Highland Council's coronavirus helpline gets 1400 calls in its first week
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Staff at Highland Council’s dedicated Covid-19 helpline have dealt with more than 1600 calls since it went live last Wednesday afternoon.
The helpline has been set up to give assistance and to collect details of individuals and community groups looking to provide volunteering support.
In the first seven days, the majority of the callers sought support for businesses or offered to volunteer as there are already more than 240 groups offering assistance.
The freephone number – 0300 303 1362 – is open between 8am and 6pm and is staffed by volunteers from Eden Court and the council.
As well as directly assisting callers the home-based staff also direct people to other organisations that can provide help and assistance too. All calls are free.
The council is encouraging people to continue to use their online forms to make payments, report problems and request a service which are available 24/7 from its website.
However, if someone has received one of the so-called shielding letters from the NHS warning them to isolate themselves for 12 weeks because they are in a particularly vulnerable group there is a different number to call – 01349 886669.
Urgent inquiries about any other council business goes to a different line – 01349 886602, or else people can again visit the website for help and guidance.
A council spokesman said: “The statistics for the first week show how busy our staff are. This is a helpline for customers requiring or offering support during the coronavirus situation.
“If anyone has a query relating to other urgent council business, they should contact our service centre on 01349 886602 or continue to use on-line forms and resources as much as possible to ensure those most in need of assistance can be supported.
“If anyone receives a shielding letter from the NHS requiring them to self- isolate for 12 weeks and they require support, they should contact the council’s dedicated shielding helpline at 01349 886669 and if they require food support, they should telephone the number provided in their letter.”
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