Food Works Sheffield has doubled its output and extended its hours to provide low cost food boxes for people facing hardship including deliveries to those unable to leave home. Over 200 volunteers are supporting the social enterprise to prepare ready meals from surplus food that would otherwise have gone to landfill and more than £6,000 has been raised to provide food for those most in need. Sheffield Live! reporter Bethany Gavaghan spoke to Réne Meijer, chief executive of Food Works Sheffield.
Plans to protect the homeless and rough sleepers are not reaching some of those most at risk, according to a charity volunteer. Mark Harvey, a freelance photographer and volunteer at Sheffield’s Archer Project, told Sheffield Live it’s a huge challenge to get rough sleepers off the street and into accommodation, particularly some of the most vulnerable and those with complex needs. Baillor Jalloh reports.
Four care workers are preparing to return to their families after four weeks shielding vulnerable residents at a Sheffield care home. Lynsey Wright, deputy manager at Bridgedale House, and three other care workers are heading home after a month living in with dementia patients to help protect them from Covid-19. A new team will move in to provide continuing care and support. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Douglas Johnson, councillor for City ward, was removed from Sheffield Council’s first online meeting after a row with officers. The meeting of the licensing sub-committee was held by video conference following changes to the law to permit online council meetings however councillor Johnson was forced to leave the call after raising concerns about public objections. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Campaigners from Sheffield Save Our NHS have blamed years of austerity as the reason for the NHS struggling to cope with the coronavirus pandemic amid concerns about access to personal protective equipment for frontline workers. Campaigner Jeremy Short said: “The NHS was not equipped enough to deal with a pandemic like this”. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
The spread of Covid-19 is being slowed and lives are being saved, Sheffield’s health protection manager Ruth Granger told Sheffield Live! as the government extended the lockdown for a further three weeks. As of 16 April there have been 1412 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Sheffield however many more are thought to have been infected as testing is limited to the critically ill and key workers. The NHS has reported 113 patients in Sheffield hospitals have sadly died of the disease. Baillor Jalloh reports.
George Lindars-Hammond, cabinet member for health and social care, told Sheffield Live! the council is doing all it can to provide support to care homes in the city. The remarks follow criticism of the local authority for not transferring emergency funds to help care homes respond to Covid-19. Baillor Jalloh reports.
Sheffield prosthetics manufacturer Blatchford have converted their facilities for production of face masks to help protect frontline NHS staff. The company, who usually make make orthotic and prosthetic devices, are using their highly skilled technicians, supply chain and facilities to assist the Covid-19 response. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Blatchford operations manager, Nigel Birkett.
Palms Row Health Care has had two outbreaks of Covid-19 in its Sheffield nursing homes, with 11 deaths and dozens more staff and residents testing positive. Director, Nicola Richards said: “We should have had support quicker”. Richards told Sheffield Live! there had been a lack of access to personal protective equipment until last week and emergency funding is still to arrive. Baillor Jalloh reports.
With church buildings closed to the public, sermons have been moved online with worshippers joining events on social media for Good Friday and the Easter weekend. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Reverend Sallie Wilson from the Church on the Corner, part of the Elim Pentecostal Churches.