4 minute read
MPs
MPs’ round-up
The importance of friends and family
These continue to be difficult times for all. If 2020 was a year of initial pandemic shock, then 2021 has been a year of both vaccines and uncertainty. Our success in producing vaccines in a record-breaking time and the commitment of all those responsible for the rollout, including councils, the NHS, volunteers and an army of others has been nothing short of astonishing and is, I hope, our ticket to return to some sort of normality in this New Year. Like many others, I very much hope that the New Year will not see a return of restrictions on our freedoms. We must learn how to live with this virus in exactly the way we have done with all other viruses throughout history. As I write, the air hangs heavy with talk of a possible New Year lockdown, despite the memory of another year of uncertainty and fragility lying behind us. Booster jabs and warnings to limit our social interaction to limit the spread of the latest variant of the marching virus, all conspired to try and rob us of the special moment at Christmas and the end of the year when we would normally show our friendship and love for others and thank them for their support throughout the year. Because, if anything reminds us of the importance of friends and family and the bonds that connect us, it’s the Christmas and New Year period, when we all want to be together.So I can only hope that 2022 brings in a different perspective. A new way to exist alongside the creeping virus without it forcing us to stretch those ligaments that join us together to breaking point. This year will also see the Local Elections in May – the first in which we can choose who to represent us in a new Unitary Authority spanning the county. I very much hope we see a good turnout and I look forward to hitting the streets to campaign for our superb prospective councillors. In itself, this represents a new beginning in the same way we adjust our way of lives to live with covid. I hope we find that way forward, and I do look forward with hope and ambition to this New Year. I’ll certainly do everything possible to keep alive our values – of industry, kindness and common sense – both in Westminster and here in Somerset. There is much to do, and many new challenges to face. Like you, I’ll be energetic, determined and persistent in facing these and helping to bring us together once more in exactly the way the Christmas we’ve just enjoyed reminds us to do. And I wish you a wonderful 2022.
Somerton & Frome MP David Warburton
More vaccine clinics making a difference
Christmas-tide has been a calm but enjoyable one for me, mostly at home, peppered with a number of organ-playing stints at church services around Sherborne, along with one or two social occasions. I was very pleased that after a lot of hard work on the part of church members and my fellow churchwarden Martin Richards, Bishops Caundle Parish Church re-opened its doors to the parish on Christmas morning with a good congregation too. I’m delighted that we have been able to re-open it. In my job, it is important to discern a collection of views about coronavirus, both from scientists and also frontline doctors and nurses, especially when there is speculation of more lockdowns. We should be considering all impacts of restrictions, not just the health impacts. Whilst there was a huge concern before Christmas about Omicron, that concern has not become reality, thankfully. Mainly, because most people have been sensible and taken responsibility for themselves. But also because the Omicron symptoms, in general, are very mild compared to other variants. The bonus though, because omicron is so transmissible, the Delta variant appears to have been driven down and our doctors and nurses are treating a much milder virus. The UK Health Security Agency published a report last week that shows, there are c8,000 people in hospital who have covid. However, only 29 per cent are being treated for covid, so of the 8,000 in hospital with covid, it means that 5,680 are actually in hospital for another reason. The real difficulty that is being faced here with our hospitals at the moment is that there are a considerable number of staff off work with covid and there is a considerable difficulty with social care provision to enable people to go home once they have been in hospital, which is why we are seeing hospital bed occupancy at very high levels of c98 per cent. I’m very sorry to say that the NHS is having to close the Minor Injuries Unit again at the Yeatman Hospital because of staff availability pressures. I hope, not for long especially given the underwhelming 111 service provision. However, we have made real progress with getting our vaccine boosters available with more walk-in centres all over West Dorset which is really making a difference, so no one should have to wait very long nor have to travel far for a booster now. May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy new year.
