THE FARNHAM and Villages Coronavirus Support Helpline has announced it is taking “a pause” at the end of this month – ahead of anticipated changes to government guidelines coming into force on August 1, where clinically extremely vulnerable people will no longer be advised to shield.

The Farnham helpline was set up at the end of March to help people with no access to friends, family or neighbours. It has to date assisted more than 1,000 people with food shopping, prescription collections as well as getting to and from hospital appointments.

Helpline volunteers have also set up regular social calls with many service users.

Those who have been shielding will retain their priority for supermarket delivery slots, and access support from NHS volunteers and Farnham, Waverley and Surrey councils.

A spokesman for the Farnham Maltings, which set up the helpline alongside Farnham Town Council in March, said: “We will endeavour to ensure that all those who have been frequently calling are assisted in finding other avenues of support should they require it after July 31.”

Pharmacies are being contacted to ensure they are aware of the change at the end of July.

The Farnham and Villages Coronavirus Support Helpline in numbers:

* Total calls taken: 1,663

* Total service users: 1,079

* Total prescription runs: 1,371

* Total shopping enquiries: 140

* Total social call requests: 13