Liverpool City Region COVID-19 Updates

UK Government�s plan to rip out Gas boilers branded by by the GMB as:- "Utterly absurd"

ACCORDING to the GMB Union, the UK�s Government's drive to net zero will lead to heating chaos for millions of people and general resentment. In claims by the Union, the Government's plan to ban the installation of new gas boilers will leave 3 million North West homes with huge bills and potentially weeks of disruption. The warning comes ahead of a crunch vote on the future of the energy sector at TUC Congress, on Sunday, 12 September 2021. The Government is reportedly planning on banning new gas boiler installations from 2035, although it is rumoured that the ban may be put back to 2040.

GMB have warned policymakers that 3 million North West homes connected to the gas grid. 9 out of 10 households currently use gas, that is 86%. Yet, under Government plans, bill payers could be forced to install an electric heat pump. Installing a basic model costs �8,750 on average before VAT, the equivalent of 33% of the average North West household's entire annual income. Also, the cost for some households could be much higher. Not only that, but people within St Helens, Merseyside, face the most intense disruption of any area, as the most connected place to the gas grid in the country, with an estimated 98.4% of households connected to the grid. Due to this, the GMB Union are calling on the Government for a conversion programme to green gasses, such as hydrogen, which could support 100,000 jobs.

Andy Prendergast, GMB National Secretary, said:- "Ripping out existing boilers from 3 million homes across the North West is utterly absurd. It will lead to heating chaos for millions of people and general resentment towards the UK's drive to net zero; especially if households are then forced to rely on unproven heat pump technology. By investing in hydrogen technologies, we can use our existing gas network instead of throwing it all away. And thousands of skilled gas engineers across the country will have jobs adapting the systems. Hydrogen is crucial to meeting our net zero targets and crucial for ensuring a proper transition for gas workers."

What are your thoughts on this topic? Please let us know by emailing our News Room, at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.

The Life Rooms re-opens its doors to the community

THE Life Rooms, the award winning social prescribing service for local communities, is reopening its doors to service users on 4 October following 12 months of online sessions throughout the Pandemic. Following the introduction of lockdown restrictions, the Life Rooms developed their service model to ensure service users, carers and the local community could access online courses and advice digitally, but is now reverting to pre-Covid19 methods of working. The Life Rooms, run by Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, will offer both bookable and drop in pathways advisor appointments, as well as face to face learning sessions. Zoom learning sessions will be ongoing and pathways advice and support remains accessible over the phone, allowing The Life Rooms to maintain its wide audience. Social distancing will be maintained on all sites.

Michael Crilly, Mersey Care's Director of Social Inclusion and Participation, said:- "The Life Rooms fully functioning digital environment allowed service users to access all resources during difficult times. Now it's time to reopen doors and reintroduce face to face support. I'm delighted to welcome back familiar and new faces and congratulate the Life Rooms teams for their ongoing hard work and dedication."

The Life Rooms move to digital learning and online support during the pandemic proved to be a huge success. In the last 12 months they have:-

► Delivered 796 Zoom learning sessions to 4354 contacts.

► Launched their own online platform, Learnworlds, allowing users to access pre-recorded sessions. The platform holds just short of 50 available courses and has received 1191 enrolments since it's launch.

► Made 7437 telephone support calls via their Pathways Advisory Service which resulted in 6185 social prescriptions during this time.

► The success of Life Rooms' reaction to closing their doors during the pandemic resulted in them winning the Excellence in Mental Health Care Award at the NHS Parliamentary Awards in London earlier this year.

Total UK cases Covid19 cases in and around Liverpool City Region

THE total number of UK Coronavirus (Covid19) infections that have been laboratory confirmed, within the UK, has risen by:- 29,547 cases and the total number now stand at:- 7,197,662 that includes tests carried out by commercial partners which are not included in the 4 National totals.

The total number of Covid19 associated UK fatalities added to the total, was sadly reported to be:- 156 within 28 days of positive test, according to the Department of Health. The total number of deaths of people who have had a positive test result confirmed by a Public Health or NHS laboratory is:- 134,144, within 28 days of positive test. Deaths with Covid19 on the death certificate:- 156,888.

In England, there are a total of:- 6,178,293 confirmed cases. North West - total of:- 984,133 confirmed cases.

The number of laboratory confirmed cases within the Liverpool City Region are as follow:-

UK Government�s plan to rip out Gas boilers branded by by the GMB as:- "Utterly absurd"

The Life Rooms re-opens its doors to the community

Total UK cases Covid19 cases in and around Liverpool City Region