Homelessness is a public health disaster

Lewisham Council’s Cllr Alan Hall has joined housing campaigners signing a “damning letter” to the Government. The letter says: “this risks a spike in infections, posing a grave danger to the health of rough sleepers, and all other members of our society. A long-term commitment is essential to save lives.”

The letter refers to the announcement by Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State, on the 24th May heralded as a landmark commitment to end rough sleeping, saying that much of it is recycled previous pledges.

The campaigners say that the question of support for people with No Recourse to Public Funds was not addressed. According to an article in the Big Issue, those with NRPF make up a large proportion of the rough sleeping population. They say this will be a homelessness disaster.

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson failed to address this issue when scrutinised by Stephen Timms MP at the the Parliamentary Liaison Committee this week.

Labour MP Stephen Timms quizzes Boris more here

On 18th February 2014, Lewisham Council’s Public Accounts Select Committee concluded its review of the Council’s approach to NRPF and presented its recommendations to Mayor and Cabinet.

● Recommendation: Exerting pressure on central government to raise
the profile of costs being borne by local authorities in supporting
families with NRPF.
Officer response:
o The Council’s Chief Executive, Barry Quirk sits on a DCLG steering group
whose remit includes representing the local authority position on
responding to cost pressures relating to No Recourse to Public
Funds.

The Full report can be found here

Full text of the letter is here:

OPEN LETTER TO ROBERT JENRICK MP
Dear Secretary of State,

This letter has been written by local community-led groups and charities across England. We have provided essential services throughout the pandemic, working closely with people who are homeless both within the emergency provision and with those left on the streets or in inadequate accommodation. We are deeply concerned about the Government’s reported decision to end the ‘Everyone In’ policy and the continued provision for homeless people.

We are also very concerned about the risks associated with vastly reduced winter provision and about the significant population – in particular those with No Recourse to Public Funds – that remain substantially at risk during the pandemic despite the huge effort made by all to accommodate people.

We note your announcement of 24 May of measures to support those rough sleepers currently accommodated to move on to sustainable, long-term housing. While the language used shows positive ambition, much of your statement recycles previously announced pre-COVID-19 lockdown pledges, such as 6,000 new housing units. In addition, the majority of the funding announced was already announced at budget, albeit accelerated. This announcement did not clarify whether the Everyone In policy was actually coming to an end or not. It did not confirm if the new units would be available for use by those who have not been able to access the current available provisions, thus remaining street homeless. The announcement also did not address the question of support for people with No Recourse to Public Funds. Finally, it made no mention of people who will become homeless in the future and how they might be accommodated.

What is needed is a far more substantial allocation of funding to local authorities, with a guarantee that central government will fund all shortfalls which are leaving rough sleepers on the streets, and urgently assist local authorities in acquiring sufficient housing for all.

This need for the Government to urgently provide substantial funds on a long-term basis, as well as clarify and amend its instructions and guidance to Local Authorities, is crucial. On 26th March, the Homelessness Minister, Luke Hall MP, issued his directive to local authorities to ‘bring everyone in’ during the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Specifically, his directive stated that ‘it is imperative that rough sleepers and other vulnerable homeless persons are supported into appropriate accommodation by 29th March’. Although councils have continued their efforts to meet the Minister’s directive, it has never been met in full: many people continue to sleep on the streets or have become newly street homeless.

Nonetheless, the principle of ‘Everyone In’ was, and remains, correct. Homeless members of society need to be able to access secure and safe accommodation during the pandemic, both for their own health and safety and for our wider public safety but this principle should reach far beyond public health measures. It is the principle of a fair society.

We therefore urge that, if the goal of the government is to end rough sleeping then the Everyone In policy must be extended so that all people experiencing homelessness are able to access safe and secure accommodation for the entirety of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

This provision should include funding and support for the sector to problem solve winter provision. Pre-pandemic, the vast majority of people sleeping rough have been accommodated through the winter shelter network from November – March each year. We are now facing the risk of a humanitarian disaster as the shared winter shelter spaces commonly used will not meet public health requirements.

This stark reality demonstrates that the impact of COVID-19 on our homeless population reaches far beyond the months of lockdown. In this crisis, a failure to protect the most vulnerable constitutes a failure to protect us all. With shelters being closed, the winding down of the ‘Everyone In’ scheme with no robust alternative in place would mean our buses, our A&E waiting rooms, and our high streets becoming crowded with those who have nowhere else to go. This risks a spike in infections, posing a grave danger to the health of rough sleepers, and all other members of our society. A long-term commitment is essential to save lives.

To this end, sufficient funding should be provided to Local Authorities immediately. Neither the £3.2 billion the Government released to Local Authorities for their overall Covid-19 response, nor the £3.2 million dedicated to provisions for rough sleeping, nor the allocated funds mentioned in your most recent statement are sufficient for municipal governments to do the urgent work of protecting residents from the ongoing crisis at hand. It is crucial that additional funds, beyond the budget, be released for Local Authorities to procure further accommodation stock, to finance long-term welfare support, and to pay for the training and the recruitment of homelessness outreach workers and charity staff.

