Healthwatch City of London Bulletin 58
Join us for our Annual Public Meeting
Friday 10th December 3pm – 5pm
We are holding our Annual Public Meeting this Friday (10th December), our key speakers will include Professor Charles Knight OBE, Chief Executive, St Bartholomew’s Hospital part of Barts Health and Catherine Pelley, Chief Nurse at Homerton University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Catherine and Charles will be talking about how their Trusts are tackling waiting lists and will give an overall update from their respective Trusts. They will take questions from attendees.
You can submit a question for the panel and register here or you can just join via zoom by using the following details: Meeting ID: 958 6276 6023 Passcode: 341057
New restrictions announced by the Government
The government announced on Wednesday 8th December new restrictions being introduced in England to slow down the spread of the Covid-19 Omicron variant
What has the Government announced?
The Government are introducing several new steps:
- From 10 December, face coverings will be required by law in most indoor settings.
- From 13 December office workers who can work from home should do so.
- From 15 December, certain venues and events will be required by law to check that all visitors aged 18 years or over are fully vaccinated, have proof of a negative test in the last 48 hours, or have an exemption.
Libraries in the City of London
City of London libraries have confirmed that face coverings will be mandatory in their libraries from Friday 10th December. (This applies Nationally)
Find out more
To read the latest advice from Government, visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do
There are some key things you can do to reduce your chances of getting or spreading it:
- Get vaccinated
- Let fresh air in if you meet indoors; meeting outdoors is safer
- Wear a face covering
- Get tested. Take a free PCR test if you have symptoms and a free rapid test if you don’t, especially if you planning to go out and be around people
- Wash your hands regularly and cover coughs and sneezes
- Try and stay home if you are unwell
Get tested
Getting tested for Covid-19 is really important in helping control the spread of the virus. It is important you get tested if you have symptoms and get tested if you don’t have symptoms but will be mixing with other people indoors.
If you are a City of London Corporation resident, are self-isolating and you require assistance, contact them by filling in the COVID-19 form, by emailing the COVID-19 mailbox, or by calling 020 7606 3030
There are different tests you can get to check if you have coronavirus (COVID-19). The test you need depends on why you're getting tested.
The 2 main tests are:
- PCR tests – mainly for people with symptoms, they're sent to a lab to be checked
- rapid lateral flow tests – only for people who do not have symptoms, they give a quick result using a device similar to a pregnancy test
Both tests are free.
How to get rapid lateral flow tests
- By ordering home testing kits to your home
- By collecting home testing kits from a collection point, such as a pharmacy or testing centre. Use the NHS COVID-19 Test and Vaccination Site Finder tool
You can also collect rapid test kits from the COVID-19 Test Site Aldermanbury, London, EC2V 7HH. There is no need to book to collect your kits. The site is open between 9am and 3.15pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. There is no need to book to collect your kits.
How to book a PCR test
You can find the closest test site to you by going to the following link Covid testing in the City of London. For the City the main test site is located at COVID-19 Test Site Aldermanbury, London, EC2V 7HH. The site is open between 9am and 3.15pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. or you can book a PCR test on the NHS site http://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test. Tests can also be booked by calling NHS119.
Over 40? You can now book your booster jab
In England, if you're 40 or over, or in a high-risk group, you can now book to have your booster jab 12 weeks after your second vaccine dose (or third, if you have a weakened immune system and had to have an extra primary dose).
You can arrange your booking a month in advance - in other words, from two months (61 days) after your second jab.
Most people will be invited to book an appointment at a larger vaccination centre, pharmacy, or local NHS service such as a GP surgery. You can book your COVID-19 vaccine booster appointment on-line or by calling NHS119.
If you are unable to leave your home or unable to travel to a vaccination site, please contact your GP who can arrange a home visit for administration of the booster.
You'll be offered a booster dose six months after your second dose if:
- Live in a residential care home
- Are aged 40 + years
- Are a frontline health or social care worker
- Are aged 16 to 49 years with an underlying health condition that puts you at higher risk of COVID-19
- Are aged 16 and over and either live with someone, or are the main carer for someone, at high risk from COVID-19
Book your vaccination appointment online or find a walk-in clinic.
