During the current crisis, it is really important that we hear about your good and bad experiences of health and social care. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of temporary changes have been made to health and care services across Northamptonshire in order to delay the spread of the virus. While we all value the hard work and commitment of the people who look after us, in this difficult time it is all the more important that people’s experiences are still heard. With so much about how health and care is delivered changing, and having to adapt quickly, it is especially important that things that are not working well, and those that are, are highlighted to help services deliver the quality of care they want to.
To help people share their experiences with us we have developed a short survey that asks people to tell us how they have found accessing health and care at this time, including what they think of the new ways of contacting GP practices, whether they have had any treatments delayed or cancelled and whether they have seen changes in home visiting services from social care workers or community nurses. The survey also asks how much of an impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on people’s mental wellbeing and whether they have been able to get help with this.
Please tell us your experience or those of a family member or someone you know using the survey, or email us at enquiries@healthwatchnorthamptonshire.co.uk to give other feedback.
We have made our COVID-19 information pages accessible to all by partnering with Recite Me to fully customise our COVID-19 pages to have customisable styling options, reading aids and a translate function with over 100 languages. View our pages here:
Do you need help? If you are self-isolating due to the Coronavirus situation and have no other forms of support, you can contact the central helpline at NCC for support with: Urgent food deliveries, prescription medication collection, support with loneliness and help to get online.
Call 0300 126 1000 and select Option 5 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm).
For non-urgent queries, if you are unable to call you can email customerservices@northamptonshire.gov.uk instead - this will be monitored Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.
To make sure that everyone knows what support is available from them volunteers across the county are delivering leaflets to every household. Find out more.
A new campaign called #NorthantsTogether was launched 2 April to help share local information and advice about COVID-19.
Across Northamptonshire, a wide range of organisations and individuals are working really hard to help our communities during the outbreak and keep people safe. Many of these organisations, including Healthwatch Northamptonshire, are now beginning to use the shared hashtag #NorthantsTogether in their messaging to demonstrate the scope of activity and support available across the county.
Regular updates and information related to COVID-19 are being issued to the public from a variety of sources including; health and government advice, latest regulations and guidance, details of the community support available, as well as changes and amendments to local services. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to see the lasts posts about #NorthantsTogether.
ACRE has made a Good Neighbour and Village Neighbour Support Map to help villages find other support groups and their contact details in the Northamptonshire area.
The list of contacts is consistently growing during the pandemic.
If you are a young person worried about the current outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the effects it will have on your life, there are many places to get help, resources and information.
The Lowdown has opened up a wellbeing support helpline on 01604 622223, which will be monitored between 1pm and 3.30pm Tuesday to Friday and Mondays 1pm to 7.30pm.
NHFT also has a range of support services, including CAMHS Live where young people can chat to an advisor over the website 9am-7pm. Find out more on our website.
Northamptonshire has launched its very first Integrated Mental Health Response Hub - a 24/7 telephone support system for our community. You can get support from a helpful Mental Health Navigator by calling 0300 330 1011
Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire is looking to assess the implications of the current COVID crisis amongst community organisations at this current time.
This information will be important as it will assist in negotiations at both a local and national level, and will inform key stakeholders of the issues we are all grappling with.
You can also find resources and guidence for local organisations regarding Local Funding, Regional Funding, National Funding, Safeguarding and Volunteering, and Digital resources.
Northamptonshire Health Charity are appealing for donations to support local hospitals and NHS staff, to help fund additional resources to aid hospitals in delivering the specialist care needed throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
The charity supports Northampton General Hospital as well as all of the community and mental health hospitals and services across Northamptonshire.
Millbrook Healthcare is making an urgent appeal to its service users: if you have any of their community healthcare equipment you no longer need, please can you contact to arrange for it to be collected.
Due to shortages, Millbrook Healthcare's priority is to collect community beds, mattresses, commodes, bath lifts, shower chairs, toilet surrounds, patient turning equipment, hoists and slings. This equipment is loaned on behalf of the NHS and local authority social care teams when people leave hospital or after a period of illness, to help them stay safe at home and retain their independence.
Collections are free and contactless. Call Millbrook Healthcare on 0330 1248214 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday to arrange a contactless collection, free of charge, or visit their website.
All three hospitals trusts in the county have put together ways to help people keep in touch with loved ones in their care who they cannot visit:
Northampton General Hospital - has a relatives helpline (01604 545884 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and 10am-4pm weekends and bank holidays), patient property services to drop off essential items and an email address for sending messages and photos (tomy.lovedone@ngh.nhs.uk) to be given to patients.
