BOLTON Council has been making sure that support is on hand for those who have had to self-isolate or are shielding by keeping in touch with vulnerable residents.

They established Bolton’s Humanitarian Response which ensures that those who are alone get the support they need.

As part of the response, thousands of phone calls have been made to residents who have been shielding or are classed as vulnerable during the pandemic.

In order to ensure expert mental health support is available to those who need it, the council teamed up with Bolton’s Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) so that extra guidance can be offered if necessary.

Any resident who does not have family or friends to help them and requires support can ring the council on 01204 337221, a helpline which is available Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm, and Saturday 9am to 1.30pm.

There is also an online form available so people can ask for help in that way.

Throughput lockdown, the council contacted all shielded residents, making 14,391 calls in total to ensure that they were ok and to see if they required any support.

Over 2,000 specific welfare calls were made to customers classed as vulnerable via the CCG - 2,142 calls in total.

The council also has weekly contact with over 100 residents who have identified themselves as isolated, and they are asked about how they are coping.

Included in Bolton’s Humanitarian Assistance Group is a member of the CCG’s mental health commissioning team to ensure that the council has access to expertise, support and guidance in this area.

The CCG rep also ensures that the group has links with commissioned providers of mental services in Bolton.

This ensures that services are linked in with the humanitarian response, as how people are affected practically has an impact on their mental health.

Bolton Council’s executive cabinet member for wellbeing, Cllr Susan Baines, said: “During the pandemic, many of us will have struggled with feelings of loneliness or isolation.

“This is particularly the case for those clinically vulnerable residents who were advised to shield because they were at most risk from the virus.

“Working with our partners in health and voluntary sector, our humanitarian response has been designed to support their mental wellbeing as well as their physical health.”

The team of volunteers and council staff also provides support and help with access to food and essential items such as medication.