains in Tier 2. However, infection levels are rising and it is more important than ever that residents and people in the borough remain vigilant.
Fear Not – help is on the Way. Here’s the Pre-Christmas scene at St Christopher’s Church in Haslemere. How apt that the authorities have allowed a church to be used to bring us tiding of great joy.
Surrey County Council’s Community Helpline is still active to aid those in need: Community Helpline number: 0300 200 1008
An appeal by Waverley’s Leader Cllr John Ward to exclude Waverley from Tier 3 COVID alert measures introduced by the Government yesterday, has paid off.
Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock announced that although “sadly” the whole of Surrey would move up a tier – Waverley would not. So remains in Tier 2.
Direct appeals by the borough council, combined with residents’ determined efforts to stick to the rules, has paid off for our borough. Well done Waverley – let’s keep up the good work. Let’s make Christmas safe in our borough and enter the new year in a fit state for the vaccination programme to begin.
Councillors in Cranleigh heard last night that the CCG will begin the local vaccination programme in its village hall after Christmas, and is proud of the part it is playing in the battle against COVID-19.
Guildford and most of Surrey moves into Tier 3, the very high Covid alert level, from (0001hrs) December 19, due to rapidly rising infection rates.
Movement between Waverley (including Godalming, Cranleigh, Farnham and Haslemere) and the rest of the county, including Guildford borough, should now be restricted. The tiers are not due to be reviewed again until December 30 and another on 13 of January.
The decision is based on several indicators, not just the overall infection rate but the rate in the over-60s, and pressure on the NHS.
Tier 3 means:
You can mix households (in groups of up to six) only in outdoor spaces, such as parks and the countryside, not in private gardens;
All hospitality venues such as bars, pubs and cafés must shut, or stay open only for takeaway;
Indoor entertainment venues, such as theatres and cinemas, must close; and
Accommodation, such as hotels and B&Bs, must close.
These are in addition to existing guidelines that state you must not mix with anyone you don’t live with who aren’t in your support bubble, in any indoor setting.
Residents in Waverley should continue to follow Tier 2 rules. Those in Tier 3 should avoid travelling outside their area, including for overnight stays, other than where necessary, such as for work, education or medical treatment.
The Waverley web has received some worrying information from one of our followers saying these dangerous and irresponsible leaflets are dropping through doors in Waverley. Perhaps faster than their Christmas Cards? Ignore them, bin them, destroy them!
Your Waverley says goodbye to 2020 with political rows and a lesson in grammar.
Because they know how to make the Season To Be Joyful – la, la, la, la, la!
The cycle of Full Council Meetings of 2020 ended with some very testy – and testing – moments, including personal insults, a lesson in grammar, a legal argument and one councillor describing the new administration as “An Unholy Alliance”, which was followed by a stinging rebuke from The Mayor! Hey, Ho, is that the sound of the monitoring officer we hear?
In fact, the council’s December meeting proved to be anything but It’s ‘Looking A Lot Like Christmas’ and was more akin to ‘The Grinch Stole Christmas.’Thankfully the meeting was held on Zoom otherwise there might have been fisticuffs in the Chamber or, as one Waverley-Web-Wag succinctly put it, no nipping into the Mayor’s Parlour for a post-meeting mince pie and a punch up!
The pantomime atmosphere began after Waverley’s very own ‘Chancellor’ – Finance Director Cllr Mark Merryweather – completed his gloomy forecast of the council’s financial position, after grappling with challenges imposed by Government cuts and COVID-19. All of which he advised was leading to an imbalance in the budget of an estimated, £3m next year, falling to £2m from then until 2023/24. Despite identified efficiencies and savings! Some of this deficit could be addressed IF – and only IF (and yes, it’s a BIG IF), the Government allowed councils to retain more of the business rates they collect.
He said, “What with COVID and BREXIT, we are living in very uncertain times.”
Cranleigh Cllr Liz Townsend with her halo of gold having just joined the Liberal Democrats.
Cllr Liz Townsend asked how she was supposed to explain to Cranleigh traders on her high street, paying £8,300 pa business rates, that Waverley would only receive £415 of their hard-earned cash for the local economy?!?!
