A year of lockdown: MP praises Northumberland communities for coming together when the chips are down

“This past year has been extraordinary in so many ways,” she said as the UK marked 12 months since the first lockdown was announced.

“The challenges we have all faced on an individual basis, both physically and mentally and the challenges our communities, country, and the global community still face have tested our generations in a way only experienced by our parents or grandparents.

"As it feels like we may be emerging into the sun once more, I hope we will retain that sense of duty and community spirit to help those left behind by this pandemic.

"There has been a huge toll on our mental health, including for children and young people, for parents enduring the stress of an endless juggle of work and home learning, for those of us separated from loved ones and friends.

"The shadow of long covid will also change the focus of our healthcare system, as research and funding into this new collection of illnesses becomes a priority. As a sufferer myself, I know how debilitating a condition that can be, the full extent of which we may not know for some time.”

She continued: “I think we all find ourselves looking to how this pandemic might change our habits for good. An increased tolerance of flexible working patterns can only be good news for parents or anyone seeking a better work/life balance. Perhaps we will be less inclined to physically go into work if we are unwell.

“As the MP, I have been privileged to witness the ways in which our communities have come together to help one another. Simple acts of checking on our neighbours, helping those who had to shield with groceries and prescriptions.

"In Northumberland we are fortunate to have incredible networks of people so willing to help others, including church groups, council teams and our Warm Hubs teams. Perhaps most impressive has been the way in which people have stepped up to help the mass vaccination efforts, working alongside GPs and their teams to ensure we can protect our most vulnerable. It demonstrates the ways in which when the chips are down, most people are keen to do what they can to help others.”

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