MP’s salute to teachers

their unwavering efforts to respond to the pandemic over the past year and more recently with the emergence of the Omicron variant.

Dr Mark Dziobon said: “We don’t yet know the full scale of rising Omicron cases and how this will affect people needing NHS treatment, but with our local hospitals and GP and community services facing exceptional demand and significant pressure as we go into the New Year, it is vital that everyone has the covid vaccination or the booster.

“The NHS is on a war footing, and while staff remain braced for the worst, with Covid absence for NHS staff almost doubling in the past fortnight, keeping as many colleagues as possible at work on the frontline and minimising absence, will be essential in the next few weeks.”

ROSSENDALE and Darwen MP Jake Berry saluted all the teachers and staff who have worked to keep our schools safe and open during the pandemic.

Mr Berry visited the Valley Leadership Academy at the end of last term.

It is more than two years since the former

Fearns school was converted to a Star Academies-sponsored academy. In a post on his Facebook page, Mr Berry said: “It was good to catch up with Valley Leadership’s principal, Mr O’Brien before the end of term. The school is continuing to make great progress and we’re working on plans to make it even better.

“As a school governor, I know it’s been an incredibly difficult time for all schools across Rossendale and Darwen.

“A huge thank you to all the teachers and school staff who have worked to ensure that our schools have remained safe and open.”