FREE ISSUE 33 . APRIL 2020 hitehorse Manor Junior School players give to charity Wlit up in blue as a ‘thank you’ to the great staff of the NHS’. CLAP FOR OUR CARERS rystal Palace players have got together to donate an undisclosed Theheard first clapping, week saw banging polite pots applause. and sum of money to help Age UK Croydon Onpans, the car second horns Thursday and dogs at barking 8pm, we their through this crisis. CThe Premier League club confirmed appreciation. Some residents also that: “It was a joint donation made by all displayed blue lights in recognition of the players’ but they wanted to keep the NHSworkers staff. and bin collectors were among amount private. Delivery drivers, supermarket staff, care Age UK Croydon said: “We are very grateful to the players for donating to those honoured. Emergency and NHS us – we’re going to be using the funds to workers also joined in the applause support the key services we’re operating COVID-19including firefighters HOUSING in Croydon. CRISIS AS NORTH OF THE BOROUGH WORST HIT BY VIRUS right now.” he council is desperately trying HUGE AID EFFORT Tto find accommodation to house huge humanitarian aid effort families in cramped accommodation A has been launched to help the rallying together to support each other, borough’s elderly and vulnerable. who are unable to self isolate from getting to know neighbours delivering elderly and vulnerable relatives. In just over two weeks over 3,000 food which had been “wonderful”. Croydon residents have joined Deputy Leader Cllr Alison Butler said: Croydon Covid-19 Mutual Aid (CCMA) “We have escalated work on voids and to help serve their neighbours and Options being looked at include other council assets required for Covid the most vulnerable through the hotels, private buildings and the newly 19for duties.accommodation At the moment for those and who probably coronavirus crisis. completedhad one of thecouncil highest Brick infection by Brick rates basis, said they were preparing for a on-going, we have a huge demand properties as it emerged that Croydon He said there had been more optimistic need to self-isolate and their current In an unprecedented wave of grassroots in the country with the north of the accommodation does not allow this.” borough worst affected with the only newspeak inlast five Friday weeks as but the it rate was of nearer infection 2-3. action, these volunteers are organised assumption, explained MP Steve Reed had been slightly lower than feared, She also revealed that 20 per cent of locally, with over 60 WhatsApp that it was down to the high population council staff were off through sickness and Facebook groups covering of people living in more cramped sub or self isolating. It also emerged that the neighbourhoods including Thornton standard housing, with multi generations which ensured medical staff ‘could cope’ council had planned for such a pandemic Heath. Throughout the following pages in one house - similar to Italy. as long as the rate of infection doesn’t (P2) and the worst case scenario includes you read about selfless acts of kindness predicted infections and deaths. of food banks and multiple volunteers Peopletemporary are worriedaccommodation about self and isolation how to Todaychange it but emerged it depended that a Thorntonon people Heath self offering help. as they are living with older relatives in isolating and staying at home. Itwill also not covers be central PPE procurement stockpiles of andPersonal disposal arrangements and states: “There He cited the case of parents and two In the next week there are plans to protect themselves. mum-of-four Fiona Clarke, 49, had died launch a borough wide help line which sinceof coronavirus the crisis (P4).and that he had been Protective Equipment (PPE) or cleaning will be manned by volunteers with calls products for councils to buy from .... “ teenagers living in a one bedroom flat The MP said his caseload had ‘doubled’ SUPERMARKETSTURN TO PAGE 8 SLOW TO with one living space and how can they More than 150 people are currently being self isolate with no outdoor space and inundated with requests for help treated for coronavirus in Croydon; 60 REACT TO PANIC BUYING one walk a day, saying it must be ‘really including from families living in local people have tragically lost their tough’. He added that the situation could temporary accommodation. All the lives and more than 140 people have A be exacerbated by underlying trauma, issues are being collated and responses successfully recovered. shoppershospital shown consultant in these in shocking infection illness or domestic violence. on his website with links to resources. Turn to Page2 to read the story of Nita described the behaviour of The MP described the efforts