On Thursday 18 June we hosted a Facebook Live Ask Us about COVID-19 event with a number of our partners. We wanted to provide our community with the opportunity to ask us questions about how we have been, and continue to respond to the pandemic.
Along with Cllr Steve Darling, the Leader of Torbay Council, the panel included:
- the Director of Public Health for Torbay;
- the Assistant Director for Education, Learning and Skills at Torbay Council;
- the Chair and Chief Executive for Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust;
- a representative for Torbay Police and
- the Lead Officer for the Torbay Community Development Trust.
Here is the video of the live and we will also shortly be providing a summary to the questions that were answered during this question and answer session.
Questions and answers
Please find below a summary of the questions that were answered the panel during the Ask Us about Covid-19 Live.
Having housed all the homeless during the pandemic are we working with the government to build homes for them?
Cllr Steve Darling, Leader of Torbay Council, responded by saying the council have released funds to set up a Housing company which will become a social housing provider and this company is in the process of being set up. We are also looking to use a Central Government scheme which means we will be able to buy properties that are already in the private sector and move them into the social housing sector. This will make rents more affordable.
How are we supporting our town centres in opening up high streets? We have also received feedback about the social distancing signs that have been put up in the high street as in people know what to do and say that residents don’t need to be reminded.
Cllr Steve Darling responded saying we have consulted with the Chambers of Trade in all three of our towns to hear their views about how we can support everyone in getting our high streets open. We have received £133,000 from the Government to do this and this has meant we can use signage to encourage social distancing, promote that our town centres are open and make them more of a destination. We want to make people feel safe when visiting.
Caroline Dimond, Director for Public Health for Torbay also said it is really important that we continue to encourage social distancing, even though numbers are low here, we do still need to be vigilant. Signage is a reminder as we go around our day to day business as it keeps it fresh in people’s mind and it also helps those who are venturing out for the first time to feel safe and see that people are conforming.
What changes/improvements are the council doing to make it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to move around the Bay while respecting social distancing?
Cllr Steve Darling said we have been looking at certain pinch points around the Bay and have submitted a bid for funding so we can put these in place. The proposed schemes are:
- Marine Drive, Paignton - Temporary widening of narrow high footfall footway between Paignton Sea Front and Preston Sea Front to aid social distancing.
- Torbay Road, Torquay - Temporary widening of narrow high footfall footway which runs beneath the footbridge to aid social distancing.
- Station Square, Paignton - Closure of one traffic lane to provide extended footway to aid social distancing. This will also serve to act as an experimental layout to test a proposed planned future public realm improvement for this area.
- Torbay Road, Torquay, footways adjacent to Torre Abbey Sea Front and Meadows - Conversion of existing wide footways to shared footway/cycleways to link into existing cycle provision.
- Dartmouth Road, Paignton (Adjacent to Waterside precinct) - Temporary arrangement to provide shared footway/cycleway to link to existing cycle provision. This will be temporary until a permanent scheme is implemented.
- Temporary road closures outside two primary schools - Curledge Street, Paignton and Furzeham, Brixham, operational at school times to allow social distancing and as an experimental scheme.
More details can be found on this press release. As a Local Authority we did declare a climate emergency last year and a key driver is around reducing emissions by reducing the number of vehicles on the road and encouraging more walking, cycling and use of public transport.
With town centres opening and more cafes and restaurants opening and expanding their offer, do the council have plans to help in this area?
Cllr Steve Darling responded to say that the council have just announced support to the hospitality businesses and are offering free short term consents and temporary licensed lease agreements, to allow them to provide outdoor seating for customers in line with the latest government social distancing guidelines.
Questions for the NHS Foundation Trust and Public Health
What will we expect when we visit the hospital for appointments?
Liz Davenport, Chief Executive for Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust responded by saying that they are updating their guidance on visiting the hospital regularly and information is provided on appointment letters on what to expect when attending. There will also be someone on hand to help and guide patients when they arrive at any entrance. You will be asked to use hand sanitiser as well as being provided with a mask and shown how to use it. Everyone is also reminded to observe the 2 metre distancing guidance when inside the hospital.
When can I expect to have my appointment which was cancelled due to COVID-19?
Liz Davenport responded to say that we are in regular contact with those awaiting their appointments and that they are stepping back up non-urgent services, including out-patient appointments. One thing to note though is that appointments may happen in different ways. They could take place over the phone or using newly rolled out video technology called NHS Attend Anywhere.
Sir Richard Ibbotson, the Chair of the Trust, said they really want to acknowledge and settle everyone’s fears when attending the hospital site and that there are separate COVID and non-COVID areas. He went on to remind everyone that it is in everyone’s best interest to attend appointments.
