Healthwatch Waltham Forest News, November2014
Contents:
Page 2
Healthwatch Update!
CQC Listening Event on Whipps Cross
Page 3
Patient Participation Groups
Join the London Dental Patient Board!
Carers Rights Day – Save the Date, 28th November!
Page 4
The Joint Adult Mental Health Strategy
National Cancer Patient Survey Results
Page 5
Free Dementia Friends Training!
Targeted Youth Support Service for Young Carers
Page 6
My Experience of Waltham Forest IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies)
Call for Pregnant Women to get the Winter Flu Jab!
Page 7
Healthy Homes, Better Lives, 21st November
LGBT Carers’ Support Group
Namaste Care Service
Oasis Care – Friday Lunch Club for Older Adults!
Page 2
New Story: Healthwatch at A&E!
Healthwatch Waltham Forest just spent a week at Whipps Cross Emergency and Urgent Care Centre talking to patients about their route to A&E and the different health services they used before arriving there.
We spoke to over 500 people, from 10am to 10pm each day and look forward to typing up the results! Early indications show that a large number of people have not heard of NHS 111 service.
We would like to send a huge thank you to all staff, volunteers, young advisers, and the youth independent advisers group from the Council who supported our presence there. We couldn’t have done it without you all!
Have you recently visited A&E? If you have recently visited A&E, we want to hear about your experience. We can pass your views anonymously to the people who plan and run the service - your experience matters!
Contact the Healthwatch office in confidence! Phone 020 3078 9990 or email . Story End.
New Story: Healthwatch at GP Surgeries!
Our recent GP outreach has been very successful and we gathered more than 500 comments across 4 surgeries.
We extend a huge thanks to the volunteers who went to the surgeries and spoke to everyone.
Our reports are currently being written up, look out for them on the website shortly. If you want to tell us about your GP experiences contact us by phone or email, or use our webform.
During this project we trialled the Friends and Family Test (FFT) for two surgeries, asking how likely patients would be to recommend the surgery to their family and friends. In December GP surgeries will be required to ask the FFT question and the surgeries we tested it for will have a benchmark against which to measure their service. Story End.
New Story: CQC Listening Event on Whipps Cross
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) will be inspecting Whipps Cross Hospital in November and will be holding a listening event for local people to share their concerns and experiences of the hospital services before the inspection.
Come to our public listening event, meet our inspectors and share your experience of the services and care provided in the last year by Whipps Cross University Hospital:
Tuesday 11th November, 6.30pm at Harmony Hall, 10 Truro Road, E17 7BY
Your views are very important, and will help the CQC to plan their inspection.Story End.
Page 3
New Story: Patient Participation Groups
Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) are groups of active volunteer patients that work in partnership with Practice staff and GPs.
This unique partnership between patients and their Practices is essential to achieving high quality and responsive GP care.
PPGs work in a unique partnership with their Practice, built on mutual trust and respect to:
Provide a patients’ perspective ensuring services respond to patients needs; build stronger patient /GP relationships; conduct and analyse patient surveys; organise health events, and to help other patients make informed decisions.
Groups meet face to face with Practice staff at mutually agreed intervals. ‘Virtual PPGs’ now also exist operating alongside ‘real’ groups, enabling a dialogue with the whole patient population through email, online surveys and social media.
Your PPG! Get in touch with your Practice to find out about your PPG! If you are already a member, we would like to hear about you and your group! Story End.
New Story: Join the Dental Patient Board!
Are you interested in dental services? Would you like to help shape dental services across London?
The NHS is looking for up to 15 people to join a new and dynamic London Dental Patient Board.
The role of the Board will be to advise on the development and direction of the planning of dental care in London.
As part of this work, ‘care pathways’, which are commissioned by NHS England will be looked at.
Also the Board will be addressing inequalities in access to dental services, and looking at outcomes, including improvement in coverage and uptake.
If you are interested in this role or would like more information please get in touch on 0203 182 4992 or . Story End.
New Story: Carers Rights Day – Save the Date!
Waltham Forest Carers Association will be hosting an information day on Friday 28th November, to mark Carers Rights Day and to let carers and professionals know about new rights for carers under the Health & Social Care Act 2014.