It is also of critical importance that the Government clarify that those without regularised immigration status will not be removed as a result of taking up temporary accommodation, and that data held by Local Authorities or their contractors will not be shared with the Home Office without consent. The No Recourse to Public Funds condition should also be removed so that everyone can access housing support, regardless of immigration status. Funding should be allocated towards supporting homeless people with NRPF, who make up a large percentage of all rough sleepers.

In addition to funding, and following the MHCLG’s Inquiry into the impact of coronavirus on homelessness, rough sleepers, and the private rented sector, we echo the Committee’s recommendation that the Government must also provide guidance clarifying councils’ use of discretion in lifting the No Recourse to Public Funds condition, so that homeless people can access vital accommodation support. No one should be punished for trying to protect their own safety and the safety of the wider public, particularly as the mechanisms of the current immigration regime directly contravenes leading scientific recommendations for an effective Coronavirus response.

Local Authorities must have the funding, legal authorisation, and government guidance needed to allow them fulfil the “in for good” principle: the understanding that, once service users initially engage with homelessness services, they will be guaranteed the long-term housing support needed to avoid returning to the streets. To this end, the Everyone In policy should not be abandoned, but instead, extended.

Yours sincerely,

Albert Kennedy Trust, The Big Issue Foundation, Emmaus UK, London Renters Union, London Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network, London Metro, London Public Interest Law Centre, London Quaker Homeless Action The Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark The Very Revd Andrew Nunn, Dean of Southwark The Venerable Alastair Cutting, Archdeacon of Lewisham and Greenwich Ruth Martin, Diocesan Secretary of the Diocese of Southwark, Cllr Alan Hall – London Borough of Lewisham and others.

Robert Jenrick’s local paper reports the local Council will write to him

‘You’re Not Alone’ with the Lewisham NHS Choir

Ministry of Sound Classical presents ‘You’re Not Alone’ feat. Alexandra Burke, London Concert Orchestra & The Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir

A new video collaboration with the Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir featuring Alexandra Burke and the London Concert Orchestra has just been released.

This is a cover of the 1997 No 1 chart hit classic ‘You’re Not Alone’ originally performed by the trio Olive which won an Ivor Novello Award in the ‘Best Dance Music’ category. The song has been covered by a number of artists including the Hungarian DJ Duo SaberZ in 2020.

The 50 piece classical orchestral backing with the choir make this recording full of emotion and a real tear jerker.

The Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir said:

“The last few months have been a very difficult time for everyone, we’ve all been affected in different ways. So many people will be struggling, for some it will be obvious but for others the struggles will be hidden. This song is a reminder that we are all there when people need us.We’re hoping the recording will reach out to many who may feel isolated and bring a sense of community spirit. Music also brings joy and the chance to focus on other things, evoking happy memories and hopes for the future.”

“We’ve had limited time to rehearse at the moment and we are missing singing together so this was a great opportunity to be involved in this project. The prospect of singing with an orchestra is very exciting and definitely a new opportunity for us. We feel very privileged to be asked to participate in such a fantastic project”

A performance of the track was due to take place at the Royal Albert Hall this month but was cancelled due Covid-19 restrictions. All the performers, collectively decided to create a video to show appreciation and say a big “thank you” to key workers including our NHS.

The Ministry of Sound Classical has said that they are overjoyed for the video to include the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir, having been invited to perform on the track by Alexandra Burke.

Dr. Kate McCarthy who sings in the NHS Choir said: “It’s been good to immerse ourselves in something so different” to our day to day work and that this has provided “a good mental release.”

The NHS Choir revealed that they had all recorded remotely using phones in their own time.

“We started virtual rehearsals to keep in touch and keep on track with learning new pieces. It’s also been a morale boost seeing each other online weekly.”

“We’ve had to quickly learn how to record ourselves and get used to hearing our voices individually, rather than as a choir. It’s difficult recording on your own, not knowing how it will sound until it’s all mixed together. It’s difficult not having the spontaneity in the immediate effect of many voices together in one room but it’s always exciting to hear the final result.” – Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir

Asked what their message to the public would be, the NHS Choir says:

“We’re so grateful for the continued support and recognition from the public towards the NHS and keyworkers. We’re thankful for people following guidelines stay safe and also to look out for others.We hope we are able to remind people that the NHS is always there for people, whatever they need and there are many, many dedicated people ready to support when it’s needed most.”

“By working together as one our voices are louder and more effective.”

“All keyworkers including the NHS are heroes. They have raised our spirits and the Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir sing out for us all.” – Cllr Alan Hall

More on the choir’s history is in an earlier post here

Hands Off Our NHS

Councillor Alan Hall has written directly to the Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board, Liz Truss calling for the Government to protect the NHS in any trade deal with the US.

Write to your MP now to support the NHS

“While our NHS staff are fighting coronavirus, please will you thank them by protecting our NHS from trade deals? Clapping isn’t enough.” – Cllr Alan Hall

Full text of the letter:

Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade and Minister for Women and Equalities
The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP

Dear Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP,

In a global pandemic, our NHS is more vital than ever, and it has to be protected.

