Central Beds coronavirus strategy: Calls for better co-ordination of voluntary groups

Teams have been mobilised by Central Bedfordshire Council, but councillors want more information about what is happening to calm residents’ concerns.

There were also calls for better coordination of voluntary groups within communities where support might be needed for those most vulnerable to the bug.

Independent Biggleswade South councillor Dr Hayley Whitaker told a meeting of the council’s social care, health and housing overview and scrutiny committee: “We want to help. We have a really key role to play.

“I feel, as a member, I’m not getting as much information as I would like.

“My community is going out and doing things on its own now because we’re not supporting them.

“I could have a key role in coordinating that, making sure it adheres to the guidelines we want it to.

“I’m hearing there is a group coordinating our effort, but our volunteer groups haven’t heard from it.”

Councillor Whitaker asked whether issues of particularly relevance to Central Bedfordshire had been identified.

CBC’s assistant director public health Celia Shohet described how a local strategic coordinating group is identifying the issues for Central Bedfordshire.

“It is a rapidly changing situation,” she said. “We are following national guidance and it’s really important we do that consistently.

“The guidance from government is based on the science and the evidence at that point in time.

“We don’t know the full impact of the epidemiology, how the virus works, when it transmits. We do need to be evidence-based in our response.”

Conservative Dunstable Central councillor Carole Hegley said: “Things are changing quite regularly at the moment.

“I would prefer to perhaps crank up some of the measures locally.

“But I am assured by officers things are being considered, but it is against government guidance.”

Councillor Hegley, who’s the executive member for adults, social care and housing, admitted to being “nervous about people setting up small voluntary organisations”.

She added: “I would prefer them to ally to existing groups which have the infrastructure and protocols on how to work.

“I don’t want to turn any help away. But if you dovetail on to groups which are already there that feels safer to me.”

The assistant director public health said: “As of Sunday morning, (Mar 15th) there were three confirmed cases in Central Bedfordshire.

“This time last week anyone who was symptomatic and suspected was swabbed. That is now not the case.

“The confirmed cases reported nationally is only a picture of the likely spread of infection in the community.”

The Bedfordshire local resilience forum involves people working in a systematic way to understand the implications, she added.

“There are cells, groups of experts which have been set up. One is looking at social care. We’ve also got media which includes messages to the public.

“There are simple steps and measures we can put in place to minimise our risk of catching or transferring the virus.

“You’re probably sick of hearing about hand washing, but I can’t emphasise enough how important that is.”