Issue 123 Aug/Sept 2020 Managing Covid-19 after the summer tough, but we have had to take it We must not be complacent in our stride. We’ve had guidance from the government and NHE he past few months have England regarding shielding, Tbeen taxing for all of us, and we’ve had to do what we not least our local GP practice. could to manage staff and patient Staff at Coquet Medical Group anxiety.” have had to adapt some of their And despite the apparent fundamental working practices lull in the number of summer and prepare for the unknown, Covid-19 cases, Rebecca stressed all while running a busy Health the point that we are not over Centre. this pandemic yet. “We need to Assistant Practice Manager make people aware, they still Rebecca Curtis told The Ambler need to be really cautious, not that some of the changes, such as complacent. Northumberland keeping the surgery doors closed has been relatively lucky for the foreseeable future, and compared to other areas in the the use of video consultations UK, because we don’t have would remain. This is for the dense population numbers. But safety of both staff and patients. the virus is still here. And it’s “We are also encouraging l-r: Rebecca Curtis, Assistant Practice Manager; Lisa Scott, Practice going to affect the way we all patients we do see, to wear a face Manager, Dawn Wade, Receptionist; Dr Ben Burville, Partner. work for a long time.” mask, and inform them they will Anna Williams have their temperature checked we have the facility to text, talk taken place. at Reception. We are also asking or provide video consultations “There’s been masses of work Advice for patients patients not to come early as we where necessary.” done for the NHS 111 screening don’t want the reception area full tool,” explained Rebecca. “So we • Ring the surgery first. Acute of people waiting.” Excellent resource are encouraging people, if they appointments will be assessed by Patients are asked to ring the Over the summer, staff at have the symptoms, to go to the a Doctor or Nurse Practitioner surgery if they have an issue, and Coquet Medical Group are website: 111.nhs.uk/COVID-19. • Where appropriate, any acute appointments will be expecting a slowdown in the Go through the questions and appointments can be held via triaged by phone first. Doctors number of Covid-19 cases. follow the guidance. phone or video or the Nurse Practitioner will During this time, they will be “It’s an excellent resource, • Face-to-face consultations are then decide whether the patient looking to see more routine and it means patients can take still available where necessary needs to be seen in person or if appointments. some control at the start. By they can be treated via phonecall However, come the autumn, completing this pre-screening • Patients must wear a mask and or video. they are expecting a rise in the before contacting us, it will also have their temperature taken when visiting the surgery Rebecca explained that number of patients contacting help us manage calls coming in, the video consultations have the surgery. This will be due to and means we can prioritise our • If you suspect you have been very successful. “They a combination of seasonal flu, planning during the flu season.” Covid-19 symptoms, you are are working really well, and in chest infections, viral winter Planning has been key to asked to access the NHS111 fact the NHS were looking to respiratory infections and the medical group’s ability to website 111.nhs.uk/COVID-19 and follow their questions and introduce this anyway. It’s not Covid-19. It will be impossible cope so far, but Rebecca admits guidance first, before contacting taking away from our face-to- to differentiate between any of the last few months have been a the surgery face appointments, but it means these conditions until a test has challenge for the team. “It’s been Audrey Jones, The Amble Thank you to daughter Jacqui Food Bank and her family team were local heroes helped to busier than ho do you think deserves brighten up the ever during a ‘thank you’ for all town, and thank lockdown, W key workers. They delivering the effort they have put in to created an ‘NHS over 20 food help our community during tree’ and started parcels a week lockdown? Is there anyone we’ve the Amble stone Read more on missed? Audrey Jones and daughter snake. Read more our website. More on back page Jacqui Jones on our website. Advertisement feature Demand is at an all time high etween them, the Yopa “People’s attitudes Bdream team in the North towards their properties and East have Northumberland communities changed during the covered. Liz Humphreys has lockdown period,” says Liz. “We years of experience in North and recently commissioned a survey mid-Northumberland including that revealed that 1 in 5 people Alnwick, Amble, Morpeth, and in the North East are now the best of the Northumberland looking for more outside space. coastal areas, Ashley Hicks Accordingly, we’ve seen huge lives and works in the Tyne demand for family properties Valley, listing properties in and with large gardens or acres of around Hexham, Bellingham land. We also know that 18% and Corbridge. Tracey Chaplin of those in the North East are has worked in and around now being drawn to the seaside the Ashington, Choppington, and the lifestyle that comes with Bedlington and Cramlington it. Accordingly, we are seeing areas for years. great buyer demand in idyllic Demand from buyers coastal areas such as Alnmouth looking in Northumberland and Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. is at an all-time high, with You usually have to sell the competitive offers meaning lifestyle when marketing these sellers are often achieving better properties, but nowadays they than asking price for their are selling themselves and flying properties. off the shelves!” The Yopa team in The team pride themselves Northumberland has been on giving the best personal cracking on in spite of the service and specialise in offering difficult conditions. As one advice to customers on how to happy local vendor recently said present homes to the market. in a review, “The team at Yopa To book a valuation of your are some of the most pro-active property or just for some local people I have met; from the market advice, contact them on: initial meeting, paperwork, Elizabeth Humphreys: 0771 photos and getting the house 3072306, elizabeth.humphreys@ marketed to then being able to yopa.co.uk Tracey Chaplin: 0787 5405974, contact them the whole time, [email protected] especially during this difficult Ashley Hicks: 07944 757517, time with Covid-19.” [email protected] New look for The Schooner good wines, and a shiny new beast of a coffee machine. All coffees are free every day until 12noon. And once lockdown restrictions are fully eased, they will be offering food. Paul has focused on redecorating the downstairs and there’s been quite a transformation. There’s a freshness in the bar, a large TV for sports, and a newly tidied beer garden. There’s even a little painted sign up to remember Derrick Jamieson the previous - and much elcome to Marie and Paul loved landlord, a gesture which WYoung, the new landlords of has been well received on social the Schooner. media. Marie told the Ambler “Amble “We feel that the pub very is lovely place and has this much belongs to Amble and we are fantastic working harbour which just the current custodians of it so we were drawn to. Paul is ex-Royal we very much wanted to show our Navy so naturally loves the sea, respect to the late landlord and to but has never really liked coastal the folk of Amble,” said Marie. areas, that was until we came to “We have tried to keep the Amble and he got a good feeling essence of a real local pub and about the place and the people.” I hope we have achieved that as She added, “my great-grandfather Paul has put his heart and soul was born in Victoria Street, Amble into making The Schooner a place so I guess we have a connection.” where locals and visitors can be The pub now offers real Ale, proud of.” 2 ~ The Ambler Wreaths placed in memory of lost crew Helping unemployed back to work Northumberland Aemployment project is gearing up to help the expected wave of newly unemployed people as the economic effects of Covid-19 kick in. Bridge Northumberland offers a one to one programme to support people facing barriers to work, such as mental ill health or lack of digital skills. l-r: Ken Henderson, David Gray, Penny Horseman, Craig Weir Support is free and offered for up to 12 months, but for some people success is achieved wreath laying event at sea Church Army and David Gray 35yrs (deckhand) was never in a much shorter time. was held in honour of the on behalf of Warkworth Harbour recovered but is commemorated A The programme is Amble dredger MV Coquet Commissioners. on the Tower Hill National completely voluntary, and able Mouth, which was sunk during The day turned out to be Memorial (London) to Merchant to support any Northumberland World War 2 resulting in the of excellent weather having Navy and Fishermen lost in resident over the age of 18 (or loss of three crew members. The beforehand been of drizzle and WW1 and WW2 who have no 16 and NEET) facing multiple vessel struck enemy mines off the poor visibility.