What is the availability of antibody testing to our community?
Liz Davenport said that the national plan is to roll out antibody testing across the population but currently the priority is to ensure all 6,000 staff in the Foundation Trust are tested by the end of June, as per the Governments directive.
Caroline Dimond confirmed that testing in the wider community will happen once all hospital, care home, social care staff and key workers have taken place. A caveat though, and something to bear in mind, is that we still don’t know if having antibody’s means that you are immune to COVID-19.
When will non-urgent operations start again?
Liz Davenport said the Trust is keen to make this happen but they do need to do this safely and appropriately while complying with guidance. The Trust is increasing the number of procedures every week, which includes working with independent hospitals, who have made capacity available to the NHS Clinicians. They will be in touch to keep patients updated.
Liz went on to say that there are still limits placed on visiting in our hospitals due to the requirements of social distancing. This is being kept under review. In exceptional circumstances, the matrons can support visits or agree for someone to attend a scan appointment in our maternity department.
Sir Richard Ibbotson also extended thanks to their patients for bearing with them and thanked the public for their understanding.
Questions for the Police
Concern has been expressed that people are not following the government’s guidance with regard to gathering and social distancing, what are the Police doing to enforce this?
Chief Superintendent Matt Longman, who oversees policing in Torbay, said this has been one of the challenges for them. With regards to social distancing, there is no legislation and Police have no powers to enforce it. Their aim though is to help people feel safe in their community. With regard to larger gatherings that are outside of the current guidance given by Government, these can be attended to by them and they can use the laws in their power to disperse them. In the first instance though they do want to engage and explain and raise awareness of the impact of their behaviour on others before enforcing their powers.
Increased Police presences have been seen at Paignton Bus Station, why is this?
Chief Superintendent Matt Longman explained that due to the recent change in guidance about wearing face masks on public transport they had to consider their role with this. It is up to the drivers and the company who run the public transport to ensure masks are being worn but if they are facing people who are not complying then the Police can step in to support them, again by engaging, explaining and encouraging the right behaviour. The Police are not actively patrolling areas but they are trying to be more visible where there is a high footfall, like bus stations and town centres.
Questions for the community
Can the Community Helpline still assist those in our community?
Simon Sherbersky, the Lead Officer for the Torbay Community Development Trust, responded saying yes it can. There has been a slight change to the opening hours of the helpline but help is still there for those that need it. The helpline is now open from 10am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 9:30am to 12:30pm on Saturday mornings. The Helpline number is 01803 446022.
For those who were initially nervous to offer volunteering but now feel more comfortable, are volunteers still needed?
Simon Sherbersky said that volunteers are still needed and no one would have their offer of help turned away. The Helpline have had more people offering support than could be utilised but now with people going back to work they do still need the support.
Questions about schools
Parents who have children that are eligible to return to school are nervous about it, what support have we given to schools?
Rachael Williams, the Assistant Director for Education, Learning and Skills at Torbay Council, responded to this one by saying that we understand that this is a difficult decision to make and lots of work has taken place with all our education providers to make sure they have put in place all the necessary measures to ensure it is safe for children to return. Schools have not been pushed into welcoming back all eligible children, it has been left to individual schools to welcome back the numbers they feel would be safe.
Schools are now different places though. They are working in small bubbles with consistent staff and different bubbles do not meet during the day. There are also staggered starts and finishes to the day to ensure social distancing at the beginning and end of the school days can be observed. Classrooms have been decluttered to enable schools to carry out good cleaning during and at the end of the day. Older children have also been given their own resources so they are not sharing.
If you make the decision to send your child back and if a child/teacher develops a symptom there are clear guidelines on how schools can manage this. There is also a clear testing process in place. Schools have been receiving weekly briefings from us and Public Health and this has helped answer any questions or concerns. Positive feedback from parents and schools has been received but we do recognise parents concerns and encourage them to speak to the Headteachers at their schools.
Caroline Dimond reinforced this hard work and that everyone is working as a team and regular meetings with Public Health England and schools are taking place. Schools are a safe place with regard to infection control and there is a clear process with regard to testing.
Are there opportunities for parents to visit a school before sending a child back?
Rachael Williams said that at the moment the guidance is that parents drop off and pick up at the gate or front entrance and cannot enter schools or settings. This helps them keep on top of their infection control. It has been recommended to schools to make videos to show parents and their pupils what it now looks like inside their buildings. Rachael encouraged parents to speak to teachers and Heads to help alleviate any fears or concerns.