Bill Esterson MP sends evidence to Ministers to support case for rebuild of Lydiate Primary School

BILL Esterson MP has written to Government Ministers to make the case for a full rebuild of a Sefton Primary School. Mr Esterson, MP for Sefton Central, asked Minister for School Standards Robin Walker MP in Parliament this week to ensure the very latest evidence is used to asses the need of Lydiate Primary School for a full rebuild. The Minister responded by asking Mr Esterson to write to him with more detail. Mr Esterson wrote to the Minister at the Department for Education this week:- "Further to my question to you on 14th March 2022 on behalf of Lydiate Primary School, I am writing to you as per your request to furnish you with the details of the current condition of the School."

The School are keen that the consideration of their application to the DFE for funding for a full rebuild of their School should made using the latest information as there has been a considerable deterioration since the last survey was conducted in 2019.  The Headteacher (Ms Forshaw) tells me that:- "Our School was pushed up the list for the next round of CDC reports due to concerns around the building and the latest report is attached which does demonstrate the current state of the building. I think the attached recent photographs also speak for themselves. I am concerned if we miss out on this round, the School will deteriorate even further which is a real concern. I have attached the CDC reports and photographic evidence for your information and would be grateful for your assurances that the decision will be taken on the basis of this most recent evidence."

Mr Esterson said he was concerned that the School on Lambshear Lane had deteriorated significantly since a survey was carried out that the Department for Education were due to use to decide which Schools qualify for funds. Mr Esterson had previously raised the case of the School after it was closed as an emergency measure and staff and children moved to Maghull High for a short period in late 2019. Sefton Council has since carried out work totalling more than ₤800,000 to repair the roof and do a re-wire, but more repairs are needed.

Mr Esterson said in the House of Commons on Monday, 14 March 2022:- "Parts of the building at Lydiate Primary School are unsafe. The basement floods and the damp conditions are a health hazard. The latest survey shows a significant recent deterioration in conditions, yet the DfE says it will use an out of date survey to assess the funding bid made to them. Will the Minister at least promise the children at Lydiate Primary School that the department will use the latest survey data and information in deciding whether to fund the new building that they need."

Education Minister Robin Walker MP responded:- "I hear what the Hon gentlemen says. We have consulted, obviously, on the approach that should be taken assessing these types of schemes. As we've discussed in questions earlier today, changing condition is 1 of the factors the department can take into consideration in cases such as that, so please do write to us with more of the detail."

Mr Esterson said following the exchange in the Commons:- "Staff at Lydiate Primary School do an excellent job, but the building is damp, the heating system needs constant repairs, the roof leaks, the basement floods and parts of the building are unsafe. The Department for Education's own surveyor has told the School he's extremely concerned at the state of the building. It is vital that this most recent survey is used when the Government assesses the School's bid. Lydiate Primary needs a complete rebuild. I have ensured that the most up to date information is now in the hands of the Minister. I also forwarded to him the independent report that the School themselves had commissioned in 2020."

Lydiate Primary was hoping to receive funds from the 1st ₤1bn of the Government's School buildings fund but the School was not selected among the 1st 50 Schools announced last year. The Government is now considering Schools for the next round of funding. Mr Esterson said:- "What we are seeing is Schools in desperate need of repairs and rebuilds following 12 years of Conservative and coalition Government where funding has been cut to the bone. Lydiate Primary desperately needs funding for a new build and the children deserve it. There are leaks in the roof and the teachers can't even display children's work on the walls without it getting ruined by water running down. The only real answer is a new building. It is an opportunity to look after children who are at the School now and to invest in the future of a good School for generations to come."
 

Scientists use vaccination to successfully treat Covid19 for 1st time

DOCTORS have successfully used vaccination to treat a patient with Covid19 in what is thought to be the 1st instance of the vaccine being used for therapy instead of prevention. Ian Lester, 37, a dispensing optician from Pontypridd who has a rare genetic immunodeficiency, tested positive for Covid19 for 7˝ months after catching the virus. The virus was finally cleared from his body after clinicians from the Immunodeficiency Centre for Wales used 2 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to treat him and Scientists from Cardiff University monitored his immune system's response. It suggests the vaccine successfully kick started Mr Lester's immune system to clear the virus; and it is now hoped this approach could be used to treat other patients who are immune compromised whose case is in the Journal of Clinical Immunology. Mr Lester said:- "They went above and beyond for me. I will be forever thankful to the Doctors, Nurses and Scientists who helped me."

