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Christmas 2018
Latest newsletter from NHS West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group
Festive edition...lots of useful information to support your wellbeing over the holidays
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A lifesaver of a Christmas present
The best present you can give the NHS this Christmas is to agree to share your health record. It’s a present that doesn’t cost a penny and could also save your life.
Many people do not realise that in an emergency medical situation the person treating them will only have access to their basic health information. By completing a simple form and handing it in to your GP practice, you can agree to share your health record – meaning every health professional called upon to treat you will be able to access useful information about your health.
Over the last 12 months almost 100,000 people in Suffolk have signed-up to record sharing - please join them.
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Pictured above from the CCG are Carol King, Oliver Riches, Cara Twinch and Maggie Aldridge at a recent health record sharing awareness event in Bury St Edmunds.
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Useful advice to support your health and wellbeing during the festive period
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Flu vaccination - it's not too late! A bout of flu can be really serious. An NHS flu vaccination is free if you are:
- Aged 65+
- Are pregnant
- A carer
- Have a long-term health condition
- Are a young child
Ask at your GP practice or pharmacy
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Looking after your mental wellbeing - this time of year can bring added pressures - but please remember there is help and support available. Read this useful advice from Dr John Hague and more information on services available HERE
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It's time to think about whether you'll have enough repeat prescription medicine to last over the holidays - do you look after someone who uses repeat prescription medicine? It usually takes at least 48 hours for the GP practice to process a repeat prescription request.
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Put the medicine cabinet essentials on your Christmas shopping list - with many of us out and about shopping for Christmas presents, this is an ideal time to pop into your local pharmacy and purchase those medicine cabinet essentials. That way you are prepared to best deal with minor illness and injury over the festive season.
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Here's a great idea for an alternative stocking-filler gift this Christmas - a first aid kit. It's very practical and really shows that you care. Available from a pharmacy near you!
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Doctors' appointments in the evenings, at weekends and bank holidays - ask the receptionist at your own practice about GP+ which operates from bases across Suffolk. You can book an appointment through your practice during usual opening hours.
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Pharmacies are a great source of help and advice - some pharmacies are open on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Click HERE for list of locations and opening times in Suffolk and neighbouring counties.
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Look out for others - please spare some time for neighbours and relatives who are on their own this Christmas. A 'phone call or visit really could give them a boost.
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GP practices - will be closed on Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 December and Tuesday 1 January.
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NHS 111 - If you need urgent medical help or advice call NHS 111 or visit NHS 111 Online HERE
The service is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week - it never closes.
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Check out this short film from Suffolk Family Carers - Top Tips for Carers This Christmas. Click on image above to view.
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Mental health services #AVeryDifferentConversation
Over the past few months, with our partners, we have collected almost 15,000 comments, which have been used to developed a draft mental health and emotional wellbeing strategy for west and east Suffolk.
We'd very much appreciate it if you would take some time to read the draft strategy and associated documents and give your views. Are the comments you gave reflected in the document? Please tell us by taking a short survey.
We really want to hear your views on our work to date, so we can continue having a #verydifferentconversation to help create a very different future for the people of Suffolk.
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Watch this short film which has been created by young people in Suffolk.
This film is about a group of young women who are challenging society’s perception on body image and encouraging young people to embrace who they are and not conform to societal pressure.
Click on image to view.
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Brand new cardiac centre opens at West Suffolk Hospital
A brand new, state-of-the-art cardiac centre has been opened at the West Suffolk Hospital, and renowned Newmarket jockey Frankie Dettori, the hospital’s My WiSH Charity Every Heart Matters appeal ambassador, returned to see it and meet patients and staff.
Set to transform the heart healthcare it can provide to its community, the hospital has invested £5.2m in developing the centre, which can, for the first time, offer additional procedures like angiography and pacemakers to patients.
The new lower-ground floor unit brings together the cardiology ward, cardiac care unit and cardiac diagnostics unit. Previously each area was located in different parts of the hospital.