Need advice about your home energy bills or want to know what support you are eligible for? Contact Terry Richards, Energy Adviser for Gas and Electric at Citizens Advice, on 07757 668141.
There are grants and help available including £140 Warm Home Discount and possibly new boilers.
Fixing a tariff with your current supplier.
or save even more by switching to a new supplier.
They can look at your Energy Performance Certificate for residence and give advice.
Register for free to receive additional practical support from Anglian Water's Priority Services.
Some of the help available by being on the Priority Services Register includes; help with reading the water meter, a knock and wait service where Anglian Water will wait longer for the door to be answered when visiting, and a scheme to protect people from bogus callers and scams. Registration is quick and easy. To find out more about Priority Services and to sign up, call Anglian Water on 0800 919 155 or visit their website.
Northampton General launches rapid testing to identify patients with COVID-19 in under four hours.
This new rapid testing method, which started on 22 April, enables samples from patients to be tested in the hospital laboratory. Traditionally swabs have been sent to external testing centres which took an average 48 hours to receive a result; however the new process can be done in less than four hours.
A well-being helpline has been set-up for non-clients and clients of the physical and mental health rehabilitation centre Reach for Health to access advice, support or just speak to a friendly voice. The centre is manned by University OT students.
Andy, who is studying a degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Northampton after a near-death experience, had an idea to merge his passion for OT with his telephony skills to help him continue his placement and ensure Reach for Health could keep providing a service.
The helpline is: 01327 828 260 and is open from 10am to 4pm each day.
During the Coronavirus pandemic, home schooling is something many families are having to do. This is usally done online. The internet is a good tool for accessing information and to keep in touch with their peers and teachers. However, it is important to remember internet safety. NAYC and Northamptonshire County Council have created some resources for both organisations and parents on how to talk to young people about internet safety.
It’s important to stay at home – but it’s also important to seek medical help if you need it. The NHS is still here for you so don’t delay getting help if you’re unwell.
Practices across Northamptonshire were already making huge progress improving access to online, telephone and video consultations before the COVID-19 outbreak, but it has become even more important that everyone is able to access health care.
It’s really important for people to remember that even during the pandemic they should always seek help for medical problems if they need it. Please continue to contact your GP practice for advice in the usual way. Although many consultations are now happening remotely, there are special arrangements in place to ensure people can be safely seen face-to-face wherever that’s clinically appropriate.
In response to an unprecedented demand for available food due to the impact of the Coronavirus, a regionally based charity SOFEA are making food boxes available each week across South Northamptonshire.
There are hubs now in Blakesley, Brackley, Bugbrooke, Nether Heyford and Silverstone with ones opening this week in Middleton Cheney, Old Stratford and Towcester these hubs now covering 90% of South Northants.
And find out more about all the work being done by volunteers across the county - Almost 13,000 volunteers have now come forward in the effort to help those in need across Northamptonshire during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Plans to create two new unitary councils for the county from next April will now continue within the planned timescales following the confirmation today of new legislation by the government.
Following the postponement of May’s local elections because of the Covid-19 pandemic, an alternative approach and new legislation were needed for the creation of the organisations.
The response to the current Public Health emergency is the top priority for all councils in the county. However all Council leaders recently welcomed the news that new legislation was being published to ensure the changes to local government would not interfere with the Covid-19 response.
As a GamCare partner in the Midlands, Aquarius provides support, information and advice to anyone suffering with a gambling problem, as well as to family members and friends affected by someone else’s gambling. They are still providing one to one counselling and this is all accessible via telephone counselling support. If you are concerned about someone’s gambling call 0300 456 4292 to speak to their practitioners, or email them on northamptonshire@aquarius.org.uk.
In line with national guidance issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, dental practices in Northamptonshire are currently closed for routine “face to face” dental appointments.
People seeking help with dental problems should not visit local dental practices but instead phone, between the hours of 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, for information for advice on alternative arrangements in place. During evenings after 5pm, weekends and bank holidays patients should contact NHS 111. People seeking help should not visit A&E departments or GP surgeries for dental care.
There are currently five operational urgent dental centre (UDCs) in Northampton, Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough and Daventry for patients who are showing no COVID-19 symptoms. There is one urgent dental centres (UDCs) in Wellingborough which is designated for patients who are possible or confirmed COVID-19 patients, including patients with symptoms, or those living in their household.