I’m writing because I am very concerned about the effect that a US trade deal will have on the NHS. Negotiations are already underway, despite the pandemic. The Trade Bill is back in Parliament this week, does it contain any measures to protect the NHS from trade deals? We need a legally binding commitment in the form of an amendment to the Trade Bill.

There are the five things that the Trade Bill needs to include if the NHS is to be properly protected:

  • Specific legislation for the NHS, all health-relevant services and regulation: Including a clause that the government will not conclude a trade agreement which alters the way NHS services are provided, liberalises healthcare further, or opens up parts of the NHS to foreign investment.
  • No use of negative listing: these clauses require that all industries are liberalised in trade agreements unless there are specific carve-outs. It is not always easy to define what services count as health services: for instance, digital services may seem irrelevant to health, but NHS data management and GP appointments are increasingly digitised. Negative lists therefore make it harder for governments to regulate and provide health services.
  • No standstill clauses or ratchet clauses: these provisions mean that, after the trade deal has been signed, parties are not allowed to reduce the level of liberalisation beyond what it was at the point of signature. This can make it difficult to reverse NHS privatisation.
  • No ISDS: Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) clauses in trade agreements allow private investors to challenge governments over changes to domestic legislation. We need to be able to control our own laws.
  • No changes to drugs pricing mechanism: the US administration has publicly stated that they wish to use a trade deal to challenge the NHS’s drugs purchasing model, which keeps prices low. Medicines are vital to our health – there must not be any concessions on this in trade talks.

While our NHS staff are fighting coronavirus, please will you thank them by protecting our NHS from trade deals? Clapping isn’t enough.

Yours sincerely,

Cllr Alan Hall

Ellie Reeves, MP for Lewisham West & Penge has written:

“The Government argues that a free trade agreement with the US can help create opportunities for UK businesses and benefit the economy. It says that its negotiating objectives call for any future agreement to protect the health service and uphold our high standards on food safety and animal welfare

However, I am concerned that the political situation in the US, alongside the UK Government’s strong desire for an agreement with President Trump will lead to a trade deal designed for the benefit of large American corporations. As you rightly note, this would have hugely significant implications for things such as our NHS, environmental protections and the food we eat.

The British public are clear: they do not want the NHS to be bartered as part of a trade deal. Unfortunately, I believe there are several areas where future trade agreements could threaten the NHS.

First, there is the risk that trade agreements could consolidate privatisation. Free trade agreements often lock in liberalisation measures such as privatisation. This could mean they force us to keep market liberalisation of the NHS, stopping a future Government from bringing services back in-house. The use of “negative lists” in trade agreements, where all services are open to liberalisation unless explicitly excluded, make this a particular concern.

A further concern would be the inclusion of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanisms. ISDS allows overseas companies to sue governments outside of the domestic court system for actions that they believe violate their rights as investors. The threat of being sued under ISDS for bringing a service back in-house, for example, could deter the Government from making policy decisions in the public interest.

Finally, I am also worried at the potential impact of a trade agreement with the US on drug prices. The NHS uses its purchasing power to drive down the price of drugs. However, the US has made clear it will seek measures in any trade deal with the UK that could affect our ability to control the prices paid for medicines by the NHS.

The Government has said it will protect the NHS in trade negotiations. However, it has also made a US-UK trade deal a priority. There is therefore a risk that the US could force us to accept provisions in a trade agreement that would undermine our NHS. To prevent this, I believe we need proper parliamentary scrutiny of trade deals. This would give MPs a vote on mandates for trade negotiations and on any signed deals, which we could use to protect our NHS.”

As the Trade Bill reaches report stage on Monday, 20th July, Cllr Alan Hall is backing an amendment to the bill – known as the Djanogly amendment – as this would restore changes made during proceedings on the 2017-19 Bill that are not retained in the current version including: A reduction in the lifespan of the delegated powers that are granted to ministers to implement ‘successor’ (or ‘continuity’) trade agreements; and a statutory requirement on the government to publish ‘parliamentary reports’ on UK successor trade agreements to identify where they differ from previous agreements. By putting this practice on a statutory footing gives greater clarity and certainty.

Amendments that create explicit carve-outs for the NHS have been rejected at Committee stage because they “tie negotiators’ hands”. The British public would never accept a trade deal that damaged our NHS, and so there is no reason to allow for a trade deal like that to be negotiated. MPs are now the last defence against trade deals that would damage our NHS. The Djanogly’s amendment for scrutiny has been backed by ten other Conservative MPs so far, as well as MPs from other parties including Labour, the Scottish National Party, the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Greens.

The NHS is too important – hands off.

What’s happened at TfL?

A package of funding has been agreed by the government and Transport for London.

At a finance committee meeting on 12th May, Transport for London revealed that it had a shortfall in its budget of around £3.2 billion for this year, 2020/2021.

The Department of Transport has announced the broad terms of deal:

  • A grant of £1.095 billion and a loan of £505 million, runs until October 2020
  • An increase fares next year on all modes by RPI plus 1%, in line with the proposals in TfL’s own business plan
  • A temporary suspension of the Freedom Pass and 60+ card concessions to off peak hours
  • A temporary suspension of free travel for under 18s [those in receipt of free travel to school still travel free to and from school]
  • Two special representatives will represent the government on TfL’s board, its finance committee and its programmes and investment committee, in order to ensure best value for money for the taxpayer.
  • An immediate and broad-ranging review of the organisation’s future financial position

It should be noted that the half a billion loan will be added to TfL’s borrowing. In proportion to its income, TfL are carrying a lot of debt already says londonreconnections.com

Understanding the relationship between debt and revenue is essential.

