Health

For parents

17 April 2020 0 Comments

A special COVID-19 message

When your child is ill or injured it is very difficult to decide if/when to call your child’s GP, NHS 111 or go the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E). While the governmen tis asking everyone to slay an home, it can be confusing to know what to do. Here is some guidance around what to do if your child shows any of the following symptoms or signs.

For advice on COVID-19 and chlldhood illnesses/injuries visit www.NHS.UK

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You should go to A&E and/or call 999 immediately if
Appearance
  • Pale/mottled/ashen/blue colour
  • Collapsed/unresponsive/loss of conciousness
  • No obvious pulse or heartbeat
  • Severe allergic reaction
Behaviour
  • Extreme irritability/pain/sleepiness
    (can be woken but falls asleep immediately)
  • Seizure/jerking movements/fit
Breathing
  • Sucking in and out between ribs
  • Flaring nostrils
  • Extremely fast breathing
  • Unusually noisy breathing
Other
  • Bleeding from an injury that doesn’t stop after 10 minutes of pressure
  • Fever with a stiff neck

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You should go to A&E if
Appearance
  • Dizziness/feeling faint
  • Rash that does not fade when you press it
Behaviour
  • Severe tummy pain
Other
  • Burn
  • Possibie broken bone
Other
  • Swallowed foreign objects
    (especially magnets/batteries)
  • Temperature higher than 38°C
    in a baby younger than 3 months old
  • Your Child has special health care needs
    and you have a plan that tells you to go to A&E
  • Feels abnormally cold to touch
  • Expressing suicidal/significant self-harm thoughts
  • Head injury

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You should call your GP if
Appearance
  • Mild/moderate allergic reaction (known or suspected)
  • New rash that fades when you press on it
  • Mild irritability/sleepier than normal
  • Moderate tummy pain
  • Vomiting and diarrhoea
  • Not passed urine for more than 12 hours
Breathing
  • Wheezing/fast breathing
Other
  • Temperature >39°C [age 3-‘I2 months]
  • Temperature over 38°C for 5 days or more
  • Accidentai overdose of medication or other substances
  • Ear pain for more than 2 days
  • Emotional distress (where your child can’t be reassured)

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You should use 111 online or call 111 if:
Appearance
  • Pink eyes/red eyes
Behaviour
  • Ear pain for less than 2 days
  • Mild tummy pain
Breathing
  • Cough
  • Runny nose
Other
  • Temperature over 38°C for less than 5 days

Designed by primary and secondary care clinicians from Barts Health NHS Trust and East London Health and Care Partnership

Children, Health, News

Coronovirus update

15 March 2020 0 Comments

You will have seen/heard that the Government is planning to ask those over 70 to stop social contact for a prolonged period.

The Minister for Health has emphasised that the Government have not yet decided when this period should start. Starting too early will prolong the period that over 70s need to ‘self-isolate’.

Those with heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic lung disease and some cancers may be more suscetible to more severe affects of the virus and should take extra care to protect themselves.

For more advice on Coronavirus see our earlier post

Health, News

Coronovirus latest advice

12 March 2020 0 Comments

The Prime Minister, supported by the Chief Scientific Advisor and the Chief Medical Officer announced new measures to limit the impact of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) this afternoon.

No new restrictions on events were announced. Schools are expected to continue to open as normal, unless advised otherwise by local public health officers.

Stay at home guidance for coronavirus symptoms

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:

  • new continuous cough and/or
  • high temperature

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild infection

  • if you have symptoms of coronavirus infection (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started. (See Ending Isolation section below for more information)
  • this action will help protect others in your community whilst you are infectious.
  • plan ahead and ask others for help to ensure that you can successfully stay at home.
  • ask your employer, friends and family to help you to get the things you need to stay at home.
  • stay at least 2 metres (about 3 steps) away from other people in your home whenever possible.
  • sleep alone, if that is possible.
  • wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, each time using soap and water.
  • stay away from vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions as much as possible.
  • you do not need to call NHS111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after 7 days contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111.

Those self-isolating with mild symptoms will not be tested.

Continue to good hygiene practice

The Chief Medical Officer emphasised that the most important thing for individuals to continue to use good hygiene practice previously recommended.

Do
  • wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
  • always wash your hands when you get home or into work
  • use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
  • cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
  • put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
  • try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
Don’t
  • do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

NHS
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Government, Health, News

Have your say on how health services are commissioned

11 September 2019 0 Comments

STP Logo

Transforming health and social care in Kent and Medway

Opens: 11 September 2019
Closes: 23 September 2019

The NHS in Kent and Medway is seeking your views on how health services are commissioned (planned and purchased).

