Page 24 - br-nov-2020

November 2020 November 2020
“TAKE THESE CHAINS FROM MY HEART AND
Lack of local ownership over regional and mobile test sites and how they are run
means complaints about operations are not responded to. This leads to local SET ME FREE”
residents losing confidence in the system, and understandably they will then
direct their anger, fear and frustrations at Local Authorities.
As I stood on the grass mound on a cold grey
It is apparent that there is a lack of transparency from central Government over November day, distant memories came
the extent of issues with laboratory capacity. Leaders in local authorities are not flooding back of a past long ago when time
being equipped by your department with honest answers around the timescale simply stood still. I was on the very spot where
for improvement and resolution of this problem - and this just means that public the Rock Park Open Air Baths stood until its
are losing trust and confidence in the capacity of the system to deliver. demise in 1974 to make way for the then ultra
modern North Devon Leisure Centre, now a
Please, give us clear updates that we can be honest with the public about.
Saying defensively that more testing is being added all the time with no rather tired looking 60s style building across the
explanation of the core issues means we all, collectively, lose credibility with the River Taw in Barnstaple.
public, who deserve our support, reassurance and efficiency now more than Sadly, there is nothing here now to mark the
ever. spot but this was where it all began for me and
Kind regards my love affair with swimming. During my early
youth and into my teens, I would turn up and
Laura Miller
pay my 4d (four old pence) over the turnstile to
Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care & Health, Dorset Council
Miss Gillum who sat behind the reception
hatch in the entrance to the pool. If I was

lucky, I had an extra penny for a piece of
Interested in becoming a
bread pudding cake after my swim.
Carer?
Having learnt to swim at the age of nine, I was still not involved in any competitive
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) swimming until one fateful late summer’s day in 1960 when I was among a group
pandemic has had a major of lads who decided to challenge each other to swim the most number of
impact on the economy globally, lengths. I can remember turning for my 60 . length when Bill Muscott, our baths
th
nationally and in Dorset. Relative superintendent called over to tell me to get
to the UK, Dorset has a higher out as it was getting dark! Harold Vernon
share of employment, output and happened to be on poolside and came
businesses across the hardest hit over to suggest that I joined the Barnstaple
sectors such as tourism and Swimming Club the following summer. It
leisure. It has been estimated that changed my life forever.
40% of people in the county may not be able to return to their former
employment due to redundancies or reduced hours and pay. Dorset Council is As chief coach to the club, Harold was to
leading a new recruitment and training campaign for the Dorset adult social care be my inspiration and mentor and I will
sector. The aim is to raise awareness of the range of jobs available in this sector, never forget his bubbling enthusiasm for the
and ultimately, recruit and retain new workers who want to make a long-term sport. He eventually managed to sort out
career in the sector. my stroke and I soon became involved in
Water Polo as most clubs in those days had
This will help social care providers to recruit more staff which in turn, reduces the their own polo team.
numbers moving between settings and individual’s homes and ultimately, reduces
the risk of transmission of COVID-19. The funding behind the campaign will also be Every Tuesday evening throughout the
used to facilitate access to additional online training courses for all providers, summer, we had the excitement of a
enabling a better skilled workforce. To find out more and to register your interest, swimming gala followed by the highlight of
visit www.dorsetsocialcare.co.uk.

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