Homeless vaccination scheme to be rolled out further following successful pilot
Urban Village Medical Practice in Ancoats - a facility contracted to deliver healthcare to homeless people - is working with Manchester City Council to get COVID-19 jabs to those in council accommodation.
A pilot scheme launched to get the COVID-19 vaccine to homeless people in Manchester is set to be expanded following a successful pilot phase.
Urban Village Medical Practice in Ancoats – a facility contracted to deliver healthcare to anyone experiencing homelessness – is working with Manchester City Council to administer jabs to those in council accommodation.
The pilot scheme resulted in 81 vaccinations – and is now set to be rolled out to those in temporary accommodation and day centres.
Urban Village will also be using a clinical van to administer jabs around the city, with Cornbrook Medical Centre and Florence House GP also offering vaccinations.
Councillor Bev Craig said that the council was working hard to make sure “no one is left behind or forgotten.”
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Urban Village Medical Practice in Ancoats
We are so pleased that our Homeless Healthcare Team are rolling out our Covid vaccination programme for homeless people in the City following a successful pilot programme! ??#Homeless#COVIDVaccinepic.twitter.com/02Rh3xWdqB
Emma Hicklin, homeless service manager for Urban Village Medical Practice, commented: “People who are homeless are effectively clinically extremely vulnerable and it’s important that they are part of this vaccine rollout.
“It’s a moral imperative to do it if you can. The uptake has been good so far, but you must go to where people are.
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“The people we’re working with are saying the same as you hear from the general public, that if it helps us all get out of lockdown it’s well worth having the vaccination.”
Councillor Craig added: “The vaccine roll-out is providing protection to those who need it the most and to the community.
“Inclusive health is an integral part of our citywide vaccination programme, building on existing trusted relationships that we can use as we expand the opportunity to be vaccinated to everyone who is currently homeless in the city.”
Councillor Zahid Chauhan, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said it was important for the group to be vaccinated because of their added vulnerability.
Around 100,000 people in Manchester have now received the COVID-19 vaccine.
Almost 16 million in total in the UK have received a jab.
News
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
The Manc -
18th February 2021 
