News

Have you or a family member had Covid-19?  Are you still experiencing symptoms or has it taken longer than expected to recover?

NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group is working with hospitals, GPs and other professionals providing support and care to people suffering from the long-term health effects of a Covid-19 infection.

We want to hear from patients and families so that we can improve the services we offer.

To tell us about your views and experiences please complete this short survey.

We are also holding online patient experience workshops on 8^th April at 6pm and 28^th April at 10am. The workshops will be led by Cathy Finnis, Independent Lay Member for Patient and Public Engagement and Dr Neil Banik, Respiratory Lead for Kent and Medway. Please come along to tell us about your experiences – find out about how to register here.

For more information on how to get involved please visit the CCG’s website:

https://www.kentandmedwayccg.nhs.uk/get-involved/our-involvement-work/improving-services-people-recovering-covid-19

Information on support for longer term Covid can be found here.

Please email us at kmccg.engage@nhs.net if you have any queries or suggestions about engaging with families and communities to improve services for patients with Long-Covid.

Join representatives from Kent County Council Trading Standards, Environmental Health, KRF Enforcement, Kent & Medway Growth Hub and South East Water on Friday 9th April from 1-2pm.

This is an opportunity to ask the experts about the guidelines for re-opening your business. After short introductions, we’ll move straight into a Q&A where the panel will answer your questions about:

• Businesses that can and can’t open.

• Services you can offer.

• Preparing your business for re-opening.

• Keeping your staff and customers safe.

• Available Funding.

Sign up and submit your question to the panel. If you can’t make the date, a recording will be made of the event and a link to the replay will be sent to you.

SIGN UP FOR WEBINAR

You can order free rapid lateral flow tests to test your employees twice a week in the workplace.

You must register on or before 31 March 2021.

Do not use this service if you or your employees have symptoms. Anyone with symptoms should order a PCR test and stay at home.

You can register to order tests if:

• your business is registered in England
• your employees cannot work from home

The tests must be used in the workplace. They cannot be taken home.

Your employees can also find out if they can get a rapid lateral flow test from a local test site instead.

Learn more and apply on the Government website https://www.gov.uk/get-workplace-coronavirus-tests

There are reports from Kent Police on the increase of dog theft or attempted thefts in Kent over the past week.

Cases have increased by 33% in the South East since 2018 – with 163 incidents reported within the last year. Demand for dogs have skyrocketed in lockdown and prices have soared as a result.

Organised crime is exploiting this situation by smuggling puppies from abroad and stealing dogs across the UK. Dog thefts are now at an all-time high, with puppies stolen for an immediate resale and adult dogs being taken for forced breeding on puppy farms.

Keep your dogs safe by following these simple steps:

• Safe – secure your property and garden.

• Spottable – Keep your dogs in sight and train them to return to you.

• Searchable – Know what steps to take if they go missing.

Read more from Dogs Trust on keeping your pet safe.

Report any information about a stolen dog or suspicious behaviour to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or call the Police on 101.

Please warn family members, friends and neighbours.

There is a vacancy for a Sandgate Parish Councillor following the death of Robert Bliss last year. As an election was called, the by-election for the Sandgate Village ward position will take place on Thursday 6th May.

To put yourself forward for an election you must complete a nomination form.  To request a nomination pack please contact the Returning Officer by email at elections@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk.  Although the nominations period hasn’t officially started, you may receive the nomination pack in advance to read the instructions in your own time.

Most of the nomination pack is self-explanatory but if you would like to ask anything about the form or the process, please give Paul Butler an email on paul.butler@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk.  There may be some elements of the form that require you to seek your own legal advice.  Paul will let you know if this is the case.

The Notice of Election will include instructions of where you need to submit the nomination forms (by hand).  This will be published online at www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/elections/upcoming-elections on Friday 19 March 2021 and also on the Parish/Town noticeboard. 

You may submit nomination papers from Monday 22 March 2021, from 10am.  Given the circumstances, Anyone that approaches the Returning Officer via email, expressing an interest in standing will be asked nearer the time to set up a timed appointment slot so we can keep contact and wait times to a minimum.  That said, you do not have to have an appointment to submit nomination papers between the dates and times stated on the Notice of Election.

The Returning Officer will be providing a briefing to candidates and agents after nominations have closed.  The date for this will be circulated nearer the time.

There is a lot of useful information for candidates on the Electoral Commission’s website with regards to campaign spending, code of conduct, etc.  There address is http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/candidate-or-agent.

Following a number of reports of use of quad bikes in parks in Sandgate, Kent Police have provided us with their information leaflet on them.

As it says: “It is against the law to use a go-ped, mini moto, quad bike or motorbike in public parks, open spaces or on footpaths, pavements, cycle routes and bridleways.”

For the avoidance of doubt, that includes Sandgate Park and Fremantle Park. There are no signs saying so because the same applies to ALL public parks, open spaces, footpaths, pavements, cycle routes and bridleways. Sandgate is not an exception, and Kent Police are aware of and watching for the issue. Any incidents of use of such vehicles in pubic parks should be reported to Kent Police via 101 or the Kent Police online reporting page. they ask that the report includes:

• The dates and times that you have been affected by nuisance vehicles

• The location of the vehicles and what they were doing

• Descriptions of the vehicles and people involved

• Whether the vehicles were ridden to the area, or whether another vehicle was used to transport them.

The information you provide will help them to identify those responsible and take action to prevent them causing problems in the future.