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Hertfordshire Health Matters

Friday 13th September 2019

'The doctor is ready to see you - by video'

An exciting addition to the range of urgent help available in Hertfordshire has been made, with patients now able to have a video call-back when contacting the NHS 111 service. 

It is the first service of its kind offered by NHS 111 in the country and has been made available following a successful pilot scheme using the WhatsApp messaging service.

The initiative was led by Dr Vishen Ramkisson and Dr Vipul Parbat, Hertfordshire GPs and clinical leads for Integrated Urgent Care in Hertfordshire, as well as Dr Rafid Aziz, Medical Director for HUC, the organisation that runs the NHS 111 scheme for Hertfordshire.

Video conversations can help patients and GPs communicate more easily and conveniently and in some cases, can provide a safe alternative to a face-to-face appointment. The pilot found this new service reduced the need for patients to travel to see a doctor and helped avoid unnecessary referrals to urgent care centres or A&E departments.  

Secure video call-backs from a doctor take place after an initial ‘triage’ telephone or online conversation has established that someone will benefit from a WhatsApp video consultation. 

Dr Ramkisson said: “The video consulting service takes advantage of the trends in the way people are using technology and puts the patient in control by extending choice.  Together with the NHS 111 online service, patients now have greater control and choice about how they receive advice for minor treatments.”

Dr Aziz, Medical Director added: "We continuously strive to innovate to create a more efficient and effective service for patients. The video link helps people to get earlier face-to-face clinical advice, assessing the patient safely...it means a smoother consultation process and makes sure they receive the appropriate care, without the need for an appointment in many cases.”

More information NHS Digital transformation can be found here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/digitaltechnology/

 

 

Listening and learning at town's Healthfest

Dozens of Hertfordshire organisations came together on Saturday to help residents get more information about health and wellbeing and the services in their community.

Healthfest is run each year by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, and NHS East and North Hertfordshire CCG ran a stall in Welwyn Garden City's town centre to listen to residents about experiences of using NHS services including ideas, concerns and compliments.

Visitors also picked up information about  topics including NHS 111, helping older people in their homes, diabetes, vaccinations for babies, cholesterol, healthy heart tips, and the Cancel Out Cancer initiative.

The CCG’s Public Engagement Manager Joy Hale said: “Meeting so many people who wanted to talk about NHS services was invaluable. We heard a fantastic patient story when we met a lovely six-month-old girl who had survived sepsis after her mum called NHS 111. She was responded to and treated really quickly and appropriately, and it was great to know that the service worked so well for them.

“Thank you to everyone who stopped by to talk with us – we’re already looking forward to next year’s event!”

If you are running an event in your area, you can get in touch with the CCG at enhertsccg.engagement@nhs.net

 

Health and care in your community on AGM agenda

There's less than week to go until the NHS East and North Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Held at Robertson House, Stevenage, on Thursday (19th September) from 9.30am, the AGM will help you find out what we’ve achieved over the last year and how we’ve used the funding available to us.

There will be interactive stalls promoting local groups and health initiatives, presentations, question and answer sessions, and workshops focussing on some of the important health and wellbeing issues in our communities.

To book your place, please visit the Eventbrite website. 

 

Do you have, or care for someone, with a
long term condition?

Have you shared your feedback on experiences of long term conditions?

The NHS East and North Hertfordshire CCG is producing a strategy to set out how services can be delivered to improve the health and well being of people at risk of, or live with, a long term condition.

If you live with, or care for someone with, a long term condition, just take a few minutes to complete the survey by Wednesday (17th September).

More information is available on the Developing the Long Term Conditions Strategy page of the CCG website.

 

Give your views on services

There are just a few more days left to give feedback on the future of Mount Vernon Cancer Centre services and a consultation on the relocation of Moorfields services.

The NHS in the East of England and North London are reviewing the services at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre to address concerns around the ageing estate, support facilities and patient pathways.

The online questionnaire.closes on Sunday (15th September) so please ensure your views have been shared.

Meanwhile, the consultation on proposals to move Moorfields services and the Institute of Ophthalmology from Islington to the St Pancras Hospital site in Camden, closes on Monday (16th September).

You can visit the Oriel website www.oriel-london.org.uk, to find a consultation document and other information, including a summary of the proposal, text only and audio versions, and Easy Read.

Views can be submitted through the feedback survey online at:  http://oakhamwarp.dinksurveys.com/Moorfields. Copies can also be downloaded and returned by email or freepost (no stamp needed).You can also email moorfields.oriel@nhs.net or phone 020 7521 4684.
Image of We're here for you for longer
A Healthier Future - Improving health and care in Herts and west Essex

Ageing Well resources now available
The STP’s frailty workstream has produced some useful 'ageing well' resources for older people which cover important topics for those who are fit and healthy as well as those living with mild, moderate or severe frailty.

The leaflets highlight the importance of staying active wherever possible, keeping social, and looking after your health and skin. There are useful weblinks to more information and how to get in contact with organisations such as Herts Help. 

The leaflets can also be downloaded from the STP website (www.healthierfuture.org.uk/ageing -well).

Each CCG has uploaded the information on their relevant GP systems and information will be seen on GP waiting room screens in the coming weeks. If you have any comments on these resources or have any questions, please email enquiries@healthierfuture.org.uk


STP Leader’s update
Just a reminder from last week's Hertfordshire Health Matters that the latest STP Leader’s update is available from Chair Paul Burstow; the first update since Beverley Flowers and Iain MacBeath were appointed as joint leaders of the STP.

 

Find out more about our STP by visiting: www.healthierfuture.org.uk

There are links to the STP’s ‘Healthier Future’ newsletter and copies of the STP leader’s update on our intranet.

Follow us on Twitter: @HWEfutureSTP

Sign up to receive the Hertfordshire and west Essex Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) newsletter by clicking here...

NEWSLETTERS AND EVENTS

This section promotes useful newsletters from organisations in our area which you can share. We'll also post information on health-related events in the area that you might find interesting.

There's lots of Preparing for Baby courses taking place in the area, so please let your family members know if they are expecting, Visit Eventbrite for more dates and locations.


19 September: NHS East and North Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group Annual General Meeting, Robertson House, Stevenage 9.30am-1.00pm. Book a free place on Eventbrite.

24 September: Inspiring Communities Together: Making new connections for the Hertfordshire 2020 Year of Culture. Book a free place on Eventbrite.
 

LOCAL NEWS week ending 8th September

Some of our area's outlets covered a range of health matters in the past week. Click on the links to take you to their home pages where you can search for health news.

Herts Advertiser

The Comet

Welwyn Hatfield Times

 

 

 

@ENHertsCCG Twitter report 2nd-8th September

Total followers: 4,968
New followers this week: 0
Tweets sent this week: 27
Total number of views of our tweets: 12,842
Retweets this week: 30
Total number of ‘follows’ or tweets ‘favourited’ or ‘re-tweeted’: 147
 

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