Liverpool City Council is to cover the pay of workers in the adult social work sector who are self-isolating or off sick due to coronavirus. The measure – believed to be among the first in the country by a local authority - is part of an initial £6 million package of emergency support for the sector. 

Cardiff Council has issued an urgent appeal for social  care and social workers to join the authority and play a vital role in helping communities through the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Cardiff is keen to hear from practitioners at all levels, from newly qualified to experienced social workers as well as those whose social work registration has lapsed, but who are interested in returning to the profession at this time. To register interest [email protected] or telephone 07725 741193.

Birmingham City council to fund school meal vouchers for 61,000 children. The voucher scheme, for use in major supermarkets, will be administered by schools who will issue electronic codes to families or print vouchers off for families who cannot access electronic codes. Click here for more info

Sheffield Care staff have gone above and beyond and moved into a city dementia home to shield residents https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/25/care-workers-move-into-she...

Newcastle is now open to recruit patients to the RECOVERY trial - a national research study identifying treatments for #COVID19.
@NewcastleHosps @UniofNewcastle @NIHRCRN_NENCumb https://www.recoverytrial.net/

Nottingham City Council is urgently recruiting for Care Workers. These roles involve personal care, as well as getting people in and out of bed, cooking light meals, medication checks, etc. You don’t need previous experience and the council will pay for a DBS check if you need one. Applicants will be assigned work within a 1 mile radius of their postcode, therefore they will be accessible on foot with no need to use public transport. Applications from drivers are also encouraged. You can make a big difference to the lives of vulnerable people in Nottingham at a time when they need it the most. Please send your full name and phone number to: [email protected]

Manchester’s scientists and clinicians have formed a rapid response research group to find ways to save lives nationally and globally from coronavirus. http://www.mancunianmatters.co.uk/content/020478757-manchesters-scientists-and-clinicians-step-beat-covid-19-and-save-lives

A number of cities to open new NHS Nightingale Hospitals to provide care to thousands more patients with Covid-19. 

  • The NEC in Birmingham will start with up to 500 beds equipped with the capacity to increase beds up to 2,000 if needed. 
  • Manchester Central Complex will provide up to 500 beds but could expand further to 1,000 beds for coronavirus patients across the North West of England. NHS news
  • Cardiff Principality Stadium to be turned into huge 2,000-bed hospital to help fight against coronavirus
  • Glasgow's SEC Centre, a 300-bed capacity but said there was "potential to raise it beyond 1,000" beds.
  • Bristol and Harrogate will provide up to extra beds for patients with Covid-19. In Bristol, 1,000 beds will be available at the University of the West of England.

    Harrogate Convention Centre will be used for 500 beds - the first of the field hospitals to be built outside a city. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-52141224

  • A tower block at Belfast City Hospital is being transformed into an emergency coronavirus hospital for patients in Northern Ireland. It will become a 230-bed unit staffed by a team drawn from across Northern Ireland. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52125059

Univerity of Leeds and Leeds Hospitals have developed a fix to turn sleep apnoea machines into ventilators. Estimates indicate thousands of similar devices across the #NHS and rapid modification could significantly increase respiratory support availability.

Manchester and Trafford Mutual Aid Hub which was set up in March to source and distribute PPE to the care sector as well as front line workers in Manchester and Trafford. Since its inception the hub has sent out more than 1.5m pieces of PPE. There is strong partnership work throughout Greater Manchester that allows health organisations to support one another, with a Trafford Care Home manager interviewed on how the hub is supporting them.  https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000hzq0/north-west-tonight-evening-news-05052020