‘Fanstastic’ people of Sussex praised for following guidance on social sidtancing

Find out about the work of the Sussex Resilience Forum, which has helped tens of thousands during the crisis

More than 35,000 vulnerable people in Sussex have been given a lifeline over the past two weeks, thanks to the efforts of a remarkable group of people.

The Sussex Resilience Forum is made up of representatives of public services such as the emergency services, councils and other agencies, and it has well-rehearsed plans for emergencies such as the pandemic.

The forum is one of 38 Local Resilience Forums across the UK. It works with the Government, through the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Cabinet Office, to plan, prepare, respond and recover from major incidents and catastrophic emergencies, to protect local communities in Sussex.

It brings public agencies together with other key partners, in this case the military and volunteer networks, to protect and save lives, minimise the impact of the incident and help local communities return to normality.

The response is in full swing, with short, medium and long-term plans in place.

The key message from spokesman Dave Miller, Assistant Chief Constable at Sussex Police, is one we’ve all heard many times but some do not seem able to understand – stick to the government’s advice on self-isolation and social distancing.

Mr Miller said: “It may feel unusual but to not do that just simply puts pressure on the healthcare system.

“And our main reason for being here is to improve and maintain public safety.”

The people of Sussex appear to have adapted to the necessary lifestyle changes better than some.

While Mr Miller didn’t have figures for the number of times officers had been called to speak to groups or parties, he reported that, as of last weekend, they had issued no more than ten tickets to people who refused to follow lockdown rules.

Mr Miller described the response from the people of Sussex as ‘fantastic’, adding: “The vast majority need to be reminded rather than have an officer enforce legislation.”

And there was a firm reminder for those who chose not to follow the rules.

“It’s quite a selfish act,” he said. “It’s not about the risk to yourself, it’s about the risk to others and then the pressure on the healthcare system and the risk that you’re putting healthcare workers under unnecessarily.”

As well as supporting 35,000 vulnerable people, the forum has been central in co-ordinating the delivery of food parcels to those who are not able to turn to family or friends for help, providing protective equipment to front-line workers, housing for the homeless, and creating a network of Community Hubs.

Every authority in the county now has one of the hubs, which act as vital links between residents and the people who can help them.

So far, 3,491 people have contacted the hubs for help, with 916 food parcels sent out.

Information about each hub is available via the various council websites, while West Sussex County Council has a county-wide hub which is available seven days a week from 8am to 8pm. A dedicated telephone helpline is available for residents who are unable to go online: 0330 222 7980.

In East Sussex there are community hubs in each of the different areas.

For Eastbourne, people should call 01323 679722; for Hastings, call 01424 451019; for Lewes, call 01273 099956; for Rother, call 01424 787000 and choose option 4 and for Wealden, call 01323 443322

As well as co-ordinating the hundreds of volunteers who have stepped up since the pandemic was declared, the various service staff have been able to help out each other.

Fire service staff are set to assist the South East Coast Ambulance Service by filling in as drivers and sending mobile mechanics to help keep the fleet of emergency vehicles on the road.

Mr Miller said: “We are all in this together and we all have our part to play to protect the NHS and save lives.”

Despite the efforts of everyone involved, the harsh fact remains that this crisis is going to get worse before it gets better.

A national death toll of 20,000 people has been seen by some as a ‘best-case scenario’ – and that terrible eventuality is being planned for as a possibility.

Taking over nonhealth facilities to serve as temporary morgues is one option that is under consideration.

While no locations have been selected, the forum has had to consider what facilities would be needed in the event of an increase in the number of deaths.

Mr Miller said: “We stand united, as public services across Sussex, in support of our NHS colleagues as they work around the clock to provide vital care as we face this public health emergency.

“Across the system, the [forum’s] multi-agency teams are ensuring that vital resources reach those who need them most, and that the information is available to address the complex and urgent issues that have arisen from Covid-19.”

We stand united, as public services across Sussex, in support of our NHS colleagues

DAVE MILLER Sussex Police Assistant Chief Constable