Somerset Health and Wellbeing Newsletter

Benefice Newsletter 16th September 2022

•  Queen’s funeral – changes to waste services

There will be no waste collection or recycling site opening on Monday 19 September, the day of Her Majesty The Queen’s funeral. All collections – of recycling, rubbish or garden waste – will take place a day later than scheduled for the rest of the week, as is usual practice for a Bank Holiday week.

• Changes to scheduled bus services due to Bank Holiday

Please be advised that following the announcement that Monday 19 September 2022 will be a Bank Holiday, the core network will be running to a Sunday timetable. This is to ensure that essential journeys can still be made. The following routes will not run on Monday 19 September, and will resume normal service from Tuesday 20:

Exmoor Coaster

Exmoor Sunseeker

As well as the above, the following will also not be running on Monday 19, but will resume normal service from Tuesday 20:

Taunton Park & Ride

Buses to schools and colleges

Please click here to visit the website for timetable information.

• Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA) – Changes to Event Schedule

ENPA feel it would be inappropriate to run larger events during the period of national mourning for her Majesty the Queen and have therefore decided not to go ahead with the “North Hill on the Radar” event that was planned for 17 September as part of Heritage Open Days.

• Vaccinations COVID-19

The COVID-19 Autumn Booster vaccination programme started on the 5 September and all clinics are likely to become very busy. If you have yet to have your 1st, 2nd or initial booster, please consider getting it now.

Bookings can be made at a wide number of clinics across Somerset.

Walk-in appointments are additionally being offered at Tower Vaccination Centre in Taunton on specific days.

The vaccination page now provides more overall strategic vision of how the vaccination programme has been implemented and provides an indication of the effective level of immunity provided to our community by boosters and third doses.

The current version of the dashboard can be accessed at any time here.

Influenza

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have widened the offer of the free flu vaccine to more eligible groups.

These additional groups will only be eligible once the most vulnerable, including previously announced pre-school and primary school children, those aged 65 years and over and those in clinical risk groups, have been offered the jab.

The additional groups set to be offered the free flu vaccine in England will be:

• all adults aged 50 to 64 years (including those who turn 50 by 31 March 2023)
• secondary school children in years 7, 8 and 9, who will be offered the vaccine in order of school year (starting with the youngest first)

If you’re eligible for a free flu vaccine, you can book an appointment at your GP surgery or a pharmacy that offers it on the NHS. You may also get an invitation to get the vaccine, but you do not have to wait for this before booking an appointment.

Everyone who is eligible for the free flu vaccine will be able to get it. If you have an appointment for a Covid-19 booster vaccine at a GP surgery or pharmacy, you may also be offered a flu vaccine at the same time.

Do not delay booking your flu vaccine appointment so that you can get both vaccines together. Only some people will be offered both vaccines at the same time

If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, you are advised to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.

Please click here to read the guidance on what to do if you have symptoms but have not taken a test.

• Police Notice

Please “Beware of cost of living scams -. Fraudsters are very sophisticated and influenced by current affairs. They are now, as anticipated, exploiting the cost of living crisis. We are anticipating many variations of the text message shown in the attached PDF coming into circulation. Also, phone calls, emails and letters. As you can see, the link takes you to a very realistic looking page, mimicking the GOV website. It then asks for your card details. However, just by clicking the link, you put your device at risk of harmful malware being downloaded.

Please implement what we call “The Golden Rule”, which is TAKE 5 and TELL 2. Take 5 minutes away from the communication (phone call, text, email, letter) and think about what is being asked of you. Then, tell 2 people about it and get a second opinion(s).”

Paul Johnson , NHW Admin, Somerset Areas

Attachments: cost-of-living-scam.pdf

•  Business Innovation event for Somerset

SWT is pleased to announce a new, flagship business event aimed at supporting Somerset’s businesses and innovation economy.  The ‘Somerset Innovation Exchange’ on Tuesday, 27 September, will provide a collaborative forum for the county’s leading businesses to learn and share the latest technological and industrial innovations, helping them to develop and grow together as part of Somerset’s innovation community.

To find out more visit somersetinnovationexchange.co.uk or follow SWT’s promotional partner, One Voice Media, via their Twitter and LinkedIn channels.

Please click here to read the full press release.

•  Public invited to shape local democracy in Somerset

A public consultation on the development of Local Community Networks (LCNs) has been launched. Check out the interactive map, to see where your parish fits in relation to the three boundary proposals HERE.

Please click here to read the full press release.

•  Climate News Issue 5

The Climate Change Team has published its latest ‘Climate News’ which gets sent to SWT residents and businesses who sign up to receive a copy. The newsletter aims to showcase all the great work that is happening across Somerset West and Taunton to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2030.

Please click here to read the latest newsletter.

•  SWT launches new fund for low-income households

This week, SWT launched a short-term Hardship Fund for low-income families struggling to afford household essentials. This means-tested benefit fund will be administered by Citizens’ Advice Taunton and West Somerset Advice to provide financial assistance of up to £200 to eligible households across the district. This fund is not available for emergency food, fuel or energy payments, as this support is available via foodbanks and Central Government support.

Please click here to read the full press release.

•  Have your say on Minehead’s e-scooter trial

SWT is seeking the views of residents, businesses and visitors to Minehead in response to the town’s e-scooter trial. Any residents, businesses, and visitors to Minehead are welcome to complete the survey using the following link:

https://yoursay.somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk/climate-emergency/fd6608b5/

The survey will stay open until 30 September and the information obtained will help inform SWT and Zipp Mobility on how the scheme can be enhanced.

Please click here to read the full press release.