Healthwatch City of London Bulletin 47
Let us know what you think
Our work would not be possible without you so we would really welcome your feedback. We are keen to know what more you would like to hear about and how you would like to get that information. Please complete the survey below (it’s a very short survey, that won’t take very much of your time) Thank you
Changes to Social Care funding
As the Prime Minister announced in the Commons on Tuesday 7th September, the Government will be raising the rate of National Insurance contributions by 1.25% as part of a new health and social care levy. The plan is for the £36 billion this raises to be used over the next three years to cover the costs associated with managing the NHS backlog. Following that, future funds aim to cover the costs needed by the social care sector.
There are a lot of figures to digest, and not all of the information relating to this announcement have been released yet. More details are to come to come directly from NHS England later this year.
SOCIAL CARE REFORM
The announcement means that in three years’ time, funding through the health and social care levy will be directed to social care services.
In terms of actual social care policy changes, from October 2023 there will be changes to social care charging ‘cap and floors’:
• Introducing a cap on lifetime care costs - £86,000.
• Floor before paying towards your own care – a lower limit of £20,000 and an upper limit of £100k – a change from the current floors (a lower limit of £14,250 and an upper limit £23,250).
What the announcement didn’t do, is provide any detailed information on the Government’s strategy for reform; on how people with lived experience of caring or using services will be engaged or involved in decision-making; or on where the money raised through levy contributions will go.
More information will be provided in due course. We understand this will include:
• Funding to help local authorities with provider payments.
• How £500 million will go directly towards supporting the social care workforce, in terms of professionalisation and access to mental and occupational health support.
• Commitments to announcing further social care reform and information on how the levy will be ringfenced
We are working on your behalf to find out what that means to you and the City of London residents. As soon as we get more information, we’ll publish it on our website and in our bulletin.
NHS WAITING LIST BACKLOG
On top of the announcement on Monday 6th September of £1.5 billion to help the NHS tackle the waiting list backlog, the Government has plans for an additional £16 billion of funding to go to the NHS more broadly over spending review period. It’s not clear at this stage how much of this money will be directly ringfenced for managing the waiting list backlog.
The Government hopes this funding will allow NHS England to raise its elective capacity to beyond pre-pandemic levels.
We are currently working with our partners, Barts, UCLH and other London Healthwatchs to fully understand the extent of the waiting list backlog in London. We are also talking to the CCG to ascertain how they plan to deal with the backlog and how they will keep patients informed.
We’ll shortly be launching a survey for you to tell us of your experience of the backlog, so please do fill it in. In the meantime if you want to tell us of your experience please email us at info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk
You can read the Prime Ministers full statement here, and the subsequent statement from the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak.
Alternatively you can read the full Government plan, Build Back Better on the .gov.uk website.
Pop up vaccination clinics
You can attend a local vaccination pop-up clinic by walking in or calling 020 8356 3111 to confirm your appointment.
Community groups across the City and Hackney are running pop-up walk-in clinics for those 18+ who need their first dose and those who need their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
- 18 September 11am-3pm, Clissold Park, Near Clissold Park House, N16 9HJ
Children and young people aged 12 to 17
People aged 16 and 17, and children aged 12 to 15 who are eligible, will be contacted by a local NHS service such as a GP surgery to book their vaccination appointments.
Some walk-in COVID-19 vaccination sites are offering the vaccine to people aged 16 and 17. Nearest sites available for walk in vaccinations for 16+ are:
- Counting House at Guy's Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9RT. Opening times 8am – 7pm
- St Thomas Hospital, Gassiot House at Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH. Opening times 8am – 7pm
- Canonbury Primary School, 124 Canonbury Road, London, N1 2UT. Opening times 3pm – 7pm.
Please check the NHS website for venues and opening times. Please note that most sites only offer walk in appointments to over 18s.
Healthwatch City of London events
Covid 19 booster and Flu vaccination programme update webinar
Wednesday 15th September 6pm – 7pm
Following the success of our COVID 19 vaccination programme webinar, on 10/3/2021, we’ll be hosting a second giving you the latest on the COVID 19 booster and flu vaccination programme that will be rolled out from September.
The webinar will be held on Wednesday 15th September between 6pm – 7pm. We are fortunate enough to be joined by Dr Sandra Husbands, Director of Public Health, City of London & London Borough of Hackney, Dr Mark Rickets, C&H Chair NEL CCG and Clinical Lead Primary Care - NEL CCG & Health and Care Partnership.
This in an opportunity for you to find out the latest information on this initiative and ask your questions. Please spread the word to others who may not get our newsletter.
To join the webinar you can register on our Eventbrite page https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/covid-vaccination-booster-and-flu-vaccine-webinar-tickets-167732493403 or to submit a question to the panel please email info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk
Healthwatch City of London Annual General Meeting
Thursday 16th September 2pm – 4pm
We will be holding our Annual General Meeting on Thursday 16th September between 2pm – 4pm in which we’ll present our annual report, our annual accounts, giving an overview of our work from the previous year and outlining our plans for the coming year. We’ll be showcasing our top seven local priorities based on feedback from you and our own work. Core to our mission is making sure your voice is heard in the changing landscape of the delivery of health and social care provision across the City so please do join us.
