CLICK AND PLAY

NEWS | 7 CORONAVIRUS LATEST CORONAVIRUS LATEST Health leader fights back over continued vaccine supply decrease

� Continued from front page “We have been told by John Redwood’s office and James Sunderland’s office that there is no issue with vaccine production,” Cllr Margetts said. “Instead, the NHS is prioritising supply to areas that are behind.

“We believe they should be prioritising supply where there is capacity on the ground to deliver it,” he said. “The only conclusion I can draw is there is a logistics issue which no one is telling us about.”

The health executive said the borough has increased capacity to give jabs to the community, with enough resources in place to give 7,500 vaccines per week.

But this is dependent on supply.

He said GP surgeries across the borough were hesitant to sign-off on plans for a mass vaccination centre at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre, because they couldn’t financially commit until vaccination supply was confirmed.

“GPs are working hard to implement that vaccination programme, but they are being held back because supply

Number of vaccine doses sent to borough 5,400

Week commencing January 11 4,800 ▼

Week commencing January 18 4,200 ▼

Week commencing January 25 cannot meet capacity,” Cllr Margetts said. “At the moment, there is only a four to five day notification of supply delivery, which makes it incredibly hard to plan resources and staff effectively.

“The only thing holding the borough back is reducing vaccine supply and a lack of any information from the NHS over what they are doing — or what they plan to do over the next few weeks.”

He added: “We are pleading with the CCG to give us our GPs more information, so they can deliver the vaccination programme successfully.”

Cllr Clive Jones, deputy leader of the Lib Dems questioned whether 7,500 doses per week was ever confirmed for the borough.

“Did we just go ahead and create this capacity,” he said. “Why did we think we’d have 7,500 doses in the first place?”

He said he couldn’t understand the reason for hiding vaccination statistics, and called for greater clarity publicly.

This was echoed by the Lib Dem leader, Cllr Lindsay Ferris, who added that any leftover doses each day should be used by a “reserve list”.

Cllr Margetts said the lack of information was also stopping the borough council from starting a targeted marketing campaign for groups that are not coming forward for vaccination.

“We are not able to send out the required public health messages and protect our residents due to this lack of information,” he said.

He is calling for vaccination figures for the borough to answer public questions, take up figures to address fears in any groups hesitant to be vaccinated, and a forward prediction of supply, to take the pressure of the GPs and give opportunity for planning.

A spokesperson for Berkshire West CCG declined to comment on the call to publish figures of vaccinations given, and instead said the programme is “progressing well” and all over 80s and care home residents will be vaccinated by the end of the week.

They said: “Vaccine allocation is being driven by NHS England and is dependent on the number of patients still to be vaccinated in the current cohort. This will ensure equity.”

When questioned about the predicted supply of the vaccine, and communicating this to the borough council, the spokesperson said: “The roll out of the vaccine in Wokingham, as across the country, is dependent on supplies and deliveries.

“Once we have notification about a delivery then we are acting very fast in booking in patients.”

The CCG declined to comment on whether the Government banned them from revealing supply information, or whether the Government was withholding this information from them as well.

The spokesperson added: “This is a major mass vaccination programme and we’re asking people to be patient and not to ring their GP surgery – they will be in touch as soon as they have supplies and spaces available.”

But Cllr Margetts said this is not good enough, and residents deserve more clarity about expected timelines.

“Even telling someone they can expect a call in the next two weeks, and to call a number if they haven’t, would be better than what is happening now,” he said.

Cllr Andy Croy, leader of Wokingham Labour, said he thought the numbers were being kept a “secret” because each time data has been published, it has shown “catastrophic failings in the management of the pandemic”.

He added: “Being told to prepare for 7,500 jabs a day as ‘burst’ capacity is also a waste of time and resources. It is the same old story. The public and the public sector have been let down by the government over and over again.”

The Department for Health and Social Care was contacted for comment.

Click and play: New booking system at Dinton Pastures

The council has changed its approach towards the country park, after concerns there were too many visitors at one time.

Residents that live outside of Hurst, Woodley and Winnersh are being encouraged not to visit.

Hurst ward councillor, Wayne Smith, said he couldn’t understand why people were driving across the borough to visit the country park.

“I’ve heard reports of people coming from Finchampstead to Dinton, when they have California Country Park right on their doorstep. I’ve even heard there were visitors from outside of the borough arriving.”

He said Hurst residents have been getting in touch with him over the month, growing concerned about the number of people at the park.

Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure at the borough council, said: “We ask that people should only visit Dinton Pastures for their daily exercise if they are a Wokingham Borough resident who lives nearby ideally in Winnersh, Woodley or Hurst.

“If you live further afield, we encourage you to exercise as close as possible to your home.

“The Government has not given a specific indicator on how far you can travel for your daily exercise, but it does state that you should avoid travelling outside of your village, town, or the part of a city where you live – and look to reduce the number of journeys you make overall. Common sense should always prevail, and we must act responsibly.”

Now, the play area will have a booking system.

Cllr Batth added: “This weekend, we are introducing a ticket booking system for the play park which will see it operate at 50% less of its usual capacity. There will also be socially distanced queuing and additional signage.

“Visitors are of course permitted to purchase takeaway drinks from the Dragonfly café. However, we ask that they move along quickly afterwards to help avoid crowding.”

“Covid Support Officers are on hand to promote best practice and ask people to move on if necessary.”

The council has also put a formal Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) in place to prevent visitors from parking in the park’s surrounding lanes. � For more information, and to book a play slot, visit: www.dintonpastures.co.uk/plan-your-visit

Over 50s still eligible for winter flu jab

THERE is still time to have the flu jab this winter.

Borough residents aged 50-64 are now eligible for the free vaccine, as part of the extended programme this year. Everyone in this age group is being contacted to confirm they are eligible, and GPs and pharmacies are arranging appointments.

Dr Vaughan Lewis, medical director for NHS England and NHS Improvement’s South East region, said: “We know that lots of people are keen to have the Covid vaccine as soon as possible and we are working hard to ensure this happens but while you are waiting you can also help to protect yourself from respiratory illness by having a flu jab. � To locate a participating pharmacy, visit: www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-apharmacy

University vice-chancellor rejects union plea for tuition fee refunds

NO REFUNDS will be offered for tuition fees this year, said the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading.

Responding to an open letter from the student union officer team, Professor Robert Van de Noort said the institution had adopted a “blended learning approach” that was designed to be flexible with home learning.

The union officers had called for a part refund on the annual £9,250 fee, but this was rejected by the university.

Professor Van de Noort said support services, and campus facilities such as the Library, study spaces and catering had also continued to operate.

Those unhappy with their education were asked to contact their academic tutor first, before raising a formal complaint.

In their letter, the union officers called for support for students renting in the private sector, a commitment to upholding graduation ceremonies when possible, and a no detriment policy to support student grades.

Professor Van de Noort said he has written a letter to landlords, which will soon be circulated. Adding he was working on “flexible mitigation arrangements” to support students in their exams.

But he did not comment on the possibility of graduation ceremonies happening.

Following Professor Van de Noort’s response, union officers said they understood students were not satisfied with the answers given.

In a statement, they said: “We want to ensure that no student is worse off, financially or academically, as a result of Covid-19.

“We understand that Covid-19 has had a detrimental impact on learning outcomes and that more money and support will be needed to close that gap for students.

“We will collate individual and overarching student concerns to raise to senior members of the University Executive Board, while continuing to lobby the government.”