Team Bolton Magazine
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JUNE 2020 COVID-19 EDITION #hereforyouBolton Thank you to our NHS and key workers // Inside this edition // Features Things to do online, support for May in Bolton - a roundup of the Team businesses, jobs and skills, looking after Bolton response to COVID-19 your wellbeing, money advice, staying Stay safe, have fun - online activity safe, your doctor is still open. to keep the whole family entertained www.bolton.gov.uk / JUNE 2020 1 Contents Welcome to 03 Humanitarian response the first edition 06 Primary Care of Team Bolton 07 Don’t delay We’ve put this publication together to give you and 08 Staying healthy your families some updates about what we have been doing to support the Bolton Family during these difficult times. 09 Looking after your wellbeing The team effort we have seen An incredible army of volunteers since the start of the coronavirus have also been doing their crisis has been incredible, so bit - supporting the council’s 10 May in Bolton thank you to everyone for pulling humanitarian response, and our together and supporting our work. NHS. 12 Our communities Sadly, since the outbreak began, We are all here for you, and are many people in Bolton have working tirelessly so Bolton can lost their lives or faced serious get through this crisis, control the 12 Money advice illness. And we are not out of the virus, and return to normal life as woods yet. In the coming months soon as possible. we must continue our efforts to 13 Benefits control the spread of the virus and Whilst there may still be some save lives. difficult days ahead for us all, remember you are not alone - help Right now, Bolton Council, local and support is there for you. From 14 Stay safe, GP and hospital services and the beginning we have faced this have fun the voluntary sector are working crisis together - and we will come together to keep you safe, protect through it together. your health, keep essential 16 Help for services going and support the Keep safe and well and if you most vulnerable. need help and support please businesses do ask for it. As with all things, The team at Royal Bolton Hospital this too will pass and we will have been on the frontline treating be there with you every step of 17 Employment patients with the virus and other the way. serious health conditions. GP and and skills pharmacy services have changed Councillor David Greenhalgh, the way they operate but are Leader, Bolton Council open and providing medicines, 18 Bolton College treatment and health advice. Don’t forget for the Meanwhile, the council’s key latest news and updates 19 Contacts workers have got your back - visit our website and ensuring vital services like social we all look forward to care, schooling for key workers, bin collection and benefits advice seeing you all soon. continue. 2 JUNE 2020 / www.bolton.gov.uk Humanitarian response Coronavirus testing available Anyone over 5 years old, with symptoms of coronavirus is now able to get tested at the University of Bolton stadium test site. The facility is a satellite of the national NHS testing programme and has been set up by Bolton Council, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group with Bolton Wanderers. Testing has been widened a new continuous following the addition of Anosmia cough OR as a symptom of coronavirus. Anosmia is the loss or change in a high temperature your normal sense of smell, it can OR also affect your sense of taste. a loss of or This means you should self- change in your isolate immediately if you have: normal sense of smell or taste If you are unable to access the internet, call 119 in England and Wales or 0300 303 2713 in Scotland Tests at the site are available by pre-booked appointment only. and Northern Ireland to book a test. To book for under 5’s, contact their GP, Public Health Nurse (health visitor) or NHS111. For further information and to book an appointment visit www.bolton.gov.uk/covidtesting www.bolton.gov.uk / JUNE 2020 3 Humanitarian response Thank you Need support? Our COVID 19 community response line is now open messages offering vital help to people who need food or essential items 01204 337221 8.30am – 5.30pm Mon – Fri and Sat 9am – 1.30pm Bolton Council in partnership with Urban Outreach established Bolton’s Response Hub to support extremely vulnerable people, who have been told to stay at home at all times and avoid any face-to-face contact (shielding), and who have no family or friends to support them. Bolton’s Humanitarian Response has received nearly 23,000 contacts to date, helping Bolton families with food supplies, medicines and other support. People with hearing or speech difficulties can visitwww.relayuk.bt.com to use the free service to talk to us. The hub is delivered by staff from the council and partners, plus volunteers. If you have been out in the borough as part of your daily exercise, or on your way to work you may have spotted the colourful road markings appearing thanking some of Bolton’s key workers. Rainbows and “thank you NHS messages” were added to the streets outside Royal Bolton Hospital last month and now “thank you carers” messages have been painted outside 10 local care homes in a tribute to Be a Care Hero those on the social care frontline. NHS health centres across Bolton have Adult social care in the North West urgently need kind, caring also had uplifting messages added and compassionate people to help provide essential services to nearby roads with rainbows and to those that need it most. the words “stay well” painted on the tarmac. No previous experience working in adult social care needed, training will be provided. Executive Cabinet Member for Highways, Cllr Stuart Haslam, added: If you can help out in these extraordinary times to provide “A few weeks ago we started a local support to the most vulnerable in our communities we would effort to set in stone our thanks to love to hear from you. frontline NHS staff – with messages and rainbows painted at locations near For more details visit Royal Bolton Hospital.” www.greater.jobs/search-and-apply/job-details/BN-37729/ Be a #CareHero “Now it’s the carers’ turn and we hope these messages demonstrate how much their bravery, compassion and commitment are valued right now.” 4 JUNE 2020 / www.bolton.gov.uk Humanitarian response Good to know... Good to know... Urban Outreach Volunteering success Bolton Council, in partnership with Urban Outreach, The call for urgent response volunteers to has also been working to ensure urgently-needed support the coronavirus effort in Bolton has seen groceries and supplies are provided to individuals a phenomenal response from residents. Over and families in need across Bolton. Large quantities 700 people have signed up to help and deliver of particular types of food and other items are always services and supplies to the most vulnerable in our needed so if you would like to donate or volunteer to communities. help putting the food parcels together for distribution across Bolton: Our colleagues at Bolton CVS are coordinating the volunteer response, please contact them if you Contact the Foodbank at would like to help, via email: [email protected] Unit 4 Trinity Retail Park Springfield, Bradford Street, or telephone 01204 546055. BL2 1HY (former Staples Store) 01204 385848 or visit www.urbanoutreach.co.uk. The government has launched the new NHS Test and Trace service. www.bolton.gov.uk / JUNE 2020 5 Looking after the Bolton Family Your NHS in Bolton is still here for you! Primary Care Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Please be assured that GPs have about your health that you seek your local health services are made this safe for you to do so – they advice. working differently at this time. might be wearing masks and gloves and you will be asked to stay 2m Your GP may also be inviting you for While some changes have been apart while you wait. health screening or vaccinations. It is made, your GP practice is still equally as important you keep these operating and you can – and should There is a separate zone for any appointments. Your GP is there to – contact them if you need medical patients with Coronavirus symptoms, help you, so please give them a call. advice or support. so you won’t come into contact with anyone unnecessarily. Your local pharmacy is also working Practices are working on a ‘phone hard during this time. Some opening first’ system, which means you cannot It is very important that if you are hours may have changed to allow walk into your practice to make an feeling unwell or if you are worried the pharmacy team to have a appointment. break, catch up on work or conduct Contact your GP if: cleaning, but they are still here This is for the safety of you and for you. • you notice changes to a mole on your skin, blood your family plus the members when you go to the loo or when you cough of staff working there. If you need to order • you’ve experienced sudden, unexpected weight medication, please allow seven When you do ring your GP, you loss days to process, only order may be offered a telephone or what you need and don’t forget • you’ve had a letter about a smear test video consultation and in some to collect or arrange delivery.