Local News Wednesday 14th July

Wednesday, 14 July 2021 06:30

Groups representing bus, coach, and rail companies have said that face coverings will not be compulsory for passengers when the covid restrictions are relaxed. A man has died in a road traffic accident in Langport. More than a fifth of patients in Somerset avoided making a GP appointment in the past year. The Scouts say they need an extra five thousand volunteers for groups across the country, including here in Somerset...and more.

Groups representing bus, coach, and rail companies have said that face coverings will not be compulsory for passengers in England, when the covid restrictions are relaxed in six days' time. However, in line with government guidance, people will be expected to wear masks if services are busy. Latest data shows Covid cases are up by 726 in the Somerset County Council area.

A man has died in a road traffic accident in Langport. It’s understood the man was struck by a vehicle in the Portway at around 8.30 am yesterday morning.

More than a fifth of patients in Somerset avoided making a GP appointment in the past year. Between January and March, 6,280 patients in the NHS Somerset area who had needed GP appointments were asked if they had avoided booking them, and the reasons why. Of these, 1,330 (21%) said they were put off seeing a GP because they did not want to place a burden on the NHS. 16% said they did not make an appointment as they were worried about the risk of catching Covid-19. The figures come from the 2021 GP Patient Survey, which provides an overview of patients’ experiences with primary care services.

The Scouts say they need an extra five thousand volunteers for groups across the country, including here in Somerset. There are currently fifty-thousand young people on a waiting list to join the Scouts who can't join because there aren't enough adults to act as Leaders.

Two beekeepers in Somerset are celebrating after achieving a top award. Lynne Ingram and Richard Bache are part of a select group of just ninety-four beekeepers nationally to be presented with a National Diploma in Beekeeping.

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