Further update – for Tuesday 9th June – from Councillor Fraser Macpherson (West End) and Councillor Craig Duncan (Broughty Ferry) :
TEST AND PROTECT – IMPORTANT
Everyone aged five and over who has COVID-19 symptoms of a new continuous cough, temperature or loss or change in sense of taste or smell should go to NHS Inform online or call 0800 028 2816 to book a test.
People will need to isolate with their household as soon as they have symptoms and, if they have a positive test result, they will be asked to provide details of all recent close contacts to NHS contact tracers. Those people will be contacted and asked to isolate for 14 days.
THE NEXT STEPS ON HEALTH SERVICES
NHS Scotland will begin resuming some services that have been suspended, delayed or deferred due to the virus, whilst continuing to protect emergency, urgent and maternity care. ‘Re-mobilise, Recover, Re-design, The Framework for NHS Scotland’ sets out how Health Boards will safely and gradually prioritise the resumption of some paused services.
These services could be first:
cancer services, especially referrals and postponed treatments
expanding treatments for non-cancer urgent inpatients and outpatients
outpatient therapies where delay will increase the risk to patients, such as management of macular degeneration, paediatrics and respiratory services
mental health support
treatment room services such as blood monitoring and B12 injections
CHILDMINDER GUIDANCE
From 3 June 2020, childminders can operate but they must limit the number of households for whom they provide childcare to a maximum of 4, in addition to children of their own household, at any one time. In allocating their spaces, continued critical childcare for keyworkers and vulnerable children must be the first priority. The restrictions on childminder capacity are expected to be lifted during Phase 3, depending on the public health advice.
BEST START GRANT
The Best Start Grant School Age Payment has re-opened for applications. This is a £250 payment made to parents or carers around the time a child is old enough to start Primary 1 to help with the costs of starting school.
CARERS
Carers are to receive a one-off payment, in addition to the regular six monthly Carer’s Allowance Supplement. As a result, eligible carers will get a payment of at least £460.20. This will be paid from Friday 26 June.
SCHOOL GUIDANCE PUBLISHED
New guidance will help teachers and councils prepare for the ‘blended model’ of both classroom and home learning when schools re-open in August. The guidance, produced by the Education Recovery Group, also details broad expectations for what Scotland’s curriculum will look like during this period in Early Learning Centres and schools. Guidance on the curriculum, aimed at parents and carers, will be published shortly in partnership with the National Parent Forum of Scotland.
AbilityNet
AbilityNet provide a free service delivered by volunteers (all who are PVG checked) to support anyone aged over 55, or anyone with a disability/medical condition or they also support carers free of charge.
They can help with things such as getting online, using WhatsApp and Facetime especially during this tough time and online shopping but can also help look at what help there could be for people with disabilities and health issues. They can also offer help on social media, zoom and other platforms for holding or attending virtual meetings and can provide training on this to organisations and charities free of charge if its required.
The list really is endless. No question is a silly question.
Throughout Scotland many older people and people who have never used technology is being pushed online for many essential services such as Internet Banking, Online Shopping and Hospital Appointments and they want to help where we can.
They normally provide ay IT Support At Home service, which understandably is suspended at the moment. Instead, they can provide remote support on a ‘best endeavours’ basis, being able to remotely access devices (with permission) which enables them to not only resolve problems, but also demonstrate how to do things such as online grocery shopping and video calls.
To find out more about Ability Net please visit https://abilitynet.org.uk/at-home To request assistance you can call them on 0800 048 7642 or email enquiries@abilitynet.org.uk.
INFORMATION
UK Government news: www.gov.uk/search/news-and-communications
Scottish Government Updates: www.gov.scot/news
Dundee City Council updates: www.dundeecity.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19
Covid community helpline for food, shopping, prescriptions, finances, personal care: People in Dundee on the shielded list only – 0300 123 1403. People in Dundee who are vulnerable but not on the shielded list – 0800 111 4000
NHS Inform – https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19
NHS Tayside website: www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk
Helpline for those who do not have symptoms but are looking for general health advice Tel: 0800 028 2816.
Health Protection Scotland Guidance – www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/covid-19
Federation of Small Businesses: www.fsb.org.uk/coronavirus
Helpline for small businesses, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm. Tel: 0300 303 0660.
Ready Scotland Information – www.readyscotland.org/coronavirus
Tayside Cares – www.taysidecares.co.uk
SUPPORT AND ADVICE
This is an anxious and uncertain time but we want you to know that we are here to try to help constituents in whatever way that we can.
CONTACT DETAILS
WEST END WARD – Bailie Fraser Macpherson
Phone – Dundee 459378 (home)
E-mail – fraser.macpherson@dundeecity.gov.uk
Facebook updates : www.facebook.com/dundeewestend
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