Good FT article about COVID impacting the Somali community in Tower Hamlets
Thread why Tower Hamlets Council won't answer my question on languages
Quote below is key, a lack of knowledge kills
I have been asking question about this
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ft.com/content/aaa2c3…
via @FinancialTimes
Thread why Tower Hamlets Council won't answer my question on languages
Quote below is key, a lack of knowledge kills
I have been asking question about this
1/
ft.com/content/aaa2c3…
via @FinancialTimes
On 1st June I submitted 3 questions to Cabinet about translation of information:
Q9 what languages have we translated LBTH / NHS information into?
Q10 did we LBTH help share the government guidance on social distancing that was translated into multiple languages?
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Q9 what languages have we translated LBTH / NHS information into?
Q10 did we LBTH help share the government guidance on social distancing that was translated into multiple languages?
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Q11 when did we first provide translated material into other languages and formats? i.e. the 1st video I saw Cllr Islam was 19th April. Was higher rate of BAME infections in TH due in part to lack of awareness in that part of the community with poor English language skills?
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But those questions were not included in questions answered at Cabinet 3 days later
We know Comms was an issue, Our East End distributed in late March, no mention of COVID
Just look back at @TowerHamletsNow social media Feb/early March, little mention
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democracy.towerhamlets.gov.uk/documents/b353…
We know Comms was an issue, Our East End distributed in late March, no mention of COVID
Just look back at @TowerHamletsNow social media Feb/early March, little mention
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democracy.towerhamlets.gov.uk/documents/b353…
Did Tower Hamlets Council share for example government guidance in multiple languages issued 7th April + deaf video?
7th April was also quite late
Lack of communication was not because of a lack of staff/budget in TH Council itself
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7th April was also quite late
Lack of communication was not because of a lack of staff/budget in TH Council itself
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Size of teams substantial
Comms team at TH Council 40 people
Public health team at TH Council 43 people £35 million budget
= 83 people, although not all posts filled early March
It should have been possible for teams this size to communicate effectively to community
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Comms team at TH Council 40 people
Public health team at TH Council 43 people £35 million budget
= 83 people, although not all posts filled early March
It should have been possible for teams this size to communicate effectively to community
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Another issue is that too many residents in Tower Hamlets do not speak English well or at all 9% of total (27% of Bangladeshi origin population)
Are those poor language skills another reason why this community disproportionality suffered from COVID?
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towerhamlets.gov.uk/Documents/Boro…
Are those poor language skills another reason why this community disproportionality suffered from COVID?
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towerhamlets.gov.uk/Documents/Boro…
Will re-submit these suggestions/motion about why more work needs to be done understanding why COVID has had such an impact here (although Queen Mary University Clinical Effectiveness Group are already looking at some of this together with partners)
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