Everyone is welcome to attend to meet the Healthwatch City of London team and to ask questions.
To join us you can register on our Eventbrite page https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/166140329197 or you can email info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk
Annual Public Meeting
In early November we will be holding our Annual Public meeting which is an opportunity or you to find out more from those who deliver our services. We are lining up some exciting speakers and we’ll publish the details as soon as they are confirmed, so watch this space!
EloPE
Later in the year we will also be welcoming the team from the East London Cardiovascular Prevention programme to talk about their work across East London and how you can prevent and improve your cardiovascular health. We’ll be announcing details soon, so please check on our website.
We are pleased to announce the next dates for our regular events for ‘Listening to City Carers’ and our Mental Health and Wellbeing focus groups. They are as follows:
Listening to City Carers
Overview: An opportunity for Carer’s to provide feedback on their experience of Health and Social Care.
Date: Friday 24th September
Time: 2pm – 4pm
Link to join: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87692396586?pwd=OTJ5Vnlud3BMd0d6M0VYbjV0NEdSdz09
Meeting ID: 876 9239 6586 Passcode: 989869
Mental Health and Wellbeing focus group
Overview: The event is open to everyone and we will be discussing mental health provision in the City of London, identifying access issues and any gaps in the services provided to you. We will be joined by colleagues from MIND, East London Foundation Trust and City Connections.
Date: Thursday 30th September
Time: 3pm – 4pm
Link to join: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85285643247?pwd=R2hFYnVmSWZlYWx1UVBBTEtvZkdIdz09
Meeting ID: 852 8564 3247 Passcode: 864990
Listening to City Carers
Overview: An opportunity for Carer’s to provide feedback on their experience of Health and Social Care.
Date: Friday 22nd October
Time: 11am – 12noon
Link to join: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85823840940?pwd=cWYyZ1pWeDkrSXNWanMzWGorVE9yUT09
Meeting ID: 858 2384 0940 Passcode: 855067
Mental Health and Wellbeing focus group
Overview: The event is open to everyone and we will be discussing mental health provision in the City of London, identifying access issues and any gaps in the services provided to you. We will be joined by colleagues from MIND, East London Foundation Trust and City Connections.
Date: Thursday 18th November
Time: 3pm – 4pm
Link to join: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82400703243?pwd=Q0N4THRkTEVzNzZWbUYzQ0lkc2VtZz09
Meeting ID: 824 0070 3243 Passcode: 390856
Listening to City Carers
Overview: An opportunity for Carer’s to provide feedback on their experience of Health and Social Care.
Date: Friday 26th November
Time: 2pm – 3pm
Link to join: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81897762127?pwd=ZUFsdVMxS2lETmczZy8rdHlDWUl4Zz09
Meeting ID: 818 9776 2127 Passcode: 575751
Commitment to Carers programme lunch and learn webinar
The NHS England Commitment to Carers team would like to invite all carers to a lunch and learn webinar on Wednesday 22nd September 2021, 3.00- 4.00pm.
This is the first in a series of bi-monthly lunch and learn webinars aiming to bring together carers and professionals from across the country in an informal atmosphere to collaborate, learn and drive the delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan commitment to carers.
n-compass will showcase its online digital support platform ‘The Carers Community Network’ as part of its innovative support offer for carers. They are one of the leading providers of specialist support services for carers in the North of England. They wish to share their blended approach of face to face support and a digital online offer to ensure Carers always get the support of their choice.
To register your interest or if you have any questions please email: england.nhsthinkcarer@nhs.net.
Old Street Roundabout
We’ve had numerous contact from residents concerned about the additional time it now takes to reach Homerton Hospital following the development of the Old Street roundabout. The traffic flow of the roundabout was changed to reduce pollution and as a result of Covid distancing. However, we have had reports that it can now take over an hour to reach Homerton due to the new set up.
If you’ve experienced any delays, or would like to voice your concerns please contact us on info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk
New Office for Health Improvement and Disparities to launch on 1st October
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) will officially launch on 1 October with the aim of tackling health inequalities across the country. It will be co-led by newly appointed Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy (currently Director of Public Health in Tameside and President of the Association of Directors of Public Health), alongside Director General, Jonathan Marron.
Although the announcement focuses on lifestyle factors (smoking, exercise etc), the new body will also coordinate with government departments to address the wider drivers of good health, from employment to housing, education and the environment.
OHID does provide a real focus on health inequalities, with a commitment to tackling the wider determinants of health.
Where we will be particularly interested is that part of the approach will be looking at "improving access to health services across the country" which is already high on our agenda.
Read the announcement from the Department of Health and Social Care New body to tackle health disparities will launch 1 October, co-headed by new Deputy Chief Medical Officer - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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. https://www.healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk/advice-and-information
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
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