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Articles in Author: Ben Clark
Articles in Covid-19
- Bird Flu
- BucksWorkability
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Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 3 February 2023
The Covid wave in Bucks remains for the moment at the ‘bottom of the peak’. But while levels are low by comparison with earlier in the year, the Covid risk still remains VERY HIGH. 1 in 78 people in Bucks are infected, and there will be 4 infected people in a typical busy supermarket. There are still enough people around to give you Covid if you don’t take care.
Remember, you can still catch Covid even if you are fully vaccinated or have had Covid before – there is no such thing as lasting immunity from Covid. Even people who caught Covid in the last few weeks may be able to catch it again in February.
Read MoreCovid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 27 January 2023
The Covid wave in Bucks is at the ‘bottom of the peak’. But while levels are low by comparison with earlier in the year, the Covid risk remains VERY HIGH. 1 in 74 people in Bucks are still infected, and there will be 4 infected people in a typical busy supermarket. There are still enough people around to give you Covid if you don’t take care.
Remember, you can still catch Covid even if you are fully vaccinated or have had Covid before – there is no such thing as lasting immunity from Covid. Even people who caught Covid in the last few weeks may be able to catch it again in February.
Read MoreCovid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 20 January 2023
The Christmas Covid wave in Bucks is thankfully falling sharply, as the virus runs out of people to infect. But the ‘bottom of the peak’ still means that the Covid risk remains VERY HIGH. 1 in 68 people in Bucks are still infected, and there will be 4 infected people in a typical busy supermarket. There are still plenty of people around who can give you Covid if you don’t take care.
Remember, you can still catch Covid even if you are fully vaccinated or have had Covid before – there is no such thing as lasting immunity from Covid. Even people who caught Covid in the last few weeks may be able to catch it again in February.
Read MoreImpact Of Industrial Action In Buckinghamshire – January 2023
As you may know, many organisations and services are going out on strike. BuDS has identified and complied below the dates of various strike action, and assessed the impact it will have on the people of Buckinghamshire. It is important to remember that organisations may be represented by multiple Unions, and not all Unions will be taking part in strikes. This can complicate the overall picture.
Read MoreCold Weather Warning – January 2023
Buckinghamshire, like the rest of the UK, is entering another cold spell.
The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) – the organisation responsible for looking after Public Health in England – issued a level 3 Cold Alert on Monday. This means that severe winter weather is now occurring, defined as a mean temperature of 2°C or less and/or widespread ice or heavy snow.
Read MoreCovid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 13 January 2023
The number of people infected with Covid in Bucks remains CRITICALLY HIGH. 1 in 26 people in Bucks are now infected, and there will be 11 infected people in a typical busy supermarket. This means that, unless you take precautions when out and about, you run a very high risk of catching Covid in the next few weeks. Remember, you can still catch Covid even if you are fully vaccinated or have had Covid before – there is no such thing as lasting immunity from Covid.
Our advice remains to wear a FFP2 or N95 filter mask in public places (especially hospitals and GP surgeries), breathe clean air, avoid crowds and busy places, work from home if you can, and protect your older and vulnerable relatives and friends. These simple precautions will help save you and your family from serious illness or long-term disability.
Remember, it’s scientifically proven that Covid has hidden serious effects for many people who catch it, even if they are not very ill immediately, including making it more likely that they will get seriously ill with common infections. This is why we are continuing to stress that people should take precautions to avoid catching Covid.
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BuDS’ Policies
On this page, you can find all of BuDS’ key policies. These are constantly reviewed and updated, so you may find different documents available compared to the last time you visited this page. Documents are available as PDF downloads. If you would like the documents in any other format, or have any questions about the policies, please email us.
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DWP’s Own Audits Show One Third of PIP Assessments Not Fit For Purpose
A third of ATOS assessment reports are not fit for purpose, according to the DWP’s own quality assurance auditors. In a sample of 1,466 PIP assessments carried out in August 2022, DWP auditors found that:
- 972 reports (66%) were acceptable, which means they met the DWP’s contract requirements
- 138 (9%) of reports met the contract requirements but it was clear from the assessment report that the ATOS assessor ‘required learning’
- 321 (22%) of reports met the contract requirements but ‘required amending’ to improve their accuracy and completeness
- 35 (2%) were found not to even meet the DWP’s contract requirement.
Disability Hate Crime – The Legislation
This article explains the law on disability hate crime in England as of October 2022. It was written by Olivia Hopwood, a law student, and verified and approved by a leading criminal law solicitor on behalf of BuDS. It is written mainly for professionals and practitioners, and some may find the language difficult to follow. If you need any help with this article, please contact us.
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