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Brake comments on increase in drink driving deaths

UK Government statistics have revealed that the central estimate of deaths from drink driving on roads in Great Britain in 2019 was 280, an increase of 40 on the previous year and the highest central estimate for over a decade. However, the Government has stated that the rise from 2018 is not statistically significant.

The Department for Transport provisional estimates show that between 240 and 320 people were killed in road crashes in Great Britain, in 2019, where at least 1 driver was over the drink drive limit, with a central estimate of 280 deaths. This provisional estimate of fatalities for 2019 is the highest since 2009.

The data also shows that an estimated 7,860 people were killed or injured when at least one driver was over the drink drive limit, in 2019, representing a fall of 9% from 8,680 in 2018 and the lowest level recorded. However, when looking at deaths and serious injuries, the adjusted central estimate for drink drive casualties in 2019 is 2,110, an increase of 11% on 2018 and the highest level recorded since 2011.

Brake, the road safety charity, is calling for urgent Government action on drink driving, highlighting that England and Wales now have the highest drink drive limit in Europe, at 80mg alcohol per 100ml blood, compared with the norm of 50mg, as has been implemented in Scotland since December 2014.

The road safety campaigners state that the evidence is clear that any amount of alcohol impairs driving and so a zero-tolerance limit must be implemented to protect road users. Such a limit would effectively ban drink driving, but have leeway in the regulation to allow for accidental exposure, such as through mouthwash.

Commenting, Joshua Harris, Director of Campaigns for Brake said:- "The reported increase in drink driving deaths is clearly cause for concern, with the estimated annual deaths now the highest for over a decade. Despite a supposedly proud road safety record, improvement on UK roads is stagnating and in need of a jump start. The Government must urgently review and reduce the drink drive limit in England and Wales, which now has the dubious honour of being the highest in Europe, to help stop the rot on drink driving. Every road death is preventable, but these tragedies will only be prevented if the Government follows the evidence in its policy and investment decisions. This starts with reintroducing road casualty reduction targets, aiming for zero deaths and serious injuries, and implementing a zero tolerance drink drive limit. The safety of road users must always come 1st."

Meal voucher support to continue through � Term

OVER 20,000 children across Liverpool will continue to receive support, next week, as Liverpool City Council extends its meal voucher scheme during � Term. Liverpool City Council is using money from the Government�s Covid Winter Grant Scheme to fund supermarket vouchers for families entitled to receive free School meals next week.

Acting Mayor of Liverpool Cllr Wendy Simon said:- "It has been tough year for most of us, but lower income families with children have been hit hard by the extra challenges that the Pandemic has brought. Making sure that children are fed and are fed well is a priority for Liverpool City Council. This is why we committed part of the Covid Winter Grant to funding vouchers for children and young people at Christmas and during February � Term. The vouchers mean that families can choose their own food from their regular supermarket and be ensured that it is good quality."

Families will receive ₤15 of vouchers for the week for each child which can be used in Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury�s and Morrisons. Vouchers will be distributed directly to families by Schools. As well as families with children who are already at School, families with youngsters aged two years who are entitled to free early education will also receive vouchers; a further 2,696 children. As it did during the Christmas break, the Council will once again also extend the scheme to households with children aged under 2, aged 3 or 4 that receive Council Tax and housing benefit support. This means a further 8,152 children will receive vouchers and these will be mailed directly to families. Young people leaving care will also receive food and fuel vouchers as they did in December 2020.

The Council was awarded ₤2.4m in total from the Government to support vulnerable people between December 2020 and March 2021. Over ₤1.3m of the grant was committed to supporting families with children at Christmas as well as during the February � Term break. Any families whose financial circumstances have changed and who might now have children eligible for free School meals, are urged to apply through the Council�s website.

Continuity of COVID Relief Funding

CARE England, the largest representative body of independent adult social care providers, has reached out to the Government to provide continuity of COVID related packages for the care sector.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says:- "Unfortunately, COVID doesn�t end on 31 March 2021, yet many of the Government relief packages come to a halt then including the Infection Control Fund."

Care England wrote to the Care Minister, Helen Whately MP, thanking her for the packages put in place during the Pandemic and provided some suggestions as to how future funding could be administered in order to provide certainty and confidence for providers, staff, residents and relatives.

Care England proposed that future funds could be adapted to lessen the administrative burden with simplified reporting structures. Of special concern is the continuation of the Infection Control Fund, now in its 2nd iteration. This fund, intended to reduce the rate of Covid19 transmission within and between care settings, expires on 31 March 2021.

Martin Green continues:- "The costs associated with the Pandemic are by no means going to subside in the short term, this is of particular concern given the low fees currently being proposed by many Local Authorities for 2021/22; as such we would welcome support from the Government. Indeed, it is imperative that any such funds reach the frontline and are not wasted in a tangle of bureaucracy."

Sefton Council have been praised by the Government for ensuring enough homes are being provided to meet local needs?

