Appeal launched for volunteers to help Wrexham’s elderly during coronavirus outbreak

An appeal has been launched for volunteers to come forward to ensure help is at hand for elderly people in Wrexham during the coronavirus outbreak.

Plaid Cymru councillors are looking to pull together a team to drop off supplies and support the most vulnerable in the community, including those forced to self-isolate.

The call was made on the same day it was announced that a 68-year-old patient at Wrexham Maelor Hospital had become the first in Wales to die as a result of the virus.

In a statement, the group said the aim of the volunteer drive was to ease pressure on health and social services.

They said: “The next few weeks could be difficult if the Covid-19 virus situation intensifies.

“We know that our local health services are already stretched. We also know that the virus can spread quickly.

“We all need to ensure we look out for the most vulnerable in our communities, especially older people.

“Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could have at least one person in every street throughout Wrexham finding out who is most at risk and gathering their phone numbers to keep in touch?”

“Whether people are ill or not, lots of older people are going to sensibly choose to spend much more time at home.”

Volunteers can sign up by visiting www.wrexhamplaid.cymru/coronavirus_-_wrecsam_community_network.

In a separate development, the group has written to Wrexham Council’s chief executive asking for clarity on contingency plans surrounding the outbreak.

In an e-mail seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, they asked for information on how services will be managed and whether shop tenants and market traders should be given a rent holiday if trade is impacted.

When approached for comment, a council spokesman said it was working with health bodies and emergency services to deal with the virus.

They said: “The six north Wales councils are working closely with Public Health Wales, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and the emergency services to ensure that appropriate and proportionate arrangements are in place to respond to this rapidly developing situation.

“As councils, our role is to support health and emergency services in line with the long-standing multi-agency arrangements we have in place, and to follow the guidance we receive from Public Health Wales.

“Schools are being advised  to follow Welsh Government and PHW guidelines, and we are providing regular updates.

“Each individual school is responsible for making appropriate arrangements in terms of delivering the curriculum.

“We would urge anyone who has any queries about the virus to visit the Public Health Wales website – phw.nhs.wales – for the latest advice.”

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme)