Healthwatch City of London April Newsletter 2023
Chat from the Chair
Welcome to our April newsletter, we are starting to see the first signs of spring. We have a spring in our step as we welcome two new members to our 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. Welcome to Liesa and Habiba, you can ‘meet them’ below.
Later this month we’ll be reviewing our business plan and local objectives, so let us know your thoughts (you can read more below), we’ll update you in our public board meeting on 28th on the outcome of our discussions. Also, at the meeting we’ll be joined by the City of London Corporation who will present and discuss the public consultations on the Health and Wellbeing and the Carers strategies.
It was good to see so many people at the Primary Care Network Event on the 1st April and hear about their plans for the future. We will be asking them to join us at one of our future meetings.
Join us at one of our Coronation Tea parties on 5th May meet the new team and find out how to get involved.
What would you like to hear about? We hold monthly Patient Panels which are sessions for you to attend to hear about services and for you to give feedback. Tell us if there is a topic/service that you’d like to hear more about. Email: info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk
Finally we need your help; feedback about services you use is very important to us, It is only with your help that we can improve services or identify new opportunities and help those providing those service to gain valuable insights.
Please do join us at our Board meeting and wishing you all a Happy and Safe Easter.
Gail
Trustee stepping down, Thank you Sean Lee
Last month Sean Lee stepped down as a Trustee at Healthwatch City of London. Sean, who joined us in February 2021, bought a new perspective to the organisation which helped us to broaden our outlook. He also supported in the financial management of our organisation. We thank Sean for all of his hard work, dedication and commitment to Healthwatch City of London over the past two years and wish him all the very best for the future. Sean is a resident in the Aldgate East area and was able to help us capture the concerns of those living in the area and advise on what matters to the people in Portsoken and Petticoat Lane. Do you live in the area and would you be interested in helping as a Trustee, let us know on info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk
Welcome to Liesa and Habiba
Liesa
Hello, I’m Liesa and I am very excited to be joining Healthwatch City of London as the Engagement and Communications officer.
I have recently graduated from Swinburne University of Technology in Victoria, Australia with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science and a focus in Health Promotion. I moved over to London at the beginning of January 2023 to volunteer with Healthwatch Greenwich, I am particularly passionate about promoting the health and wellbeing in the community and ensuring that everyone has the ability to easily access and engage with information related to their health and the health services around them.
I look forward to working with residents and community members from the City to improve the health and social care services in the area.
To get in touch with Liesa email her at liesa@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk
Habiba
I am delighted to join the team as Volunteer and Project Officer. Before joining HWCoL, I supported Healthwatch Greenwich as a Volunteer, helping with patient engagement, projects, and volunteer management.
I have twelve-year experience in HR. based in the Middle East, in the Healthcare, Retail and Education sector and has held strategic and operational leadership HR positions at organisations dealing with various health and regulatory bodies. I have led and rolled out human capital projects in line with organisation objectives, working with stakeholders in the businesses to achieve goals.
I have a degree in Business Administration from Pune, India. Starting my career as a call centre associate, I worked my way up to HR manager. I live in Greenwich with my husband Selman and our two children. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family.
To get in touch with Habiba email her at habiba@healhtwatchcityoflondon.org.uk
Pharmacy and GP opening hours over Easter
The team have pulled together this handy guide to Pharmacy and GP opening hours over the Easter weekend.
Lloyds Pharmacy, Sainsbury’s, Cambridge Heath Road, Whitechapel, E1 5SD Tel: 020 7377 6916
Good Friday (Fri 7 Apr) 10:00 – 16:00, Sat 8 Apr 08:00 – 20:00, Sun 9 Apr Closed and Mon 10th April 10:00 – 16:00
Boots Pharmacy, 88 Aldgate High St, London, Greater London, EC3N 1LH Tel: 020 7265 0343 The Boots branch in Cheapside
Good Friday (Fri 7 Apr) 10:00 – 16:00, Sat 8 Apr Closed, Sun 9 Apr Closed and Mon 10th April Closed
Day Lewis Pharmacy, 12-14, Old Montague Street, London, E1 5PB Tel: 020 7247 1895
Good Friday (Fri 7 Apr) Closed, Sat 8 Apr Closed, Sun 9 Apr Closed and Mon 10th April Closed
Portman's Pharmacy, 5, Cherry Tree Walk, Whitecross Street · Near the Barbican Centre · 020 7638 0067
Good Friday (Fri 7 Apr) Closed, Sat 8 Apr 09:00 – 17:00, Sun 9 Apr Closed and Mon 10th Closed
Neaman Practice, Closed Good Friday (Fri 7 Apr), Sat 8 Apr 08:00 - 14:00 (pre booked appts only) Sun 9 Apr and Mon 10th April Closed
Goodmans Fields, Closed Good Friday (Fri 7 Apr) , Sat 8 Apr 09:00 - 13:00, Sun 9 Apr and Mon 10th April Closed
If you have an urgent, but not life-threatening health problem you can contact NHS 111. Simply dial 111, the call is free from landline and mobiles. You answer questions about your symptoms on telephone by speaking to a fully trained adviser on the phone. You can ask for a translator if you need one.