2021 is the 2nd year in succession the Local Authority have been recognised by Central Government for passing the national Housing Delivery test. In 2020 741 homes were built and completed for suitable housing thanks in no small part to Sefton Council's Local Plan framework. Cllr Daren Veidman, Sefton Council's Cabinet Member for Planning and Building Control, said:- "the Housing Delivery Test results are warmly welcomed. This goes to show that Sefton Council�s Local Plan is providing the homes for local people that are needed. Despite the national lockdown we have a number of key housing developments under construction in the borough and a number of others expected to commence in the next 12 months. We expect the number of housing completions in the next few years to be significant. This also shows that Sefton is considered by house builders as an attractive place to invest."

Health and Social Care Reform

CARE England, the largest representative body of independent adult social care providers, has welcomed the publication of the NHS White Paper as a step towards real integration between health and social care.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says:- "The publication of the NHS White Paper is an opportunity to recognise the interrelationship between health and social care and craft a long term vision for both sectors. Care England looks forward to working with the Government to develop this vision."

The Government�s White Paper aims to modernise the legal framework to make the health and social care system fit for the future and put in place targeted improvements for the delivery of public health and social care. It will support local health and care systems to deliver higher-quality care to their communities, in a way that is less legally bureaucratic, more accountable and more joined up, by bringing together the NHS, local Government and partners together to tackle the needs of their communities as a whole.

Martin Green continues:- "The current situation where health and social care sit in distinct silos is not good for citizens, and is certainly not making the best of the resources available. We hope that these reforms will reshape the NHS and move us towards a system that is measured by the outcomes and which has a seamless interface between health and social care. Care England would therefore like to engage with the development and implementation of the White Paper. For, if anything, the Covid19 Pandemic has demonstrated the need for the adult social care sector�s voice to be heard in the development of future health and care systems."

You can read the paper on the:- Gov.UK.

Total UK cases Covid19 cases in and around Liverpool City Region

THE total number of UK Coronavirus (Covid19) infections that have been laboratory confirmed, within the UK, has risen by:- 13,494 cases and the total number now stand at:- 3,998,655 that includes tests carried out by commercial partners which are not included in the 4 National totals.

The total number of Covid19 associated UK fatalities added to the total, was sadly reported to be:-678 within 28 days of positive test, according to the Department of Health. The total number of deaths of people who have had a positive test result confirmed by a Public Health or NHS laboratory is:- 115,529, within 28 days of positive test. Deaths with Covid19 on the death certificate:- 121,674.

The number of Covid19 patients currently in UK Hospitals:- 25,621. The current number of Covid19 patients currently in mechanical ventilation beds in UK Hospitals:- 3,132 Daily number of Covid19 patients admitted to UK Hospitals:- 1,842.

In England, there are a total of:- 3,503,699 confirmed cases. North West - total of:- 550,019 confirmed cases.

The number of laboratory confirmed cases within the Liverpool City Region are as follows:-

Area and number of confirmed cases:- Risen by:-

Liverpool City Region

Nation Lockdown

National UK Restrictions

► Liverpool, 45,498 confirmed cases.
141

► Halton, 11,162 confirmed cases.
29

► Knowsley, 16,355 confirmed cases. 63

► Sefton, 22,297 confirmed cases.
66

► St. Helens, 15,516 confirmed cases.
82

► Wirral, 22,902 confirmed cases.

75

Colour Key:- 0 1 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40 41 to 50 51 to 100 100 to 199 200 & over

The number of laboratory confirmed cases within Local Authorities around the Liverpool City Region, since start of the Pandemic, are as follows:-

► Blackburn with Darwen, 16,545 confirmed cases.

► Blackpool, 8,478 confirmed cases.

► Bolton, 22,874 confirmed cases.

► Bury, 15,433 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire East, 18,793 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire West and Chester, 19,676 confirmed cases.

► Lancashire, 88,654 confirmed cases.

► Manchester, 47,708 confirmed cases.

► Oldham, 20,758 confirmed cases.

► Preston, 12,151 confirmed cases.

► Rochdale, 18,927 confirmed cases.

► Salford, 20,674 confirmed cases.

► Stockport, 18,374 confirmed cases.

► Tameside, 15,970 confirmed cases.

► Trafford, 14,959 confirmed cases.

► Warrington, 16,350 confirmed cases.

► Wigan, 26,008 confirmed cases..

Total UK people who have received vaccination

1st Dose 2nd Dose

13,509,108 524,447

Jab Stats correct as of 10 February 2021

The vaccination programme began on 8 December 2020 with people receiving the vaccine developed by Pfizer / BioNTech, and people began receiving the Oxford University / AstraZeneca vaccine from 4 January 2021. Both vaccines are given as 2 doses, at least 21 days apart, for a full vaccination course.

Daily reported Covid19 deaths are now measured across the UK as deaths that occurred within 28 days of the 1st laboratory confirmed positive Covid19 test. Daily and cumulative numbers of Covid19 patients admitted to Hospital. Data are not updated every day by all 4 nations and the figures are not comparable as Wales include suspected Covid19 patients while the other nations include only confirmed cases.

The latest R number is estimated at:- 0.7 to 1.1, with a daily infection growth rate range of:- -5% to -2%, as of 5 February 2021.

Previous 24hr Data

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