I would like to start my column by congratulating the Editor and staff at the Post for their fantastic relaunch and new format.

I have heard from many friends and fellow readers that they approve of the new style and I look forward to reading the local edition for years to come. The media have a big job to play in the national and local effort to combat Coronavirus, and for many of my North Cornwall constituents who are not online, print is still their preferred way of informing themselves about the news.

Local councils are also responding to the needs of constituents who are not online with dedicated phone lines to offer support. This week I have be informed that Bude-Stratton Town Council have set up their own line which can be reached on 01288 353576, and Bodmin Town Council will be putting up banners and posters with the hotline number and distributing flyers.

Their message to anyone who knows a person who has no internet access is to give them this number and ask them to put it by their phone. The Bodmin Hotline number is 01208 455 163. It will be manned by Bodmin’s town councillors and other local volunteers from 10am to 7pm.

I was very pleased that The NHS has launched a mental health hotline as part of a package of measures to support its staff — as we are doing everything we can to support our incredible NHS workers as they care for people through this global health emergency.

The best thing the public can do is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. NHS staff will be able to call or text a free number staffed by thousands of specially trained volunteers, to receive support and advice for the pressures they face every day during the global health emergency.

Anyone who requires further help will be signposted to other services ranging from practical and financial assistance through to specialist bereavement and psychological support.

The NHS has also partnered with Headspace, UnMind and Big Health to offer a suite of apps for no charge to assist staff with their mental health. It is our priority to support NHS staff, and on Monday we delivered over 20 million items of PPE to the NHS.

The NHS is rightly doing everything it can for its staff, but the best thing that the public can do if they want to do their bit for nurses, doctors and other NHS staff, is to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.

I look forward to updating you all in two weeks’ time, and if there is anything my team or I can do to help you, do not hesitate to email via [email protected] or call on 01208 74337.