Explains the relationship between revenue and debt

From Monday, the congestion charge will be reintroduced (and it’ll rise from 22 June 2020).

The £11.50 congestion charge for people driving into the city will resume. At the moment this is only charged on weekdays, but from 22 June 2020 this will rise from £11.50 a day to £15, and the hours of operation will be extended to 7am until 10pm every day. This will be in place for one year, but could be made permanent.
The ultra low emission zone charge will return on Monday. This will be in operation for 24 hours a day (as it was previously) and there’ll be no change to the £12.50 cost for most vehicles.

Thanks to https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/

At the finance committee meeting, Deputy Mayor for Transport, Heidi Alexander said:

“My view is really this: We have to reach an agreement with Government on a funding package within 48 hours. The situation is now critical. There is no sustainable way forward without direct Government support so that TfL can play a full role in London’s recovery.”

The comments were made in the context that TfL has to balance its books like a local authority otherwise the Chief Finance Officer issues a Section 114 Notice. The Tfl Board were seeking to avert this.

The notice bans all new expenditure, with the exception of safeguarding vulnerable people and statutory services. It is only issued in the gravest of circumstances when the council is deemed “unsustainable” by chief finance officers.

The New Statesman

Labour’s London Mayor, Sadiq Khan said: “I want to be completely honest and upfront – this is not the deal I wanted for London. But it was the only deal the Tories would agree to and I had no choice but to accept it to keep the tubes and buses running at this crucial time.

The Tories are shamefully making ordinary Londoners pay the cost for doing the right thing on Covid-19. They insisted that TfL fares must go up next January – ending the four-year fares freeze we worked so hard to deliver since the last election. And they insisted that free travel is temporarily suspended for Freedom Pass and 60-plus cardholders at peak times and all the time for those under 18.

The Tories also insisted that, unlike the deals done elsewhere in the country, TfL takes on £505 million of additional debt. This will undo the hard work we’ve put in to fix TfL’s finances over the last 4 years and poses a real threat to the future of the organisation.”

Mick Cash, General Secretary of the RMT said: “It looks like Boris Johnson is back in charge of transport in London. We will not accept one penny of austerity cuts imposed by Whitehall or passed on by City Hall as part of this funding package and our resistance will include strike action if necessary.

“We are also deeply concerned that this is a sign of wider austerity conditions to be imposed on the transport industry across the UK”

The full details of the deal will be published in Parliament in due course.

Deaths on the job

The Office for National Statistics have published new research on deaths involving the coronavirus (COVID-19) in different occupational groups among those of working age – aged 20 to 64 years – in England and Wales.

The ONS highlighted occupations that have statistically significantly higher rates of death involving COVID-19 when compared with the rate of death involving COVID-19 among people of the same age and sex in the general population.

  • A total of 2,494 deaths involving the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the working age population were registered up to and including 20 April 2020.
  • Nearly two-thirds of these deaths were among men (1,612 deaths), with the rate of death involving COVID-19 being statistically higher in males, with 9.9 deaths per 100,000 compared with 5.2 deaths per 100,000 females (882 deaths).
  • Compared with the rate among people of the same sex and age in England and Wales, men working in the lowest skilled occupations had the highest rate of death involving COVID-19, with 21.4 deaths per 100,000 males (225 deaths); men working as security guards had one of the highest rates, with 45.7 deaths per 100,000 (63 deaths).

The charts use age-standardised mortality rates of death involving the coronavirus (COVID-19) in England and Wales, by major occupational group, deaths registered up to, and including, 20 April 2020

The bar chart shows men working in low paid or caring, leisure and service occupations had the highest rates of death involving COVID-19.

Male care workers and home carers had a higher rate of death involving COVID-19 than men of the same age in the general population

Caring, leisure and other service occupations, can be divided into smaller groups. Of these, most of the deaths were among the caring personal service occupations group, with a rate of 26.3 deaths per 100,000 males, equivalent to 53 deaths. At the lowest level of granularity, this finding was largely explained by the rate among those providing care within residential care homes, day care centres or to people in their own homes – that is, care workers and home carers (32.0 deaths per 100,000 males, or 32 deaths).

The elementary workers, the major group with the highest mortality rate, can be subdivided into several smaller groups of occupations, in bar chart below:

Among the lowest paid workers, men working in Elementary security occupations had the highest rate of death involving COVID-19

Also, construction workers have a higher rate of coronavirus-related deaths compared to other sectors with lower paid workers in construction seeing 25.9 deaths per 100,000 males, or 22 deaths.

Process, plant and machine operative occupations had one of the highest number of deaths overall (242 deaths). This group includes occupations whose main tasks are to operate and monitor industrial equipment, assemble products and drive or assist in the operation of transport vehicles.