Primary Care sites
- COVID-19 Vaccination Centre, 3A Bocking Street, E8 3RU
- John Scott Health Centre, Green Lanes, London, N4 2NU
- St. Leonard's Hospital, Nuttall Street, N1 5LZ
Pharmacy sites (booked through the national booking portal)
- Boots, 120 Fleet St, EC4A 2BE
- Clockwork Pharmacy - 398-400 Mare Street, Hackney, London E8 1HP
- Bees Pharmacy - 199-201 Rushmore Road, Clapton, E5 0HD
- Haggerston Pharmacy, 197-215 Haggerston Road, E8 4HU
- Day Lewis Pharmacy, 77 Stoke Newington Rd, N16 8AD
- Silverfields Chemists, 141 Homerton High St, E9 6AS
- Spring Pharmacy, 223 Hoxton Street, N1 5LG
- Murrays Pharmacy, 96-98 Murray Grove, N1 7QP
Alternatively, vaccinations for residents registered at Tower Hamlets GPs are being administered from:
- Newby Place Health and Wellbeing Centre, 21 Newby Place, Poplar, E14 0EY
- The Art Pavillion, Mile End Park, Clinton Road, E3 4QY
Christmas information leaflet
We will be publishing our Christmas information leaflet on Thursday 16th December. The leaflet will detail the opening hours and contact details of NHS service providers and local pharmacies over the Christmas and New Year period. This will be distributed via our usual mailing list, it will also be available on our website.
Tell us about City of London community pharmacies: PNA 2022 Public Questionnaire
Around every three years there is a review of pharmaceutical services across England.
So, what are pharmaceutical services?
In the City of London, pharmaceutical services are provided from community pharmacies, internet pharmacies, and providers of specialist medical appliances. Community pharmacies also provide healthcare support and advice and are often the first point of contact when people are concerned about their health.
Why are views on pharmaceutical services being sought?
The City of London Health and Wellbeing Board, which Healthwatch City of London are a member, have a statutory duty to publish a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment every three years, under the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013.The Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment is a report of the current needs for pharmaceutical services. It is used to identify any gaps in current services or improvements that could be made in future pharmaceutical service provision. The Board want to make sure that you can access pharmaceutical services easily and that you are happy with the service you receive. Anyone who uses local pharmaceutical services is invited to comment.
Who will use the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment?
It will be used by NHS England, City of London Corporation, and the Northeast London Clinical Commissioning Group to make decisions when applications for new pharmacies are received, and for the commissioning of other services that could be delivered by community pharmacies and other providers.
How can your views on Pharmaceutical Services views be heard?
A questionnaire has been developed, to get your views on pharmaceutical services that you use. If you would like to complete this online, you can access the survey by clicking on this link
The survey closes on Friday 17th December.
Healthwatch City of London website *update*
As we have said in previous bulletins, we are undergoing a review of our website to bring you the most relevant and up to date information.
We have simplified and updated the information on how to get in touch with, and make a complaint to, our local NHS service providers, you can view the page here https://www.healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk/help-making-complaint
The next stage of the project is a guide on the patient choice site ‘Choose and Book’, we will bring you a further update on that next week.
In the meantime, we would welcome your input so if you have any ideas how the site can be improved, please let us know by emailing info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk
New feedback platform for the Neaman Practice
The Neaman Practice has a new feedback platform called Care Opinion.
Care Opinion is a place where you can share your experience of health or care services and help make them better for everyone.
Feedback and stories will be reviewed fortnightly by the Practice, who receive an email notification when feedback is submitted. All comments, negative or positive, will get discussed at the Practice meetings and necessary changes made by the team.
You can access the platform here https://www.careopinion.org.uk/2959/neaman-practice-feedback/kiosk or via the Practice website https://www.theneamanpractice.nhs.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
HWCoL upcoming webinars
Healthwatch City of London have a programme of webinars booked for your interest and information in the New Year. The webinars are run alongside our regular events. Please see the details and how to join below.
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, how it links with Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, and the current projects being undertaken by the research team.
You can submit a question for Dr Collier and register here
Accessing Long Covid Services in City and Hackney Webinar
Wednesday 2nd February 3pm – 4pm
We will be joined by Joanna Lyndon-Cohen, Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist from the City and Hackney Long Covid Services team. Joanna will be giving an overview of the services on offer for City residents who are suffering with symptoms of Long Covid.
Please register here to join us
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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