Snow Watch

Well, it's back in SE London, falling thick and fast. Jog on, go away! I can't go through all that again!

Very light snow in Orpington, no problems on the road.

Substantial snow and ice here in Leamington. Even my indestructible milkman hasn't got through yet. Future-husband set off for work in Birmingham at about 8am and sent me a text to report his safe arrival at about 10:30 which isn't great for a journey that usually takes less than an hour. Apparently the motorways he uses are slow-but-functional, but in the towns at both ends there's a lot of people not coping with the ice, which in turn is causing accidents and traffic jams and more confusion.

Actually, I should post this here

NHS Warwickshire this weekend began an appeal for volunteers with 4x4 vehicles to help transport nurses to patients who receive medical care at home.

These patients don't need hospital treatment and it's simply not possible to move them all into hospital wards for the winter. However trained nurses need to be able to visit them at home to do blood tests, administer medications, change catheters, that kind of thing.

If you have a 4x4 vehicle and can help, please call the West Midlands Ambulance Service on 01926 310 310, and let them know when you are available.

Here is a link to the appeal on the WMAS NHS website.

Only got wind of this yesterday, apparently they are still looking for volunteers in the Nuneaton and Coventry areas.

Well it had to happen I suppose, we got away with the snow for so long, then it seemed to arrive all at once. All the main roads are clear now, Stratford, Henley and Alcester way, although Alcester town centre is still proving challenging for non 4x4's.

I bet the bookies will lose some money this year!

Yeah, our main roads for Leamington and Warwick are ok too. The big problem is that it's not getting nurses to the town centres that is the issue. It's all those people who've been discharged from hospital to their isolated farmhouse in Dunny-on-the-Wold, population 3 (and some sheep) on the basis that a nurse will look in on them once a day.

The people living on "sheltered" estates are an issue as well - lots of ill and/or retired people, many of them no longer car drivers and not going to work, paying attention to the advice to only undertake necessary journeys... so the salt and grit isn't getting dragged in from the main roads by the traffic that passes through because there is no such traffic, just the occasional car squashing down the snow into compacted icy hazards.

My own assistant couldn't get to my house this week. Thankfully my care package doesn't have anything to do with the kind of specific medical needs requiring the attentions of a qualified nurse, I've already had my festive bumper-pack from the pharmacy, and my partner was working from home, so I'm safe (if getting a little stir-crazy). But I'm horribly aware that there are many people who aren't that lucky.

There is no snow on the driveways in rochdale

A blatant plug or lots of snow on the roads and paths in Rochdale?

...ah yes. Welcome - feel free to introduce yourself!