In this group, road transport drivers were found to account for the largest proportion of deaths (69.0% of the major group deaths, or 18.5 deaths per 100,000 males).

And, among road transport drivers taxi and cab drivers including chauffeurs had the highest rate, with 36.4 deaths per 100,000 males (76 deaths). Other occupations with significantly higher rates include bus and coach drivers, with 26.4 deaths per 100,000 males (29 deaths).

Among male road transport drivers, taxi and cab inc chauffeurs had the highest rate of death involving COVID-19

Looking at the figures for women, only one of the nine major occupational groups had a statistically significantly higher mortality rate for deaths involving the COVID-19, that was the caring, leisure and other service occupations with a rate of 7.5 deaths per 100,000 females, equivalent to 130 deaths.

As with men, most of these deaths (88 deaths) were among personal care occupations, where the rate of female deaths involving COVID-19 was 10.1 deaths per 100,000 females. These deaths were largely from female care workers and home care workers (12.7 deaths per 100,000 females, or 66 deaths).

Women working in caring, leisure and other service occupations had the highest rate of death involving COVID-19 compared with women of the same age in the general population

The ONS has created an estimate of exposure to generic disease, and physical proximity to others, for UK occupations based on US analysis of these factors. They say that while working practices and conditions may be slightly different in the US for similar occupations, these estimates offer valuable insight into occupations that involve working in close proximity with others and those that are regularly exposed to diseases.

This is a useful indication of which roles may be more likely to come into contact with people with COVID-19.

There is a clear correlation between exposure to disease, and physical proximity to others across all occupations. Healthcare workers such as nurses and dental practitioners unsurprisingly both involve being exposed to disease on a daily basis, and they require close contact with others, though during the pandemic they are more likely have some protection if using PPE.

Workers in the education sector have lower exposure to disease than healthcare workers, but primary and nursery education teaching professionals, and special needs education professionals work in close proximity with pupils, and are more likely to be exposed to disease than secondary or higher education teaching professionals. Many have commented on the primary school re-opening with reception class children – have you ever seen a room full of five year olds socially distanced?

With this data in mind, this begs the question, why did the Government choose to open reception classes in primary schools first?

What do we know about occupations with closest proximity and highest exposure?

Some occupations involve working very closely with others (within arms length and often touching) and exposure to disease on a daily basis – the vast majority are healthcare professions. Looking at the characteristics of the workers in each of these occupations provides an insight into who might be more likely to be exposed to others with COVID-19 while doing their job.

There are more women working in occupations that are more likely to be in frequent contact with people and also frequently exposed to disease. Three in four workers (75%) in these roles are women. These include dental nurses, midwives, and veterinary nurses, where women make up the majority of workers.

One in five of those working in these occupations are aged 55 years or over, the same proportion as in the working population generally. Around half (50%) of those employed as care escorts are aged 55 years or over. Workers of this age are also over-represented in occupations like ambulance staff excluding paramedics (37%), houseparents (adults responsible for children in a residential childcare establishment, usually living in the same home) and residential wardens (35%), and prison service officers (24%).

One in five workers in these occupations are from black and minority ethnic (BAME) groups, compared with 11% of the working population. These workers make up around just over a quarter of the workers who are dental practitioners (28%), medical practitioners (28%) and ophthalmic opticians (27%). Additionally, they are over-represented in four other occupations – nurses, medical radiographers, nursing auxiliaries and assistants, and medical and dental technicians.

When it comes to pay, 6 out of 16 of these occupations have a median pay of lower than £13.21, the median hourly pay across the UK. Care escorts (who accompany vulnerable people on local journeys), dental nurses, and nursing auxiliaries and assistants have the lowest median pay per hour, ranging from £9.45 to £10.93. It’s the low paid who are at most risk.

You can use the interactive chart below to explore jobs, exposure and pay.

Those that earn the least, have most physical contact – more manual work – will be at greatest risk. Many of these jobs are done by BAME workers and women. All would be defined as working class.

Those with a vocation, those working in key jobs, those keeping us alive – we need to remember their contributions and never forget them. Thank you and clapping is not enough.

Transport unions demand action over covid-19 death rates

Transport trade unions are demanding that the government take urgent action after figures published today by the Office for National Statistics show that male bus and taxi drivers were amongst the occupations with a raised rate of death involving COVID-19. The ONS analysis reveals:

“Among men, a number of other specific occupations were found to have raised rates of death involving COVID-19, including: taxi drivers and chauffeurs (36.4 deaths per 100,000); bus and coach drivers (26.4 deaths per 100,000).”

According to the RMT, the Government has failed to convene a national Coronavirus safety forum with unions and employers to establish safe working practices, despite multiple requests for it to do so since the onset of COVID-19 – and today’s analysis shows the price for this failing.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:

“These figures are a sobering reminder that frontline bus and taxi workers across the country are being put at risk by the Government’s failure to ensure that workers in these sectors are adequately protected from COVID-19.

“For example, despite the high rate of deaths in the bus industry, the Government still has not convened a Coronavirus safety forum for this sector, months into lockdown. After the PM’s ambiguous statement last night, bus workers across the country will now be anxious that they will be put at risk by any increase in passenger numbers, before rigorous safety measures are implemented.

