Community hub being created to support people in Bedford during coronavirus outbreak

A community hub is being created in Bedford to help the most vulnerable people in the borough during the coronavirus outbreak, and to protect them from doorstep scammers.
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The online hub will link volunteers with people like the over 70s who have been advised to self-isolate during the current health emergency.

Councillors at Monday’s meeting of the health overview and scrutiny committee were told that they have a crucial role to play over the coming weeks.

The council’s chief executive, Philip Simpkins said: “The critical thing in terms of your community leadership is that we are establishing a community hub.

CoronavirusCoronavirus
Coronavirus

“That is effectively matching those in need and those voluntary organisations that are offering to help us. There will be a dedicated phone number where people can ring in and say I am over 70 and haven’t got any food.”

He added: “But what we also have to make sure is that the volunteers we are putting in contact with those vulnerable people are actually kosher, because I have heard that there are people knocking on doors saying “I’ll go and do your shopping, give me your debit card”.”

The council is working developing a database of over 70s in the borough, which should be ready soon.

“Please bear with us,” he said. “Things are going to be quick, but not necessarily instant but we have to check the guidance, which is frequently changing.”

The borough’s director of public health, Muriel Scott, re-iterated national advice that if people feel they have either a new continuous cough or a high temperature – they should not turn up at A&E, the GP practice or pharmacy.

People can still go online to NHS 111, and you can still call NHS 111 and advice is available on the NHS website and the Gov.uk website.

Cllr Graeme Coombes (Cons, Wilshamstead ward) asked: “Can you reassure the public that there is an end to this. It’s not something that’s going to go on indefinitely.”

Muriel Scott said: “There definitely will be an end to it. I think because it is a new virus, there’s a lot of specialists who are looking at details in relation to it but yes.

“As we know and has been said the majority of people will have mild symptoms and some people won’t even know that they’ve had it, and will recover from it.”

The committee resolved to ask residents to “take note of the advice given by Public Health England and to do all they can to protect themselves and ease the pressure on health providers.

“We further encourage residents to only take information from official sources, and to be aware of scams and misleading advice.”

They also thanked all council and health service staff for their work.