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Caring for Plymouth set to support city's most vulnerable

Caring for Plymouth

The Council will be helping some of Plymouth's most vulnerable residents through the November coronavirus lockdown.

As announced by the government last week, anyone deemed as clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 are being advised to reduce their contact with other people and only go out for exercise and medical appointments. This group of people includes some already seriously ill people as well as those living with a disability or ongoing medical conditions.

Caring for Plymouth, the partnership between the Council, Livewell Southwest and a large number of voluntary and community sector organisations, will once again provide a vital lifeline for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19. The service previously ran between March and July. 

Services will be focussed on people who do not have established support networks so that they can access emotional support, access to food, medicine collection and support with paying bills and accessing money. Staff providing the service will have had background checks to provide added piece of mind.

With a nationwide lock down set to begin on Thursday, specially trained staff are already rallying around to pro-actively contact people already known to the NHS.

Councillor Kate Taylor, Cabinet member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: "Yet again, I'm humbled to see the Council-led Caring for Plymouth initiative lead by example in caring for the city's most vulnerable.

"Of course, we hoped we'd never have to stand up the service again but for me, it's testament that in just a few short days, we are as a partnership able to set everything up and be ready to help those in need.

"Once again, a massive thank you to all of the partners involved in this mammoth undertaking."

Ian Lightley, Head of Integrated Community Services at Livewell Southwest which provides integrated health and adult social care services in Plymouth, added: "Here at Livewell, we're proud to be joining the Council on the Caring for Plymouth initiative.

"Earlier in the year, we provided a lifeline to people when they needed it the most and we're delighted to be a part of providing that service again."

While work to contact people has already begun, if you are clinically vulnerable and you need help, please don't hesitate to contact us. Staff will be ready and waiting to take calls on 01752 668000 between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday.

Alternatively, a full list of Caring for Plymouth partners and services can be found on the Plymouth Online Directory at www.plymouthonlinedirectory.com/covid19/caringforplymouth