How to cut budgets in Lincolnshire

A generous legacy donation of nearly £400,000 has allowed St Barnabas Hospice to plan a new wellbeing centre in Boston.

Philanthropist Stefan Novak left his legacy to the hospice after his sudden death in 2018, in order to increase services in Lincolnshire.

This legacy gift of £393,000 will now be used to open a new state-of-the-art wellbeing hub in Boston, replacing its previous site on Green Lane.

Work will begin on the site in spring 2021 and will be named Novak House, after the man who generously donated it to the charity.

The wellbeing hub will support patients and families with all their needs during end of life care, through the use of its community and wellbeing teams.

It will boast relaxation arts and outdoor space for families who may need to take some time out from the difficult situation they are in.

Appointments will be available with palliative care consultants, rehabilitation teams and talking therapy teams.

Stefan Novak was known in Lincoln for his positive approach to life, despite losing his sight at the age of 10.

The Lincolnite spoke to him in 2011 about his life and how he managed to overcome adversity, as well as his well-documented charity work.

Chris Wheway, CEO of St Barnabas Hospice, paid homage to Stefan for his legacy gift, saying none of this would be possible without him.

“Our mission at St Barnabas is to offer outstanding end of life care to everyone, when they need it and where they need it. Our vision is to keep pushing forward, improving our facilities and caring for more people year on year.

“Simply put, if this generous legacy had not been gifted, we would not be able to continue with the plans for the Wellbeing Hub in Boston.

“It is a testament to Mr Novak, who had a vested interest in palliative and end of life care in Lincolnshire.”

COVID infection rates in Lincolnshire schools have risen, but are still too low to justify closing them early, health bosses have said.

Professor Derek Ward, Lincolnshire County Council’s Director of Public Health, confirmed that the current seven-day rate of infection for school age children between November 26 and December 2 was around 161 per 100,000 population — up from 145 on Tuesday.

However, he said the rate was “significantly lower” than the overall rate for the county, which in Thursday’s figures was 267 (vs 155 England average).

He told BBC Radio Lincolnshire that children tended to have “generally mild symptoms” and that evidence was emerging that they’re “less likely to pass it on”.

Professor Ward explained the county would continue to see cases and closures.

However, “there’s less disease in schools, so if we’re not going to close garden centres, why would we close schools? It makes no sense to me.

“The impact on children of closing schools in terms of their education is massive, but it’s also massive in terms of their social connection with their friends and their mental well being.

“So, the government’s decision to keep schools open is a decision I absolutely agree with.

“If we do see a significant outbreak in a school, of course we will provide advice and support to that school.

“But we shouldn’t deprive the hundreds of thousands of children and young people in the county of education because we’ve got an outbreak in one school.”

As of Tuesday there were 16 schools in the county which had contacted Lincolnshire County Council to confirm positive COVID-19 cases.

University students are also leaving the city, and there are less than 30 active cases at the moment.

A shopping centre on Grantham High Street sold at auction for £1,010,000, but it’s unclear who or what the new owners’ plans are for the building.

The George Centre, part of a Grade II listed building, was sold just three years ago, but was put back on the market before going under the hammer on November 26 at an auction organised by SDL Property Auctions.

There are 40 retail units, six office suites, 41 car parking spaces and one storage unit within The George Centre.

The centre, which retains the Georgian facade of the former George Hotel, had a guide price of £950,000. It sold for more, despite the centre seeing a third change of ownership in under five years.

It used to be home to businesses such as Pizza Express and Feelgood Fitness, but both closed their doors during the COVID-19 lockdown earlier this year.

The three-storey centre is steeped in history, incorporating the old George Hotel which was built in 1780. The property was significantly remodelled in the 1990s when it was converted into a shopping centre.