Healthwatch City of London September Newsletter
Chat from the Chair
Welcome to our September newsletter. I hope you all had a lovely summer and not been overwhelmed by the heat. We have been kept busy at Healthwatch City of London getting out and about meeting other voluntary organisations and more importantly you, this month we’ll be attending the Primary Care Network Health Fair event, you can find details of the event below. These organisations are responsible for planning and delivering the care that you access, so it important that we make sure our and your voice is heard. The City is small with nowhere near the number of residents of bigger boroughs but our partners are keen to hear your voice. Taking part in shaping how services are delivered is something we can all do so if you are interested in doing just that please let us know.
We are pleased to announce our Annual General Meeting, this will be held on Tuesday 4th October from 2pm – 5pm at the Portsoken Community Centre. It will be a great opportunity for you hear more about our work and hear from some of the leaders within the new Integrated Care System who are making decisions about our services. Our theme is Local Voice, Local Care; join us and enjoy some refreshments, meet us face to face and perhaps get involved! To register for the event please email info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk more details are below, and we look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.
As winter approaches the NHS will soon be rolling out its flu and COVID 19 booster vaccine programme, we don’t have details of when this will commence as yet, but as soon as we are told we’ll let you know. We do know that the invitations will be sent out in cohort priority order, the advice at the moment is to wait to be contacted. Details of who will be eligible are below.
I look forward to seeing you all at our AGM.
Gail
Healthwatch City of London Annual General Meeting
As Gail said above, we are holding our Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 4th October between 2pm – 5pm at the Portsoken Community Centre, 20 Little Somerset Street, London, E1 8AH.
We have the following speakers lined up to discuss our theme Local Voice, Local Care:
Rajiv Jaitly, Non Executive Director at North East London Integrated Care Board – Integrated Care Systems – How it all works
Charlotte Pomeroy - Chief Participation and Place Officer NHS North East London – Ensuring participation in our community
Eeva Huoviala - Head of Public Engagement and Personalised Care Lead (City and Hackney) – Working with you, the local voice.
There will also be a panel discussion with representatives from GP surgeries, Primary Care Networks and the Neighbourhoods programme on Local issues and local solutions.
To join us please email info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk to register your place.
Neaman Practice Patient Participation Group meeting – change of date
The Neaman Practice have changed the date of their regular PPG meeting from 12th September to 19th September. The time remains the same 2:30pm – 3:30pm. We have been informed that all members of the group have been told of the date change.
The PPG is a group of patients, carers and GP practice staff and partners who meet to discuss practice issues and patient experience to improve the service. The purpose of the Patient Participation Group (PPG) is to ensure that patients and carers are involved in decisions about the range, shape and quality of services provided by their Practice. The aim is to promote the proactive and innovative involvement of patients and carers through the use of effective PPGs and to act on a range of sources of patient and carer feedback in order to improve the services delivered by the Practice.
You must register with the Practice to become part of the Group, you can do so for the Neaman Practice here https://www.theneamanpractice.nhs.uk/patient-participation-group
Central London Bus Service Review
You will recall that we encouraged you to respond to the Transport for London Central London Bus Service review.
A number of the proposed changes in the review would have a serious effect on access to hospital and care services. HWCoL responded to the review, and we have passed our response to our MP Nickie Aitken who is also looking into our concerns. The consultation has now closed and we will monitor the service provision.
High cholesterol development questionnaire
City & Hackney, North East London Integrated Care Board, is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, 13 September 2022, 4-5.30pm, to develop a questionnaire around high cholesterol. This event is only open to City & Hackney residents.
Local GP Dr Chris Carvalho, North East London Cardiovascular Disease Clinical Lead, in partnership with City and Hackney Public Engagement Team, will lead the conversation. It is aimed at developing a set of questions that will be used by health professionals across City and Hackney to identify and support local people who may be at risk of developing health complications related to high cholesterol.
If you or your family have high cholesterol, then join this online event. Participants will receive a £20 store voucher.
Please register via Eventbrite
City and Hackney Carers Centre – Benefits advice line
An advice line has been set up by City & Hackney Carers Centre to assist carers in North East London who have questions about benefits. It will take place every Wednesday from 10am to 4pm. Appointments are not required. Please call 0208 533 0951 and ask for the Advice Team.
Health Fair on Saturday, 17 September 2022
The Shoreditch Park and City Primary Care Network (PCN) will be hosting its first ever PCN Health Fair at De Beauvior Surgery, 30 Hertford Road, N1 5QT, on Saturday, 17 September 2022, from 11am to 3pm.
The aim of the event is to increase patient and family, healthcare professional and community organisation engagement to support and empower patients and their families to live, eat and stay healthy. This event is open to all.
A number of community-based organisations, including Healthwatch City of London, will form part of this exciting event to offer and provide, helpful information, leaflets, resources and activities, to support our patients and their families on their journey to increased health and wellbeing.