Speakers from Waltham Forest council and other local agencies will be outlining the new rights that will come into effect in April 2015. The event will also feature group discussions about what is working well for carers at the moment, and what could be improved.
Come along and get informed – be sure you know your rights! To book or to find out more phone 020 8556 0857 or email . Story End.
Page 4
New Story:The Joint Adult Mental Health Strategy
Recently, World Mental Health Day (10th October) marked mental health education, awareness and advocacy.
The Waltham Forest Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), working with Healthwatch Waltham Forest, has launched a summary of its adult mental health strategy as part of an ongoing commitment to ‘Better Mental Health’ in the Borough.
This strategy covers adults of working age (under 65) and links with other strategies, such as those covering children, young people and dementia.
In developing the strategy patients, service users, carers, family members, service providers and voluntary groups have been consulted.
There are good reasons why a strategy for mental health services is needed. Mental health problems are common - nationally a quarter of people will experience a mental health problem in their lifetime. There is a close link between poor physical health and poor mental health.
People with serious mental illness face stigma and discrimination, with poorer life chances. The huge cost of mental ill health to the NHS may be better spent on talking therapies and joined up services between agencies. Increasing demand and budget restrictions mean we have to get value for money. Improving the quality of services can achieve better outcomes. Story End.
New Story: National Cancer Patient Survey Results
The results from the 2014 national cancer patient survey have been published by Quality Health.
Barts Health are 'extremely disappointed' with their results and over the last 12 months have begun implementing a range of improvements aimed at addressing many of the concerns. These include:
Holistic needs assessment – cancer patients are assigned a Clinical Nurse Specialist, who will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the impact cancer has had on their personal & professional life.
Clinical Nurse Specialist forums – the reintroduction of these forums across Barts sites offers Clinical Nurse Specialists the opportunity to discuss and decide upon ways in which we can improve the experience for cancer patients.
Schwartz Rounds – based on an American concept, provide a monthly, one-hour session for staff from all disciplines to discuss difficult emotional and social issues arising from patient care.
Whipps Cross Hospital bowel cancer pilot - the new model reduces the amount of time it takes between a patient seeing their GP with a bowel symptom and them receiving a definitive diagnosis.
Patient information materials – extensive work has gone into patient information, and we have ensured that cancer information is available across all of our four main hospitals.
Healthwatch wants your views!
Are you a current or recent cancer patient or relative? Do you recognise the improvements above by Barts Health? Contact the Healthwatch Office in confidence! Story End.
Page 5
New Story: Free Dementia Friends Training!
Dementia Friends is an Alzheimer's Society led initiative, funded by the Department of Health and the Cabinet Office.
It aims to increase dementia awareness and ‘change the way the nation acts, talks and thinks about dementia’. People with dementia get by with a little help from their friends and anybody can become a ‘Dementia Friend’.
Waltham Forest Council is offering training to all its volunteers, staff and partners to learn more about the condition and how we can all help to create dementia friendly communities.
Individuals are invited to attend one of the following free sessions, at Walthamstow Town Hall on Wednesday 19th November, 12 - 1pm and Thursday 20th November, 6.30 - 7.30pm.
The sessions are an opportunity to learn more about dementia and the small things you can do to help people with the condition carry on with their daily lives and feel included in their local community.
Dementia Friends learn a little bit about what it's like to live with dementia and turn that understanding into action. Story End.
New Story: Targeted Youth Support Service
Are you 19 years old or under? Do you help to care for someone in your family because they are disabled, have a mental health problem or drug/alcohol issues?
If so, the Targeted Youth Support Service is here for you! The service offers young carers a chance to meet other young carers at regular group sessions.
There are opportunities to go on outings or take part in workshops on issues affecting young carers.
Group workers are available to offer information, advocacy, emotional support and help to access other services.
Also, get personal support and advice, on issues such as family problems with money, getting work or benefits, having less time than your friends to do things you enjoy, difficulties at school or college, feeling isolated or different from others. For more phone 020 8496 1527 or email dyon.munroe-robinson@ walthamforest.gov.uk. Story End.
Page 6
New Story: My Experience of Waltham Forest IAPT
Waltham Forest IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) is a free and confidential service, providing therapies for depression and anxiety disorders, and employment support.