of Croydon He said he was worried about Clarke OBE, former advisor to the PM. University Hospital as ‘heroic’ and having xenophobia but what was positive was pictures taken outside the Thornton spoken to the chief executive on a weekly the solidarity and community spirit, TURN TO PAGE 4 Heath branch of Tesco during an NHS- PLEA FOR PPE AS DOCTORS GO TO WAR TO SAVE LIVES only hour as ‘absolutely disgusting’. GP surgery has had to rely on the experienced a third of its staff either A kindness of a foreign medical student who sent dozens of H95 masks to protect ill equipped staff having to work from home or go in to working in conditions likened to a self isolation; including three doctors war. who can’t go back to work because of the testing delays. Parchmore has been fortunate enough The next week will see the battle to save to have secured 60 of the N95 masks lives in London with the Covid-19 death which offer more protection because For supermarkets like Tesco, they have toll expected to significantly rise in the they are tight-fitting, filter out airborne never been more busy and are making prepared to deal with the desperate days ahead. particleswho had workedand are ableon attachment to be cleaned. at the rocket profits but initially the stores Medicalwho are Centre,being dispatched said it is causing in to the like the one in Brigstock Road, were ill Doctors surgeries will be on the frontline Theypractice were and sent was by concerned a Chinese by student the ‘anxiety’ and ‘stress’ amongst doctors Social distancing was non existent and but NHS guidelines say staff working in panic buying. general practice don’t need the same level Dr Agnelo Fernandes, of the Parchmore Thecommunity practice to like treat many coronavirus others has with also of protection as hospital staff. reports that British doctors only had TURN TO PAGE 7 just basic protection. access to basic masks. a breeding ground for the virus with, TURN TO PAGE 2 FORMER ADVISOR TO PM THANKS ‘MARVELLOUS’ NHS AFTER SIX DAYS IN HOSPITAL editor@ ne of Tony Blair’s former aides thorntonheathchronicle.co.uk Ohas praised NHS staff at Croydon University hospital after they helped added: “Happy to spread praise of thorntonheathchronicle.co.uk her recover from Coronavirus. home xxx” Mayday if it helps raise staff morale.” Local @ThorntonHeathChronicle Croydon Health Service NHS Trust Labour MP replied: “We’re glad you’re feeling better @THChronicle Nita Clarke OBE, who is married for Central Nita! We’d love to pass your message on to the academic Stephen Benn, Croydonand the to our staff.” former This special edition of The Chronicle is the 3rd Viscount Stansgate and Sarah Jones Nitawhen was she press joined officer Downing and thenStreet political as Tony available only as a pdf. son of Tony Benn said in a message officer for UNISON until January 2001 on Twitter: ”I’m back home after We will be providing regular, where Conservative possible, local coverage and stories 6 days being re-oxygenated at Blair’s assistant political secretary with #croydonuniversityhospital. I cannot MP Gavin about Co-Vid19 but you will need to Employeeresponsibility Engagement for trade Taskunion Force liaison. since thank the marvellous teams In sent best wishes along withBarwell, former now sign up to The Chronicle mailing list. a Lord, also Since 2008 she has been co-chair at thorntonheathchronicle.co.uk Heathfield Ward 3 enough for their care and attention. They are magnificent, 2008. If you want to share a positive each and every one. I am so grateful.” shadow foreign secretary Douglas West Thornton for two years before taking news item, an account of life under Her daughter Emily was a Labour Cllr in Well wishers included the former Alexander and London MP Stella coronavirus,for help or donations pay tribute then to pleasea key Labour leader hopeful MP Jess Phillips Creasy. worker or loved one, share an appeal up a job opportunity in New York in 2016. who said: “Such a relief so happy you are Nita who lives in South Norwood Get in contact email editor@ contact Editor Andrea Perry. PUBLIC SUPPORT GIVES NHS EXTRA ‘OOMPH’ TO CARRY ON WhatsApp: 07930 354128 TURN FROM PAGE 1 thorntonheathchronicle.co.uk or The Dr Fernandes also relayed a personal story Chronicle ofwas how youngest a friend to of die his from wife, Covid-19. who was in her Dr Fernandes said: “We are really We wish our readers well in these grateful for the masks but it doesn’t stop unprecedented times. Stay safe. the anxiety really because regardless 50s, had succumbed to the virus and died of having the right mask we don’t have alone in hospital without the comfort of the right gowns or overalls and have to her family because of the restrictions. rely on flimsy plastic aprons.