Sheffield Flourish, the mental health charity and publisher of Sheffield Mental Health Guide, is maintaining a phone helpline and has moved other support activities online. Deputy mental health director Jo Eckerseley spoke to Sheffield Live! about the impact of the lockdown on mental health support services in Sheffield. Azz Mohammed reports.
Sheffield Flourish helpline: 0114 2737009
Sheffield Mental Health Guide: https://www.sheffieldmentalhealth.co.uk/
Rotherham Council have announced a £1.5m emergency financial package for adult social care including additional payments to care homes and support to services for adults with learning disabilities and autism. The extra funding is part of government assistance to local authorities reponding to the Covid-19 pandemic. In Rotherham, 21 out of the 34 care homes have been affected. Care homes will receive grants of £15k towards increased costs such as training and the availability of personal protective equipment. Sheffield Live reporter Azz Mohammed Spoke to the councillor David Roche cabinet member for public health and adult social care at Rotherham Council.
Mike Hodson, secretary of Carter Knowle and Millhouses Community Group, has called on Sheffield Council to engage with local community support groups to support the scaling-up of testing, contact tracing and isolation. Speaking to Sheffield Live! Hodson said the next phase of Covid-19 response can not be done effectively without the support of community groups who know their neighbourhoods and the people who are vulnerable. Azz Mohammed reports.
Opposition councillors are raising concerns about the lack of scrutiny of Sheffield Council business due to cancellation of council meetings. Douglass Johnson, Green Party councillor for City ward spoke to Sheffield Live! about how processes have been adapted to the lockdown but said it was a concern that scrutiny committee, cabinet and full council meetings had been cancelled. Azz Mohammed reports.
There have been over 100 Covid-19 related deaths in Sheffield care homes, according to Ruth Grainger, health protection manager with Sheffield Council. Covid-19 related deaths in Sheffield hospitals have exceeded 200 but average daily deaths have been falling since mid April. Grainger said those needing treatment for non-Covid-19 related health issues should put their personal health first as the NHS has the capacity to respond. She stressed the importance of keeping to social distancing and handwashing advice and said those planning Eid celebrations should do so with their own household members. Azz Mohammed reports.
Sheffield’s award-winning Nightingale Care Home told Sheffield Live! that cooperation among care homes has been key to coping with Covid-19. The Ecclesfield-based care home provides specialist support for elderly residents with dementia. Manager Julie Wright said communication and mutual support among care homes has strengthened the ability of staff and managers to cope with the crisis. Jeremiah Malikebu reports.
Sheffield’s Migration Matters Festival has announced this year’s event will be held online as a result of the coronavirus lockdown. Festival director Sam Holland told Sheffield Live! the event will be delivered as an online and digital programme celebrating sanctuary, migration and solidarity. The one week event is set to run from 15th to 20th June and will be available online to a global audience. Baillor Jalloh reports.
Jacqui Hanson, who took over The Rose House pub in March, has accused Sheffield Council of withholding funds after a failed claim to the coronavirus business support grant scheme. Hanson said she registered for business rates in March and applied for the grant but the application was rejected because the business rates application had been lost. Councillor Mazher Iqbal, cabinet member for business and investment, told Sheffield Live! in a statement that the local authority is working hard to ensure that all eligible businesses in Sheffield receive the financial support they need. He said: “We understand that this can be a frustrating process for some and we are working as quickly as possible to distribute these grants to eligible businesses to ensure their cash flow is maintained”. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
More information on support available to businesses in Sheffield can be found online at https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/your-city-council/coronavirus-support-for-business or by calling Business Sheffield advisors on 0114 224 5000.
A group of organisations from Sheffield’s black and minority ethnic communities have come together to form a Covid-19 action group to provide food parcels and other support to those most vulnerable during the current pandemic. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillot Jalloh spoke to Abdul Shaif, chair of the Covid-19 BAME community action group.
The NHS has turned to medical students to assist in treating non-Covid-19 patients amidst hospital staff shortages caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Charlotte Kessell, a fourth year medical student at the University of Sheffield, told Sheffield Live! she has been called in to work up to 16 hours per week at Rotherham General Hospital to treat non-Covid19 patients. Sean Johnson reports for Sheffield Live!