Virus alert as children catching RSV earlier
ANEW German Doner Kebab restaurant will open soon in the former McDonald’s/CoOperative building on the corner of Eastbank Street and King Street in Southport town centre, after plans were approved by Sefton Council.
The new development will create 30 new jobs with half a million pounds of investment in a building which has been empty and in disrepair since the surprise closure of McDonalds seven years ago.
It is a huge boost for the booming Market Quarter of Southport, whose growth is being led by the £1.4m transformation of Southport Market into a new food, drink and events venue which opened last month.
Season Coffee, Bar and Kitchen is opening opposite the market on King Street; The Coronation pub is currently in the process of being bought by new owners; while The Cake Box and Urban Attic are both preparing to open on Market Street.
Rrplanning, which submitted the planning application to Sefton
Council on behalf of German Doner Kebab, said: “The property is long term vacant since at least 2015 and the proposed scheme will help to encourage new life and footfall to the area to the betterment of the conservation area as whole.
“The applicants are investing approximately £500,000 in the premises and will create 30 new jobs in the town centre.”
The popular McDonald’s outlet, which opened in the 1980s, closed in October 2014 and has remained empty ever since.
Bringing the building back into use is a huge boost for the town centre and for the ‘Market Quarter’ of Southport.
Doner Kebab is a fast food retailer that has created a healthy and nutritionally balanced approach to traditional kebabs.
The firm opened its first store in Berlin in 1989 and spent the next decade perfecting its unique blend of traditional spices and exclusive products, as well as refining and improving its innovative cooking processes.
Kebabs are made from quality ingredients that are exclusive to Doner Kebab Restaurants. The great taste comes from the secret sauces that set its products apart from its competitors.
The firm uses lean succulent beef and pure chicken fillets. These meats are imported directly from Germany to maintain quality and consistency.
The firm has an outlet in Preston, as well as in countries around the world including: the US, Canada, Germany, Sweden, UAE, Ireland and Saudi Arabia.
Sefton Council has granted planning permission for German Doner Kebab to make alterations to the ground floor elevations to Eastbank Street, King Street and to the service alley, as well as for advertisement consent for the display of five illuminated signs.
German Doner Kebab has been approached for comment.
CHILDREN are catching a cough and cold virus much earlier this year according to hospital doctors.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common virus that causes coughs and colds in winter and is the most common cause of bronchiolitis in children under two.
In the UK, the RSV season typically begins in the autumn – earlier than the adult flu season – and runs throughout the winter. However, this year this is presenting in children much sooner.
Dr Shyam Mariguddi, clinical director for children’s medicine at Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, said that while respiratory infections are common in children, last winter saw fewer of them because of the Covid-19 restrictions.
“We’re now seeing more new cases as restrictions have lifted and many new parents may not have experienced respiratory illness in their child until now. Understandably, this may be very concerning for them.
“For the majority of children, however, these illnesses will not be serious and the child can be cared for at home with simple measures such as paracetamol, rest and plenty of fluids.”
Common symptoms of bronchiolitis are runny nose, a rasping, dry cough, mild rise in temperature. It may cause reduction in feed and more noticeable effort in breathing.
Dr Mariguddi said most cases of bronchiolitis resolve within two to three weeks, but parents should contact their GP or call NHS 111 if:
Their child struggles to breathe
Their child has taken less than half their usual amount during the last two or three feeds, or they have had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more.
The child has a persistent high temperature of 37.8C or above.
Children under two months of age, those born prematurely and those with underlying health conditions, such as a heart condition, are a higher risk of severe bronchiolitis and parents should consider accessing health advice earlier.
Parents and carers are also advised to dial 999 if:
Your baby is having difficulty breathing.
Your baby’s tongue or lips are blue.
There are long pauses in your baby’s breathing.
Dr Kati Scholtz, clinical lead for respiratory conditions at NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said: “If your child has a sore throat, cough or cold and you are concerned about them, contact NHS 111 by phone or online in the first instance or your GP can advise if needed.
“Most cases of bronchiolitis are not serious, but you should contact your GP or call NHS 111 if you’re worried about your child, they’re not feeding properly, they have a persistent high temperature of 37.8C or above, or they seem very tired or irritable.”
There are simple steps you can take to reduce the spread of all viruses:
Use tissues to catch coughs or sneezes, bin the used tissues as soon as possible and wash hands with soap and warm water to kill the germs.
Children with flu or bronchiolitis symptoms should stay home and reduce contacts.
Particularly avoid close contact with newborn babies, infants born prematurely (before 37 weeks), children under two born with heart or lung conditions, and those with weakened immune systems.
Find out more about the symptoms of bronchiolitis and what to do on the www.nhs.uk/conditions/ bronchiolitis.