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Sky TV spent time last week filming at West Suffolk Hospital and hearing from patients and staff.
A great hospital with fabulous staff!
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Social prescribing boost for west Suffolk
An innovative way to support the NHS in dealing with patients’ social needs whilst improving individuals’ wellbeing has been given a £663,000 boost.
The six-figure sum will both strengthen the Haverhill LifeLink scheme – run in partnership with ONE Haverhill Partnership – and be used to work with local partners in Mildenhall and Brandon to develop a social prescribing model for the two towns.
Dr Ed Garratt (pictured above), chief officer, NHS West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “It is very pleasing that the Haverhill social prescribing project has proved such a success and it is great news that the service will be expanding further to Mildenhall and Brandon, thanks to these extra financial resources.
“We’re glad to offer our support, with the £164,000 funding being part of a wider £5 million transformation fund which the CCGs in west and east Suffolk have earmarked specifically for 46 individual projects that support partnership working and better outcomes for our population.
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Support for new parents struggling with their baby’s crying
Suffolk County Council’s Public Health team has launched a campaign to help new parents and carers to cope with their baby’s crying.
A new resource has been developed for parents and carers, taking the form of a ‘User Guide’, offering helpful hints and ideas to help them settle their babies and think about their own wellbeing in the process. The booklet has been designed with input from health visitors and parent support groups.
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Community Action Suffolk - Young Shadow Trustee
Community Action Suffolk is looking to recruit a Young Shadow Trustee to join their board in January.
For one year, a 18-25 year old will attend trustee board and committee meetings and help oversee the running of our charity and ensure important decisions involve a youth perspective.
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Plans submitted for extension at Newmarket Community Hospital
Plans for a new block at Newmarket Community Hospital to house the relocation of a doctor’s surgery in the town have been submitted. Proposals for the £1.3million extension to accommodate Newmarket’s Oakfield Surgery at the hospital are expected to decided by Forest Heath District Council in January.
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Community Engagement Group - new date
The next meeting in public of the CCG's community engagement group will take place on Monday January 28 from 1.30 - 3.30 p.m. in Room 14, West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds.
We hope you will be able to join us.
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BAME/PoC LGBTQ+ Young Campaigners Programme
With funding from Comic Relief, Stonewall is running a series of exciting campaigning residentials for young people aged 16 to 25 who are from specific diversity strands under the LGBTQ+ umbrella. The second of these residentials will run in February 2019 and is for young people who identify as LGBTQ+ and BAME/PoC.
The programme begins with a three-day residential where participants will be given space to reflect on their own identity and experiences as well as being given the tools and confidence to campaign for equality.
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Grants available
The Masonic Charitable Foundation is offering small and large grants to local charities who are working to reduce loneliness in later life.
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Additional funding for West Suffolk Hospital and the East of England Ambulance Service
Last week the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and MP for West Suffolk, Matt Hancock, announced, as part of a major national investment in the long-term future of the NHS, extra money for West Suffolk Hospital and the ambulance service.
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St Edmundsbury Cathedral - "Longest Night" Service
Saturday December 22 at 3.30 p.m.
A quiet service of refuge, comfort and hope for those facing a difficult Christmas.
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NHS England regularly invites feedback through surveys and consultations.
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Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Survey
Suffolk County Council has asked us to share a survey link, asking for your views on how to improve the county's Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA).
The JSNA aims to answer questions about our local population such as: How many people are there? What are their key demographics (for example age and gender)? Where do they live? How healthy are Suffolk residents? What factors influence this?
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Are you a young carer or young adult carer?
If you are a young carer or young adult carer please take this short Suffolk County Council survey to help them best understand what services are working well and what needs to improve.
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Adult social care - survey
Suffolk County Council has asked us to share this survey on adult social care. Your responses will help them understand how people contact them about adult social care, so that they can make sure they are providing the best service possible.
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