What's happening in West Lancs?

• The number of people in West Lancs testing positive for covid has increased sharply since mid December, due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant - mirroring the situation in the rest of UK

• This has resulted in very high case numbers - dwarfing any seen so far during the pandemic.   For example, in our last Update of December 16th, we reported 523 cases in West Lancs in the previous week.  The equivalent figure today is 2,769.

• Have a look at this graph to see how much higher the case numbers have been this time:  https://coronavirus.data.gov.u...

• However there are tentative signs that the rate of growth is now slowing and rates in London (which was is few weeks ahead of the rest of the UK) have now started falling. It is hoped that this pattern will be mirrored over the rest of the country in the next few weeks.
  
  
• The good news is that vaccinations have done a great job and the number of Covid patients admitted to hospital in West Lancs has remained stable so far - and well below the first and second waves. 

• However it will be a couple of weeks until we see the full effect of high case numbers on hospital admissions.  See the full graph here: https://coronavirus.data.gov.u...

• See the situation in your postcode here.

• The vaccination programme is continuing apace and two vaccination milestones were reached this week:
  
  1. 60% of the UK population (12+) has now had a third/booster dose of the vaccine (up from 50% last week!)
  
  2. 90% of the UK population (12+) has now had a first dose of the vaccine

• From next Monday 11th January in England, people who receive positive lateral flow results for COVID-19 will be required to self-isolate immediately and won't be required to take a confirmatory PCR test.

• The Government is also to provide 100,000 critical workers in England with free lateral flow tests to help keep essential services running.

Who can get a covid vaccination?

• Everyone over 12 can get a 1^st and 2^nd dose
• Everyone over 18 can also get a booster

Check all eligibility here

1. Book an appointment online

You can make an appointment by

• Booking online here
• Calling free phone 119

2. Find your nearest drop-in clinic

Anyone aged 16 and over can get vaccinated at a drop-in clinic - without a pre-booked appointment.

Find nearest vaccine drop-in clinics on the NHS website.

This will show you all of the permanent clinic sites where you can walk in for a jab.

3. Check if your GP is running a clinic

Some West Lancs GPs are still offering covid vaccine clinics.

If you are a patient with a local surgery, please check their social media for details (but avoid phoning as phone lines are extremely busy)

4. Additional local drop-in clinics

Additional walk-in sessions are happening at temporary 'pop-up' clinics in West Lancs.

There are more being added each week, so keep checking West Lancs CCG’s social media and webpage for the most up to date information: www.westlancashireccg.nhs.uk/popupclinics/

Pregnancy and covid vaccine

In December, one in five of the most critically ill Covid patients in the UK were unvaccinated pregnant women. 

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is calling on all pregnant women to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

• See more information here and have a look at this helpful video:
  www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktry1aGvOv4

You can either:

• Collect FREE tests from a symptom free local collection site to use at home later. Find your nearest collection point here.  Or

• Order FREE home testing kits online to be delivered to your home, here.

If you test positive: The Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme is still available and will be in place for eligible West Lancs residents until 31 March 2022. 

If you're isolating and on a low income, unable to work from home, and facing financial hardship then you could be entitled: www.westlancs.gov.uk/more/emergencies/coronavirus/test-and-trace-support-payment.aspx

If you would like to help out in your local community, the CVS Volunteer Centre has hundreds of organisations looking for volunteers - see below for some of those needing help now.

If you want to find out more or are interested in volunteering, do contact Jan to connect with people needing help in your local area.

Budgeting tool

After Christmas, we all feel the pinch and our bank balances can often look less than healthy.

West Lancashire Borough Council has a handy budgeting tool can help you to maximise your savings or help you to keep on top of your spending in the new year. 

Take a look here.

Dealing with debt

Are you struggling to pay the bills?

Are money problems keeping you awake at night?

Are you constantly worrying about money?

You're not alone and help is at hand.  There's lots of resources on the Healthier LSC website including advice from Emma Sylvester, Debt Services Manager at Citizens Advice Lancashire West:   www.healthierlsc.co.uk...

Household Support Fund

Do you need a bit of extra financial support this winter?

West Lancashire Borough Council is now welcoming applications from residents who do not have enough resources to meet their immediate short-term needs and need help with essential items such as food, energy, bills, clothing and more.

Find out more about the Household Support Fund and how to apply here.

Can you help us get the word out?

We are working with West Lancashire Borough Council to get accurate information into the heart of communities and would be grateful if you could pass this on to your networks.

Please join in these efforts by cascading these messages on to your work colleagues, friends and families using the share buttons below: