Healthwatch City of London Newsletter 27 May 2021
Dear Reader,
As we move forward out of the pandemic and the Country is reopening, we are hoping to get back into our office in Portsoken and resume our face-to-face events. You’ll see below that we have scheduled our programme of events for the next three months, at the moment they are set up virtually, but when allowed, we will hold them in across the City so you can easily access us.
Next week we celebrate National Volunteers week. The Healthwatch Board is made up of volunteers, and we have a fantastic group of volunteers carrying out various projects to ensure that your voice is heard by the providers of Health and Social care. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of my Board, and all of our volunteers for their tireless commitment to Healthwatch City London and influencing change and decision making for the benefit of City residents, students and workers. If you want to become a volunteer, then please do contact us. An hour or couple of hours a week helps us, all we need is your enthusiasm.
One of our recent success has been working closely with the Neaman Practice to implement changes following the issues we have raised on your behalf. I’m delighted that Dr Chor and Dr Ugwu will be joining us at our Board Meeting in Public on 18th June to tell us about their action plan and how it will address your concerns. Details of how to join are below.
You may recall earlier in the year we undertook a survey to obtain your views on the new Shoreditch Park and City Primary Care Network (PCN) and the services you want put in place. Following the survey and subsequent focus groups, a comprehensive report has been produced and presented to the PCN. We’ll shortly be publishing the report on our website. Thank you to all who gave feedback.
As an organisation we feel it’s important that we gain insights and understanding about how we are perceived by both our partners and those we serve in the City of London. We would value your thoughts on how we are doing, what we can do more of and where we need to do more to make us a Healthwatch that really delivers. Our annual survey is open for your feedback and comment. Details of how to complete the survey are below.
With services, shops, offices, and amenities reopening, may I take this opportunity to remind everyone that we still need to abide by the advice of Hands, Space and Face. Please stick to the Government guidance.
Stay safe.
Gail Beer, Chair HWCoL
Healthwatch City of London Board Meeting in Public
We will be holding our next Board Meeting in Public on Friday 18th June between 1pm and 3pm. The meeting will be held over Zoom.
We’ll be giving an update on the work we have carried out over the past few months. We will also be joined by Dr Chor and Dr Ugwu from the Neaman Practice who will give an overview of the action plans they have in place to address the issues we have raised with them recently. We are also hoping to be joined by UCLH to talk to us about services restarting post the COVID pandemic and waiting lists.
If you’d like to join us, please send an email to info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk
How are we performing? Complete our Survey.
As part of our development as an organisation we feel it’s important that we gain insights and understanding about how we are perceived by both our partners and those we serve in the City of London. We would value your thoughts on how we are doing, what we can do more of and where we need to do more to make us a Healthwatch that really delivers.
How are we doing? Do you know what we do? What more would you like to see from us? How can we help you? Let us know by completing our annual survey and you will help us understand how you see us and how effective you think we are. You can also let us know where you think we should focus our efforts more and where you think we have been successful.
You can complete the survey by using the link below or give us a call and we can complete it over the phone.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/HWCoLcommunityannualsurvey or call 020 3745 9563.
Volunteers’ week
Next week is National Volunteers’ Week. The event takes place 1-7 June every year. It's a chance to recognise the fantastic contribution volunteers make to our organisation, the communities they represent and to say thank you.
The Board of Healthwatch City of London is made up entirely of volunteers, we also have volunteers from across the City, London universities and even the world!
They are currently supporting work on the redevelopment of St Leonard’s hospital, the new neighbourhoods forum, sexual health services, audiology provision post COVID, PALS advice across the NHS trusts and Pharmacy provision during COVID, to name but a few. The reports produced and insights received from all of this work is shared with health and social care leaders including the City of London to influence change.
We’d like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all of our volunteers, who have contributed so much to our organisation, and are creating a real change in the provision of Health and Social care services across the City. Want to participate or know more we would love to hear form you. Contact us on info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk
Response to the City Plan consultation
In our April newsletter we informed you that we would be responding to the City of London Corporation’s new Local Plan, called City Plan 2036, which sets out what type of developments and changes the City Corporation expects to take place and where and the City Corporation's vision, strategy, and objectives up to 2036.
The submission was made by the deadline of 10th May.
You can read our response below.
Closer collaboration between BHURT and the Barts Health Group
The pandemic brought NHS organisations and partners across North East London more closely together than ever before enabling a co-ordinated response for the benefit of their patients and residents. In particular, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Trust (BHRUT) worked closely with the Barts Health group to co-ordinate care for critically ill Covid patients and those with urgent and emergency needs, including transfers between hospitals. This collaboration is set to become more formalised and even closer to find out more you can read the full article on the Barts Health website
NHS Digital collection of Patient Data
Patient data from GP medical records kept by GP practices in England is used every day to improve health, care and services through planning and research, helping to find better treatments and improve patient care. The NHS is introducing a new way to share this information - called the General Practice Data for Planning and Research data collection.
