Friday
19
April
One year on from lockdown v.1
23/03/2021 @ 04:11
It's one year since Newtown residents were told to stay indoors as part of the Wales-wide coronavirus lockdown.
Initially told it would last just weeks, it's been a year of social distancing and lockdowns.
Powys Teaching Health Board CEO, Carol Shillabeer, has been spearheading the local response to this unprecedented challenge and has reflected on the past 12 months.
“This month, marks a year since our first confirmed cases here in Powys, since the sad reports of the first death of someone with Covid-19 was confirmed in Wales, and since the country entered the first lockdown.
We have lived with a year of grief, loss and sacrifice. We have however also lived through a year of astonishing resolve, community spirit and friendship.
When we first heard the reports of a new virus I am sure none of us imagined the impact this would have on our lives, and the impact quickly became apparent as we saw the virus spread across the world.
Looking back on the last 12 months, our focus here in the NHS, and in our joint working with all partners, has been to reduce the harm of the pandemic in terms of the virus itself but also the indirect effects of strained health services, and the impact of lockdown on people and business.
The way in which people and organisations have responded to the pandemic in Powys has been frankly amazing. Health and emergency services, the military, the County Council, voluntary and community organisations, local businesses, town and community councils, politicians, local media and most importantly the people of Powys have all played a vital role in the last year.
The Testing and Tracing Service was established from scratch and here in Powys is one of the best in the UK. This is followed by the tremendous work establishing the biggest vaccination programme the country has ever seen. Thank you to everyone involved in both services.
Looking to the year ahead, as hopefully the pandemic recedes, there will be challenges. We also know that waiting lists for appointments and treatments have continued to rise and there will need to be an honest conversation across the county about how health services can support people differently. We will need to do this at a time when many people working in the NHS are understandably tired after a year responding to Covid.
Despite all the challenges, I think we should feel hopeful about the year ahead. The vaccine is reducing serious illness and death from Covid-19 and with over 63,000 people already having received their first dose in Powys, we are on schedule to offer the vaccine to everyone over the age of 50 before the middle of April.
Another reason for feeling optimistic is the spirit of the people of Powys; your friendship and support for each other and for your local health service has been tremendous. This will, I know, create excellent foundations for the time ahead.
Thank you for everything you continue to do to Keep Powys Safe.”
Carol Shillabeer, Chief Executive, Powys Teaching Health Board
Initially told it would last just weeks, it's been a year of social distancing and lockdowns.Powys Teaching Health Board CEO, Carol Shillabeer, has been spearheading the local response to this unprecedented challenge and has reflected on the past 12 months.
“This month, marks a year since our first confirmed cases here in Powys, since the sad reports of the first death of someone with Covid-19 was confirmed in Wales, and since the country entered the first lockdown.
We have lived with a year of grief, loss and sacrifice. We have however also lived through a year of astonishing resolve, community spirit and friendship.
When we first heard the reports of a new virus I am sure none of us imagined the impact this would have on our lives, and the impact quickly became apparent as we saw the virus spread across the world.
Looking back on the last 12 months, our focus here in the NHS, and in our joint working with all partners, has been to reduce the harm of the pandemic in terms of the virus itself but also the indirect effects of strained health services, and the impact of lockdown on people and business.
The way in which people and organisations have responded to the pandemic in Powys has been frankly amazing. Health and emergency services, the military, the County Council, voluntary and community organisations, local businesses, town and community councils, politicians, local media and most importantly the people of Powys have all played a vital role in the last year.
The Testing and Tracing Service was established from scratch and here in Powys is one of the best in the UK. This is followed by the tremendous work establishing the biggest vaccination programme the country has ever seen. Thank you to everyone involved in both services.
Looking to the year ahead, as hopefully the pandemic recedes, there will be challenges. We also know that waiting lists for appointments and treatments have continued to rise and there will need to be an honest conversation across the county about how health services can support people differently. We will need to do this at a time when many people working in the NHS are understandably tired after a year responding to Covid.
Despite all the challenges, I think we should feel hopeful about the year ahead. The vaccine is reducing serious illness and death from Covid-19 and with over 63,000 people already having received their first dose in Powys, we are on schedule to offer the vaccine to everyone over the age of 50 before the middle of April.
Another reason for feeling optimistic is the spirit of the people of Powys; your friendship and support for each other and for your local health service has been tremendous. This will, I know, create excellent foundations for the time ahead.
Thank you for everything you continue to do to Keep Powys Safe.”
Carol Shillabeer, Chief Executive, Powys Teaching Health Board
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