This clinician-led initiative was developed for Barnet by local GP Dr Murtaza Khanbhai. The idea was endorsed by North Central London Clinical Commissioning Group’s Primary Care Transformation Team, who brought the scheme to life with the support of Barnet Council and the Barnet Primary Care Training Hub. The device was delivered safely for everyone after patients consulted their GP, and the results were sent back promptly to their GP practice.
This includes the requirement to close non-essential businesses and premises from Thursday 5 November, and restrict people’s movement and gatherings. Read the Government’s guidance on what you can and cannot do.
A Shared Lives carer shares their home and family life with an adult who needs support to live everyday life - giving a helping hand to someone getting dressed, getting to doctors’ appointments, making friends, cooking together or even voting for their favourite singers on TV! People visiting or moving in with Shared Lives carers may have been in foster care, have learning or physical disabilities, may be an older person with a frailty or dementia, or have mental ill health.
Dr Tamara Djuretic, Director of Public Health for Barnet Council, said: “We are launching this initiative because it is very difficult to navigate through COVID-19 information.
“It keeps changing every day and it can be very, complex – so what we want to do is to get as many people from our communities signed up as a Health Champion. You don’t need to be an expert; you just need to be able to share our information and advice with people in your community.
You must not meet socially indoors with anyone unless they are part of your household or support bubble. Outdoor exercise and visits are allowed (not in private gardens) if you are in your household bubble or, when on your own, with one person from another household. Children under school age and those dependent on their parents will not count in this outdoor limit.
Residents have until 4 December to respond to the survey.
This is to curb the rising rate of COVID-19 infections and protect the NHS from being overwhelmed. While this is a difficult time for all of us, I want to reassure you that the council will continue to support everyone who lives, works and studies in the borough.
The facility can be found in the Fenella Building car park of Middlesex University, The Burroughs, Hendon, NW4 4BS.
It will operate from 8am-8pm, seven days a week from today (Monday 2 November). The site is easily accessible without a car and will be able to provide up to 360 tests a day.
You MUST book your appointment in advance at: https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.
Residents have until Thursday 10 December to respond to the questionnaire: https://engage.barnet.gov.uk/edi-policy-consultation.
I would also like to thank all the organisations of the Barnet Safer Communities Partnership who have worked together over the last nine months to develop and implement of new ways of working in order to minimise disruption to services and to enable the Partnership to continue to work with the community to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, helping to ensure that Barnet remains one of London's safest boroughs.