A number of events have been scaled back or cancelled this year due to coronavirus. However Remembrance Day will go ahead on 11 November, albeit a little differently this year due to social distancing restrictions, as bans on large gatherings remain in place. Residents are being asked to remember from home this year, with Torbay adapting its traditional commemorations to ensure everyone’s safety amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Remembrance Day is an opportunity every year to remember those who served and died in World War 1, World War 2, and those who have served and defended the nation in years since.
An earlier edition of this news bulletin unfortunately overlooked World War 1 in its text. This was an unintentional oversight and we apologise for any upset caused.
New guidance to support safe care home visits during lockdown
Acknowledging, in the words of Matt Hancock, how "heart-breaking and incredibly frustrating it has been for family and friends who haven't been able to see their loved ones during the pandemic" the Government is encouraging and supporting care homes to provide safe visiting opportunities as new national guidelines come into effect.
11,000 iPad tablets, worth £7.5 million, will soon be distributed to thousands of care homes across England to help residents keep in touch with loved ones.
Local Healthwatch Plea for Public Feedback on NHS 111
We're looking for more people to help NHS 111 in Devon, Plymouth, Torbay and Somerset improve! You can tell us about a recent experience of using the service in our online survey here
Or call us free on 0800 052 0029 for support completing the survey - Monday to Thursday, 10am to 3pm.
Pat Harris, Strategic Lead for Healthwatch in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, said: “With essential services facing unprecedented challenges, it is really important that we as the consumer champion for health and social care services continue to listen to the community and share feedback with our stakeholders and key decision-makers on what is working well or not so well and what may need addressing.
Your feedback will be used to shape and improve the local NHS 111 service and really could make a difference, so please share your experience using it with us by filling out our online survey, available on all our local Healthwatch websites.”
Don’t forget to share our survey with your family, friends and colleagues!
Do you find it easy to make GP appointments online?
You could help the people of Devon!
We are looking for volunteers to join us offering a minimum of 1 hour per week of support
Visit Digital Health Devon online here or email info@digitalhealthdevon.co.uk if you are interested
Time to celebrate for newly qualified Assistant Practitioners
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust has gained 22 newly qualified Assistant Practitioners. The team at the Trust are celebrating after completing their two-year Foundation Degree and Higher Apprenticeship in Healthcare Practice. The staff members played an important role in supporting the Trust’s Covid-19 response, and have now successfully achieved their award.
THE TORBAY Community Helpline is gearing up for a massive increase in calls as new restrictions are brought in to tackle coronavirus.
A spokesperson for the Helpline said: “We are ready. We have been planning for this for a while and the Helpline will continue to be staffed six days a week.” “We are aware that some people are suffering more than others and we are seeing the effects of those strains in the complex nature of the calls we are receiving” “But we are here for everyone in the Bay, and we will continue to ensure that no-one in the Bay goes hungry and no-one in the Bay becomes isolated. We will also continue to put people offering help in touch with those that need it, so we want also want to hear from people who can volunteer.”
The Helpline is staffed from 10am to 6pm, from Monday to Friday and 9:30 am to 12:30 pm on Saturdays on 01803 446022.
Clinically extremely vulnerable receive updated guidance in line with new national restrictions
The Government has advised further precautions on top of the tougher national measures being introduced, as cases continue to rise.
New guidance published 4th November 2020 for the clinically extremely vulnerable on keeping safe under new national restrictions which come into force last Thursday
group strongly advised to stay at home at all times, unless for exercise or doctors’ appointments range of support available, backed by over £32 million government funding for local councils
Baywide Primary Care Network Social Media Events for Self-Care Week
The Baywide Primary Care Network – made up of Torbay GP Surgeries Chilcote Surgeries, Compass House Medical Centres and Pembroke House Surgeries – are supporting patients to get back into a healthier mindset.
The Baywide Social Prescribing Team has been working hard to put together a week of virtual activities and events centred around self-care. The events will take place from 16-20th November 2020, with the activities being posted on each of the surgeries’ Facebook pages and Baywide PCN Twitter @Baywide_pcn.
Those touched by the loss of a baby or infant are invited to be part of the Torbay Hospital
Little One’s Memorial Weekend.
Due to the current situation, we will remember the little ones in a slightly different way this year.
Craft packs will be sent out for families to do together at home The service will be held without a congregation present and recorded for families to access. Your little one’s stars will be read and hung on the tree in the chapel.
If you would like to receive a craft pack or have your little one’s star read out or for further information please email ceri.morris@nhs.net Or call the chaplaincy team on 01803 656406 before 27th November.
Through Healthwatch, you can make a real difference to the way care services are run.
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Covid-19: helping you get the information you need
Local and national advice and information
Healthwatch Torbay has produced a comprehensive list of advice and information resources to help you through the current health crisis. We have divided the information into the following categories:
We recently changed the way we produce our email newsletters, and will be using this one to share purely Healthwatch Torbay bulletins from now on.
A more in-depth email newsletter similar to previous editions will be available soon via Engaging Communities South West, the not for profit organisation who manage the Healthwatch Torbay contract and offer Engagement, Evaluation, Communications & Digital support, and Training to the local statutory, voluntary and private sectors. For more information click here to visit their website.
If you would like to continue to receive a local in-depth email newsletter like this one from Engaging Communities South West, please click the link below to subscribe.
Healthwatch Torbay
Paignton Library & Information Centre
Great Western Road
Paignton
TQ4 5AG
Telephone: (Freephone) 0800 052 0029
Text Message: 07469 244112
Email: info@healthwatchtorbay.org.uk
