Healthwatch City of London May Newsletter 2023

Healthwatch City of London May Newsletter 2023

Chat from Chair

Welcome to our May newsletter. We’ve had a busy month here at Healthwatch City of London and have met lots of you along the way.

This week we were privileged to be invited to the Barts 900 years thanksgiving service at St Paul’s cathedral and the reception at the Guildhall afterwards, it was inspiring to hear about the humble beginnings of the great institution that it has become today. I know how many of you have been grateful for the care that you and loved ones have received over the years. We at HWCoL will continue to work with the team both at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and Barts Health to ensure that your voice remains at the core of all they do.   

We celebrated King Charles III Coronation with our tea parties last Friday, it was lovely to meet so many of you who popped in for a cake, a chat and to meet the team. We are so pleased that so many residents want to get involved with us in our work. To find out more about how you can support our work contact us on the addresses below.

Our new team is settling in nicely and we’re already starting to see the benefits of have a full compliment of staff! We have some new volunteers on board so are looking forward to carrying out some project work, hearing from you and helping to shape the Health and Social care services you want delivered. For more on these projects look out for an update from Habiba our new projects co-ordinator or maybe put forward something you might be interested in doing.

All the best

Gail

Join us at our Board Meetings in Public

On Friday 28 April we had our Board Meeting in Public where we spoke about our current work and our future projects that we will be working on.

We were joined by Zoe Dhami, Strategy and Projects Officer for the City of London Corporation who spoke about the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023-27 which the City of London Corporation were undertaking public consultations for.

Join us at our Public Meetings held in Public every other month  where 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. You get to ask the questions and debate the issues that matter to you.

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

Summer Board meeting and drinks reception

Our next board meeting in public will be occurring on June 23 where we will be having an in-person meeting with a drink’s reception afterwards. So put the date in your diary.

More information will be announced soon, and we look forward to you joining us.

Volunteer opportunities

We have recently announced new volunteering opportunities that range from outreaching in the community to desktop research.

The current roles that we are offering are

• Enter and View assessor
• Projects Volunteer
• Public Representative
• Research Volunteer

If you are interested in making a difference within your community, please reach out to Habiba, our Volunteers and Project Officer via email at Habiba@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk

We are going to be re-starting our Enter and View very soon and it really is an opportunity for you to  explore how the services you use work and how they could be improved. Enter and View is a way for you to influence improvements in services and  teams in hospitals and social care value the input. Training is given, but it is your expertise as users of services that really counts

We are also seeking Trustees with skills in:

• Marketing / communications / events
• Public health / community engagement
• Finance / governance

This voluntary role requires a minimum time commitment of one day a month.

For further information and a role description please contact Gail Beer, Chair at:  info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk

Neighbourhoods: Help shape a new service for personalised health and wellbeing support

There is a new paid opportunity with Neighbourhoods, who are looking for people over the age of 50 years old and living with long term health conditions in the City and Hackney area. They are looking to create a service that is able to provide personalised health and wellbeing support as people age and need specific care in regards to their health and wellbeing.

Neighbourhoods will be creating a group of 8 residents with the group meeting at 8 times over the year where you will be taking part in shaping the service.

If you are interested in the program or would like to find out more, please email mark.young14@nhs.net or text 07947 558573 to provide your name and availability for a call back. 

Barts Health Annual General Meeting

Barts Health is holding  their Annual General Meeting on 5 July from 6:00pm to 7:30pm at Education Academy, Mile End Hospital Bancroft Road London E1 4DG. Healthwatch City of London will be there to chat to attendees about our organisation and how you can get involved.

For more information and to register, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/barts-health-annual-general-meeting-tickets-616369085527

Neaman Practice Spring Booster Vaccination Program

The Neaman practice will be providing weekly clinics over a four week period and will be contacting patients who are registered with the Neaman practice and are eligible for their spring booster vaccination.  

Appointments are being conducted between April and June and appointment times will be based on patients who are most vulnerable to contracting COVID-19, with those who have the highest risk being contacted first. Your spring booster vaccination will occur from 6 months after your last COVID-19 vaccination, however it is possible to have your vaccination from 3 months.

For information surrounding the Spring booster vaccination program and whether you are eligible, visit A guide to the COVID-19 spring booster 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk

City Carers Community Share & Learn

Are you helping to look after a family member, friend or neighbour?

City Carers Community are holding zoom sessions to anyone who is currently or has previously looked after someone in the City of London or is living in the City of London and is caring for someone living outside.

You will be able to have the opportunity to listen to other carers, share your knowledge and ask any questions you may have.

These are the sessions running in May

15 May, 11am – 12pm

29 May 8pm – 8:45pm

If you would like to attend, please email

CityCarersCommunity@gmail.com for details.

Square Mile Health Walks

Square Mile Health Walks are having weekly walks every month on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sundays.

There are different types of walks depending on your ability.

The Sunday and Thursday walks gives you the opportunity to explore the captivating history of London. It is a 90 minute walk with two to three information stops along the walk. It is suitable for all abilities.

Tuesday is a very gentle walk with a great opportunity for people who would like to work on their balance, movement and confidence.

Meet outside Fusion Leisure, Golden Lane, Fann Street EC1Y 0SH 10:30 – 11:30 weekly for a slowed paced 30 - 45 minute walk with tea and coffee at the end.

Saturday walks highlight the history, architecture and the green spaces that the City of London has to offer. It is a one hour walk at a comfortable pace. On the first Saturday of every month, meet at St Pauls Tube, Panyer Alley (outside Café Nero) EC2V 6AA for a 11am – 12pm walk.

For more information, you can contact Alice Westlake on Alice.Westlake@ageukcityoflondon.org.uk or 0203 488 6884 (Mon-Wed)

Join Dragon Café’s free activities to promote your mental health and wellbeing

Dragon Café in the City are having activity days on May 23 for anyone living, working or studying in the City of London.

Join Dragon Café on May 23 at Shoe Lane Library or on Zoom for

• Self-massage for 30 minutes at 12:15pm
• Writing for wellbeing at 1pm
• Paint and relax at 2pm only at Shoe Lane Library
• Qi Gong at 6pm only on Zoom  
• Felt patchwork at 7pm only on Zoom

For more information, you can visit www.dragoncafeinthecity.com

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 8A