NHS Digital will collect, analyse, publish and share this patient data to improve health and care services for everyone. This includes:
- informing and developing health and social care policy
- planning and commissioning health and care services
- taking steps to protect public health (including managing and monitoring the coronavirus pandemic)
- in exceptional circumstances, providing you with individual care
- enabling healthcare and scientific research
Any data that NHS Digital collects will only be used for health and care purposes. It is never shared with marketing or insurance companies.
This collection will start from 1 July 2021. Patient data will be collected from GP medical records about:
- any living patient registered at a GP practice in England when the collection started - this includes children and adults
- any patient who died after the data collection started, and was previously registered at a GP practice in England when the data collection started
They will not collect your name or where you live. Any other data that could directly identify you, for example NHS number, General Practice Local Patient Number, full postcode and date of birth, is replaced with unique codes which are produced by de-identification software before the data is shared with NHS Digital.
NHS Digital will collect data on:
- data on your sex, ethnicity and sexual orientation
- clinical codes and data about diagnoses, symptoms, observations, test results, medications, allergies, immunisations, referrals and recalls, and appointments, including information about your physical, mental and sexual health
- data about staff who have treated you
NHS Digital will NOT collect data on:
- your name and address (except for your postcode in unique coded form)
- written notes (free text), such as the details of conversations with doctors and nurses
- images, letters and documents
- coded data that is not needed due to its age – for example medication, referral and appointment data that is over 10 years old
- coded data that GPs are not permitted to share by law – for example certain codes about IVF treatment, and certain information about gender re-assignment
Opting out
If you do not want your identifiable patient data to be shared outside of your GP practice for purposes except for your own care, you can register an opt-out with your GP practice. This is known as a Type 1 Opt-out.
If you wish to register a Type 1 Opt-out with your GP practice before data sharing starts with NHS Digital, this should be done by returning this form to your GP practice by 23 June 2021 to allow time for processing it. If you have previously registered a Type 1 Opt-out and you would like to withdraw this, you can also use the form to do this. You can send the form by post or email to your GP practice or call 0300 3035678 for a form to be sent out to you.
Neaman Practice
We have contacted the Neaman Practice, they have confirmed that Type 1 Opt-out forms should be sent directly to them at 15 Half Moon Court, EC1A 7HF, dropped into the surgery or sent via email to theneamanpractice@nhs.net
Printed copies of the form are available for collection on the reception desk, should you not have access to a printer.
The Practice have communicated the information on their website Patient Record - The Neaman Practice
Older People’s Reference Group Quarterly Newsletter
The City and Hackney Older People’s Reference Group have produced a quarterly newsletter for May on ‘Safety First’, with lots of useful information, such as falls prevention messaging, engaging with your community and vaccine information. Please see the newsletter attached and information on the OPRG below.
The Older People's Reference Group (OPRG) is a forum for older people to raise their voices, resist ageism and assert their dignity. We are the largest older people group in City and Hackney and led by the Advisory Group. The Advisory Group is made up of older residents from a variety of different backgrounds, ethnicities and ages. The OPRG is funded by the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and supported by Age UK East London. OPRG members receive regular updates, news and information and invitations to our events. How you can be involved...
If you're not already a member, or you know of someone who'd like to be more involved, then please contact Sophie at Age UK East London (OPRG Coordinator) on 07384 511 701 or Sophie.ibotson@ageukeastlondon.org.uk. Membership is free and they welcome new faces and voices!
Upcoming Healthwatch City of London Events
One of Healthwatch City of London’s purposes is to understand the needs, experiences and concerns of people who use health and social care services and to speak out on their behalf. To ensure we hear of and know of your concerns we run regular events. Ideally, we’d like to hold them face to face, but because of the current pandemic we are restricted to Zoom events.
Please see a list of our events below with joining details.
Healthwatch City of London Board Meeting in Public – Friday 18th June
Overview: Join us for an update on the work we have carried out over the past few months. We will also be joined by Dr Chor and Dr Ugwu from the Neaman Practice who will give an overview of the action plans they have in place to address the issues we have raised with them recently. We are also hoping to be joined by UCLH to talk to us about services restarting post the COVID pandemic and waiting lists.
Time: 13:00 – 15:00
Joining details: Email for info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk
Healthwatch City of London Drop-in session – Thursday 24th June
Overview: An opportunity for residents, workers, and students to raise issues about their experience of Health and Social care with the staff of Healthwatch.
Time: 14:00 – 16:00
Joining details: https://zoom.us/j/97628879229?pwd=S280MUNKNHRQalZlYXc5V2o0bGwyQT09
Meeting ID: 976 2887 9229 Passcode: 820796 Dial in: 0208 080 6591
Listening to City Carer’s event – Friday 25th June
Overview: An opportunity for Carer’s to provide feedback on their experience of Health and Social Care.
