Healthwatch City of London Bulletin 41
Public meeting on the future of St Leonard’s Hospital
As reported in previous bulletins, Healthwatch City of London has been working with our colleagues at Healthwatch Hackney to develop a public involvement programme that will give City and Hackney residents a genuine opportunity to take part in a collaborative venture to plan the future of St Leonard’s Hospital. The first step in implementing the programme was taken last Tuesday (13 July) with the holding of a well-attended virtual public meeting, at which speakers from the two Healthwatches first outlined where the current proposals for redeveloping St Leonard’s have got to and how we want to involve local people in developing a People’s Plan for the hospital that will have a real influence in shaping those proposals. Claire Hogg, Director of Strategic Implementation and Partnerships at Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (which provides most of the services at St Leonard’s), then spoke about the vision for the future, describing how the public and hospital staff now have the chance to co-create a vision for a new St Leonard’s which meets population health needs, with the potential also to provide opportunities around education, employment and housing.
The main object of the meeting was to give members of the public an opportunity to have their say on the future of St Leonard’s. The views expressed were wide-ranging and thought-provoking. Issues raised included whether the whole of the St Leonard’s site (only about one third of which is occupied by the present hospital buildings) should be used for the delivery of health and social care, or whether financial realities meant that part of the site would need to be sold off. If part of the land is sold, should it be sold to the highest bidder or limited to use for social housing or housing for healthcare workers? What clinical or other services should be provided from a redeveloped St Leonard’s? Should the services currently available be expanded to include, for example, dementia services, intermediate care for those recently discharged from hospital, care for those suffering from long Covid, services promoting personal independence and mobility, facilities for health education or a wellness café?
If you have any thoughts about St Leonard’s which you would like to contribute to the debate at this stage, do please get in touch by e-mail to info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk. Alternatively, the next stage in our public involvement programme will be to conduct an online survey of City and Hackney residents, which will provide a further opportunity to share your ideas about St Leonard’s. Do please take part in the survey and encourage your friends in the City to do so too! Later in the year, our programme provides for focus groups to be held in each of the eight neighbourhoods which make up the City and Hackney, in which local residents can come to a view about the services which their own neighbourhood would like to see delivered from a redeveloped St Leonard’s. We very much hope that City residents will be willing to take part in the focus group for our own neighbourhood (Shoreditch Park and City). We will be giving more information about this nearer the time.
Listening to City Carers event
We are holding our next Listening to City Carers event on Friday 23rd July between 2pm and 3pm. At the meeting we will be joined by Ian Jarman who is responsible for the new home care contract for the City of London Corporation. The Corporation are reviewing Adults Homecare services in preparation for a new City Homecare contract from April 2022. They are carrying out this review to ensure Care and Support that is delivered to people in their own homes, enables and supports our vulnerable residents as well as meeting individual needs.
City Commissioners are keen to hear from Carers and Family representatives of people who currently use or are planning to use a homecare service in the City, which is why Ian is attending our meeting.
Your feedback, discussion and ideas will really help CoL to understand Carers and Family representative views about the types of services needed, how and where services can be improved, as well as highlighting any gaps which will help the City design how Homecare services will be delivered over the next few years.
If you are unable to attend the Carers meeting and would like to provide feedback, they will be posting online surveys on the City website or you can email your comments directly to Ian.jarman@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Joining details for the meeting to be held between 2pm and 3pm on 23rd July:
https://zoom.us/j/94462352882?pwd=SzdvK2w3YmZGK0RONFZRWlNlN3QzQT09
Meeting ID: 944 6235 2882 Passcode: 731084 Dial in: 0208 080 6592
Barts continuation of infection control rules
Barts Health are maintaining all of the safety measures that they have had in place over the course of the pandemic.
They state that ‘The health, safety and wellbeing of our patients, communities and staff continues to be our top priority. As cases continue to rise in the community, we are maintaining all of the safety measures that we have had in place over the course of the pandemic after lockdown restrictions ease across England on 19 July 2021.’
The main points are:
- Limited visitors to the hospital (virtual visits can be arranged)
- Upon arrival visitors will be asked why you are visiting the hospital and if you have COVID symptoms
- Staff and visitors must wear a surgical face mask (unless you have a medical exemption or are under 11 years old)
- Availability of hand gel and encouragement to wash hands regularly
- Patients with COVID 19 are being cared for in separate areas of the hospital.
For full detail please read the following article:
https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/news/visitor-guidance-and-how-were-keeping-you-safe-7522
For more information on the specific visitor guidance for each hospital, please visit: St Bartholomew's Hospital, Newham Hospital, Whipps Cross Hospital and The Royal London Hospital and click on the orange Covid-19 drop down tab.
