Author: Dom Stevens

University provides X-ray machine and scanner to local hospitals

The University of Derby has continued to support hospitals in Derbyshire during the coronavirus outbreak by providing x-ray and scanning equipment.

The University has loaned a digital mobile x-ray machine to Chesterfield Royal Hospital, which is being used on the assessment wards for taking chest x-rays of patients confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19.

A medical ultrasound scanner has also been provided to the Royal Derby Hospital to help the hospital manage the increased demands generated by the pandemic.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “Universities across the country are making contributions to the fight against coronavirus, and at Derby we are continually looking at the resources we have which can support the work being done in our hospitals and other care settings.

“I am very pleased that we were in a position to offer some of our diagnostic imaging resources, which would ordinarily be used by radiography and ultrasound students, to help medical staff assess patients for COVID-19 or to manage the additional pressures placed on their scanning equipment at this time.”

As part of its civic response to the crisis, the University has already provided thousands of items of personal protective equipment for local hospitals, and hundreds of its nursing students have been supporting frontline healthcare staff across the region. A temporary primary care assessment hub is based at its Kedleston Road site in Derby and staff are working with local manufacturers to provide protective visors to be worn by those who are treating coronavirus patients.

Professor Mitchell adds: “It is important to also highlight that in addition to these efforts, many of our students and staff members have made, and continue to make, important individual contributions in their own communities, brilliantly demonstrating how we can all make a difference during these unprecedented times.”

Chesterfield Royal Hospital

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home

NHS England and Health Education England commission NHS 111 course from University of Derby

The University of Derby is providing a free (online) educational and information resource aimed at supporting pharmacists who have been redeployed to NHS 111 services.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been increasing pressure on NHS 111 services. As part of the strategy to mitigate this pressure, NHS England and NHS Improvement are redeploying pharmacists from other settings, including community pharmacy and CCGs, into a new ‘NHS 111 COVID-19 CAS’. This service has been set up to manage patients who require a discussion with a clinician following their use of NHS 111.

To support the rapid upskilling of pharmacists supporting the NHS 111 COVID-19 CAS, and in response to positive feedback from IUC pharmacy leads about the University of Derby’s full Integrated Urgent Care Clinical Assessment Service (IUC CAS) pharmacist course, two of the courses’ three modules have been made available online for free.

The course aims to introduce pharmacists to the IUC setting. Pharmacists wishing to further develop their knowledge and skills in this area can also apply for a full training course – as places are currently available.

NHS England and NHS Improvement, in partnership with Health Education England (HEE), first commissioned the University of Derby to develop and deliver an Integrated Urgent Care Clinical Assessment Service (IUC CAS) pharmacist programme 18 months ago.

The programme is aimed at NHS 111 and urgent care pharmacists and commissioned as part of the Pharmacy Integration Fund. The programme’s fifth cohort of pharmacists started on 27 March 2020.

Jill Gould, Lecturer in Post Registration Healthcare at the University of Derby, who has been leading the development of the resource, said: “This is an example of another successful collaboration between the University and Health Education England to facilitate transforming the workforce to deliver this essential 111 service. The online education resource, which was created rapidly in line with sector demands thanks to the online learning expertise within the University, aims to support the continuing development of frontline staff who have been making such a difference during these challenging times.

“As an applied University, this is an excellent model of a timely and relevant online course needed to support the current COVID-19 pandemic.”

Professor Kathryn Mitchell DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “As part of civic responsibilities, it is essential that we do all we can to support the brave and dedicated medical teams delivering care to those who have contracted, or who are showing symptoms, of the virus.

“Hundreds of our second and third year nursing and allied healthcare professions students are already supporting staff on the frontline in hospitals across the region, and we have donated thousands of items of PPE kit.

“This online course, which has been developed and made available to redeployed pharmacists for free, is another example of how the University is using the resources, skills and knowledge at our disposal to support the amazing work being done during these challenging times.”

chesterfield college

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Home

Derbyshire building firm secures Markham Vale development project

A Derbyshire based commercial construction company have been selected to work with Transcare 28 Ltd on their new build site at Markham Vale.

Goodward Construction, a commercial construction company from Derbyshire, has begun work on the site which will house a new workshop and offices for Transcare’s onsite and workshop-based maintenance services for commercial vehicle operators.

Goodward Construction’s Managing Director, Simon Knighton said, “We are delighted to be working with the Transcare team again. This time it’s slightly challenging in the current climate, but we have been fortunate to be able to implement the new social distancing measures and our colleagues have been flexible to ensure we have a minimum number of people on site.”