Time: 11:00 – 12:00
Joining details:
https://zoom.us/j/94200330324?pwd=dVlRVkFoRmIwdTY2NmVPb0hlUStBZz09
Meeting ID: 942 0033 0324 Passcode: 187989 Dial in: 0208 080 6592
Mental Health and Wellbeing focus group - Friday 16th July
Overview: The event is open to everyone and we will be discussing mental health provision in the City of London, identifying access issues and any gaps in the services provided to you. We will be joined by colleagues from MIND, East London Foundation Trust and City Connections.
Time: 10:30 – 11:30
Joining details:
https://zoom.us/j/99059283997?pwd=SFM1aWROUmVzdnpTMWhMUUkycnUvZz09
Meeting ID: 990 5928 3997 Passcode: 462754 Dial in: 0208 080 6592
Listening to City Carer’s event – Friday 23rd July
Overview: An opportunity for Carer’s to provide feedback on their experience of Health and Social Care.
Time: 14:00 – 15:00
Joining details:
https://zoom.us/j/94462352882?pwd=SzdvK2w3YmZGK0RONFZRWlNlN3QzQT09
Meeting ID: 944 6235 2882 Passcode: 731084 Dial in: 0208 080 6592
Healthwatch City of London Drop-in session – Thursday 29th July
Overview: An opportunity for residents, workers, and students to raise issues about their experience of Health and Social care with the staff of Healthwatch.
Time: 14:00 – 16:00
Joining details: https://zoom.us/j/95395954008?pwd=U0VVYm5uTlYrdEx3UnRVTFJCeU4yZz09
Meeting ID: 953 9595 4008 Passcode: 557314 Dial in: 0208 080 6591
Listening to City Carer’s event – Friday 20th August
Overview: An opportunity for Carer’s to provide feedback on their experience of Health and Social Care.
Time: 11:00 – 12:00
Joining details:
https://zoom.us/j/96737224444?pwd=bWE5R3l3OGVvY21tbDRpcURqOXFmdz09
Meeting ID: 967 3722 4444 Passcode: 364136 Dial in: 0208 080 6591
Healthwatch City of London Drop-in session – Thursday 26th August
Overview: An opportunity for residents, workers, and students to raise issues about their experience of Health and Social care with the staff of Healthwatch.
Time: 14:00 – 16:00
Joining details:
https://zoom.us/j/93269750444?pwd=SVQ3ampDdlh3aWpIT3ArcjU1OEYyQT09
Meeting ID: 932 6975 0444 Passcode: 506561 Dial in: 0208 080 6591
Dragon café in the City
The next Dragon Café in the City is being held on Wednesday 2nd June 2021.
Join them for:
- City Pause
- Everyday Mindfulness
- Reading Friends Group
- Yoga for Mental Health
- NEW Origami Books
You can download the full programme and details of how to register here
Free tickets for cultural events
City of London Art Galleries & Museums are reopening. You can book free tickets now for venues including Museum of London and Guildhall Art Gallery https://guildhall-art-gallery.arttickets.org.uk and www.museumoflondon.org.uk
City Carers events
City Carers community invites you to ‘Share and Learn’ sessions for 45 minutes via Zoom. Open to unpaid carers or anyone who is looking after someone/ has looked after someone living in the City of London.
The residents share tips/advice they have come across in their own caring lives in the City. You may have a question eg "Anyone know if there are advocacy services for residents?" or a general natter the options are endless.
The group is run by carers and for carers voluntarily. The next dates are Monday 31st May, 7th and 21st June. There are two times at 11.15am and at 8pm. For more details and the Zoom Link please email: CityCarersCommunity@gmail.com
Latest COVID-19 and vaccination data for the City of London
The joint City and Hackney Public Health Intelligence Team produce regular statistics on Covid-19 levels in the City. The site now also shows the vaccination uptake statistics.
The site below breaks down the cases in the City, and in Hackney, and by Ward, this enables residents to see the wider picture of infection rates. The site is updated regularly. https://hackney.gov.uk/coronavirus-data
Latest news in your language
All the information published in this newsletter, and on our website, can be translated into your preferred language. Simply click on the ‘select language’ box at the top of the page and select the language of your choice. (Translation is via google translate, so it may not be grammatically correct)
Turkish
Buradaki website ve yayınlanan bilgiler sizin konuştuğunuz Lisana çevrilmiştir. Tek yapacağınız şey, sayfanın başındaki ‘Select Language’ düğmesine basıp, konuştuğunuz Lisanı seçmektir.
Spanish
La información publicada en este boletín y en nuestra página web puede ser traducida al idioma que prefiera. Simplemente seleccione su idioma en el campo “select language” en la parte superior de la página (la traducción está realizada a traves de Google Translate por lo que puede ser que no sea gramaticalmente correcta).
Get in touch with Healthwatch City of London
Visit our website for more information, news, and events, have your say about your care, and spread the word about Healthwatch City of London.
Web: www.healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk Email: info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk
Tel: 020 3745 9563 Twitter: @HealthwatchCoL Facebook: @CoLHealthwatch
Portsoken Health and Community Centre, 14-16 Little Somerset Street, London E1 8AH