We are awaiting information on UCLH, which we will publish as soon as it’s available.
National Covid-19 Vaccinations
Nationally, COVID-19 vaccines are now being offered to people aged 18 and over. There are 2 ways to get a COVID-19 vaccine, book online now for appointments at a vaccination centre or a pharmacy or wait to be contacted by your GP surgery and book your appointments with them.
To book online visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/
Vaccine Van coming to a location near you
The Covid-19 vaccine van will be touring Hackney until 26 July. Please see attached for information about a series of pop-up clinics hosted in partnership with local community organisations for City and Hackney residents aged 18+ who need their 1st or 2nd dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
Walk-ins are accepted subject to availability, but we recommend phoning the local helpline on 020 8356 3111 before attending, to reserve your place.
For more up to date information on the Covid vaccine programme please visit https://hackney.gov.uk/coronavirus-vaccine or https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/health-and-wellbeing/covid-19-vaccine
Please see the attached flyer below for dates and locations.
City Wellbeing Centre
The City Wellbeing Centre located at 57-77 Middlesex Street, London, E1 7AD, offers therapeutic support for people who live or work in the City of London.
The City Wellbeing Centre services are accessible to all irrespective of income. As a non-profit making organisation, Tavistock Relationships provides its therapeutic services based on what individuals and couples can afford and for those on lower incomes there is the option of the low cost/no cost therapy service.
Counselling and psychotherapy are available through the centre to individuals, couples and groups who would like support with their emotional and psychological difficulties. Although the services are currently being offered remotely, it is hoped that face-to-face therapy alongside their online offer is available as soon as is possible.
The Centre aims to provide greater access to therapeutic mental health treatments not always available through the NHS, including counselling, psychotherapy and conflict resolution. Support can also include help for separated couples, parenting interventions, support for carers and those living with dementia, 50+ support for retiring couples, as well as short-term interventions for individuals and couples affected by lockdown.
For further information, please see the attached leaflet or visit their website https://CityWellbeingCentre.org or phone 020 7380 1960
Upcoming Healthwatch City of London Events
One of Healthwatch City of London’s purposes is to understand the needs, experiences and concerns of people who use health and social care services and to speak out on their behalf. To do that we need to hear from you so we provide a number of regular events where we can exchange views and raise issues or concerns. Ideally, we’d like to hold them face to face, but because of the current pandemic we are restricted to Zoom events.
Please see a list of our events below with joining details.
Listening to City Carer’s event – Friday 23rd July
Overview: This month we will be joined by Ian Jarman, Commissioner from the City of London Corporation for the new Home care contract.
Time: 14:00 – 15:00
Joining details:
https://zoom.us/j/94462352882?pwd=SzdvK2w3YmZGK0RONFZRWlNlN3QzQT09
Meeting ID: 944 6235 2882 Passcode: 731084 Dial in: 0208 080 6592
*Change of date* Listening to City Carer’s event – Friday 27th August
Overview: An opportunity for Carer’s to provide feedback on their experience of Health and Social Care.
Time: 11:00 – 12:00
Joining details:
https://zoom.us/j/96737224444?pwd=bWE5R3l3OGVvY21tbDRpcURqOXFmdz09
Meeting ID: 967 3722 4444 Passcode: 364136 Dial in: 0208 080 6591
City Carers Community Share and Learn sessions via Zoom
Monday 19th July, 11.15am / 8pm (45 minutes)
You are welcome to join in and learn tips from city residents who are looking after a family member, friend or neighbour. Topics may be are you paying privately for medicines which can be on prescription?. Open to anyone who is looking after someone in the City of London. A friendly group, run by residents voluntarily. For the zoom link email:CityCarersCommunity@gmail.com
Latest Covid-19 statistics for the City of London.
The joint City and Hackney Public Health Intelligence Team produce regular statistics on Covid-19 levels and vaccination uptake data in the City. The site is updated regularly and accessible at. https://hackney.gov.uk/coronavirus-data
Keep up to date with the latest advice
HWCoL are constantly updating our advice and information pages. Please make sure you visit them regularly.
Get in touch with Healthwatch City of London.
Visit our website for more information, news and events, have your say about your care, and spread the word about Healthwatch City of London.
www.healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk email: info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk
Tel: 020 3745 9563 Facebook: facebook.com/CoLHealthwatch Twitter: @HealthwatchCoL
Portsoken Health and Community Centre, 14-16 Little Somerset Street, London E1 8AH
