UK parents urged to warn student children don't assume it's Covid if they fall ill at University

PARENTS of UK students are being urged to ensure their children don't confuse Covid-19 with other killer diseases such as meningitis. The message, from the meningitis charity, Meningitis Now, comes as thousands of young people prepare to leave home for University for the 1st time.

Dr Tom Nutt, CEO at Meningitis Now said:- "With as many as half a million students setting up home, often in Halls of Residence, in the coming months, many Universities will be expecting the usual health issues such as Fresher's Flu and hangovers to be complicated by Covid-19 this year and all will be taking measures to help prevent it. But what about meningitis?" The harsh reality is that some students will contract meningitis whilst at Uni this coming autumn and how easy will it be to put a headache and feeling unwell down to Covid-19 and self isolate? And whilst this is the correct response for Covid-19, it could be disastrous if the illness is meningitis. When meningitis strikes it does so quickly and any delay in diagnosis or treatment can cost lives. Our message to parents as they battle with the uncertainties of University starting dates, online tutorials, and living arrangements, is to be certain about meningitis and to ensure that their children are aware of the signs and symptoms of meningitis and that if they are feeling unwell they shouldn't simply assume it's Covid-19 or a hangover and that they should seek medical help immediately by calling NHS 111 or their GP."

19 year old Ben, a student at the University of Portsmouth, knows how quickly meningitis can strike having contracted meningococcal B in November 2019. Keen to pursue a career as a Naval Officer, Ben was just one month into College when he became unwell, disorientated, and confused. He was told that it was a hangover. Ben, who had been given the MenACWY vaccine, had contracted MenB; a strain of the disease he was not vaccinated against. The quick thinking and speedy action of his flatmates saved his life. Ben has now recovered fully and intends to restart his University studies this autumn.

Ben's mother, Arlene de Souza commented that:- "Being told that our son was the sickest patient in the Hospital, will live with me forever. The outcome for Ben could have been very different if he and his mates had also been dealing with the added confusion of Covid-19. Ben has been lucky."

The student environment is the perfect breeding ground for diseases such as meningitis, as large groups of people start to cohabit and mix for the first time; some of whom will unknowingly be carrying the bug that causes this disease. This is further exacerbated by the fact that up to a quarter of 15 to 24 year olds carry meningococcal bacteria in the back of their throats, compared to one in 10 of the general population.

Whilst many students going to University or College this year are likely to have been protected against MenACWY, having received the vaccine at School, up to half a million people aged up to the age of 25, may have missed this important jab, and very few will have been vaccinated against MenB; a strain that causes most cases of bacterial meningitis in the UK.

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Metro Mayor Announces New Network for LCR Residents Aged 55 and Over

A final call is being made for Liverpool firms to apply for cash from the Government’s COVID-19 business support schemes. The closing date for applications to the Small Business Grant and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant funds is Friday, 28 August 2020. A 1 off ₤10,000 cash grant is available to businesses active as of 11 March 2020, and registered for business rates in receipt of small business rate relief (SBRR) with a rateable value of up to ₤15,000. A 1 off, cash grant of either ₤10,000 or ₤25,000 is also available for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses active as of 11 March 2020, registered for business rates with a rateable value below ₤51,000.

Deputy Mayor and Mayoral lead for business, Cllr Gary Millar, said:- "Liverpool really wants every single business that is eligible to apply for this funding. It will help give them a better chance of survival through the pandemic; and that also means keeping more businesses and jobs going. We know that the over ₤105 million we have already distributed has been an absolute lifeline to many thousands of firms and it is vital that every company that can apply, should apply, before time runs out. This is money for Liverpool firms that does not have to be paid back by those companies, and has no conditions attached as long as they meet the criteria. But if the money is not claimed we are not allowed to spend it on anything else and will be forced to return what’s remaining to the national Government. So, if we want this money to stay in Liverpool to benefit our local economy it is crucial that we all help spread the word in the coming days.  Thank you for that help and please take care and stay safe."

Qualifying businesses for this specific grant include:-

► Shops.

► Cafes, restaurants, takeaways and drinking establishments.

► Cinemas, music venues and nightclubs.

► Petrol stations.

► Gyms, leisure and sports facilities.

► Estate agents and letting agents.

► Betting shops and bingo halls.

► Car showrooms.

► Hotels and guest houses.

Liverpool City Council has already distributed ₤100 million to 8,150 businesses; but is now writing to around 950 companies who have yet to apply with a final reminder.

The claims process is simple and straightforward and can be found at:- Liverpool.Gov.UK/Covidbusiness.

The Council has also given out a further ₤5 million in discretionary grants to organisations who do not meet the criteria for the Government schemes.

Anyone living in the Liverpool City Region and aged 55 and above can join the network by visiting:- LiverpoolCityRegion-CA.Gov.UK.  Members choose how much they want to get involved and can opt out at any time.

