Welcome to this week’s newsletter!
It is fantastic news that we have administered over 3 million vaccines so far across the United Kingdom – to 2.6 million people. The means UK is administering more than double the number of vaccines per person per day than any other country in Europe.
I am pleased that local GP services in Crewe and Nantwich are rolling out the vaccine successfully with lots of help from volunteers.
There has been a lot of rhetoric surrounding the Government’s treatment of the North compared to the South. So far, the total number of vaccines administered in the North West is 318,445, which means the North West alone has administered more vaccines than the whole of France. The Government has treated the entire country equally and this statistic shows that the North does not come second.
The NHS are still looking for volunteers to help with the rollout of the vaccine and if you think you can help please follow the link in the below story, which provides information on the clinical and non-clinical volunteering.
To support our national COVID-19 response, our Armed Forces have been deployed all over the country and have worked incredibly hard to help us manage this national crisis. I would encourage everyone to watch the below video to see what the army have been doing over the past 12 months to support our national effort against the virus.
This week, I was also able to ask the Chancellor a question about the additional support for businesses because there has been some confusion surrounding the one-off grant, of up to £9,000, available to closed businesses.
This week’s newsletter also includes information on the new Government scheme to help domestic abuse victims. The Government has launched a new pharmacy codeword scheme so that victims can discreetly get the support they need.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to contact me at kieran.mullan.mp@parliament.uk
Dr Kieran Mullan
MP for Crewe & Nantwich
VACCINE UPDATE
VACCINE THANK YOU
VACCINE VOLUNTEERING
REASSURING BUSINESSES ON GRANT FUNDING
ROLE OF THE ARMED FORCES DURING THE PANDEMIC
DOMESTIC ABUSE ASSISTANCE
TRAFFIC REPORT
VACCINE UPDATE
The UK has administered over 3 million vaccines so far across the United Kingdom – to 2.6 million people.
The total number of vaccines administered in the North West is 318,445. This means that North West alone has administered more vaccines than the whole of France, which is fantastic news.
In Crewe and Nantwich all local GPs are involved in the rollout of the vaccine, for example services such as Grosvenor, Rope Green, and Hungerford Medical Centres, and are vaccinating those in the initial group (over-80s, care homes residents and staff, and frontline NHS staff). Vaccinations are also taking place in Nantwich Civic Hall.
As I have said, once you are eligible for the vaccine you will be contacted either via text message, letter or phone call to arrange your appointment. So please don't turn up or call.
As part of our effort to speed up the rollout of the vaccine, this week high-street chemists and pharmacists also began to administer COVID vaccines in other parts of the country and we can expect more sites locally in future. By the end of January, the Government will have 206 hospital sites, 1,200 local sites, and 50 large centres administering the vaccine. We are also on target to deliver 2 million vaccines a week by the end of January.
VACCINE THANK YOU
I thought some nice positive stories would be great during this tough time. Here is a lovely message I received from two constituents of mine last week who have kindly agreed to let me share with everyone. Thank you to everyone delivering the vaccine programme in Crewe & Nantwich.
"Just a brief note to express my appreciation for the wonderful work done in the administration of the COVID vaccinations in Nantwich. The organisation was first class. At the beginning of this week, my wife and I were invited to attend the Civic Hall for vaccinations and already we have had them. The organisation was slick and undertaken by efficient, pleasant people. The medical staff were equally pleasant and reassuring to us both. We have always been pleased to have excellent care from the NHS and the Kiltearn Medical Centre and hope to live for many more years under their care.
Yours sincerely,
Edna and John Lester"
VACCINE VOLUNTEERING
The vaccine program is now well underway. We do however need as much help as possible to ensure that this is done as quickly and as safely as possible. Many people have very generously got in contact to see how they can help with this.
The following link provides information on the clinical and non-clinical volunteering roles available locally, and how to apply:
https://cheshirevaccbank.net/?fbclid=IwAR24U5mFufQJl9ykJf04PONZlVRPGgsbTqY8N2GGsOVhiba161zMFtKk2TY
REASSURING BUSINESSES ON GRANT FUNDING
There has been some confusion surrounding the one-off grant, of up to £9,000, available to retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, and some businesses have assumed this one-off grant was an alternative to the monthly grant.
I asked the Chancellor if he could reassure businesses that they do not need to choose between these one-off grants and the monthly grants they are currently receiving.
The Chancellor confirmed that businesses do not have to choose between the two grants and can claim both the monthly grant and the one-off payment.
On top of the monthly grants, this one-off grant will provide retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses with the additional support they need to get through the national lockdown.
ROLE OF THE ARMED FORCES DURING THE PANDEMIC
The work that our armed forces has done during the past year has been invaluable such as helping to build the Nightingale Hospitals, delivering PPE and assisting with testing programs. Now our vaccine rollout is well under way they are once again stepping in to help, with medically trained personnel being available to be deployed should there be any disruption.
I want to say a big thank you to all members of our armed forces who have played their part in our fight against this virus over the past year.
Click on the above to watch a video about all of their hard work over the 12 months.
DOMESTIC ABUSE ASSISTANCE
Domestic abuse victims can often be too scared to speak out. That is why the government have launched a new pharmacy codeword scheme so that victims can discreetly get the support they need. Simply ask for 'ANI' in a participating pharmacy and they will offer you a private space, provide a phone and ask if you need support from the police or other domestic abuse support services.
For more information visit the Government website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-abuse-how-to-get-help?fbclid=IwAR3FtTvq-5-EhSDGbGFEMXmELohGxkD6a1S4dbjDwI26RcA7WZvADi55lMk#codeword-scheme
TRAFFIC REPORT
The following are road closures for the week ahead as reported by Cheshire East Council.
Greenway, Crewe (Before Roundabout) - 18th January - 22nd January
Stoneley Road, Crewe (Before Roundabout) 18th January - 22nd January
Pyms Lane, Crewe
Tower Way, Crewe
Eastern Road, Willaston - 19th January
Second Dig Lane - Until 14th February
Weaver Bank, Nantwich - 17th January
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