NHS Specialist Saqib Farooq

NHS specialist Saqib Farooq writes from his Castor home Since I wrote in the last issue, we have commemorated the VE Day 75. Millions of us took to the ‘virtual’ streets to celebrate the occasion of peace, as they did in real streets in 1945 after years of devastating war.

We also celebrated the 72nd birthday of our NHS. It is 72 years since the NHS and social care system was established and, without a doubt, 2020 has been the most challenging year; providing care to over 100,000 hospitalised COVID-19 patients. The extraordinary dedication of my NHS colleagues and volunteers has been highlighted throughout the crisis. It’s amazing to see how we all came together during this pandemic. More than a million people put their names forward to volunteer for the NHS and thousands came forward to volunteer through their councils. Many of us are aware of the great work both our local communities and our Peterborough City Council have been doing in protecting our vulnerable during this pandemic. Hard working council officers and ward councillors, selfless and caring members of the public, parish councillors and residents’ groups and local businesses. Immediately, the community hub was established and food packages were dispatched to vulnerable and shielding folk where required. Help was also provided on medicine collection and other day to day support. Additional resources were deployed to overcome the increased demand on adult social care, providing PPE where required. Through Public Health England, the Council has been implementing many different processes to control the virus. By Track and Trace and by employing additional mobile testing the spread of the virus has been reduced significantly. Throughout the pandemic, the role and leadership our councillor John Holdich OBE has provided has been exemplary. John’s career has spanned for almost half a century in the council. A tremendous dedication to our community, John will leave a huge void when he retires next year. That’s why I am delighted and humbled to have been selected

Saqib Farooq NHS Haematology specialist

by our North West Cambs constituency association to be their candidate to represent the ward of Glinton and Castor at Peterborough City Council when John retires. If I can make a tiny bit of difference to the lives of our residents in continuing John’s role I will be a very proud person. As a local Castor & Ailsworth resident, I have had opportunities to work closely with both John and our other long-standing ward councillor Peter Hiller over the last few years who, despite huge financial pressures on local authorities across the UK, have managed to keep our rural communities free from illegal encampments, the blight of unwanted development, antisocial behaviour and fly-tipping. I also hope this will be a good opportunity to continue to have our views represented by councillors who are local residents themselves, involved in the community and who share a common love of where we live.