Transcare 28 Ltd provide HGV repair and maintenance solutions throughout the Midlands and into South Yorkshire, offering a full range of onsite and workshop-based maintenance services for all commercial vehicle operators. This includes trucks, trailers, light commercial vehicles and PSVs.

Managing Director, Darren Parkin says “We’re very excited at being part of the Markham Vale community and working with the Goodward Construction team. Having previously worked together and knowing Simon and the team’s high standards, we are looking forward to the completion of our new depot.”

Find out more about the Markham Vale development

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home

East Midland Chamber responds to business rates announcement

The planned revaluation of business rates will no longer take place in 2021, to help reduce uncertainty for firms affected by the impacts of coronavirus.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick MP has announced that following the recent economic shocks caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the legislation to bring the next business rates revaluation forward by one year, from 2022 to 2021, has been scrapped.

Commenting, Scott Knowles, Chief Executive of East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), said: “Although this move will put an end to the uncertainty caused by the planned 2021 business rates revaluation, it won’t address the fundamental issues of our broken business rates system, which have long needed fixing.

“Despite attempts by successive governments to introduce marginal reforms, the current business rates system is still unfair and damaging to businesses of all sizes, sectors and locations. It’s a burden with a high up-front cost, which firms are forced to pay before they make even a penny of profit.

“In the post-coronavirus economy, business is going to be called upon to do much of the heavy lifting to ensure our recovery is both swift and sustainable. So, rather than use the Covid-19 pandemic as a reason to postpone the next revaluation, Government should instead use it as the stimulus to address the longstanding flaws within the current system to make it much, much fairer and alleviate some of the excessive pressure it puts on businesses.”

Posted in Business, Development

Support for market traders from Chesterfield Borough Council

The indoor and outdoor markets are an important part of Chesterfield’s heritage and at this challenging time, there are a number of traders who are continuing to provide essential services to local residents.

Chesterfield Borough Council has ensured that these traders can continue to trade and has provided guidance on social distancing in order to help them comply with current restrictions and health and safety requirements.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We are working very hard to ensure that market traders and retailers in the town centre receive the support they need to trade safely. For over eight hundred years the market has been part of the fabric of the town and it is heartening that in this hour of need, traders are still there offering food and other permitted goods to local residents.”

Council staff are also ensuring that only one member of the public enters the market hall at any one time in order to maintain social distancing.

Traders on the open market who are continuing to trade are not being charged rent for their stalls and anyone who is not trading but plans to resume will not be charged back-rent when they stand next time.

Rent for the Market Hall traders has been deferred and they will not be charged interest on this. The council is also working closely with traders to highlight the various support programmes available to them. If any traders would like advice on these, please contact the council by calling 01246 345345.

Once restrictions on trading have been lifted, we will be working with traders to re-ignite our shop local campaign and to promote the town centre and its fantastic retail offer. Our ambitious multi-million pound ‘Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield’ project will also continue to improve and support our town centre offer. The next stage of the project will include working with the town centre’s stakeholders and bringing forward design and infrastructure options, with the aim of work commencing later in the year.

You can keep up to date with the latest news from the market including trading times by visiting the Chesterfield Market Traders Facebook page: www.facebook.com/chesterfieldmarkettraders

chesterfield-market place

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Optician supports Chesterfield Royal Hospital with hamper donation

An appeal from the team at Specsavers Chesterfield has seen the store’s friends, neighbours, family and customers join forces to donate a range of essential items for Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

The store’s Optometrist Director, Allissa Charlesworth, launched the campaign earlier in April following an appeal from the hospital for patient toiletries, supplies of which were running low as a result of the lockdown visitor ban.

Within a few days of launching the appeal, donations from the town’s residents flooded in, resulting in over 35 kilograms of items, from toothpastes to shampoos, collected for the hospital.

Allissa comments: ‘After seeing the request from the hospital for toiletries, we felt compelled to help, where we can, and support our local NHS staff and patients in which ever way we could.

‘It must be extremely difficult for patients who can’t have visits from family members, both emotionally, but also practically, in getting hold of the personal care products they might need.

‘I’ve been totally blown away with the community spirit in Chesterfield, and I’m extremely thankful to those who have donated products and money to the cause. I’m sure the donations will have a tangible impact locally, for those who need it most.’

Allissa concludes: ‘We would like the community to know that although we have suspended all routine eye and hearing tests, we are still very much open to assist with any eye health or vision related problems. Many can be resolved without needing to visit the store as we’ve launched RemoteCare, which sees our optometrists on hand for video call and telephone consultations. It’s vital that people feel like they’re able to discuss their concerns and that anyone with an eye problem is able to access the care they require.’

