CCG could do more

Reading today's Swindon advertiser I saw Dr Barry's spirited defence of the CCG in the letters page (SA, August 13). I also noticed Justin Tomlinson citing that three quarters of the population has been double jabbed (76 per cent). Furthermore there has also been a lot of publicity regarding the 200,000 vaccinations at Steam this week. Reading these together you might think the Covid-19 situation is under control in Swindon, sadly it's not as hospital admissions will testify and 150 cases just today suggest.

Of course as Dr Barry states high Covid levels are an issue and putting strain on the system. But you need to look as to why cases are so high in Swindon. Some of which, but of course not all, is in my opinion attributable to mistakes made at CCG and LA level. Sadly there have been mistakes at national level too, which is not helping matters either.

There is the issue of vaccination provision. In Swindon only half of the population has been vaccinated at Steam and the two pharmacies used have not been able to help enough to prevent many people having to travel long distances to get their vaccination. Compared to other CCGs release of vaccine has been slower to due to strict adherence to guidelines when flexibility and proactive action has been needed. There is clearly also an issue of accessibility as 20 per cent of Swindonians do not have access to a car. There has been some movement recently with pop up centres in SN1 and the bus having Pfizer but the fact remains our double vaccination rate is 67.7 per cent so well below national average rate. This high number of unvaccinated people needs more resource such as a vaccine bus continually in Swindon till the numbers are adequate. The current one spends most of its time in Bath and surroundings. It also needs more centre provision where people can easily access it. Less vaccination means more hospitalisation and this is clearly a CCG responsibility.

And where is the work at targeting people with co-morbidities such as diabetes to avoid them getting into hospital. Where is the advice to take Vitamin D that reduces hospitalisation as proven by various studies. Where is the information in Portuguese and Goan on vaccination? The CCG in conjunction with the public health department could do so much more, but the evidence of them working effectively together is sparse to say the least. This is especially disappointing given the background of some effective collaboration between the hospital and the local public health team. Of course, as Dr Barry says, more funding is desirable but I remain unconvinced our CCG is as effective as others are and the vaccination data in particular bears that out.

Of course there are local factors outside the direct remit of the CCG too. There have been badly organised public events like MFOR which are sadly becoming super spreader events. Looking at the council's website the guidance on events is dated and you have to wonder if the public health team is doing enough to ensure events take place safely.

Using STFC as an additional example why hasn't the public health team worked more with the football club to make sure home games are safer In Colchester fans get a stadium pass rather than a fixed seat. This enables them to move to safer areas of the ground with less people. Even if we get 6,000 season tickets sold, our capacity is 12,000 plus especially if the Stratton Bank was opened. Has the public health team even proactively discussed these issues with STFC? I am concerned that matches will be super spreader events and am personally not attending,

There are a wide variety of local, national and CCG issues that need to be addressed but to say the CCG is blameless I think is a not a fair reflection of the situation.

Jonathan Sheldrake

Priam house

Rodbourne

Do you have a view on the news? Send a letter to the editor via email to letters@swindonadvertiser.co.uk or follow the link here.

Canal idea floats

Totally agree with letter in today's Adver(Restoring canal is town centre's only hope, August 13).

I saw, first hand, what it did to Chelmsford in Essex late 80s early 90s. Totally transformed the town, now city!

Mark David

By email

Canal idea floats

Totally agree with letter in today's Adver(Restoring canal is town centre's only hope, August 13).

I saw, first hand, what it did to Chelmsford in Essex late 80s early 90s. Totally transformed the town, now city!

Mark David

By email