Polio jabs for children
The NHS is offering children aged 1 to 9 in London a polio vaccine. This will either be a booster on top of your child’s routine immunisations or a catch up dose.
The NHS will contact you to book an appointment.
For more information on polio visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/polio/
City Advice – Cost of Living event
City Advice is holding an event on 13th September addressing the cost of living crisis. The event will cover income maximisation, the help available from central Govt, what help the City of London can provide, what fuel and water companies can do, along with other useful information.
Advisers, including specialist debt advisers, will be available on the day to speak to people.
The location is the Golden Lane Community Centre on 13th Sept from 10.30-12.30
Please see the attached flyer for more information
Shoreditch Park and City Neighbourhood Community event.
The City and Hackney Neighbourhoods Programme is one of the key channels for delivering integrated health and care services locally. This means that different services work more effectively together to ensure that residents get the right help when they need it, without having to repeat their story or travelling far and wide to get the support they need. You can read an update on the progress so far here.
There is a Shoreditch Park and City Neighbourhood Community Event organised by The Crib at 1-16 Benyon Court Balmes Road, N1 5SW on Saturday 3rd September between 2pm and 6pm.
Monkeypox symptoms and vaccination
Healthwatch England has published information about monkeypox and its vaccination. A small number of people in the UK have recently been diagnosed with monkeypox. Most of these cases are in London and the risk of getting it is still currently low. You can read the advice here https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/advice-and-information/2022-08-04/what-monkeypox-and-who-can-get-vaccine
City Connections September Newsletter and Carers Forum
Please see below the September newsletter from City Connections and the agenda for their next Carers Forum which will be held on Tuesday 6th September from 11am – 12.30pm. To join please contact Ruby on ruby@cityconnections.org.uk
All over-50s to be offered Covid-19 booster and flu jab this autumn
Everyone aged 50 and over will be among those offered a Covid-19 booster and a flu jab this autumn under plans to increase protection against respiratory viruses ahead of winter.
Who will get Covid-19 booster vaccines?
On Covid-19 boosters, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has now published its final recommendations for this autumn’s programme.
Under the advice, those eligible for a further dose will be:
• Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
• Frontline health and social care workers*
• All adults aged 50 and over
• Those aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group, including pregnant women
• Those aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
• Those aged 16 to 49 years who are carers
All eligible groups are encouraged to take up the vaccine when it is offered, even if they have had a spring booster, to give themselves the best possible protection against Covid-19 this winter.
Who will get flu vaccines?
In addition, the Department of Health and Social Care will be offering the free flu vaccine to additional groups. These groups will only be eligible once the most vulnerable, including previously announced pre-school and primary school children, those aged 65 years and over and those in clinical risk groups, have been offered the jab.
The additional groups set to be offered the free flu vaccine in England will be:
• All adults aged 50 to 64 years
• Secondary school children in years 7, 8 and 9, who will be offered the vaccine in order of school year (starting with the youngest first)
The NHS will announce in due course when and how eligible groups will be able to book an appointment for their Covid-19 autumn booster and free flu jab.
People in these groups are asked not to come forward until further information is announced.
One day spectacular in the Square Mile
The City of London has announced plans for a one-day spectacular of theatre, games, and performance to fill the Square Mile with art and events this autumn. Details are still being finalised, but the event is set to feature over 100 performers, the highlights include a treasure hunt, 16 doors into a ‘maze’ of adventures, three carnival-inspired fairs, and creative street theatre. Held in public spaces across the square mile there will be circus performers, puppetry and storytelling to large-scale games and participatory dance, the event will run from dawn till dusk. The city’s cafes, pubs, bars, and restaurants will host ‘after parties’ so people can continue their evening. It’s all due to take place on Saturday 15th October, with the full programme of events announced closer to the date, but worth reserving the date in your diaries now.
You can view all events across the City of London on the corporation’s website https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/events
Square Mile Health Walks
Square Mile Health Walks have released their Autumn schedule, you can view it below or go to their blog for further information.
Barbican Relaxed Screenings
The Barbican hold relaxed screenings twice a month, once on a Friday Afternoon and once on a Tuesday evening, where they show new release films and other special screenings. The screenings are for a neurodiverse audience where the lights are dimmed, and the sound is lower. Staff are trained and ready to help at any time.
For more information visit www.barbican.org.uk/relaxedscreenings
Keep up to date with the latest advice
HWCoL are constantly updating our advice and information pages. Please make sure you visit them regularly. https://www.healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk/advice-and-information
Get in touch with us
Visit our website for more information, news, and events, have your say about your care, and spread the word about Healthwatch City of London.
www.healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk email: info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk Tel: 020 3745 9563 Facebook: facebook.com/CoLHealthwatch Twitter: @HealthwatchCoL
Portsoken Health and Community Centre, 20 Little Somerset Street, London E1 8AH
