Cllr Keith Witham

In my previous March email updates, I gave you details of the Surrey County Council Advice Helpline 0300 200 1008  This is now open 7 days a week, but call volumes are high, so do take a look at the web link which is:  https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/people-and-community/emergency-planning-and-community-safety/coronavirus

NEW GUILDFORD SUPPORT HELPLINE
From this Monday, 6th April any resident who feels they need help can also call the new Guildford community helpline and receive direct support. Council staff are on-hand to ensure the most vulnerable in the borough will have food and medicine and feel supported. All residents need to do is call:

01483 44 44 00
or register online at 
www.guildford.gov.uk/athome 

Or if you know of someone who is self-isolating or a neighbour or friend you are worried about you can call on their behalf. Please just let them know you are referring them and the Helpline will do the rest.

The Guildford community helpline will be open from 8.30am-7pm Monday to Friday and 10-2pm Saturday and Sunday. Over the Easter bank holiday weekend (Friday 10 to Monday 13 April) it will be open from 10-2pm.

The new Guildford helpline has been set up to provide direct help for our most vulnerable residents who maybe do not have family or friends nearby to help. So if you, or someone you know, needs help with food, picking up prescriptions, or support you if you are feeling isolated, please use this service.

If you are worried about a family member who lives in the borough or a neighbour or friend you haven’t see for a while and you don’t live close enough to help or are self-isolating with coronavirus symptoms, you can call or go online and register for them. Just please let them know you are registering them.

The key message I want people to know is that NO-ONE needs to be without support at this time.

Residents are also reminded that help is also available for those who have been recently discharged from hospital or need changes made to their home to allow them live safely and independently. Please call the Safe and Settled team on 01483 444476 who can install handrails, careline alarms and more.

FAIRWOOD HELPERS

Fairwood Helpers is a local voluntary group. Although their regular trips to hospitals and doctors appointments have been suspended, the Helpline remains open for advice and support to any Worplesdon resident. Thank you to Sue Harris and the Fairwood Helpers volunteers.

Fairwood Helpers 
01483 237619 

 

I have been amazed (but not surprised!) by what a diverse, helpful, friendly  and resourceful community we have.  Something we can be thankful for when emergencies like this happen, which are very rare. But I’m sure the connections made between residents will endure long after this crisis is over – and make our community all the better for it. Please share this email with anyone locally you have on your email lists – it’s better to have the information twice than not at all – see the bottom of this message as to how someone can get added to this email distribution. SURREY WIDE: On a Surrey basis, Surrey County Council has the remit for coordinating both Public Health and Emergency Planning, and is co-ordinating the county wide activity between SCC, Surrey NHS, the Borough Councils, Police, Surrey Fire and Rescue and the Army. The Guildford Spectrum Centre has been taken over as a distribution centre for food packages to those vulnerable people (that the NHS has written to) who are self-isolating at home for medical reasons. It’s being run by the Red Cross with support from the military – and school bus drivers, transferred to this vital work for the duration. The former Headley Court military rehab centre at Leatherhead is being reopened by SCC and Surrey NHS with support from the military, as a Community Hospital. I am keeping all our local Parish Councils, Residents Groups, and churches informed with more detailed information. Surrey County Council will also shortly be delivering information direct to all of the half-million homes in Surrey. Stay safe and please encourage those who need help to ask for it. I hope this is helpful. Regards, keith Keith Witham Surrey County Councillor, Worplesdon Email: keithwitham1@hotmail.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/keithwitham1