Healthwatch City of London Bulletin 54
Healthwatch City of London Board Meeting in Public
Join us for the next board meeting in public which will be on the 12th November from 1pm – 3pm.
Our guest speakers include Joanna Lyndon-Cohen, from the City & Hackney COVID Rehabilitation Service who will be speaking on long COVID services available in the City.
The City & Hackney Integrated Care System (ICS) team will be talking about their work with City of London residents to engage with us in the wider NEL plans.
To join this meeting please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/201495086227
East London Cardiovascular Disease Prevention (ELoPE) group webinar
Wednesday 10th November 6pm – 7pm
Join Healthwatch City of London and the team at Barts Health to hear about the ELoPE project. The aim of the project is to reduce cardiovascular disease risk in our local community, working in partnership with the British Heart Foundation.
East London has some of the highest levels of childhood obesity and diabetes in the country. We’ll hear from Dr Riyaz Patel, Professor or Cardiology and Consultant Cardiologist, who will give an overview of the project and will be answering your questions.
You can submit a question for the team and register here
You can read more about the ELoPE project here
Update on London Ambulance Service
London Ambulance Service (LAS) are currently reviewing their estate strategy. At present they operate 64 stations across London and the proposal is to reduce the number of stations and operate a blend of large hubs, delivering vehicle maintenance for example, supporting smaller stations.
We have been informed that they will be consulting with the public on the plans ‘over the winter’. Once the consultation is launched, we will publish the details for you to comment. In the meantime, if you have any views or have experience of the London Ambulance service that you wish to share, please let us know by emailing info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk
St Bartholomew's Patient Experience & Engagement Committee
Last week we attended this committee as part of our continuing relationship with Bart’s Heart and Cancer Centre to make sure your voice is heard.
We continue to work closely with St Bartholomew’s a Hospital and the Neaman Practice to explore access to non-evasive cardiac tests. Just to remind you as patients from the Neaman Practice at present you can choose to be referred to the Royal London, UCLH and the Homerton.
We know that many of you are concerned about the waiting times for all appointments across all providers. If you have experienced a wait for an appointment, please let us know by completing our waiting times survey (see the article further down the bulletin) or please email us at info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk
If you’d like to hear more about how NHS Trusts plan to tackle waiting time, join us at our Annual Public Meeting on 10th December, where we will hear from Tracey Fletcher, Chief Executive Homerton University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Dame Alwen Williams DBE, Group Chief Executive, Barts Health NHS Trust, see details below.
HWCoL upcoming webinars and Public Meetings
Healthwatch City of London have a programme of webinars booked for your interest and information over the next few months. The webinars are run alongside our regular events. Please see the details and how to join below.
Healthwatch City of London Annual Public Meeting
Friday 10th December 3pm – 5pm
Our Annual Public Meeting will be held on Friday 10th December, key speakers will be Tracey Fletcher, Chief Executive of Homerton University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Dame Alwen Williams DBE, Group Chief Executive, Barts Health NHS Trust. Tracey and Alwen will be talking about patient engagement and enabling your voice to be heard during the reconfiguration of services and the development of the Integrated Care Partnership, In addition they will tell us how their Trusts are tackling the waiting lists. They will take questions from attendees, and we will let you know more about that as we get nearer the date.
Whilst we would have loved to hold the meeting face to face we have opted for an online meeting as we are aware that some who would like to join are still anxious about being with larger groups of people.
You can submit a question for the panel and register here
Dr David Collier, William Harvey Research Institute Webinar
Thursday 20th January 6pm – 7pm
Dr David Collier, Joint Clinical Director at the William Harvey Research Institute will be joining us on Thursday 20th January to talk about the William Harvey Research Institute. Dr Collier will talk about the remit of the Institute, how it links with Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, the current projects being undertaken and the research of the team.
You can submit a question for Dr Collier and register here
Reminder: NHS Waiting Times Survey
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many people having their operations, treatment and appointments delayed. A record number of people - more than 5.45 million - are waiting for NHS hospital treatment in England. We want to find out how this is affecting you.
All Healthwatches across the North East of London are carrying out a survey to learn about the impact of delays on people, how they are coping while they wait and what support they think would help them better manage their health.
If you have the time, please complete the survey below to let us know of your experiences. We’ll be doing some more in-depth work on this issue later this year.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/HWWaitingtimes
Healthwatch City of London events
See below for the next scheduled dates for our regular ‘Listening to City Carers’ events and our Mental Health and Wellbeing focus groups.
As a result of listening to you, we have enabled a carer to receive their COVID vaccination in their home, enabled another resident to access the ELFT mental health team, given a voice for carers in the retendering process by the Corporation of London of their home care contract.
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. We’ll also have a presentation from the Dragon Café.
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
Healthwatch City of London website review
We are currently reviewing the information provided on our website, how it is displayed and how it works for you. We would welcome your input in completing our review. If you have any ideas how the site can be improved, please let us know by emailing info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk You will see changes over the coming weeks.
Across the City of London
City Carers Community Share and Learn sessions via Zoom
Monday 15th & 29th November 11.15am / 8pm (45 minutes)
You are welcome to join a friendly group, run by residents voluntarily and independently. Learn tips from city residents who are looking after a family member, friend, or neighbour. Ask anything we have had questions from care homes through to dental last month. Open to anyone who is looking after someone in the City of London. For the zoom link or telephone number to call in. email:CityCarersCommunity@gmail.com
Consulting with City Residents on fitness and the recommissioning of the Golden Lane Leisure Centre
The City of London Corporation are reviewing a range of services they commission to support the health and fitness of the resident, student and worker populations, including the management of Golden Lane Leisure Centre.
If you are aged 18 or over and are a resident or worker in the City of London, you can help design the health and fitness services that they will commission, from 2023 onwards, by completing a quick 13-minute survey.
If you are aged 17 or under and are a resident or student in the City of London, you can help them decide how to design our health and fitness services in the Square Mile by completing this five-minute survey.
If you have any questions or would like to talk about any of the details in the survey, please visit the Keeping Active web page or email the Commissioning Team.
City Connections November Newsletter
Please see attached the City Connections November newsletter. City Connections is delivered by Age UK East London on behalf of the City of London Corporation. Their aim is to link people with Health and Wellbeing Services in the City of London.
The newsletter included a list of their regular activities, as well an event for Carers Rights Day on the 26th November.
Walking for Health
Just 30 minutes walking a day has many health benefits, it can reduce stress levels, reduce the risk of hear disease, increases energy levels and helps maintain a healthy weight.
Square Mile Health Walks have a series of walks between now and Christmas.
Saturday walks are between 45-60 minutes and no more than 2 miles. Thursday and Sunday walks are between 60-90 minutes and no more than 3 miles.
Saturday 6th November 2021: meet 11am at St Pauls Station Café Nero Entrance for an hours walk
Sunday 21st November 2021: meet 10am at Monument Station linear walk to George Inn Southwark
Thursday 25th November 2021: meet 2pm outside the Metro Bank in Holborn for circular Bloomsbury Walk
Saturday 4th December 2021: meet 11am at St Pauls Station Café Nero Entrance for an hours walk
Thursday 9th December 2021: meet 2pm at Oxford Circus Station on Argyll Street Entrance linear walk to Tottenham Court Road WFH 35
Sunday 19th December: meet 10am at St Paul’s Station Café Nero Entrance for a circular walk back to St Pauls Station
You can read their blog here
https://squaremilehealthwalks.wordpress.com/benefits-of-walking-30-mins-per-day/
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
Portsoken Health and Community Centre, 14-16 Little Somerset Street, London E1 8AH
