Healthwatch City of London March 2023 Newsletter
Chat from the Chair
Welcome to our March newsletter. It’s the end of the financial year for many and a busy time for those working within the City. This time of year also sees reviews of business plans and strategies for the next year and that includes us . We are reviewing our seven local objectives to make sure that they are even more relevant to you and those who work or study here. Healthwatch City of London relies on you to help us shape our work; what’s important to you and what would you like to see more of us from us. You can read more about this below.
The City of London Corporation are currently also asking for your views, they have launched consultation on their Health and Wellbeing strategy, their Carer’s strategy and volunteering. Again, you can read more information and how to give your views below. We know it’s a big ask from all of you but getting involved is important as it makes sure that not only do we have our say but that we are helping shape how services are delivered for us and to us.
Here at Healthwatch City of London we are delighted to say that we have recruited two new members of the team, bringing the team up to full strength and giving us more resource to carry out more projects, more engagement, greater volunteering opportunities and better representation across all of the Health and Social care forums. We’ll introduce them next month in our newsletter when they are on Board.
We are also very excited to announce details of our Coronation Tea party, which will take place on Friday 5th May, we’ll be celebrating this momentous occasion for the Country and will be showcasing the volunteering opportunities we have. We look forward to seeing many of you there (details below).
Finally, have you thought about becoming a Trustee at HWCoL, if this is something you think you might be interested in doing, we are seeking a new Trustee, preferably you will live in the Aldgate Area. For more information please do email me, my details can be found below. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy reading this months’ newsletter.
Take care
Gail
Gail Beer, Chair Healthwatch City of London
Healthwatch City of London Seven Local Objectives
As Gail mentioned above, we are reviewing our seven local objectives to make sure that they are still relevant and represent the issues that need addressing in the City. Please have a read of the objectives and let us know what you think. In April we’ll be holding a team workshop, in which we’ll review these priorities using your feedback.
Please email us on info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk
Our priorities are to:
1) Reflect diversity
2) Encourage our GP services to deliver good care
3) Campaign for the ‘new normal’ in health services to be responsive to the needs of local people
4) Ensure City residents’ needs remain at the heart of the new Shoreditch Park and City Neighbourhood.
5) Scrutinise the development of new NHS and Social Care organisations
6) Ensure services currently provided by St Leonard’s Hospital remain within easy reach of City of London residents.
7) Act as a critical friend to the City of London on health and social care issues.
Coronation Tea Party
On Friday 5th May we’re inviting you to join us for a tea party to celebrate King Charles III coronation and to showcase our volunteering opportunities. So as many as you as possible can join us, we’ll be holding two parties, you can join us at one or both! Plenty of cake and tea and coffee and a chance to meet your neighbours.
10am - 11.30am at the Golden Lane Community Centre, Fann Street, EC1Y 0SA
3pm - 4.30pm at the Portsoken Community Centre, 20 Little Somerset Street, E1 8AH
Please see the attached flyer for more details…. Tell your friends and family!
Join us at our Public Meetings
Every other month we hold our Board meetings in Public, we arrange for a variety of speakers to come along to present and give their expert insights on Health and Social care services, inspiring projects and vital updates on the latest service provision.
Over the last few months, we’ve had speakers from Barts cardiology centre, Barts Cancer Centre, the Neaman Practice, the Neighbourhoods Programme, the London Ambulance Service and the Primary Care Network. Is there someone you would like to hear from? please let us know.
We advertise all of our events in our monthly newsletters, but you can also look at our events page for all of the events we run.
Over the coming months we’ll have both in person and online events at different times of the day, to allow as many people as possible to join us.
https://www.healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk/events
Subscription to our newsletter
We’ve been informed that several people have stopped receiving our newsletter. Please tell your friends and family that if they would like to receive it direct to their mailbox to email us at info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk to be added to our mailing list.