If you have not read report in the Journal of Clinical Immunology, Mr Lester has Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome, a rare condition which causes immunodeficiency, so he has a dampened response to infection. When he caught Covid19 in December 2020, Mr Lester was unable to fight off the virus and it was repeatedly detected for at least 218 days. This is different to long Covid where the effects of infection may remain even after the virus has been cleared. During this time, he suffered:- fluctuating symptoms of chest tightness, insomnia, headaches, poor concentration and extreme fatigue and had to self isolate for large parts of this time.

Professor Stephen Jolles, Clinical Lead, at the Centre and Honorary Professor at Cardiff University's School of Medicine, told us that:- "Given the persistent positive PCR tests and impact on his health and mental health, we decided on a unique therapeutic approach. We wondered whether therapeutic vaccination could help in finally clearing the virus by inducing a strong immune response within the body. We administered 2 doses of the BioNTech Pfizer vaccine, 1 month apart, and very quickly saw a strong antibody response, much stronger than had been induced by the prolonged natural infection."

Researchers at the Centre, based at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, also saw a strong T-cell response; the arm of the immune system thought to be crucial to fighting off the virus.

Dr Mark Ponsford, a clinician Scientist from Cardiff University's School of Medicine, said SARS-CoV-2 clearance was finally confirmed 72 days after the 1st vaccination dose, and 218 days since it was 1st detected. Dr Mark Ponsford explained:- "It was a pretty astonishing moment. To our knowledge, this is the 1st time mRNA vaccination has been used to clear persistent Covid19 infection. Importantly, the vaccine was well tolerated by the patient and successfully induced a strong antibody and T-cell response. This was remarkable given Ian's response to conventional vaccinations in the past has been extremely limited."

Scientists will need to reproduce this work to confirm the link and see if it can be used in other cases.

Dr Ponsford explained:- "We have all seen how vital vaccination is to the ongoing fight against the global Pandemic, but our study is the 1st to highlight the exciting potential for it to be used as a treatment in persistent infection. While genetic causes of immunodeficiency are rare, there are many more individuals whose immune system have been suppressed because of their medical conditions and treatments. We should be alert to persistent Covid19 infection in this setting and develop the tools to respond accordingly."

Other highlighted cases include that of a person called Ian. Ian's story:- "Each test came back positive, time and time again. When I 1st contracted the virus in December 2020, I was shocked as I had minimal symptoms; the most noticeable being lack of taste and smell. I informed the Immunology department at UHW, as I have been under their care since childhood. They were concerned as they suspected people with immune deficiencies could stay contagious for longer than average. I was sent regular PCR home swab kits to monitor my status. Although most people are able to stop isolating after 10 days of contracting the virus, I was an exception to the rule. Each test came back positive, time and time again. Months passed, which felt like a lifetime when you're not able to go anywhere or see friends or family. My symptoms gradually became worse the longer I had the virus. This included extreme fatigue, lack of sleep (borderline insomnia) headaches and chest tightness. Each positive Covid swab (every 10 ro 14 days) left me feeling more deflated and anxious. I began to feel like I was a prisoner in my own home and the days blurred into months. By June 2021, when social gatherings were being allowed again, I was feeling very frustrated and started to doubt I would ever become negative. In my case, the treatment options were very limited. Antiviral medication was discussed, although funding this through the NHS at the time was not viable as my Covid symptoms were not bad enough to be Hospitalised. When the vaccination was suggested by the Hospital to help fight the virus, I was more than willing to try it, as I trusted their clinical knowledge. After my 1st vaccination in May, PCR testing began to suggest my body was finally fighting the virus. This got me very excited, and I dared to imagine normal life again. Unfortunately, this was short lived, causing more frustration. The second vaccination was given to me 3 and a ˝ weeks later; and 8 weeks later I started to get consistent negative Covid results. I was over the moon and beyond relieved to finally be negative and get my life back on track. I was really lucky to have a strong network of family and friends supporting me, which helped keep me sane. Since becoming negative, I have noticed some symptoms of long Covid. But it's a small price to pay for freedom. I'm very grateful for all the help and care from the Doctors and Nurses in the Immunology Department team at UHW. I really felt like they were by my side every step of the way, and happy to listen to my concerns. They went above and beyond for me. I will be forever thankful."

If you have had Covid, how has Codid19 affected you? We would be interested to know what your experiences are of this virus. Please email our Newsroom via:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com and let us know. Also if you are happy for us to pass on the information to medical experts for comments, please include your agreement to that within the email.