Healthwatch City of London Bulletin 42
Key guidance and restrictions
You are still encouraged to:
- wash your hands regularly
- wear a face covering in enclosed or crowded space
- keep your distance where you can
- self-test twice a week
- reduce the number of people you meet and for how long you meet them
- You don't legally have to socially distance and there are no legal limits on how many people you can meet indoors or outdoors.
If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, self-isolate immediately and get a PCR test, even if your symptoms are mild. You should self-isolate at home while you book the test and wait for the results. You must self-isolate if you test positive. Your isolation period includes the day your symptoms started (or the day your test was taken if you do not have symptoms), and the next 10 full days. Following recent legislation being passed, this is now the law.
The most important symptoms of COVID-19 are recent onset of any of the following:
- a new continuous cough
- a high temperature
- a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
For most people, COVID-19 will be a mild illness. However, if you have any of the symptoms above, even if your symptoms are mild, stay at home and arrange to have a test.
You must also self-isolate if you are told to do so by NHS Test and Trace, for example if you have come into contact with someone who has tested positive. This remains the law, regardless of your vaccination status.
Vaccination clinics at Toynbee Hall
Walk-in without an appointment, or book in advance by scanning the QR code (found in the flyer attached) or calling the council helpline on 020 7364 3030.
First and second Pfizer jabs are available.
If you’re coming for your second jab, please make sure it’s at least 8 weeks since your first.
Opening times:
Friday 23 July – 3pm to 9pm
Saturday 24 July – 11am to 5pm
Sunday 25 July – 11am to 5pm
Everyone over the age of 18 is now eligible. You don’t need I.D, or to be registered with a GP to get your vaccine.
Address: Toynbee Hall, 28 Commercial Street, E1 6LS
Neaman Practice face to face appointments
Healthwatch City of London have received confirmation from the team at the Neaman Practice that patients are entitled to request a face to face appointments with their doctor. Patients should now be given the choice between a virtual or face to face appointment when booking. Please let us know if you are refused this request on info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk.
Infection control at hospitals and healthcare settings
All hospital and healthcare settings have maintained their existing infection control COVID policies. Patients and visitors to the settings should adhere to these policies. These will include wearing face masks (unless exempt), regular handwashing, maintaining social distancing and limited numbers of people in waiting areas. For more information, please visit the website of the setting you are visiting.
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
Looking to Get Involved- Join the Neighbourhood forum resident focus group
Join us next Thursday 29th July between 2pm and 3pm for a resident focus group. We would have like to have held the session face to face but with the ongoing pandemic, we feel it’s safer to hold it online.
Why Neighbourhood Forums?
As part of its Neighbourhoods project, City and Hackney Integrated Care Partnership Board (ICPB) has funded Hackney CVS (Hackney Council for Voluntary services) to set up Neighbourhood forums. The forums are for residents to discuss the wider determinants of health and social care and influence service provision.
Residents involved in the forums can help identify gaps in services and make a case to address these. So, for example, if residents would like a podiatry clinic at their GP surgery, they can put this forward.
The forums will feed back to the Primary Care Network, Health and Social Care organisations and the voluntary and community sector. This kind of community engagement stems from the ICPB’s commitment to ‘delivering services locally and local accountability’
Healthwatch City of London have been undertaking a project to ensure that the Neighbourhoods Forums are fit for purpose and that the residents voice is heard. Our commitment is to make sure that you are involved, your voice is heard and that the Forums deliver what say they will.
What will the Forum do?
The Neighbourhood Forum has the aim of improving the lives of everyone who lives in the area with local services being accountable to local people.
People need to know about the facilities and services that are available to them (both informal and formal), these need to be accessible to all who want to use them. The interests and needs of residents need to be understood. On top of that communities need to know what’s missing locally and be able to make recommendations made to those who are responsible for planning and delivering our services.
Informal facilities and services include things like community events, all types of clubs, art societies, local walks, allotments, football leagues, music and faith groups. Examples of formal wellbeing facilities and services include information about health clinics and advice services.
Where is my Forum?
A Neighbourhood forum is being set up for the communities of the City, De Beauvoir, Hoxton and Shoreditch Park. This oddly shaped area stretches from Tower Gateway in the East to Chancery Lane in the West and from the River Thames in the South to Balls Pond Road in the North. We realise that this covers a large and diverse area, Healthwatch City of London will continually scrutinise the work and recommendations of the forum, once it is fully established, to ensure that the needs and voice of the City are heard.
Let us know if you’d like more information on the Neighbourhood forum or the focus group, please email info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk (please note this in only monitored Tuesday – Friday)
Joining details:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82670673463?pwd=WWRSKzJMVElPcWw4OTkvL0ZTQnlBQT09
Meeting ID: 826 7067 3463 Passcode: 640159 Dial in: 0203 481 5237
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
Neighbourhood forum focus group – Thursday 29th July
Overview: We’d like to hear your views and ideas on the Neighbourhoods forum and ensure you have your say in the forum’s development.
Time: 14:00 – 15:00
Joining details
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82670673463?pwd=WWRSKzJMVElPcWw4OTkvL0ZTQnlBQT09
Meeting ID: 826 7067 3463 Passcode: 640159 Dial in: 0203 481 5237
*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
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
