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Welcome to the latest edition of the West Suffolk CCG newsletter
September 28 2018
Extra money to better support our communities
 

The drive to prevent ill health and support our local communities through better joined-up health and social care services has been given a major cash boost.

Almost £5 million is being given to 46 individual projects run by voluntary, community and public sector organisations across east and west Suffolk.

The funding has been provided from the NHS Ipswich and East Suffolk and NHS West Suffolk clinical commissioning groups’ Transformation Fund – a pool of money earmarked for projects that support partnership working, where providers and commissioners of health, mental health and social care services commit to working more closely together.

Read more HERE


Dr Ed Garratt, the CCG's chief officer, was interviewed about this transformation funding on yesterday evening's BBC Radio Suffolk. Listen to the interview HERE - play from 1 hr 17 mins 35 secs

It's flu vaccination season - the time to think about your winter health

Even though we’ve just said goodbye to the summer holidays, now is the time to start thinking about protecting your health over winter with a flu vaccination.

Over the next few months most GP practices will soon be holding flu vaccination clinics for their registered patients - and people in at-risk groups are being encouraged to attend. Many pharmacies also provide NHS flu vaccinations for those in at-risk groups aged 18+. 

Read more about flu vaccination and eligibility HERE
Read the latest Can Do Health and Care newsletter which includes details of how health and care organisations across Suffolk and north east Essex are working together to ensure a more joined up approach of providing services in the future.  As a shadow Integrated Care System, we aim to bring together a wide range of local organisations, patient representatives and care professionals to look at how we collectively shape our future care and services. 
Read the newsletter HERE
Learn more about the Empty Chairs and Be Yourself events on October 10.
Read more HERE
Details of AGMs for Suffolk Refugee Support and Suffolk User Forum

Disability Focus - book your place

Disabled people are being given the opportunity to talk with organisations that are responsible for the services which affect their daily lives.

Disability Focus takes place at One, Scrivener Drive, Ipswich on Tuesday October 23  from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is being hosted by the multi-agency Disability Focus Planning Group in conjunction with the Disability Forum for Suffolk and Avenues East.

Read more and book your place HERE

County council urges residents to make use of new bus service between Haverhill and West Suffolk Hospital 

Suffolk County Council is urging more residents to use the new community bus service linking Haverhill with West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds. A six-month pilot of the service started on 1 August 2018 however the number of passengers using the service has been much lower than anticipated. 

To make the service, which has been running for just over six weeks, a viable long-term option, an increase of passengers is needed. 

Mary Evans, Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Rural Affairs said; 

“I am one of many people who have been asking for a direct bus from Haverhill to West Suffolk Hospital for many years, so I am really pleased that this service is running and I want to ensure that is a success.

“I would like to urge members of the local community to use this service as regularly as possible to ensure its longevity. With opportunities to book return journeys each day from Haverhill and villages along the A143, I think this will help people make the journeys they need.” 

The service is available for staff, patients and visitors to the hospital and must be booked in advance by ringing 01638 664304. Residents who would like to use the service from Haverhill, Wickhambrook and/or Chedburgh also have the choice to book online via the online community service ‘RIDE’ www.bookyourride.co.uk. Residents living in other villages along the A143 can use the service by calling 01638 664304. 

The service, which is provided by the Voluntary Network – Suffolk County Council’s Connecting Communities operator in West Suffolk, runs Monday to Friday, between 7am and 7pm and passengers are charged fares in line with the local bus service. A full trip, Haverhill to West Suffolk Hospital return will cost £8. 

It'll soon be time for Stoptober - the 28 day stop smoking challenge. Research has shown that if you manage to quit for 28 days, you're 5 times more likely to quit for good.
Read more HERE
Service for vulnerable people is shortlisted for national award 
 

A service for vulnerable people arrested by police in Suffolk and Norfolk has been named as a finalist in a national competition.

The Liaison and Diversion Service (LaDS) helps to identify and reduce the factors that contribute to offending behaviour, such as debt, mental ill health, accommodation problems, substance misuse and learning disability, and supports the police and courts to deliver sentences that promote recovery from a life of crime.

Norfolk and Suffolk LaDS has been shortlisted in the Howard League for Penal Reform Community Awards 2018.

Caption: Dan Chapelle, Clinical Team Leader of NSFT's Suffolk LaDS team, with a police colleague outside the Police Investigation Centre at Martlesham.

Read more HERE
As National Recycle Week draws to a close we'd like to take this opportunity to remind you - if you have any NHS equipment you no longer need please can we have it back. We can reuse or recycle it.
See the CCG's job vacancies HERE
Dates for your diary 
Governing Body - The next meeting in public of the NHS West Suffolk CCG will take place on Wednesday November 28 at West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds IP33 2SP. The meeting will begin at 9.15 a.m. and you're able to speak with Governing Body members from 9.00 a.m. More information HERE

 


Community Engagement Group (CEG)- The next meeting of the NHS West Suffolk CCG Community Engagement Group will take place on Thursday October 25 from 1 - 3 p.m.in Haverhill, venue to be confirmed. Everyone is welcome to attend. More information HERE
 
If you cannot attend this October meeting, the Community Engagement Group members would still be very interested in hearing from you. If you have any questions relating to WSCCG-commissioned health care services that you would like raised at the CEG meeting please email getinvolved@westsuffolkccg.nhs.uk
Do keep in touch - our mailing address is:
getinvolved@westsuffolkccg.nhs.uk 


See previous editions of the newsletter HERE


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NHS West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group, West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds IP33 3SP.