Cost of Living Crisis
If you need advice on the cost of living, benefit, debt or housing, City Advice are here to help. They are holding a drop-in session at the Golden Lane Community Centre on 23rd March. To book an appointment you can by calling 020 7392 2919 (Mon – Fri 10am -4pm) or by emailing city.advice@toynbeehall.org.uk for more information visit their website www.toynbeehall.org.uk
Spring COVID Boosters
Spring COVID boosters will soon be available across North East London from 17th April.
People aged 75 years and older, residents in care homes for older people, and those aged 5 years and over with a weakened immune system will be offered a booster of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine this spring.
Timing of the spring booster
You should be offered an appointment between April and June, with those at highest risk being called in first. You will be invited to have your booster around 6 months from your last dose but you can have it from 3 months.
If you are turning 75 years of age between April and June, you will be called for vaccination during the campaign; you do not have to wait for your birthday.
City of London Consultations
City of London Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023-27 consultation
The City of London Corporation has launched a public consultation on the draft Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023-27.
Please review the draft strategy DRAFT JHWB 2023 - 2027.docx (cityoflondon.gov.uk) then complete the survey to provide your feedback. If you would like to be involved in focus groups on the strategy, please provide your email address when asked as part of the questionnaire. The focus groups will be organised for both face-to-face and online discussions.
City of London Carers strategy 2023-27 consultation
The City of London Corporation has launched a new public consultation on the draft Carers Strategy 2023-27. They want to hear your views to make sure they deliver the best strategy for the City of London’s unpaid carers.
The City’s ‘vision’ is that unpaid carers in the City of London, of all ages, are recognised for their valuable role, given the respect they deserve and supported through the complexities of the caring journey.
You can review the draft strategy here and Unpaid Carers Strategy 2023-27 (cityoflondon.gov.uk) and then complete the survey with your feedback
Neaman Practice Patient Participation Group
Are you signed up to the PPG? The Neaman Practice will be holding their Patient Participation Group or PPG as it’s known on the following dates this year:
Monday 12th June 2023 - 2.30pm -3:30pm
Monday 11th September 2023 - 2.30pm -3:30pm
Monday 11th December 2023 - 2.30pm -3:30pm
The PPG is made up of a group of volunteer patients, the practice manager and one or more of the GPs from the practice. They meet on a regular basis to discuss the services on offer, and how improvements can be made for the benefit of patients and the practice.
If you have not received an invitation and wish to attend, you can complete the form on their website Patient Participation Group - The Neaman Practice
If you do have a complaint to make, you can do so by following the Practices’ complaints procedure and completing their on-line form. It helps the practice to know what you are finding difficult because unless they know they aren’t able to make things right. To help us help you please do get in touch with us at info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk Your complaint will remain anonymous if you so wish.
Shoreditch Park and City Primary Care Network Participation Event
Primary Care Networks (PCNs) are a key part of the NHS Long Term Plan. They provide the structure and funding for services to be developed locally, in response to the needs of the patients they serve. PCNs help to join up services at a local level, focusing on the specific needs of local populations, with patients still accessing routine GP appointments as they do now. The Neaman Practice is part of the Shoreditch Park and City PCN.
On Saturday 1st April they are holding a Patient Participation Event in the Golden Lane Community Centre between 11am – 3pm. Please see attached the flyer for the event for more information.
City of London Volunteering Survey
Tempo Time credits are currently carrying out research for the City of London Corporation on volunteering in the City.
You can either fill in the survey online https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/S8NDVC2 where you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win £100 of Amazon vouchers. Or you can attend one the events they are holding on Wednesday 22nd March from 6:30 till 8 pm at the Portsoken Community Centre 20 Little Somerset Street, London E1 8AH or on Friday 24th March in the Sir Ralph Perring Centre (Golden Lane Estate) Fann Street, London EC1Y 0SJ. At both these events there will be free food and drinks as well as a small gift bag for everyone attending.
New Town Clerk at the City of London Corporation
Healthwatch City of London would like to extend a warm welcome Ian Thomas, the new Town Clerk and Chief Executive at the City of London Corporation. We look forward to working with Ian on the Health and Social Care needs of City residents, workers and students.
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
