The outbreak of coronavirus poses a significant threat to all households in Waveney and is changing every aspect of our lives. At the outset it is important to applaud the great work being done by those on the frontline; our doctors, nurses, ambulance teams and all those working at the James Paget Hospital. Our local GPs are doing a fantastic job in unprecedented circumstances and it’s also important to thank everybody working in the care sector, pharmacies, our prisons and across the food supply chain.

The vast majority of households across Waveney have been adhering closely to the Government’s social distancing guidance and in order to effectively reduce the threat of the virus, it is clear that we must continue to significantly alter the way we live and work. There have been some ambiguities in the guidelines, which I have raised with the Government and am working to clarify.

Ensuring our NHS has the support it needs

The impact of the coronavirus on the health and social care sector cannot be underestimated and I keep in regular contact with the James Paget Hospital at Gorleston and the Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group who oversee primary care in the area.

The JPH advise that they listen closely to the concerns of their staff, that they generally have good levels of PPE stocks and testing is already taking place. This will be stepping up in the coming weeks and they’re grateful to the Eastern Pathology Alliance and UEA for the invaluable work they are doing.

For other health providers, such as GP practices, hospices, care homes, care providers, social workers and those providing non-emergency transport, there have been some difficulties in providing PPE. This is primarily because they do not receive deliveries via the NHS Supply Chain. However these organisations have worked very well together to respond to calls from those who have been running short of PPE. The position should improve significantly from Monday when a national solution, devised by NHS England and Improvement and the Army, will start making deliveries.

Staff testing will gradually ramp up in the coming weeks and in the Waveney area community and GP practice staff will be invited for testing at Beccles Hospital.

Two messages that I’ll be taking to Government are the need to ensure that the supply of tests matches the need for them and the vital importance of not forgetting those doing great work on the frontline not in the NHS but working alongside them. These include community pharmacists.

Economic Impact of Coronavirus (Covid-19)

It is undeniable that the outbreak of coronavirus has sent shockwaves across the local economy and I’m very much aware of the anxiety being felt by many households who are facing a period of uncertainty. To combat the economic impact of the virus, the Government has brought in a comprehensive package of financial initiatives to support public services, people and businesses through the period of disruption.

To tackle the threat of redundancies, the Government has set up the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which is open to all UK employers with a PAYE scheme. Employers who sign up to the scheme will be able to access support to continue paying part of their employees’ salary for those who have been asked to stop working, but who are being kept on the pay roll, otherwise known as ‘furloughed workers’. HMRC will reimburse 80% of wages, up to £2,500 per month for an initial period of three months and with the possibility of extension as necessary.

Similarly, the Government is offering protection to self-employed workers, through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, which makes available a taxable grant worth 80% of trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for the next 3 months.

To support small businesses that pay little or no business rates because of small business rate relief, rural rate relief and tapered relief, the Government is providing Small Business Grants, which will provide a one-off payment of £10,000 to eligible businesses to help meet their ongoing business costs, administered by East Suffolk Council.

In addition, UK VAT registered businesses who have a VAT payment due between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2020 have the option to defer this payment until a later date and to help with demands of the virus on the workforce, small-and medium-sized businesses and employers are now able to reclaim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), paid for sickness absence due to COVID-19.

Further support including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, other lending facilities and the HMRC Time to Pay Scheme is available here. It is vitally important that Banks facilitate this process by promoting the schemes that the Government have put in place.

Community Response to Covid-19

In addition to tackling the economic threat of Covid-19, it is clear that we must also combat the very real threat of isolation, particularly of the elderly and vulnerable. To support East Suffolk’s Community Healthcare response to the Covid-19 virus in a paid or voluntary capacity please visit: https://www.ecch.org/we-need-you/.

It has also been brilliant to see the formation of the Suffolk focused ‘Home but not Alone’ initiative, created by partners from Suffolk’s councils, police, health bodies and charitable organisations. Please visit https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/council-news/show/home-but-not-alone or to refer a vulnerable neighbour to support services, call the freephone helpline: 0800 876 6926.

Emergency community support groups have also sprung into action in Lowestoft, Bungay and Beccles and throughout the surrounding villages, helping those most vulnerable with food parcels and support.

Finally, as with any system brought in at pace under such exceptional circumstances, I recognise that there will be people and businesses who need further support and I will continue to raise their concerns with Government to ensure that they are aware of the challenges being faced locally. As ever, if you have worries about your personal circumstances, someone in your household or anyone you know, please do email peter.aldous.mp@parliament.uk.

As has been said on a number of occasions, the fight against the coronavirus will be a marathon not a sprint, and we must keep up the brilliant work and community spirit which is already helping to protect so many.

Stay safe and with best wishes,

Peter Aldous MP