“RMT’s position on this is unequivocal – we will not allow our bus and taxi members to be put at risk and are calling on the government to take urgent action to protect these key workers.”

RMT is calling for the protection of workers in these sectors, and for the convening of a National Coronavirus Safety Summit to agree a national plan to protect workers and passengers in the sector.

Meanwhile, Unite the Union, Assistant General Secretary, Diana Holland said: “These figures are alarming and it is imperative that we learn all the lessons possible now and when this pandemic is over that there is a full public inquiry into these deaths.

“We must never forget this is not about statistics, but each and every death is an individual tragedy where a loved one has died.

“While lessons need to be learned for the future, it is immediately imperative that all workplaces examine these figures and urgently revisit how more effective measures can be taken to protect workers who have remained in work or who are returning to the workplace. Thorough risk assessments are vital and government needs to make sure they happen.

“This is only an early snapshot of this dreadful disease but it is clear that lower paid workers often from a BAME background have been at the greatest risk of dying during the pandemic.

“An inquiry is needed to understand if measures such as the lockdown was introduced too late and whether frontline workers were able to effectively socially distance at work, if effective cleaning regimes were in place and if workers were provided with the necessary PPE to properly protect them.”

The Health & Safety Executive have said:

“By consulting and involving people in steps you are taking to manage the risk of coronavirus in your workplace you can:

  • explain the changes you are planning to work safely
  • make sure changes will work and hear their ideas
  • continue to operate your business safely during the outbreak

You should share the results of your risk assessment with your workforce. If possible, you should consider publishing the results on your website (and the government expects all employers with over 50 workers to do so).”


‘Surge’ on the tube expected as rail union issues new alert

The transport union, RMT has said that they expect a ‘surge’ in passengers on the London Underground and has insisted on two metre social distancing and limiting capacity on trains, following the Prime Minister’s statement.

Mick Cash, General Secretary said: “This trade union will not sit back while confused and conflicting messaging from the government raises the prospect of a surge in passengers on our transport services, making a mockery of the social distancing rules with potentially lethal consequences.”

“We are reissuing and reinforcing advice to our members not to work in conditions where their health and safety is clearly compromised. No employer should be sending their staff out to work in those kind of conditions and we are putting the industry on the clearest possible notice.”

The two metre social distancing rule will have to be adhered to on the tube or the RMT will regard this as unsafe. On London Underground staff have the legal right to use the refusal to work policy and the union will “fully back any member who uses this process to ensure their safety.”

Summarising the health & safety policy, the RMT say:

a) Ensure any arrangements are based on train usage being limited to an average of 20%
b) Social distancing must remain in place at 2m. If there are essential tasks that must be carried out where 2m is not possible then agreed mitigation must be in place.
c) PPE: Surgical masks / visors are not protection from infection and are not mitigation for any failure to implement 2m social distancing.
d) Social distancing must be possible in staff areas after any increase in services

Train usage at one fifth, will be a challenge as anyone who has used the London tube during rush hour will know.

The RMT have reiterated the legal position saying that this stems from the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and Employment Rights Act 1996 which state that employees are protected by law if they decide that their work situation represents a threat of “serious or imminent danger” and as a result of this belief they remove themselves to a place of safety. 

The financial implications for the London Underground are unclear. But 80 per cent of TfL’s income comes from fares, so the measures so far have had a devastating impact on the its finances.

About 320,000 people boarded a tube every 15 minutes during the 8am weekday peak in February, prior to the covid-19 restrictions being imposed. A confidential report says only 50,000 passengers would be able to board every 15 minutes – Taking this together, the London Underground is likely to see headlines of ‘travel chaos’ and ‘mayhem’.

COVID – 19 URGENT RMT SAFETY ADVICE REGARDING RAIL AND TUBE SERVICES FROM 11th MAY see:

RMT new advice issued

There maybe trouble ahead if ‘high risk’ transport plans come forward

The rail union, RMT has revealed that the Government may bring forward the start of the mass transport mobilisation and the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. RMT is aware that the Government has requested the industry to be ready to begin a last minute mobilisation to accommodate an increase in passenger numbers from Monday 11th May – in reaction to the Prime Ministers expected briefing to the nation on Sunday.

The move is said to overrule a planning document sent to the unions by the Rail Industry Coronavirus Forum, a rail industry and trade union body established to put in place arrangements to protect passengers and workers, which said the industry had only put in place services and arrangements to protect passengers and workers from a “not high” increase in passenger numbers at a later date.


RMT General Secretary, Mick Cash said:

“We have it on good authority that the rail network has been put on notice to begin a last minute mobilisation to accommodate an increase in passenger numbers from Monday. This is earlier than expected and completely contradicts assurances sent to us that the rail industry had only put in place services and arrangements to protect passengers and workers from a “not high” increase in passenger numbers at a later date.

“To overrule the rail industry like this is a complete breach in faith of the trade union and rail industry discussions. It is also a high risk strategy and RMT is deeply concerned that rushed political considerations could well override the safety issues for staff and passengers alike.

