I am writing to give you some local updates as well as informing you of what I'm doing as your MP in this incredibly difficult time.

Local updates and useful information

COVID-19 testing facility now open at Twickenham stadium

A drive-through coronavirus testing facility has opened at Twickenham stadium, operating on an appointment-only basis for NHS staff and other key workers.

I welcome this news, but these measures need to go further. Testing needs to be expanded to local key workers who don't drive as well as for the wider population.

I have pushed the government for more testing and PPE and will continue to do so.

See more information on the testing centre here.

Twickenham testing details

Urgent dental care

I welcome the opening of an urgent dental care hub at Kingston hospital. If you do need dental care, please do not visit A&E, but instead, follow these steps.

• Anyone with a regular dentist: Please call them first. Don't visit the practice. The dentist will do everything they can over the phone, including giving advice and, if needed, prescriptions for painkillers or antibiotics which can then be collected from or delivered by a local pharmacy.

• Anyone without a regular dentist: Find your local practice and call them. If dental practices are not available to provide assessment and advice over the phone, then you can call NHS 111. Find your local practice here.

• The dentist or NHS 111 will, if they think that urgent face-to-face treatment is needed, refer on to a designated Urgent Dental Care site for any necessary emergency dental treatment to be carried out.

New mental health emergency service

The new 'Orchid Mental Health Emergency Service' has opened at Springfield Hospital. This innovative 24-hour mental health emergency department will care for patients who would otherwise have had to go to A&E. Patients of all ages are accepted, including children. This service will care for patients in Richmond, Wandsworth, Merton, Kingston and Sutton.

Those who need support should call the Trust's mental health support line on 0800 028 8000. Patients can call the number themselves, but please be aware this is not a walk-in service; a screening process must take place before patients can be admitted, so please call first.

Policing update

This week I had a call with Sally Benatar, Leader of the Metropolitan Police South West London Command Unit, which covers Richmond. I was pleased to hear that their policing approach locally of engage, explain, encourage has been working well, with very few fines being issued to those flouting lockdown rules. All crime is down 30% locally.

Although all the evidence is that domestic abuse has increased significantly, Sally was concerned that there has been no change in the number of calls to the police about domestic abuse. If you or someone you know is suffering and need help, the police are there and will intervene and take action if necessary. If it's not safe to speak about the situation, dial 999 from a mobile and press 55 when prompted.

Front door boarding stopping for most of London's buses

TfL has announced that front door boarding will be stopped except on buses where there is only one door. This will reduce the risk of London's bus drivers catching coronavirus.

Education

BBC Bitesize has expanded its content to provide daily lessons in core subjects and my 5 year old daughter loves it! See the BBC Bitesize website for more information.

Other key information

For all local information and updates:

Go to council website

If you or someone who you know needs support, please contact the Community Hub on 0208 871 6555 or at [email protected].

For all medical enquiries please continue to contact the NHS on 111.nhs.uk or on 111.

If you are an individual, business or local voluntary group wanting to help, please sign up to Richmond CVS here.

Standing up for your concerns

Checks at UK airports and health & safety of cabin crew

Many local residents, including several who work in the airline industry, have contacted me on two key issues:

• The lack of COVID-19 checks on incoming passengers to the UK

• The personal safety of cabin crew, who lack PPE and work in the confined space of an aeroplane where the virus can be easily spread

I've written to the Transport Secretary to highlight these concerns and urge him for action on these issues.

Monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on BAME communities

Layla Moran MP and I have called on the government to improve the monitoring of the impact of the coronavirus on BAME communities.

We know from data from UK hospitals that BAME groups are disproportionately affected by the virus. We don't have a complete picture to confirm the extent of those trends because the data simply isn't collected.

That is why we're asking the government to add a question on ethnicity to the official NHS coronavirus survey.

This data will be vital in informing our response to the management of the virus and ensuring all communities get the support they need.

You can read more about what we are calling for here.

Free calls for those over 75

I'm proud to back Jamie Stone's MP campaign for phone companies to provide a 'Happy Hour' of free calls for those over the age of 75.

With over half of over 75s living alone, isolation can have a serious impact on mental health. It's crucial loved ones can stay in touch to reduce loneliness during this crisis.

Thank you

Once again, thank you to our NHS staff, carers and other key workers. Let's all help them by staying home and staying safe.

If you need to get in touch, please email me on [email protected]

Best wishes,

Munira Wilson

MP for Twickenham, Teddington, the Hamptons, St Margarets, Strawberry Hill and Whitton.

Follow me on Twitter: @munirawilson

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