The service is run by North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT), who have sent us the following account from a service user:“I was suffering from depression and anxiety for over 2 years due to various difficulties that I have encountered. At a recent visit to my GP to review my anti-depressant medication, I saw a poster about Waltham Forest IAPT. I asked my GP about this and was informed that the service offered talking therapies to help individuals suffering from stress, depression and anxiety problems. My GP gave me a card with the contact details.
I contacted the service and to my surprise I was offered a same day telephone assessment and was given a choice of times. I was initially; apprehensive undertaking the assessment as I thought it would be easier to see someone face to face. The telephone assessment was better than what I expected and I was offered a choice of therapies. I assumed following the assessment I would have a long wait for some help. My therapist contacted me the following week and offered me a course of low intensity cognitive behavioural therapy to deal with my depression and anxiety. I was offered a choice of either individual or group therapy. I opted for face to face individual therapy instead of telephone sessions.
At the end of the low therapy interventions I received my mood had improved significantly and I was referred to their employment coaches who are currently working with me to gain employment.”
To find out more about Waltham Forest IAPT phone 0300 555 1271 or email
What’s your story?If you have experience of the IAPT service, please share your story with us! What worked well, what could be done better? Would you recommend the service to others? Contact Healthwatch Waltham Forest today!Story End.
New Story: Call for Pregnant Women to get the Jab!
Expectant mothers who catch the flu have a higher chance of miscarrying, or having a stillbirth, suffering from pneumonia and other serious infections, or having their baby born prematurely or with a low birth weight.
Despite these risks, pregnant women in Waltham Forest are less likely to have a flu vaccination than anywhere else in London. Just 28% opted for the free vaccination in 2013/14, compared to the London average of 36%. Dr Thaven Chetty from Churchill Medical Practice in Chingford says having a free flu jab is safe and helps to protect mothers and their babies.
“Studies have shown the flu vaccine reduces the chance of catching the flu. It is safe to have during any stage of pregnancy, and when breastfeeding. Having it while pregnant also passes some protection on to babies, which lasts for the first few months of their lives.”
The flu jab is available at GP surgeries and pharmacies and is free to people at greater risk of serious complications. This includes pregnant women, people aged 65 and over, those with a serious medical condition and all children between two and four years old. For children, the vaccine can be delivered via a nasal spray. The free vaccinations are available now. Ask your GP or pharmacist for more information. Story End.
Page 7
New Story: Healthy Homes, Better Lives, 21st November
Come along to the London Rebuilding Society’s home, health and information event:
Friday 21st November, 10am – 2pm at William Morris Community Centre, E17 6QQ
It is an opportunity for all to meet and receive free information, advice and assistance on topics such as home improvements, aids and adaptations, health checks, medical advice, fire and safety.
Light refreshments are provided. To book or to find out more email or phone 020 7997 7333. Story End.
New Story:LGBT Carers’ Support Group
Carers who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, and who live, work or socialise in Hackney or Waltham Forest, are invited to attend a monthly LGBT carers’ group.
Run by City and Hackney Carers Centre, the group is a safe space where you can talk about your worries and experiences of being an LGBT carer, and support other carers like you.
It is confidential and always free to attend, for carers from all cultures, ethnicities, faiths and ages, and for people with disabilities.
After each group there will be a training or information session, chosen by the carers, on anything from LGBT and carers’ rights to relaxation techniques.
To find out more phone 020 8533 0951 or email . Story End.
New Story: Namaste Care Service
Introducing a support programme for local people affected by advanced dementia.
‘Namaste’ is a Hindu term meaning ‘to honour the spirit within’. The Namaste Care Service aims to
honour people who can no longer tell us who they are, or who they were, or care for themselves without assistance.
Namaste care is not a medical treatment but is a programme designed to improve the quality of life for people with advanced dementia.
Run by St Joseph’s Hospice and a group of trained volunteers, it provides meaningful activities and
sensory stimulation, especially through touch, in a safe and comforting environment. To find out more phone 020 7540 0277 or email . Story End.
New Story:Friday Lunch Club for Older Adults!
Infinite Oasis Care introduces their ‘Friday Luncheon Club’ for older adults. Every Friday, at Oasis Care, 807 High Road. Now includes armchair aerobics! To find our more phone 0208 558 2552 or email . Story End.
This is the end of the newsletter. Thankyou for listening!