Support our charities, West Sussex’s new High Sheriff has urged
As the High Sheriff of West Sussex and a local GP, I would like to highlight the transformation in our NHS to prepare for the challenges of Covid-19, the generosity of local businesses to support health workers and the extraordinary steps taken by communities to care for those at increased risk of infection.
However,withinourcounty, it is not just individuals who are vulnerable but also our local charities. Many are at risk of closing down and we also need to support them through this crisis.
In the Queen’s remarkable message to the nation on April 6, Her Majesty talked of the great endeavour we are all involved in ‘using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal’. During the first two weeks of my year as High Sheriff of West Sussex, I have already been deeply impressed and moved by the examples, from across our county, of these tremendous elements, science and compassion, at play.
In my medical work, modern technology is allowing me to consult with patients by video and GP workloads have been altered radically to enable doctors who have to self-isolate to function very effectively from home with full access to patient records. Out-ofhours services are being increasingly well co-ordinated with NHS 111 and, across our county, special Hot Hub clinics are being established so that GPs and nurses can care for patients with Covid-19 at home or in the community wherever possible.
The provision of some elements of personal protection equipment (PPE) remains a concern but some GP practices are taking the initiative and making their own face shields.
Community pharmacies are also working flat out. Our communities are very fortunate to have such expertise available to us.
All in all, therefore, I can report that there is a palpable sense of readiness in the NHS and community care teams, to whom I have been speaking, and the Queen’s reference to ‘instinctive compassion’ is very apparent across the county.
In her historic broadcast, the Queen went on to say: “We will succeed – and that success will belong to every one of us.”
From what I have learned in just two weeks, I can wholeheartedly share this sentiment.
However, I have one important area of concern and this relates to our local charities. During the coronavirus crisis many of them have seen this income disappear and their key events to raise funds during the summer have had to be cancelled.
Thankfully, the Government has offered substantial support to those whose work is directly supporting the NHS effort. For smaller charities needing help, major national fundraising events are planned such as the BBC’s
Big Night In Fundraiser later this month, and a National Emergency Trust fund will offer additional support.
Thankfully, the Sussex Crisis Fund, established very promptly by the Sussex Community Foundation two weeks ago, has received donations of £500,000, of which they have already distributed £200,000 across both East and West Sussex.
But, despite all these steps, the experts still say that much more is needed to prevent a collapse in a significant number of our much-loved local charities.
Therefore, in the same way that we have risen to the challenge of looking after the vulnerable individuals in our communities, we need to consider how to save those charities that have also become vulnerable because of Covid-19. West Sussex will be poorer without them.
Many of us have a favourite charity to connect with but, if you are not sure who to support, please consider making your donation to the Sussex Crisis Fund.