Local News 23

Christmas shopping at the Civic – TONIGHT!!!

Friday 11 December, 5.30 – 8.45 pm.  An evening of shopping with stalls from local artisans, crafters and small businesses. Do go and support them.

Alsager Partnership – Dementia Friendly Community

Whilst unable to meet face to face at the Memory Cafe for people living with dementia and their carers, they are offering zoom sessions for distraction and entertainment. You just need an internet connection and email address, so you can receive a link prior to each session.

Memory Café 18th December 11am Holly Reynolds Christmas

Email kath.reader@alsagerpartnership.com for all or any of the sessions.

Alsager Partnership entertainment

The Partnership has a number of videos on YouTube showing various local artists singing, how to do stuff, and events.  Have a look  here.

And if you want to enter the Partnership Christmas quiz click  here.   Closing date is 16 December.

Asda

Note that Asda will be closing all its stores on Boxing Day to give their staff a well-earned break.  Good for them.

Alsager train service

Message from Rod Fletcher:

Will anyone who has or will be inconvenienced by most East Midlands Trains no longer stopping at Alsager please advise Claire at the north Staffordshire Rail Partnership, northstaffsscp@stoke.gov.uk

This includes people waiting at Stoke or Kidsgrove through having to change trains and anyone now travelling by car instead of train.  East Midland Trains and the Government Minister are just ignoring concerns raised by local people.

Cheshire East governance

As promised following the elections in May 2018, Cheshire East Council has now voted to move to a committee system of governance, with effect from May 2021 for a period of at least five years.  This replaces the current leader and Cabinet model.

Covid 19

In the 7 days to 5 December the rolling rate for Alsager is still below 200 (Alsager East 107, Alsager West 158, both significantly reduced from last week), with a total of 16 new cases (20 the previous week).  The average for England is 153 and for Cheshire East as a whole is 103.  We all still need to take care.  See map  here.

Remember we are back in Tier 2 (but stricter than pre-lockdown Tier 2).  Click  here  to find details of the restrictions.

Covid vaccination

I have heard that the Thirteen Club is to be used as a local vaccination centre, so it is starting to feel closer and more real.  We all need to get vaccinated as soon as it is offered to protect ourselves, our families and our communities.

The COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine has been tested on 43,500 people to ensure it has met the required standards of safety and effectiveness.  Read more about the COVID-19 vaccine  here.

This was posted on Facebook from Merepark Medical Centre

Local COVID-19 vaccination update

As you know these have started today in certain parts of the country. As far as our locality is concerned – we work in an area called SMASH – Sandbach, Middlewich, Alsager, Scholar green and Haslington – the GP practices within these five areas are working together to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Currently we are planning two sites to deliver the vaccine – one in Middlewich and one in Alsager. We will be following government guidance on who to invite in first, as we are expecting limited supplies to begin with. We will invite people in accordance with government guidance- largely determined by age – please don't overload the phone system with questions or trying to book – it will be invite only to begin with.

We will keep you informed.

We are expecting limited supplies of the vaccine prior to Christmas. This will be targeted at the 80 years and over first. 

If you would like to volunteer to help – please get in touch. We would be interested in marshals to help direct people around at the sites and especially anyone trained as a vaccinator. If are able to volunteer please contact:

Denise Smith Practice Manager (PM) /SMASH PCN PM Lead via email:denise.smith24@nhs.net

Update from Cedars Medical Centre

Anyone wanting to volunteer to help the SMASH Covid Vaccination Programme who would like to be a volunteer driver (to help bring patients in) or a car park marshall please can you email:
volunteers@alsagercommunitysupport.org.uk

On behalf of SMASH PCN, Denise would like to thank Liz Pinkney and the team at Alsager Community Support Centre for offering their kind support implementing this at such short notice during a very busy time. Denise would like to thank the Community for their overwhelming support. 

Sarah Anderson