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LGA Respincs to NHS Confederation report on Social Care

THE Local Government Association (LGA) who represents more than 330 Councils of all types across England has responded to an NHS Confederation report, calling for a comprehensive and funded plan to support Social Care. Adult Social Care's 7 principles for reform can be read by visiting:- https://www.Local.Gov.UK/Adult-Social-Care-Seven-Principles-Reform.

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the LGA's Community Wellbeing Board, said:- "The Coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the incredibly valuable role of Social Care in its own right and why it is more important than ever before that we find a long term and sustainable funding solution, so that people of all ages can live the life they want to lead. Social Care deserves parity of esteem with the NHS. Every pound invested in Council run services, including Social Care, helps to relieve pressure on the health service which as this report states is facing a huge backlog of operations. We have established our own set of principles, with support from a number of prominent organisations across the health and care sector, to help inform and underpin the Government's thinking on the future of adult Social Care in this country. The Government and other parties need to begin cross party talks on the future of adult Social Care, as soon as possible."

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Metro and City Mayors demand clarity and financial support for educational institutions and students awaiting results and places

THE Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram and the Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson have written to the Education Secretary requesting clarity and financial support for Higher Education institutions and students who have not secured their places for study for the 2020/2021 Year.

The Mayors met with Higher Education bodies in the City Region this week and have written to Gavin Williamson asking urgently for:-

► Information to students, Universities, Schools and Colleges, on when and how they may expect results, and clarity on which students can gain entry to their choice of University.

► The cap for urgently needed medical and dental School places to be lifted for 2020 entry, allowing more students to take up places to read medicine and dentistry.

This is in line with a call by the Royal College of Physicians for a doubling of medical student places by 2029 and would both allow the UK to benefit from additional Doctors as soon as possible and avoid the inevitable disadvantage to Year 12 students applying to medical courses for 2021 entry.

The UK has fewer Doctors per head of population than most other countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Cities like Liverpool, already coping with significant unmet health needs and health inequality, will be the 1st to benefit from this levelling up.

The full letter to the Secretary of State for Education, Hon Gavin Williamson MP, that was send on 19 August 2020 reads:-

"Dear Secretary of State...

Re: Pressure on the higher education sector.  

We are writing to you to outline our serious concerns about the pressure on the higher education sector following the decision to award centre assessment grades.

We wholly welcome the decision to award centre assessment grades and believe this is the right decision for students across the country. However, these proposals must come with clarity, and appropriate resource for our higher education institutions so they can respond to the changing demand for places. We know our higher education partners are now operating under increasing pressure as a result of decisions announced with no prior notice.

Our primary concern is that we can make the opportunities of higher education as widely available as possible for students across the City of Liverpool and the Liverpool City Region. To achieve this we believe three things must now happen. Firstly, information to students, Universities, and Schools and Colleges, on when they may expect results, how they will be provided, and the processes through which students can gain entry to their choice of University, should be made clear and unambiguous. Our local institutions have been providing regular updates and it is important Government and its agencies do likewise. Secondly, we know there are specific pressures within medical and dental courses, which are capped.

We urge the Departments of Education and Health and Social Care to turn this crisis into an opportunity. The Royal College of Physicians and others have long called for a doubling of medical student places by 2029and this urgent need has only been exacerbated by Brexit. Raising the cap and funding additional places this year, rather than deferring students who have now achieved their offer to 2021, will both allow the UK to benefit from additional Doctors as soon as possible and will reduce inequities between cohorts, by avoiding the inevitable disadvantage to Year 12 students applying to medical courses for 2021 entry.

You will be aware that the UK has fewer Doctors per head of population than most other countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Cities like Liverpool, already coping with significant unmet health needs and health inequality, will be the 1st to benefit from this levelling up. Such an investment would also contribute to the economic vision we have for our knowledge and health tech sectors in the City.

The decision by the Royal College of Physicians to locate RCP North in Liverpool is vote of confidence in the City's future in these sectors. Government support for increased medical education would be a powerful contribution to our post Covid economic recovery plans. Finally, we know that our education institutions are operating in an environment of increasing financial pressure. The Government's restructuring regime already has contingencies for financial failure, but we should now seize the opportunity to capture this additional demand; not act as a last resort.

We now ask the Government to release additional funding to support institutions to absorb additional demand where they can and offset wider uncertainty in the system. The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated.

We are therefore requesting that you and the Department intervene to provide clarity, push for additional capacity, and seek to provide our University partners with appropriate support. We stand ready to support our local education institutions and we hope the Department will do likewise."

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Total UK cases COVID-19 cases in and around Liverpool City Region

THE total number of UK Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections that have been laboratory confirmed, within the UK, has risen by 812 cases and the total number now stand at 321,098, that includes tests carried out by commercial partners which are not included in the 4 National totals.

The number of daily COVID-19 associated UK fatalities added to the total, was sadly reported to be 16 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 41,397.

The number of COVID-19 patients currently in UK Hospitals:- 895. The current number of COVID-19 patients currently in mechanical ventilation beds in UK Hospitals:- 73.  Daily number of COVID-19 patients admitted to UK Hospitals:- 128.

In England, there are a total of 276,809 confirmed cases. North West - total of 50,280 confirmed cases.