am just back from a trip to Wexham Park Hospital – no Covid symptoms – I thought I had fractured a wrist, after a trip. A&E was completely deserted ! My temperature was taken as I entered and I was asked if I had any Covid symptoms – I responded ‘No’, but no-one explained what they may be.
I was sent straight through to a triage nurse and a consultant. That took 5 minutes – then another 5 minute wait, for an X ray. Two minutes later I was seen again. No fracture. I have damaged the tendons and they will take longer to heal, than a fracture !!
While I was there, almost no-one, apart from the reception nurse, was wearing a mask, or gloves. What was brilliant, was the number of medical staff, wearing floral and patterned scrubs. Very few standard green versions. They were all in coloured floral and multicolour patterned, cotton prints. They explained that they were so grateful, to all the volunteers out here in the community, who were supplying them. if you are making them - I can assure you, they are being used, not just stored away somewhere. There was a special room where they were delivered and collected. They all said, the public had been brilliant in their support for them. Well done, if you are one of those volunteers making scrubs and masks. A lady in Ascot, is making 60 transparent visors each day !!
WELL DONE EVERYONE, IT REALLY IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND YOUR HARD WORK IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED - AND - BEING USED !
On my way home, I stopped at a large supermarket in Slough, to do my food shopping. I stopped, and parked, because there was no queue outside.
It quickly became apparent why ! Everyone, was inside ! There was no-one on the door limiting entry.
Inside, it was crowded. People were out in groups, doing a normal family shop, with trolleys full of food. People were ambling along and reaching past you over your shoulder, for products on the shelves.
There as no semblance of ‘social distancing’. The queues to pay, were right down the narrow aisles, with virtually no distance between shoppers !
I left as quickly as I could, but by then, the shop doors had been locked, as it was so full.
Driving down the Farnham Road, to get back the Windsor, it was the same everywhere. Large groups of teenage boys, just hanging around together, queues outside the various shops along the road, again, no social distancing.
I just didn’t get it. Residents in Slough, either don’t watch the news, or don’t believe it !
People are apparently, not taking the stay at home order seriously either.
Over the weekend a huge amount of our police time was taken up attending what is termed ‘mass gatherings’, that is cases where people are not abiding by social distancing and having house parties / BBQs. Last night, it was very reduced, but again, it is taking up an enormous amount of police time, that could be very well spent dealing with real issues.
Globally, there has now been 2,492,963 confirmed Covid cases with 171,152 deaths.
In the USA there have been 803,553 confirmed cases and 44,564 deaths.
In the UK we have 129,044 confirmed cases and 17,337 deaths.
This is a really serious situation, not to be taken lightly. The Government has not closed the country down, for little or no reason – they had to do it. If you don’t abide by ‘social distancing’ or hold ‘house parties’ or ‘BBQ’s’, not only are you putting yourself at risk, but you may become asymptomatic, and carry the virus into your own home and family, but also others you may come in contact with. That puts others at risk and possibly contributes to overwhelming NHS and our local hospitals.
If you are aware neighbours breaching the restrictions, to protect the community please make a report online at:
https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/We are asking that people only use the 101 number for matters that are urgent and make more use of the online reporting facility. It goes through to the same place and is dealt with in exactly the same way. The 999 number is of course for emergencies.
NEXT: From our local Faith Groups
Church of England
From Reverend Sally Lynch:
There are 14 Anglican Churches in RBWM. At least 4 Roman Catholic churches and a lot of other denominations.
Some of us are working together through the CtiM / CtiW with for example, food provision (Churches Together in Maidenhead & Windsor) and we are all doing our own things in terms of worship. Many members of Faith Communities are joining together to deal with community issues.
At my own church, St. Luke’s, we are providing recorded services on Sundays via our website:
www.stlukeschurchmaidenhead.org.ukWe also offer a zoom morning prayer at 9 a.m. - Tuesday – Saturday.
Anyone can email me for an invitation:
sally514@btinternet.comThe same email address, will enable folk to request prayers – I have a candle tray here at home and am lighting candles in prayer, for those who would like it, or will phone people and pray with them on the phone.
We hope to offer a Zoom Cafe soon. We also have a lot of books that we can deliver to anyone who is really bored and would like some reading, plus a few DVDs – ALL FOR FREE.
The Diocese of Oxford and the Church of England also offer a variety of resources on their website.
www.oxford.anglican.organd
https://www.churchofengland.org/These resources offer spiritual support for mental health and are really good:
https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2020-03/Guidance%20on%20mental%20health%20and%20wellbeing%20and%20Coronavirus.pdfBelow at the bottom of this message is a prayer, people may find useful.
The Baha’i Community
We are a small Baha’i Community in Windsor. Like everyone else, we have moved to online gatherings and find them to be surprisingly effective.
We are already investigating new ways of harnessing social media, once this crisis is over.
Like everyone else, we are trying in our own ways to look out for neighbours and friends and to serve the community, in the best way we can.
It is our hope that once humanity has passed this ordeal, it will emerge on the other side, with greater insights and with a greater appreciation of its inherent oneness and interdependance.
Mike Gammage
Maidenhehead Baha’i Community
bahais.maidenhead@gmail.comwww.bahaismaidenhead.orgThe Synagogue
We have around 850 households as members. Although the building is in lock down, our community life continues, with live streaming of services and using Zoom etc. for adult education, Religious school and other groups.
Rabbi – Dr Jonathan Romain
rabromain@aol.comBuddhism:
As Buddhist our daily religious practice is conducted in our own homes and we are of course praying for the quickest possible end to the coronavirus crisis and a return to normality and safety.
We have around 100 active members in the Royal Borough itself and of course all current face-to-face meetings have been suspended (as they have across the whole of Europe). We are in touch with each other through weekly Zoom meetings.
Thank you once again for your concern and for all that the Thames Valley Police do to keep ur communities safe and protected.
Paul Samuels
Trustee WAMCF
Soka Gakkai International-UK
p.samuels@btnternet.comHindu
For information re Hindu and Islamic services, Please contact:
Hindu Society of Maidenhead -
mohan@wamcf.orgIslam
Islamic Trust Maidenhead (Muslims) -
zia@wamcf.orgFurther information, support and advice about Coronavirus can be found at these websites:-
How to avoid catching or spreading germs and when to seek medical help:-
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/Daily updates, signs and symptoms, current risk level:-
https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/01/23/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-what-you-need-to-know/Mental health support and advice:-
https://www.mind.org.uk/Free support and advise for victims of crime:-
https://www.victims-first.org.uk/Report cyber-crime, fraud and scams:-
https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/A PRAYER:
Keep us good Lord
under the shadow of your mercy
in this time of uncertainty and distress.
Sustain and support the anxious and fearful
and lift up all those brought low
that we may rejoice in your comfort,
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
in Jesus Christ our Lord