The donation also collected just under £100 in cash which will be donated to the patient welfare charity at the hospital.

Following the Coronavirus outbreak, staff at the Chesterfield store have been out in the community delivering glasses to residents who are self isolating, whilst also keeping the shop open for emergencies such as the needs of Key Workers.

Specsavers’ teams are classed as key workers to provide urgent and essential eye care to those who need it. That includes supporting other key workers who couldn’t function without their help and people who would come to harm without their health expertise, especially where the usual hospital services and NHS facilities are being prioritised for the fight against COVID-19.

As well as RemoteCare, anyone concerned about their eye and hearing health can access care through a variety of ways, including ‘Specsavers Ask the Expert’ public group on Facebook and the Specsavers website care hub. Customers who have an existing prescription can buy glasses and contact lenses online at specsavers.co.uk

For more information about the RemoteCare service visit https://www.specsavers.co.uk/online-consultation-service

Posted in About Chesterfield, Home

Vicar Lane helps to raise over £500 for NHS Trusts through The Great British NHS Quiz

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre, Chesterfield, has so far raised over £500 for NHS Trusts, by inviting would-be eggheads to take part in The Great British NHS Quiz.

People in Chesterfield can join those from all over the UK to enter the 60-question online multiple-choice quiz by making a small donation to their local NHS. Points from each region will be tallied and entered into a leader board and the five highest scorers from each region will then go head-to-head in a fun live final to see which region is the smartest.

Contestants will be quizzed on sport, music, films, geography, history and general knowledge via Facebook messenger.

Those wishing to take part in the quiz can simply visit www.thegreatbritishnhsquiz.com.The fundraising campaign, launched by the popular shopping centre on 25th April, has been enabled by a range of collaborators including social media engagement platform Maybe*, fundraising platform Give as you Live and a new High Streets Rewards service. The quiz aims to raise as much money as possible to show our collective support for the NHS while also lifting the nation’s spirits. The funds raised will go to NHS Charities Together.

Polly Barnfield OBE, CEO, Maybe* said, “Now more than ever communities are looking for ways to rally around their local NHS services from their own homes. It struck us that since we are in lockdown for a while longer, a national quiz could be a great, entertaining way of bringing people together. By introducing some friendly competition between regions, we believe we can help raise our collective spirits and funds for the NHS and help keep the nation entertained.”

Posted in About Chesterfield

Former Chesterfield Register Office to be sold

The former Chesterfield Register Office has been sold for an undisclosed fee.

A meeting on Friday 17th April 2020 agreed the sale of the former register office and a two-storey house on the site. The three-storey former registry building sits next to the 45-space Beetwell Street multi-storey car park, opposite Tesco Metro and close to the Portland Hotel. It was built in the 1940s and used for four decades by residents registering births, marriages and deaths.

Derbyshire County Council said: “In principle and subject to planning permission, the site is suitable for a range of uses including residential, commercial office, community uses, healthcare or other institutional uses.”

“The site is not in the primary retail area or an otherwise established retail frontage, but could be suitable for retail or food and drink use of an appropriately limited scale.”

“We are advised that Chesterfield Borough Council’s preference would be for conversion and re-use of the existing buildings.”

In 2018, Chesterfield Register Office moved from New Beetwell Street into Chesterfield Town Hall and in November 2018, it welcomed the first families to register the births of their babies.

The new venue offers improved facilities for those who use the Register Office, and will offer a greater choice of rooms for weddings and civil partnerships. The new office is also much larger and includes separate waiting areas for people who are registering a birth to those who are registering a death.

Councillor Carol Hart, Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Health and Communities said:“The register office has been in New Beetwell Street for over 40 years but wasn’t giving us the opportunity to offer the sort of services we want to.”

She also added that the new office in the town hall “will be a much better place to visit to register a birth or death, celebrate getting married or a civil partnership.”

The new register office also gives more space for the historic registers containing entries of all the births, deaths and marriages in Derbyshire since 1837.

Image credit: Derbyshire County Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home

Mural celebrates NHS and key workers

A mural to celebrate the work of the NHS and key workers during the coronavirus outbreak has been commissioned by a Chesterfield pub.

The team at the Spotted Frog, which is in Brampton, has worked with local artist, Pete Barber to create a colourful rainbow mural to thank everyone, who is supporting the community.

Co-owners & Directors, Trevor & Nicky said “As part of the wider community, we really wanted to do something to show our support and appreciation, but were unsure as to what, We had discussed, having some sort of mural on the wall previously, then it clicked. How fitting, appropriate, lasting and rather large this would, be.”

