Healthwatch City of London November Newsletter
Chat from our Chair
Welcome to our November newsletter; bringing you the latest news and updates from Healthwatch City of London. In the past month we held our Annual General Meeting with guest speakers, Mary Durcan, Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board and Dr Sue Mann, National Clinical Director for Women’s Health. It was great to see so many of you join us, enabling you to learn more about the work of Dr Sue Mann and Women’s health and the work of the Health and Wellbeing Board from Mary Durcan Court of Common Councillor and Chair of the Board. We were also joined by range of statutory and voluntary organisations sharing information with you. You can find out more about what they said in this newsletter.
The NHS ten-year plan is on our minds and you have the opportunity to tell the NHS what’s important to you. More information on the plan and how to have your say is down below. Please do have your say and make sure your voice is heard, the NHS can only respond if it hears from you. The first Budget from the Government was recently announced, with additional spending for the NHS being allocated, and the National Living Wage to be increased. You can read about the budget down below.
This month, we are launching our Digi Apps report, Barts Enter and View report and our report into PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service). These reports share important insight issues that are directly related to how you are experiencing your health and social care services. You can read about the issues we saw, and our ultimate findings and recommendations, down below.
We have two Patient Panels coming up in November and December, including our session on Diabetes with Diabetes UK and on mental health and social isolation with Katie Pomeroy, from City and Hackney Talking Therapies. To keep updated on all of our events, you can visit https://www.healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk/events
We are also delighted to announce our Festive lunch which will be held on the Thursday, 12 December. We know how hard the holiday season can be for some those in our community so we’re hoping to come together and spread some festive joy. All of us at HWCoL are looking forward to seeing you. For more details, you can read about it below.
November 21st is Carers Rights Day; in the City, we know how hard unpaid carers are working and the difference they are making in people’s lives. Carers Rights Day, will highlight unpaid carers rights and the support services they can access. To find out about more about Carers Rights Day and the events in the City please do carry on reading.
Looking forward to seeing you soon.
Gail
Chair, Healthwatch City of London
The NHS 10 Year Plan
The Government and NHS England are working on a new 10 year Health plan. They need your help to ensure that they are able to support the health of everyone, your views, experiences and ideas will help to shape the plan.
The main priorities of the plan are clinical services , primary and community services, mental health and learning disabilities, acute services, including urgent and emergency care and wider acute care.
The priorities for clinical care include cancer, cardiovascular disease, maternity and neonatal health, mental health, stroke, diabetes and respiratory care. These health issues have been particularly selected as they have a large impact on people’s health and need an increased focus in order to reduce their impact on individual, their families and carers and society as whole.
The 10 year plan will directly impact where NHS funding is allocated so it’s important that we all give our views to make sure the new plan delivers what we need.
To have you say, go to https://change.nhs.uk/en-GB/ to read more and comment.
The new Autumn Budget
The Labor Government have announced their first budget. This Autumn Budget 2024 is the first phase of a two-part Spending Review, the second phase will come next year which will address the budget for 2026/27 and 2027/28.
The Budget addresses health and social care in which the government has increased NHS spending, with total health spending to increase by 3.8% a year between this year, 2023/24 and next year, 2025/26. The increase will include a 3.4% increase on day-to-day spending, this will go towards items such as staff salaries and medicines.
The Budget also granted new funding for local government spending of 3.2%, which includes £600 million of new grant funding which will support social care, for adults and children’s services. There will also be a £86 million increase to the Disabled Facilities Grant, which goes towards making homes more accessible for those with a disability, ensuring that people are able to continue living in their homes.
The Government will also be renewing and increasing the Soft Drinks Levy and levies for tobacco-related products in order to reduce the amount of products being consumed that can cause negative impacts to health and wellbeing.
For the full budget, you can visit Autumn Budget 2024 - GOV.UK
Update from our AGM with Mary Durcan and Dr Sue Mann
Last month, we held our AGM at St Giles Church, Cripplegate in the Barbican. We were joined by guest speakers, Mary Durcan, Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board and Dr Sue Mann, National Clinical Director for Women’s Health.