RMT will not compromise on the health, safety and livelihoods of our members and we will not agree to anything that fails to put the safety of staff and passengers first. If that means advising our members not to work under conditions that are unsafe and in breach of the government’s and industry’s own guidelines then that is exactly what we will do.”

On Mayday, 1st May, ASLEF, RMT and TSSA trade unions announced they had written a joint letter to the Prime Minister saying that they would only support re-opening of the rail network if safety comes first for both staff and passengers.

In the Agreement, social distancing underpins any increase in services. To enable such a “ramping up” of rail services, activities include:

  • the management of passenger flows in stations
  • train maintenance
  • ticket sales
  • revenue protection activities

Manuel Cortes, TSSA General Secretary, said: “What has become clear to our union is that some employers have failed to take their health and safety obligations and responsibilities seriously. Consequently, our members have been exposed to additional risk, some have contracted the disease, and sadly some have died as a result. We do not and will not tolerate employers playing fast and loose with our members’ lives, and we have taken action including the involvement of appropriate authorities, a theme repeated in this document.

“This is a landmark agreement. We believe that if employers observe the provisions of the Social Distancing Principles Agreement, the risks to our members will be minimised. It simply must be followed in every workplace.”

Unite the union represents over 7,800 members in the rail sector who primarily work in maintenance, control rooms, cleaning and catering roles and without whom the service would not be able to run. 

Unite is concerned that rail employers work with it to ensure that worker and passenger safety are paramount.

National and London rail use has dropped dramatically during lockdown falling to 5%

Unite national officer for rail, Harish Patel said: 

“It is essential that employers work step by step with Unite to increase capacity, to restore passenger confidence and keep the travelling public and the workforce safe.

“This must be based on full risk assessments being undertaken and their findings then being properly applied.

“If employers do not follow a safety first approach and workers believe their health is in imminent danger, we will fully support them in their decision to stop work including when this means members removing themselves to a place where the threat to their safety no longer exists.”

The railway industry currently states that in line with government advice, “you should only be travelling if you are a key worker or it is essential for you to do so.”

Furthermore, if you do need to travel you should “always practise social distancing.”

As the song goes, there maybe trouble ahead.

‘There maybe trouble ahead’

Lewisham NHS Choir hit the charts with Dan Healy charity single

#TheForgottenOnes #NHSHeroes #ClapForCarers
Dan Healy – The Forgotten Ones (feat. Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir) OFFICIAL VIDEO

Scottish singer-songwriter Dan Healy and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust Choir have released a charity single dedicated to key workers, with proceeds going to NHS Charities Together’s COVID-19 Urgent Appeal, the ballad and accompanying music video take the perspective of the citizens obeying the government’s stay-at-home mandate, while expressing appreciation for NHS healthcare professionals and key workers. The music video features footage and messages of celebration and thanks to healthcare workers, posties, rail workers & refuse workers to name a few.

The track features the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust Choir, which is comprised of NHS healthcare professionals. In addition to releasing singles including a Christmas No1, and full-length studio albums, the Choir has performed on television as well as major events and venues including Glastonbury Festival, The FA Cup Final, Royal Albert Hall and more.

“When Dan contacted us via NHS Charities Together we wanted to support the project. It’s an original song, thanking NHS staff and keyworkers. All the choir are incredibly busy at work, but we have found the choir to be a source of moral support in this time, and some of us were able to send voice recordings using our phones. We think it important to say thank you to all keyworkers as we’re all a team, working through this together.” – Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir

The Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir crowned Christmas No 1 in 2015

Dan Healy is a Scottish singer-songwriter, actor and rhythm guitarist. A regular writing partner of Ronan Keating and session player for many other artists, he is also a songwriter for Concord Publishing, where he works with artists from London, Nashville and Los Angeles. As an actor, Dan has performed at London’s West End, Toronto and Los Angeles. Most recently, Dan appeared as the lead in “Once The Musical” during the show’s widely celebrated first UK tour.

Performed and recorded remotely, Dan and the NHS Choir are joined by international session musicians who have performed countless shows and studio recordings with the likes of Van Morrison, Mick Jagger, Sinead O’Connor, Robbie Williams, Ronan Keating, Kylie Minogue, Boyzone, Tom Jones and more. Also appearing on the track are internationally acclaimed Irish rock violinist group Sephira, sisters Joyce and Ruth O’Leary, who have performed with global sensations including but not limited to Andrea Bocelli, Kanye West, and Enya.

“Thank you to everyone in involved in the process of making this production. Thank you to those who took time out of their lives to send in videos, with smiles and creativity in the midst of a pandemic. Thank you to those people on the front line risking their health so that we can stand, for a moment, in shade of normality. Keep beating the drum, for the forgotten ones”. – Dan Healy

To Download the song click here

“When we heard ‘The Forgotten Ones’, it encapsulated exactly the gratitude we are feeling towards NHS staff and volunteers. Nothing about the choices staff and volunteers have made in their lives has changed–it’s just that their courage and willingness to risk themselves to keep us safe has suddenly been thrown into stark relief. You can say thank you by downloading this track as it will generate proceeds that NHS charities will use to support staff and volunteers dealing with COVID head on,” said Ellie Orton, CEO of NHS Charities Together.

