Healthwatch City of London December Newsletter
Chat from the Chair
Welcome to our December newsletter. As the festive season draws near, we at Healthwatch City of London are working to bring you all the information you need about Health and Social Care services across the City. The team have been working hard to makes sure we can deliver a comprehensive guide on how to access the services you or someone you know might need over the holiday period. Our guide will be an information leaflet detailing all the opening hours of NHS services, pharmacies, helplines etc, will be put up on our website and sent to our mailing list.
As you will be aware some healthcare staff are planning to take industrial action this winter. We are asking our local the NHS colleagues to support patients by making sure people get clear and accessible communications about the possible impact on their treatment and care as soon as possible.
We are delighted to be able to ask you to join us for our Annual Public Meeting tomorrow between 2pm – 4pm, we have Dr Chor from the Neaman Practice, Susan Masters from the Neighbourhoods programme and colleagues from the London Ambulance Service joining us. All the details of how to are below. We will be highlighting some of our successes form last year and sharing our plans for next year. Find out what we are up to and how you can help us.
We understand that this time of year is difficult for some, especially given the current cost of living crisis too, please see details of advice sessions being held by City Advice and a new service provided by the City of London Corporation ‘Green Doctors’ who give home, heating and energy advice. In addition, we are hosting a ‘Stay safe over Christmas’ webinar with colleagues from MIND, the Samaritans and City of London Corporation, details are also below. Please do share the invite with others.
Stay warm and safe
Gail
Annual Public Meeting
This Friday, 9th December we’ll be holding our Annual Public Meeting. Please do come along between 2pm – 4pm to hear about our work over the past year, and what our priorities are for the coming year. We'll be joined by speakers from the London Ambulance Service, Susan Master from the Neighbourhood programme and by Dr Chor from the Neaman Practice.
They’ll be opportunities for you to ask questions to all speakers and to us!
Join us via Zoom: Meeting ID: 527 317 7410 Passcode: HWCoL
Stay Safe over Christmas webinar
We realise that this time of year is difficult for many especially in the current cost of living crisis, we have set up a webinar on Thursday 15th December between 5pm – 6pm, with colleagues from MIND, the Samaritans and City of London Corporation, on how to stay safe over the Christmas period. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Our panel will talk through how you can get help, who you can talk to and how you can access services.
The joining details are: Zoom details: Meeting ID: 841 4974 4821 Passcode: 278240
Success for us
Earlier in the year we facilitated a discussion between the Neaman Practice and Barts Health, the result of which ECG and Echocardiograms are now offered at the Practice. This is a huge benefit to patients. We hope to hear more about this at our APM. Have you used this service yet? Let us know what its like. Still having trouble accessing services? tell us about it and we can ask the right questions of the right people.
Patient Panel Series
We held our second patient panel at the Golden Lane Community Centre on 23rd November with Charlotte Pomeroy from NHS North East London and Nina Griffiths the Director of Delivery from the City and Hackney place based partnership. The event was to discuss patient participation and resident engagement. They gave information on how you can be involved in local decision making on health and social care provision. There are lots of ways you can be involved, here are just a few:
- Work with Healthwatch City of London
- Become a Public Representative for the City and Hackney Place-based Partnership to represent the views of your local community and help co-produce services
- Attend open meetings like Community Voice in Health and Care or Shoreditch Park and The City Neighbourhood Meetings and share your experiences of local health and care services and help shape your local Neighbourhood
- Join a special interest group like City and Hackney Older People’s Reference Group, City and Hackney Young System Influencers or City and Hackney Maternity Voices Partnership
- Join the Patient Participation Group at your local practice (for Neaman Practice see here) to take part in decision making about your GP practice
- Become a Public Health Community Champion and help share key health information with your networks and communities
- Get involved in the Patient Experience forums at your local hospital Trust like Bart’s Health NHS Trust or Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
To find out more please contact us at info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk or the cah.communications@nhs.net
Our next patient panel is on 15th December, see above for details, on how to stay safe over Christmas. We’ll also be holding a session in January with the London Ambulance Service on shaping their strategy. This is a real opportunity to engage with LAS and we would encourage as many of you to come as possible.
Scarlet Fever and Strep A advice
You will be aware of the reports of the rise in the number of cases of scarlet fever. While it is usually mild, in very rare occasions the bacteria that causes scarlet fever can get into the bloodstream and cause a potentially dangerous illness called invasive Group A strep.
Understandably this has been concerning for many parents and driven a huge rise in demand for GP, 111, ambulance and A&E services. This is on top of the usual winter pressures and demands on other childhood illnesses.
Please see attached an information sheet for parents on the illness, and advice what to do if your child is unwell.
Green Doctors
The Green Doctor service provides advice to help struggling households save energy. They will point you in the right direction to other relevant services. There’s more information here Green Doctors London
City Carers Community events
City carers community have organised some events over the Christmas period please see the details below:
City Carers Community Share & Learn: Virtual drop in (run voluntarily by residents) listen & ask questions. Feel free to share your knowledge. Open to anyone helping to look after a family member, friend or neighbour in the City of London or living in the City looking after someone at a distance.
Extra Sessions over festive period:
19th, 27th December & 2nd January
Time: 11-12pm
For Zoom details or to learn how to use Zoom email:CityCarersCommunity@gmail.com
City Carers Community: A little fun circuit for the day
Learn a range of gentle exercises. Build strength in your arms, shoulders and legs, using items in your home. Can be done seated or standing. Taught by a newly qualified instructor (level two community activator in health & exercise). Open to any adult to attend via Zoom. Join in one or both sessions. No experience required. Suitable for beginners.
Dates: 29th December & 2nd January 3-4pm
Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82548827771?pwd=dnRXNXFoSHdYM0NlczNaK3hEbXBDdz09
Meeting ID: 825 4882 7771 Passcode: move
Are you or anyone you know experiencing Long COVID symptoms?
You are invited to complete the survey below which will only take a few minutes to complete. Your responses will provide the team with valuable information to help understand where there is a need for further support and plan better health services for all residents living in the boroughs of City & Hackney. As a token of thanks, you will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a £50, £25 or £10 store voucher if you complete the survey.
The team is also seeking residents to share more detailed accounts of their experiences with Long COVID in an interview/focus group – all participants for interviews/focus group will be eligible for a £20 store voucher and interviews/focus group will take place online or in person, depending on your preference.
If you are interested in taking part in interviews/focus groups for this survey or require support to complete the survey, please email or call on 0207 683 4336 for a call-back.
Click the link to complete the survey now - Long Covid - Your experiences and barriers (smartsurvey.co.uk)
If you have any questions regarding the survey, please do not hesitate to get in touch: HUH-tr.candhcore@nhs.net
City Advice - Cost of Living events
City Advice is offering drop-in sessions at the Golden Lane Community Centre for advice on the cost-of-living crisis, welfare benefits, debt and housing.
The next session is on 22nd December in the morning.
Please see the attached flyer for more details.
Homelessness in the City - how to get help
The City Corporation works year-round helping rough sleepers into accommodation. Thames Reach and St Mungo's, the Corporations commissioned outreach services, are on the streets looking out for rough sleepers every day to offer emergency accommodation and support. If you are concerned about a rough sleeper, or sleeping rough yourself, you can report this online using the Streetlink website.
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 us
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, 20 Little Somerset Street, London E1 8AH