We were pleased to so many of you joined us to hear directly from us, our guest speakers and service providers. We updated you on what we achieved last year, including our work with the Neaman Practice, on ensuring the footcare service stayed in place, digital apps and exclusion and the NHS Big Conversation initiative. Mary Durcan was able to help us understand her role as the Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, here in the City and Dr Sue Mann provided an overview of her role, including sharing the importance of women’s health, in particular increasing the awareness of women’s health issues.
An important issue that attendees brought up was the issue with services that City residents access not being accessible to those who live in the City. This is an issue we are particularly focused on, ensuring that City residents are able to access their health and social care services in their local area.
Thank you for all of you who came, it was great to see all of you and to meet those who are new to our events.
Join us at our Patient Panel series
Our Patient Panels are here to give you the information you need on Health and Social Care in the City. We invite in experts that are able to share and highlight important issues in the City that may directly impact you. If you have a particular issue or topic that you would like to hear about, please let us know by emailing us at info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk
Patient Panel on Understanding Diabetes
Join us and Diabetes UK on Thursday, 21st November, from 10:30am to 12pm on zoom. Diabetes UK will be helping you to gain a better understanding of diabetes, how it can affect your health and how to navigate the NHS when you have diabetes or are caring for someone that has diabetes. The services you can access directly in the City will also be highlighted.
In north east London there are over 129,000 people living with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a condition where your blood glucose level is too high. There are 2 main types of diabetes and whilst the symptoms can depend on the type of diabetes you have, the common symptoms include
- Going to the toilet a lot, especially at night
- Being really thirsty
- Feeling more tired than usual
- Losing weight without trying to
- Genital itching or thrush
- Cuts and wounds take longer to heal
- Blurred vision
Taking care of your health if you are diabetic is very important so please do join us to hear more.
For more information on the signs and symptoms and complications of diabetes, please visit the NHS website.
To register to our Patient Panel on diabetes, visit Understanding Diabetes and how to access services with Diabetes UK | Healthwatch Cityoflondon
If you would like to hear any information on particular topics, please let us know by emailing us at info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk
Patient Panel on mental health and social isolation
We know how hard the holiday times can be for those in our community and we hope that talking about mental health and how to stay well during the winter period will help all of us to feel our best.
This event takes place on Thursday, December 5 from 10:30am to 12pm with Katie Pomeroy, Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner & Community Engagement Lead from City and Hackney Talking Therapies.
To register, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hwcol-patient-panel-on-mental-health-and…
Patient Panel on City of London Corporation’s Draft Adult Social Care strategy
The City of London Corporation have created a new strategy for Adult Social Care 2024 – 2028. The vision is to empower people to thrive through timely and tailored support that always puts those with care and support needs first.
This strategy addresses the growing need for adult social care in the City of London, aiming to provide the right support for everyone who needs it, at the right time and in the right place.
The current needs for adult social care in the City is growing, especially for older residents. In 2022/23, there was 165 new requests for help, requests have increased by 6% and 73% for those over the age of 65, in 2022/23, there was 19 residents placed in residential care and 78 received care at home, they supported 30 unpaid carers and concerns about adult safety have increased by 88% in five years.
In order to secure their vision, they have identified the following four strategic commitments through which they will:
- Help people meet their own needs and aspirations in a safe and supportive way.
- Provide communities with a skilled, supported, and adaptable workforce dedicated to delivering high-quality care.
- Work collaboratively with their partners to provide people with the right support, in the right place at the right time.
- Provide a wide range of high-quality, accessible care options to meet people’s needs.
These commitments provide the framework for the Corporation’s strategy to deliver better outcomes, and more efficient and effective services.
There are unique challenges that the City of London has including, that due to the small size of the population, there is not sufficient demand to develop a nursing home within the square mile. There are also challenges that are outside the control of the Corporation such as delayed transfers of care from hospital.
The Corporation needs your feedback on the strategy in order to further refine their strategy, the consultation is open and will close, 29th November.
You can access the draft strategy here: https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/social-care-for-adults/adult-social-care-strategy-consultation
We'll be joined by Scott Myers and Ellie Ward from the City of London Corporation to present on the strategy and answer any questions you may have. Join us on the Thursday, 28 November from 10:30am to 12pm on zoom.