She was followed by Cllr Follows – who drove the knife into the Government a little further, saying, it had not met its pledge that the pandemic would not leave local authorities out of pocket! He said promised government grants had covered under half its shortfall.
Twas ever thus, according to senior Tory Cllr Peter Martin, despite the Government saying it would make changes to business rates.
It was the opinion of Farnham’s Jerry Hyman that the Government was deliberately forcing councils into bankruptcy in a bid to bring on more Unitary Authorities.
“It is absolutely disgraceful and is a direct attack on democracy and a financial attack on us all.”
It was then that Simon Dear, the Tory Cllr for Haslemere & Grayswood, came sweeping in, like the Wicked Witch of the North on his broomstick, to smack Waverley’s new boys and girls, and those moaning traders. He said he could easily explain the good news on business rates to Cllr Townsend’s Cranleigh traders. They had received a business rate holiday from the Government for a year, a “free gift to overcome the difficulties faced by the high streets.”!
He said :
“Just like our own dear Waverley Council, Elmbridge Council was taken over by an unholy alliance of liberals – local residents’ associations and others, who had just increased parking charges to keep businesses afloat.”
Interrupted by a fuming Leader John Ward shouting “I don’t wish to be associated with an unholy alliance,” didn’t stop Cllr Dear who was now on a roll continuing with…
“While our own unholy alliance here this evening will not put up parking charges and to have that glorious moment recorded on U-tube for posterity.”
Hasn’t anyone told him that some of those businesses are already on the brink – because they haven’t actually been in ‘business’ for most of the year? Never mind – back to Planet Zonk Dear boy!
The Mayor – was not amused and neither was Cllr Anne-Marie Rosoman who demanded an apology for his reference to Waverley’s administration being called “an unholy alliance.” However, the Mayor’s rebuke and Cllr Rosoman’s request fell on deaf ears – or maybe it was just the Northwind whistling up Councillor Dear’s broomstick!
Responding to Cllr Dear’s “pantomime question”, Cllr Merryweather said his colleague obviously hadn’t understood the changes to parking charges either. The council didn’t have a blanket charging policy now.
After a vote of 50 for, with just two abstentions, the recommendation to approve the budget was adopted. Needless to say, Simple Simon abstained.
The second act of Waverley’s Pantomime Season began when the Council’s Corporate Strategy came up for discussion.
It was then, adopting her very best schoolmarm tone, that ‘Oh Carole’ – AKA Councillor Cockburn – switched on, with the alacrity of a set of faulty Christmas lights – and gave the Full Council – and the few dummies, like us who listen in – a lesson in punctuation from the Pantomime Dame who knows a thing or two about grammar and punctuation, don’t you know! Of course, she omitted to mention that reports/documents put before the council are produced by Waverley officers! Oh dear – now, living up to her nickname Oh Carole! There won’t be too many Christmas cards from staff coming her way this year then? Never mind, she can blame it on the Post Office’s poor performance during COVID – why not, everyone else is!
You can listen to the complete tirade on the link below, but, to give you a flavour, if you can’t be *ssed, this was one of her questions: “Have you eaten Cllr Follows?” Careful observers might have seen her claws unfurl as she stretched and arched her back and added, “If he had read that, he would have thought I had accused him of some heinous crime – even though he wears those awful ties from time to time?” MEOW!
Lack of space prevents us from giving you the whole-long diatribe – but it ended with an unforgivable dig at Waverley’s treasured Worshipful Mayor, Penny Marriott. Although we were not among those fortunate enough to receive a card with her good wishes. Obviously, not-so-dear ‘Oh Carole’ obviously had!
“One rule that may come in handy Madam Mayor – next time you do your Christmas Cards don’t use a double negative.”
Ouch!
Ding dong but not so ‘merrily on high?’
So, as you can tell folks, the Spirit of Christmas is alive but not very well on Planet Waverley!!
A post will follow on the debacle prompted by a Tory revolt on a decision, on the advice of the council’s legal eagles, to take an item in Confidence and behind closed doors. However, you can watch it for yourselves here:
Apologies to Cllr Cockburn from the Waverley Web team who had only hours earlier partaken of some amber nectar at our virtual Christmas get-together. Our excuse for any grammatical or punctuation mistakes. Thank God she didn’t move on to chastise everyone for using split infinitives.