The Spotted Frog and The Butchers Arms in Brimington are asking people, who like the mural and their situation allows, to donate £1 to NHS Charities Together at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/help-us-support-the-nhs-key-workers.

The Spotted Frog has donated £250, which will be matched by with a further £250 from the Butchers Arms.

The campaign and mural were created with support from Pete Barber, Helen Rowan Photography and Just Cars Chesterfield.

For ideas for supporting local businesses during the coronavirus outbreak, visit the Destination Chesterfield Supporting Local Page.

For details of support available for businesses during the coronavirus outbreak visit the Destination Chesterfield Coronavirus Business Support Page.

NHS Mural - Image Helen Rowan Photography

 

 

 

Images: Helen Rowan Photography

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Sister company of Chesterfield Waterside developers signs £150 million regeneration deal

The sister company of Chesterfield-based Bolsterstone Group Plc, the company delivering the Chesterfield Waterside project, Urbo (West Bar) Ltd, has signed a major £150 million funding deal with Legal & General.

The deal will bring forward the first phase of a Sheffield city centre mixed-use regeneration scheme – West Bar Square, which will deliver large footprint, modern office space, currently lacking within Sheffield’s property market. Once complete it will accommodate up to 1,800 workers, along with residential accommodation and car parking.

Peter Swallow, Managing Director of Bolsterstone Group Plc and Urbo (West Bar) Ltd, commented: “The world as a whole is in unchartered territory at the moment and these are deeply concerning times for everyone. However, the funding deal with Legal & General and the progress we are making with the office accommodation at Chesterfield Waterside are very much positive signs for the UK’s economy.”

“Although the country is currently in lockdown, investors are already starting to look beyond this, which points to an economic recovery sooner rather than later.”

The £150 million West Bar Square phase 1 scheme comprises 200,000 sq. ft. of Grade A office space, circa 350 ‘Build To Rent’ homes, a multi-storey car park and high quality landscaped public spaces.

Peter Swallow added: “ The funding partnership we have agreed with Legal & General will guarantee delivery of large scale regeneration in this important part of the city, linking the rapidly expanding Kelham Island district to the city centre.”

As well as West Bar Square, Bolsterstone’s £300million Chesterfield Waterside scheme continues to move forward apace. Avant Homes has begun construction of 177 new houses in the Waterside Quarter of the scheme, which already have a number of sales reservations, and the company is in advanced talks with occupiers for the majority of the space in the seven-storey office block planned for the Basin Square neighbourhood, which is due to start on site in the summer.

Click here to find out more about Chesterfield Waterside and what it means for the area

Posted in Business, Development

University supplies iPads to keep hospital inpatients in touch with families

The University of Derby has supplied iPads to help patients being treated in hospital during the coronavirus pandemic to keep in touch with their families while in hospital.

A total of 25 iPads have been delivered to Chesterfield Royal Hospital, all of which can be used by patients who are not able to see their loved ones while on the wards.

The hospital’s ICT and infrastructure team will configure the donated devices so that patients can connect to relatives using a variety of apps, including Facetime, Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

Ian Hazel, Director of IT and Infrastructure at the Chesterfield Royal Hospital, said: “Being in hospital can be difficult for people at the best of times and not having the comfort of regular visitors can be very isolating. Wherever possible we’ve tried to keep our patients in touch with their loved ones and, thanks to the technology available, we have ways of being able to do that.

“We’ve been absolutely overwhelmed with donations from across the county and, thanks to the close working relationship we have with the University of Derby, our patients will truly benefit from this fantastic gesture. The wellbeing of our patients is an important part of their recovery and we’d like to thank everyone at the university for their continued support and for helping our patients in this way.

Last month, the University donated thousands of items of personal protective equipment to Chesterfield Royal, as well as to the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB).

The University is also working with specialist manufacturing companies to provide protective visors for hospital staff at UHDB.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “The necessary isolation of COVID-19 patients and restrictions on all inpatient visiting puts an added strain on their families because their relatives are unable to visit in person.

“Using iPads to enable virtual visiting and maintain contact is important for the mental health and emotional resilience of patients and their families, at what is probably one of the most challenging times of their lives.

“To be able to offer whatever resources we can to help in the effort to combat COVID-19, whether it is our students supporting key workers on the frontline in our hospitals, donating and manufacturing personal protective equipment or finding ways of connecting families, we must and will continue to play our part as a civically-engaged university.”

Chesterfield Royal Hospital

Posted in About Chesterfield