“The Forgotten Ones” track and music video are now available for download on the iTunes Store, Amazon Music and Google Play. Proceeds from the downloads of the track and all donations will go to NHS Charities Together to support NHS workers and their families during these difficult times. To donate please click here

After the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust Choir achieved a Christmas No1 in 2015 with their smash hit ‘A Bridge Over You’ with Justin Bieber’s support, Cllr Alan Hall put forward a motion to Lewisham Council to recognise this national achievement and called for a performance at the town hall. The choir did perform at the Council’s AGM around Easter, superbly. At that time the choir said:

“We do this job because we love it and are committed to looking after our patients. We think this song sums up that sentiment and is a way of celebrating the thousands of dedicated staff across the country.”

No1 Chart toppers – the Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir

“Lewisham Council congratulates the Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir on
their Christmas number one charity single ‘A Bridge Over You’ and
commends the choir organisers for the positive effect their musical
endeavours have had in terms of raising the profile of the NHS as a whole,
boosting morale and raising funds for charity.
To ensure that the choir’s victory continues to flourish in the collective
memory of Lewisham and the NHS, and ensure that the national support for our health services shown by the public who supported the choir remains current and prominent, council calls upon the Mayor of Lewisham to undertake the following:
• Write to the choir expressing the council’s thanks for their hard work and
congratulations on their success, both in the recording studio and on the
wards.
• Invite the choir to perform at the Council AGM.
• Follow the example of Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Chief Executive Tim
Higginson in thanking singer Justin Bieber for his support for the choir’s
efforts, after his asking fans to buy ‘A Bridge Over You’ gave a major boost to the choir’s quest for the festive top spot and extend a warm welcome to Mr Bieber if he wishes to perform at the council AGM.”

Let’s hope that this new single does equally well, topping the UK charts.

Releasing a charity single at this time of international public health concern over a pandemic is in the true spirit of the Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir.

The choir were at the forefront of the campaign to Save Lewisham Hospital and with that success have gone on from strength to strength.

Thank you to all the NHS and keyworkers and as the song goes, ‘thankyou so much we mean it from the bottom of our hearts.’

Please download the new charity single here

https://twitter.com/DanHealyMusic/status/1259880912625504264?s=20
https://twitter.com/DanHealyMusic/status/1260231267108470793?s=20

Read the story in the newsshopper

Learning Disabilities & Covid-19 – A Letter to the Minister for Social Care

Helen Whately, MP
Minister for Social Care
Department of Health and Social Care
40 Victoria Street
London, SW1H OEU

Dear Helen,

I have been asked to write to you regarding people with learning disabilities and Covid-19 and I seek your assurances on the following:

There have been reports that “do not resuscitate” orders have been issued in care homes for people with learning disabilities or autism. This is a human rights issue. Even during such testing times as we are in now, these freedoms are sacrosanct and protected by the Human Rights Act (1998), Equality Act (2010) and United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006).

There are people with learning disabilities and autism who are in patients where the default is seclusion and restraint. I understand that there is a concern these conditions will lead to an increase in poor care. How will this be addressed?

The Government should immediately and regularly release the summaries of notifications of deaths to the Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) programme, with both COVID and other causes analysed.

As the situation stands, there is even less attention and scrutiny given to services for people with learning disabilities and these measures may go some way to redress that balance.

I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Cllr Alan Hall

Lewisham Council

I have received a response from the Minister’s Office:

Dear Councillor Hall,

Thank you for your correspondence of 7 May to Helen Whately about care homes for people with learning disabilities and autism. I have been asked to reply.

I appreciate your concerns.

I hope you will understand that the Department of Health and Social Care is not able to comment on or intervene in individual cases. The role of the Department is to set out a strategic framework and secure adequate funding for the NHS and adult care services. It is for local authorities to manage care in individual cases and direct their resources in accordance with local priorities and the needs of the communities to which they are accountable.

The responsibility for investigating complaints about social services rests with the responsible local authority. If a resident of Lewisham has made a complaint to you, in your role as councillor, authority is given to Lewisham Council to investigate this complaint.

With regard to statistics on the deaths of care home residents, public trust and confidence in statistics is a fundamental part of the Code of Practice for Statistics. With effect from 29 April, figures for COVID-19 deaths include all cases where there is a positive confirmed test for the virus, using improved data for England produced by Public Health England (PHE).

The figures include deaths with lab-confirmed COVID-19 in all settings, not just those in hospital, and this provides us with a single figure on an equivalent basis for the whole of the UK. Figures for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland had previously begun to include deaths outside hospitals, so this change ensures that the UK-wide statistics have the same coverage. Furthermore, to improve the timely availability of data on deaths in care homes involving COVID-19, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) agreed to publish, from 28 April, provisional counts of deaths in care homes, based on statutory notifications by care home providers to the CQC. A separate explanatory statement about the new data has been published jointly by the ONS and the CQC, which can be found at www.ons.gov.uk by searching for ‘publication of statistics on deaths involving COVID-19 in care homes in England transparency statement’.

I hope this reply is helpful.

Yours sincerely,
Ministerial Correspondence and Public Enquiries
Department of Health and Social Care