To register visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/patient-panel-on-draft-adult-social-care…
Join us for our festive lunch
We will be holding a festive buffet lunch on Thursday, 12th December from 11:30am to 2pm to celebrate the holiday period at the Golden Lane Community Centre. We can’t wait to catch up with all of you, our lunch will be a great chance to share with us your experiences of services as well spend time with your neighbours and those in your community, make sure to invite your friends, family and neighbours.
To register, please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/join-hwcol-for-our-festive-lunch-tickets…
An update on our men’s health event
Unfortunately, we have had to postpone our men’s health event which aims to promote the importance of men’s health and the services that are directly available in the City. We will be holding the event in the new year with guest speakers and local services in the City and will let you know of a date in our next newsletter.
The launch of our reports
Over the summer we have been sharing with you our progress on multiple projects, including, our Enter and View at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, our Digi Apps project and our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) project. The reports for these projects, which discuss our methods, findings and recommendations will be put up on our website in the next few weeks which provide detailed information on what we believe needs to change to ensure patients are at the centre of the healthcare provided.
All of our reports can be found on our news and reports page, here https://www.healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk/news-and-reports
Digital Apps Report
The number of digital apps that you may need to access your NHS healthcare has increased, with many healthcare services implementing digital technologies to access and support your care. Our report highlights that local residents find that accessing digital apps can prove difficult and confusing.
During our investigation we explored what was on offer to patients in the local area, how they worked and whether they were easy to use. Our findings and recommendations will highlight what needs to be improved to reduce the issues and barriers that patients and carers are facing. Our findings and recommendations will be presented to our local Integrated Care Board (ICB), Primary Care Network (PCN), Health and Wellbeing Board, the City of London Corporation and shared on our website to enable us to work collaboratively towards change.
Our three key findings are
- the lack of accessibility for patients and carers,
- the number of different apps and digital platforms in which you need to have to access your healthcare remains unclear
- there is a lack of language and disability access options
- the apps do not communicate or connect with each other; therefore, patients and carers are required to use multiple platforms to access the information they need.
In our report, we include our full list of recommendations, our most essential include factors surrounding increasing the accessibility and communication. Such as:
- Our Integrated Care Board and Local Authority should work together to facilitate digital access to all through support, advice and practical help, particularly with setting up and using the basic functions within the NHS app.
- Apps need to work together more effectively or be centralised into one app so that patients have fewer apps to access and are able to understand how to use them better.
- All digital apps to be compliant with the Accessible Information Standard and meet the requirements for those with any additional needs - NHS England » Accessible Information Standard Specification
- Service providers to have adequate information accessible to those who can’t access services digitally.
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALs) report
The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is a service that is mandated within the National Health Service (NHS). Each trust is required to have PALS that provides the following services, help with health-related questions, help resolve concerns or problems when using the NHS, tell how to get more involved in one’s own healthcare and provide information on the NHS, the NHS complaints procedure and support groups outside the NHS.
In our report we have listed out our recommendations, which surround improving the current accessibility and communication that PALS provides, such as, improving the PALS web page to enhance its accessibility features and improving ways patients are able to get in touch with PALS.
Carers Rights Day
Carers Rights Day is on Thursday 21st November and the theme is recognising your rights. Every day in the UK, 12,000 people become unpaid carers for a partner, family member, friend or neighbour. Many of whom don’t see themselves as carers and are often unaware of their legal rights and what they’re entitled to in terms of support and benefits.
The aim is to help carers understand their rights, and to access the support whenever they need it. You can find A quick guide to Carers rights from Carers UK, to find out exactly what your rights are and your entitlements.
In the City of London we have approximately 6% of residents who recognised themselves as unpaid carers. If we were to extrapolate to the business sector, within the City workforce we could have 50,000 employees who might have caring responsibilities whilst juggling work. In addition workers now have the right to 7 days unpaid carers leave.
On 8th October, Shirley Islam, one of our City residents and founder of City Carers Community, went to Parliament with other unpaid carers from across the UK to share their experiences with 111 MPs and peers and to highlight the challenges carers face trying to juggle caring and work.