In an emergency you should always dial 999
Coronation tea parties
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!
Healthwatch City of London Public Board Meeting
We are holding our next Board meeting in public on Friday 28th April from 2pm – 4pm. We’ll be joined by the City of London Corporation who will be taking us through their current consultations on the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the Carers Strategy. We’ll be giving an update on our priorities for the coming year, and it’ll be an opportunity for you to meet our new team members Liesa and Habiba.
Join us via zoom
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85319916846?pwd=MHhlZjBnemJCVUlRV0hIaW9pSVdxZz09
Meeting ID: 853 1991 6846
Passcode: 778730
If there are any questions or anything that you’d like us to cover in the meeting please email us at info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk
Healthwatch City of London Seven Local Objectives
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. This month 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.
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
Become a digital health ambassador!
A new opportunity for those aged 15-25 years, who are passionate about creating digital content and interested in promoting young people’s mental health, is available with Partnership for Young London. Ambassadors will be part of a youth board and will engage with wider networks and will be reimbursed in vouchers for their contributions.
For more information, contact Shelby.Davies@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Spring COVID-19 Booster
You can now book your appointment for the Spring COVID-19 booster vaccination, the spring COVID-19 booster vaccine will be available from Monday 17 April.
Eligible patients can book their appointment now via the National Booking System.
If you are aged 75 years or older, a resident of an aged care home, over the age of 5 years old with a weakened immune system, you are eligible and will be offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine between the months of April and June.
For more information on the COVID-19 booster vaccination programme, you can visit A guide to the COVID-19 spring booster 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Increase in NHS prescription charges
NHS prescription charges rose by 3.2% on 1st April.
The increase means that:
A single prescription charge will be £9.65 (up from £9.35)
A 3-month prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) will be £31.25 (up from £30.25)
A 12-month PPC will be £111.60 (up from £108.10)
The new, 12-month hormone replacement therapy (HRT) PPC is £19.30
Wigs and fabric supports will also increase by 3.2%.
To purchase a prepayment certificate click here or they can be bought in person at some pharmacies.
People with certain medical conditions are entitled to free prescriptions, including those who are pregnant or have given birth in the past 12 months, people who are aged 60 or over and for those who are under the age of 16.
For more information and to check if you are entitled to free prescriptions, visit Who can get free prescriptions - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Have your say in designing support services for people over aged 50+ with long term conditions
The new service aims to provide personalised health and wellbeing support for people as they get older by focusing on what is important to each person.
The Neighbourhoods team are putting together a project group of eight residents to shape the service. They will meet eight times over the course of a year. They will be paid for taking part.
If this sounds like something that would be relevant for you, or someone you care for, they would love to hear from you.
If you would like to find out more or take part, get in touch and we will invite you to an introductory session in April.
Please text your name and availability for a call back to: 07947 558573 or email:mark.young14@nhs.net
Help improve the sexual and reproductive health of minoritised communities in City & Hackney
Positive East’s Project Community aims to improve the sexual and reproductive health of ethnic minority communities in City & Hackney. This includes black African, black Caribbean and other racially minoritised communities, and LGBTQ+ people.
As part of the programme Positive East will be launching three focus groups which will meet 4 to 6 times a year.
The purpose of the groups is help with the development of new resources and initiatives to improve the sexual health of the community. The 3 focus groups are:
– Black African &Black Caribbean communities (16 to 25)
– Black African & Black Caribbean communities (25+)
– Other ethnic minority communities
Every focus group you attend you will receive £50!
To apply to participate please email: hccommunity@positiveeast.org.uk
To learn more about Project Community visit: www.positiveeast.org.uk/hccommunity
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
