Video: First interview with Lincolnshire’s PCC

There have been 1,877 new coronavirus cases and 109 COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire this week.

This comes as Friday saw 396 new cases and 27 deaths in Greater Lincolnshire.

The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded 319 new cases in Lincolnshire, 44 in North Lincolnshire and 33 in North East Lincolnshire.

On Friday, 19 deaths were registered in Lincolnshire, four in North East Lincolnshire and four in North Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.

NHS England reported 13 new local hospital deaths on Friday, including nine at United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust and four at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust.

On Friday, national cases increased by 16,298 to 1,690,432 while deaths rose by 504 to 60,617.

In local news, COVID infection rates in Lincolnshire schools have risen, but are still too low to justify closing them early, health bosses said. There have been a further 18 Lincolnshire schools with positive cases of coronavirus over the last seven days.

Lincolnshire received 20,000 lateral flow (rapid) tests for mass or community testing along with protective and IT equipment. The county can get tests for up to 10% of the population (around 75,000 kits), but it doesn’t yet have the capacity or staff to do so.

A donor centre in Scunthorpe will be one of 14 new locations used to urgently collect blood plasma for COVID-19 treatment trials and potential general use in hospitals.

This week saw the UK’s approval of the Pfizer vaccine. It is 95% effective and United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust is one of the fifty trusts which will get the vaccine next week. Here are the groups who will get the jab first.

Greater Lincolnshire entered tier 3 on Wednesday, the toughest restrictions. Here’s everything you need to know about travelling during the festive period.

Nationally, the R (rate of infection) number for Greater Lincolnshire has fallen slightly between 0.8 and 1, meaning for every 10 people who are infected with COVID-19, they will pass it on to eight others.

The UK has said it is “confident” it will have 800,000 vaccine doses by next week – immunisations will start Tuesday. 40 million doses have been ordered.

Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rate over the last week:

Infection rate from November 27 to December 4. | Data: GOV UK / Table: The Lincolnite

Lincolnshire’s cases up to December 4.

A breast radiologist at Lincoln County Hospital has been suspended for nine months after turning up for work having drunk a whole bottle of vodka and ending up at A&E.

A Medical Practitioners Tribunal was held between November 12 to 20 to look into allegations that Dr Sarka Bakalarova attended work at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust whilst under the influence of alcohol, which was determined and proved.

She was so intoxicated colleagues realised she “had no idea where she was”.

Dr Bakalarova qualified in 1988 and practiced in Czech Republic as a radiologist from 1989 until 2017. At the time of the alleged events she was working as a locum at ULHT, but after the tribunal the trust said she “will not be coming back”.

Initial concerns were raised with the General Medical Council on November 18, 2018 by the medical director of the trust.

The tribunal received evidence on behalf of the GMC from Mr D, Radiology Operational Manager at ULHT, as well as witness statements from Mr C, General Manager, Clinical Lead and Professional Lead for Diagnostics, and Mr E, Consultant Mammographer.

Mr D’s written account stated: “In my view it was clear that Dr Bakalarova was under the influence at this point. I can’t remember the exact figure of the blood alcohol level, but I know it was very significant, maybe 10 or 11 times the legal limit.

“She was slurring some words quite badly, she had poor balance and she kept repeating things.”

In another witness statement it states that on the journey to A&E she became extremely agitated and repeatedly tried to get off the trolley and refused to let go of a consultant’s arm.

When in A&E she carried on in an agitated and aggressive manner. Occasionally she would fall asleep then awake very confused and agitated again.

The report states that Dr Bakalarova also provided her own witness statement dated October 29, 2020.

A spokesperson for United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust said: “Dr Sarka Bakalarova was working at the trust as a locum radiologist in November 2018. She has not worked at the trust since this incident and will not be coming back.”

A “callous” man from Grimsby has been jailed for three years after robbing a 63-year-old woman who was withdrawing cash from an ATM.

Steven McGuire, 40, of Edmonds Way in Grimsby pleaded guilty to the robbery at an earlier court hearing. The robbery happened at Old Market Place in Grimsby on April 12 this year.

McGuire approached the woman and stood behind her, waiting for the money to come out of the ATM. He then pushed the woman over and tried to pull the cash from her hand.

Humberside Police said a violent struggle ensued as the victim held on to the money whilst McGuire continued to try and take it from her.

The woman made several valiant attempts to fend off her attacker before other people saw and heard the struggle.

McGuire left empty handed before being founded and arrested by officers nearby.

Detective Constable Chris Clarke, who investigated the incident, said: “It was an appalling offence committed against a vulnerable lady by a callous man.

“I commend this amazing lady for her courage and strength, not only during the robbery but during the investigation too.

“I hope this sentence will serve as a warning to others. We want people to feel safe in our town centre and we will take every step to bring offenders such as Steven McGuire to justice.”