City Carers Community will be hosting a zoom on carers rights. You are welcome to join in, ask any questions regarding help and support when looking after someone and to find out what your rights are. For the Zoom details, you can email City Carers Community at citycarerscomunity@gmail.com
Imago Carers Support Service & City Carers Community are hosting a few Carers Rights Day activities in person and online. Visit www.imago.community/cityoflondon to find out more about what will be happening.
Pharmacy awareness week
Pharmacy awareness week will be from 4th to the 11th November, with the theme being, ‘professional and convenient healthcare, from your local pharmacy team’.
The campaign highlights the skills and knowledge of community pharmacists and the wider pharmacy team. It also focuses on the close work that is conducted between pharmacists, GPs and the whole local healthcare team to ensure the best care is given to patients. To find out more about the campaign week, visit https://www.npa.co.uk/ask-your-pharmacist-week-2024
The Pharmacy First Scheme
You can now get treatment for seven common conditions directly from your local pharmacy, without the need for a GP appointment or prescription.
The scheme gives patients quick and accessible care, the seven common conditions include sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo (a bacterial skin infection), shingles and uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) in women.
There are age factors, you do have to be aged 1 year or older for impetigo and an infected insect bite, 18 years and older for shingles, 12 years and older for sinusitis, 5 years and older for a sore throat and between the ages of 16 and 64 for an uncomplicated UTI.
To access the scheme, you can walk into a pharmacy or contact them virtually to confirm that the pharmacy is a part of the scheme, your GP receptionist, NHS 111, and providers of emergency care will also be able to direct patients to pharmacies.
Pharmacies in the City offering the scheme
- The Neaman Practice, 15 Half Moon Court, London EC1A 7HF
- S Chauhan Pharmacy, 36 Goswell Rd., Golden Lane Estate, London EC1M 7AA
- Portman’s Pharmacy, 5, Cherry Tree Walk, Whitecross Street, London EC1Y 8NX
- Boots Pharmacy, 11 Octagon Arcade, Liverpool Street Station, London
- Boots Pharmacy, 200 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4NR
- Boots Pharmacy, London Cheapside, 104 Cheapside, London, Greater London, EC2V 6DN
- Boots Pharmacy, London One New Change Shopping Centre, Unit 21 One New Change Shopping Centre, London, Greater London, EC4M 9AG
- Boots Pharmacy, London Cannon Street, 80 CANNON STREET, London, Greater London, EC4N 6AE
- Boots Pharmacy, London Gracechurch Street, 60 Gracechurch Street, London, Greater London, EC3V 0HR
Staying well in winter- getting your vaccination
Staying up to date with your vaccinations throughout your life is the best way to protect you and those around you from serious diseases.
Whether you’ve been invited to get your latest Covid-19 vaccine, it’s time for you or your child to have the winter flu vaccine, or you’re eligible for the shingles vaccine, you can find all the information you need by visiting the NHS North East London vaccination hub: https://northeastlondon.icb.nhs.uk/vaccinations
Here you will find helpful information on what vaccines you can get, why they are important and how to book so that you can stay well this winter.
Viruses such as flu and Covid-19 can spread easily in winter. Flu and Covid-19 vaccines are offered to those most vulnerable each year to stop people becoming seriously unwell from these viruses, so it’s important to get your vaccinations if you are invited, to make sure you are protected. Getting vaccinated also helps to keep those around you who might be vulnerable safe too.
From 1 September this year, the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine will be offered to those most vulnerable to respiratory syncytial virus, which can lead to severe infections like pneumonia and bronchiolitis developing. The RSV vaccine will be offered to:
- People aged 75 to 79 years old on 1 September 2024. Those turning 75 after 1 September will also be offered their RSV vaccine.
- Pregnant women over 28 weeks, to help build protection against RSV which helps keep their baby safe in the early months of their life and when they are most vulnerable to RSV.
It’s okay to have questions about vaccinations. If you have any concerns about vaccinations, please do speak to your GP, midwife or health visitor who will be able to help you.
