Interview with Member of Parliament for Watford - Dean Russell

During this time of crisis, Member of Parliament for Watford Dean Russell spoke to Vibe107.6 FM presenter Miles Blumsom on the Breakfast Show

During this time of crisis, Member of Parliament for Watford Dean Russell spoke to Vibe107.6 FM presenter Miles Blumsom on the Breakfast Show.

As Watford General Hospital works harder everyday to treat Covid-19 patients, personal protective equipment (PPE) for our nurses and doctors has become more essential than ever.

Proud of the community, but still concerned as victim numbers rise, the MP highlighted the importance of togetherness and, amongst other factors, the increase of testing.

Ensuring that our NHS front line stay as safe as possible, Russell explained how the Government is doing all that it can in providing PPE:

“The honest answer to nurses and doctors at Watford General Hospital receiving PPE is that, so far, they are on track. They are in a good place at the moment, they have enough as we speak and hopefully for the long term as well.

“Obviously, there will always be a need to have more and I have no doubt that there will be situations where more specific equipment is needed. I regularly ask and try to make sure that the NHS workers on the front line are getting everything that they can.

“The NHS are aware of a phone number, where if they need to, they can put in a request for more PPE. There has been a challenge with some of the GP surgeries, one of which featured on the BBC feature last week. As soon as I found out about it, I got directly in touch with the top of the tree at the Department of Health and managed to get shipments to them this week.”

Russell continued and said: “There is still work to be done, but it is not through a lack of effort or any political reason. It is purely a logistical challenge. At the moment, it is really all-hands-on deck. There is literally a military operation to deliver PPE to everywhere it should be.

“I spoke to Hertfordshire County Council about PPE opportunities from elsewhere. There is a lot of stuff going on and I am doing an awful lot in that particular area behind the scenes.

“The equipment depends in part on where it is being used. As far as I am aware, in terms of the types of equipment – there is an ‘FFP 3’ which globally there is a shortage on. We have a machine behind the scenes working on trying to get as much PPE from as many places as possible. That is the goal and that is what we are trying to do.”

The importance of testing for Covid-19 is not a stone that Russell intends to leave unturned. Whilst one cannot currently be tested in Watford, the town’s MP hopes for change:

“I believe that we will see testing in Watford. The goal is to increase testing. Just a few months ago, no-one had even heard of the coronavirus. A few weeks ago, we only just started initially sorting the tests.

“We’ve really ramped the testing up now and the main thing is that when we do the testing, it has to be accurate. A false test is more dangerous.

“The main thing that has been happening in the background is just making sure that we’ve got the accurate tests and that we can do them viably at a large scale. That has been part of the work going on over the last weeks. To make sure that we can do this properly.

“It’s a case of really trying to do as much as we possibly can. The main thing I would say is to follow the guidance of staying at home. Stay at home, support the NHS and save lives.

“There is no lack of passion or energy - 100,000 tests a day should put us in a really good position in the next few weeks. The Department of Health is doing all that it can at the moment and is trying to fight this on all sides.

“I am absolutely sure the tests will come to Watford and South West Herts hospitals. I will be pressing for that. For next Friday I will give you a more accurate update, but I have no doubt that we will get those tests”.

Proud of Watford in the way that as a community it has responded to the outbreak, Watford’s MP exclaimed to Miles how much it has helped.

“A massive team effort is going on at the moment and I can’t applaud the NHS enough. The truth is, when we do these things as a community, they really appreciate it. I speak to the hospital regularly and our minute of clapping reminds them that we are thinking of them. I am very proud to go out clap,” he said.

Thanking Watford Football Club and all essential workers for their support, Russell shared with Vibe107.6 how, although there have been fatalities, Watford are pulling through:

“All I can say to all the staff is that I am fully behind you and I will do everything that I can to support you. Thank you, you are doing an immense job.

“I don’t have an accurate number of Covid-19 patients that we have in Watford General Hospital. The reality is, over the next few weeks, this is going to be tough.

“The guys at Watford Football Club are absolutely brilliant. I can’t share the initiatives regarding Vicarage Road because it’s too early. On Monday I will be at the football club taking the volunteering course.

“The survival rate is, as always, very, very high. The vast majority of people will get very mild symptoms. The vast majority of people will be okay, absolutely fine.

“A very small number of people have passed away who didn’t have underlying conditions. My heart goes out to every family who’s experienced a death due to Covid-19.”

Concluding the interview with a positive, the Member of Parliament highlighted how the homeless in Watford are being supported through this crisis:

“Over the last week I was really pleased that we could get a Travelodge to create spaces for those sleeping rough. It is important that they are, too, in a position to self-isolate. I think we are now housing about 60 people, which is incredible. Hopefully, it is an indication for how we start to really solve the issue of rough sleeping long-term. The community spirit and work that is going on is incredible.”

To listen back to the full interview with Member of Parliament for Watford, Dean Russell, visit vibe1076.co.uk.