There is one urgent dental centres (UDCs) in Wellingborough which is designated for patients who are possible or confirmed COVID-19 patients, including patients with symptoms, or those living in their household. There are also two further specialist sites in Corby and Northampton for treating only vulnerable or shielded patients. All these services operate 7 days per week. No patient walk in services are permitted.
Northamptonshire Stop Smoking Service is still operational during the lockdown. They can offer:
A dedicated Stop Smoking Service, providing 12 Weeks of FREE behavioural support
Tips and advice on how to stop smoking Telephone appointments (MON-FRI)
A FREE course of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)
A FREE e-cigarette starter kit and 12 week supply of e-liquid
Champix pharmacy/GP referral letter
Specialist support provided throughout the week, with NRT and e-cigarettes sent straight to your door.
If you would like to refer someone for support, simply send their name, address, DOB, and a contact number to the following email address: smokefree@northamptonshire.gov.uk
Fire service personnel from Fire and Rescue services across the East Midlands are joining East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) to train to support the response to COVID-19.
If the need arises in the coming weeks, fire service personnel will work alongside EMAS Urgent Care staff and will carry out support tasks such as driving Urgent Care vehicles and the safe moving and handling of patients.
All those joining have volunteered to support EMAS, and many are on-call firefighters.
Simon Weldon, the current Chief Executive of Kettering General Hospital, as been appointed for the Group Management Model for Kettering and Northampton general hospitals and will become the Group Chief Executive across both Trusts later this year.
As previously announced at the start of the year both hospital Trust Boards agreed that a Group Management Model will support and lead strengthened collaboration between the two hospitals for the benefit of the communities they serve.
The formation of the group is not a merger and both Trusts will continue to provide core services such as A&E and maternity services but will collaborate more closely on other clinical and support services with the aim of providing the best care possible for patients.
There are many volunteers who are offering to help people with dementia with practical day to day tasks. To help them with a better understanding of your situation Innovations in Dementia have produced a volunteer guide. There are also four new short videos, designed for volunteers who are supporting a person with dementia, here.
Living with dementia at any time brings challenges for those with the condition and the people close to them. It is important that they get the help and support they need, now more than ever. Alzheimers Society has made a guide for those volunteering in local coronavirus response helping somebody living with dementia.
Whilst it is extremely important to follow Government advice to stay at home during this period, it can be confusing to know what to do when your child is unwell or injured. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has issued some advice to help.
If you have cancer, it’s understandable you might feel anxious about COVID-19. The Government and the NHS have both confirmed that cancer treatment should continue to be prioritised during the response to the COVID-19 emergency. Healthwatch England spoke to Cancer Research UK to help you understand the care you should expect to receive throughout the pandemic, and where to go for help.
It’s important that you and your loved ones discuss your preferences for end of life care, and perhaps especially important if you have been identified as being at high risk of severe illness if you develop Covid-19.
The NHS reminded health professionals earlier this month that they should provide care in a way that achieves dignity and compassion for everyone equally. This means that every person is treated as an individual, whose needs and preferences should be considered – and an Advance Care Plan can ensure this happens.
You can find out more from Healthwatch England about what an Advance Care Plan is, how you can create one, and where to find other resources.
The processes that follow the death of a loved one may be different during the coronavirus pandemic, and information is available that will help to guide you through the process and what you need to do, after the death.
After the death of someone important to you, you may be looking for support to help you to talk and to start to make sense of what has happened. Help is available from a number of organisations with supportive information on what to expect and how to cope, details of which can be found on Healthwatch England's website.
Following some confusion caused by the guidelines issues to doctors and others about access to regular B12 injections for Pernicious Anaemia during the pandemic, the British Society for Haematology has changed the guidance. The Pernicious Anaemia Society played an active part in the re-writing on the guidance having received many calls from confused and concerned members of the publics.
We have got used to a whole new set of words and phrases in connection with coronavirus recently. Easy Read Online has created a free list of those words and their meaning that can be shared with anyone who will find the easy definitions useful.
Guide Dogs are providing answers and information for people with sight loss and their families during the coronavirus outbreak. They can help identify ways to continue living actively, independently and well, refer to their other services or help access services by other providers. Please call 0800 781 1444 between 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.
Are you walking a dog for someone who is currently unable to do so? Here’s some guidance to help keep everyone safe from Coronavirus. You can find more guidance on the Canine and Feline Sector Group website.
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