The Neaman practice will contact patients directly if they are eligible for the RSV vaccine and the NHS will text eligible patents for flu and covid vaccinations. Chauhan Pharmacy has a walk in service for vaccinations, so there is no need to book.
To find out where you can walk in to your local pharmacy, visit Covid-19 and flu walk in vaccinations - NHS North East London
Falls prevention – helping you stay on your feet
As we get older, lots of us may start to feel a bit unsteady on our feet and become worried about falling. One of the main areas the new Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting wants to focus on is converting the NHS focus from sickness to prevention. We are campaigning to keep the current course ‘Staying Steady’ to remain being funded by City and Hackney Public Health team.
MRS Independent Living, who run the Staying Steady course, is an organisation dedicated to delivering community-based fitness classes to those over the age of 55 with a focus on balance and strength. One participant said ‘The classes keep me agile and motivate my physical wellbeing and my mind. It is something to look forward to’. To learn more about the organisation and course, visit their website https://www.mrsindependentliving.org/staying-steady
Have you used the service , please let us know and help us to save the service.
New electronic consent at St Bartholomew’s Hospital
St Bartholomew’s Hospital is now using electronic consent to record your agreement to having any treatments performed. The new way of giving your consent to treatments provides you with more time to think and discuss any decisions with your friends and family at home.
To ensure that your health data is kept safe online, Concentric (the digital consent to treatment application) does not use patients’ health data for any other purpose than what is agreed upon, which is the consent for treatment. They are also compliant with data regulations, including GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).
To find out more on this new way of giving consent, visit https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors#:~:text=Consent%20to%20your%20treatment%20online,home%20before%20giving%20your%20consent.
Celebrate Wellbeing Month with Age UK City
Age UK City of London are celebrating Wellbeing Month in November, with everything from talks and films, to tasters of sports and crafts, and even the chance for a free massage.
The charity is inviting City residents to come along and take part in activities and events throughout the month of November. Most of the events are scheduled as part of their regular Monday 'Golden Social', a coffee afternoon for older City residents which takes place weekly at Golden Lane Community Centre.
Other events are happening in Artizan Library and local sports venues
- Mon 11th Nov, 2-4pm head and shoulder massage
- Mon 18th Nov, 2-4pm Medical history from the medieval to the Victorian times, talk and object handling session from The Old Operating Theatre Museum, Golden Lane Community Centre
- Mon 25th Nov, 2-4pm feel-good film: The Jungle Book, original 1967 Disney animation for nostalgia and singalong fun!
Just come along to any of these sessions - no need to book. Refreshments will be provided.
Plus they will be running a range of sports taster sessions throughout November at community venues in the City - all suitable for people aged 55+
See their monthly programme for details https://www.ageuk.org.uk/cityoflondon/activities-and-events/ or contact Alice Westlake on alice.westlake@ageukcityoflondon.org.uk to find out more.
Participants needed for online focus group - current smokers in City of London
Gloji SmokeFree City and Hackney are looking for City residents who currently smoke/used to smoke cigarettes and tobacco to co-design a Festive & New Year stop smoking campaign. The campaign is designed to use insight and imagery of local people in local settings to motivate smokers to quit smoking. Participants will have their say in the type of motivational messaging used, the style of images, and where the campaign can be shared to make sure it reaches local people. Participants will also have the option to be invited to take part in the photoshoot and have their face represent the communities.
We welcome residents from a range of backgrounds, but are particularly interested in residents from Golden Lane Estate and Middlesex Street Estate. To register, please use the link below.
When: Tuesday 12th November from 6-7:30pm.
Where: Microsoft Teams (online)
Registration link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/c75275f3-857f-46c4-833e-f06ff083a25d@d24154f0-9d24-4809-ae8d-33079d20f147
From apothecary to pharmacy; learn about the journey at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society museum
On November 13th, Catherine Walker, manager of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society museum, will discuss the historical use of plants in materia medica, through to more modern medicines inspired by plants. She will also touch upon the unusual human remains specimens at the RPS Museum and discuss their historical usage.
Click here for the museum's website and to buy your ticket visit https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/calendar/2024/11/13/poisons-pills-plants-2-…
