Christmas is almost here, and I am sure you will be looking forward to a well-earned break. Although it is a time for rest and relaxation, I would like to take a moment to thank our emergency services, who will continue to work throughout the Christmas and New Year period.
We will all remember 2020 for different reasons, but the pandemic will certainly come to mind when we look back. North Cornwall has dealt with this global issue in a resilient way and our community has been made stronger for it. This time last year we had just finished campaigning and voting in the 2019 General Election. At the time it felt like North Cornwall was divided on political lines, with a majority of people supporting the decision to leave the EU, and a lesser, but no less important number of people who did not. I have always made it clear that I work on behalf of the whole constituency, and this year, I felt that the constituency has come back together again is more united than ever before. It is my great hope that as we move on from these big issues such as Brexit, and the pandemic, we retain the deep sense of community and continue to work hard together.
In the New Year, the mass rollout of the coronavirus vaccine will continue and speed up. I have been briefed by local NHS management and there will be a be two large scale vaccination centres in Cornwall: one in the East, the other in the West. Although I do not know the exact location at the time of writing, I understand that many constituents will be offered their vaccine at one of these centres. As you may also be aware different groups of people will get the vaccine at different times, starting with the elderly and residents of care homes. I believe this is the right course of action and it is very important to ensure the most vulnerable people are protected first. Many residents of care homes and older people have been isolating for months, and some have not seen friends or family since earlier this year.
During meetings with the NHS, I was also asked to pass on my thanks to all the constituents who answered the call for retired and former health care workers to come forward and assist with the vaccine programme. Cornwall needed an additional 600 people and the response to the appeal was overwhelming and at the time of writing, we are well on course to hit our target.
My office team and I will be working over Christmas, and if you have any concerns or need support please do email via [email protected]. I would also like to invite you to check my website www.scottmann.org.uk and Facebook page www.facebook.therightMannforNorth Cornwall for regular updates on the work I do on behalf of the constituency.
A very merry Christmas to you and your family.