At the moment we are one of eight GP-led clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) across Kent and Medway, responsible for planning and spending the health budget to meet local needs. 

Although we and the other CCGs have much to be proud of over the last six years, the GPs who chair the CCGs, including our clinical chair, now believe the CCGs should merge to form a new single clinical commissioning group for Kent and Medway, which would also be led by GPs.

A single Kent and Medway CCG would:  

  • provide a ‘bird’s eye view’ of health priorities for people across Kent and Medway based on a detailed understanding of local health needs, so that care can be planned effectively for everyone
  • identify where challenging health problems can be shared and tackled
  • allow the consistent commissioning of some services – such as cancer, mental health, children’s services and prevention – across Kent and Medway
  • focus on the health, wellbeing and care needs of the whole population
  • reduce management and administration costs across Kent and Medway.

There was a survey earlier this summer to get people’s initial views on the suggested changes. They include GP practices working much more closely together, and all the services in given areas (such as east Kent) joining up care for local people. Building on the feedback from that survey, we’d now like to find out your views about the specific proposal to create a single clinical commissioning group (CCG) for Kent and Medway.

In June, we published a leaflet Helping local people live their best life which set outs more details. This included a survey which ran until August, to get people’s initial views on the suggested changes. They include GP practices working much more closely together, and all the services in given areas (such as east Kent) joining up care for local people.

Building on the feedback from that survey, we’d now like to find out your views about the specific proposal to create a single clinical commissioning group (CCG) for Kent and Medway.

The survey is open until 23 September. Please complete it and share with your friends, colleagues and family as your views are important to us.

NHS Ashford Clinical Commissioning Group
11 September 2019
https://www.ashfordccg.nhs.uk/news/blog/?blogpost=11417

Consultation, Health, News, STP

Asthma workshop

20 August 2019 0 Comments

Do you want to have your say about new asthma services?

KSSAHSN* want to hear from you about your own experiences of healthcare and think about how technology could support you in managing and improving your health and well-being.

This workshop will be one of several, looking at new ways to improve the lives of people living with one or more conditions including asthma, cardiovascular disease, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes.

  • Thursday 26th September 2019,
  • 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
  • The Kings Studio,
    Aylesford Village Community Centre,
    25 Forstal Road, Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7AU

If you would like more information or to book a place, please contact:

  • designandlearningcentre @kent.gov.uk
  • 07920873682

* Kent Surrey Sussex Academic Health Science Network

Events, Health, News

Survey: website for adults with Type 2 diabetes

20 August 2019 0 Comments

Creating a new website for adults with Type 2 diabetes

NHS England
Closes: 2 September 2019

NHS England and Improvement, Public Health England and Diabetes UK are launching a new online self-management website for adults living with type 2 diabetes.

The website will:

  • Provide education and information about type 2 diabetes and its treatments
  • Offer content on managing your mood and stress
  • Help with adopting and maintaining healthy behaviours (e.g. diet, exercise).

NHS England would love to have your help in making the website as useful as possible.

This survey will take less than five minutes to complete and your answers will help to shape the new website.

Your responses will be completely anonymous and there are no right or wrong answers. They just want the benefit of your opinions and experiences.

Take part in the survey here

Consultation, Health, News

Survey on services for children and young people

14 August 2019 0 Comments

Transforming health and social care in Kent and Medway

Opens: 10 August 2019
Closes: 23 August 2019

The NHS and local councils want to transform health and care services for children and young people and are calling on local people to get involved and help.

A recent Healthwatch survey showed children and young people in Kent and Medway want their voice to be heard when local services are designed, and the NHS has launched a survey to enable this. Dr Bob Bowes, a GP in Tunbridge Wells and Clinical Chair for Kent and Medway Sustainability and Transformation Partnership said: “We want local children, young people and their parents and carers to help us design services which are fit for the future to give children and young people the best start in life.

“They really can make a difference and we want suggestions for how we can improve.

“We need your help to tell us what already works well in the current system, and what doesn’t.”

The survey, which is open to children and young people from birth to 25 and their parents and carers, will help the NHS and local councils decide the priorities for future improvements to children’s services. The survey takes around 10 minutes to fill in and will close on Friday, 23 August.

There is a version for:

The NHS is keen to get feedback from children and young people of all ages as well as their parents and carers.

Kent County Council and Medway Council are working together with the NHS to improve services.

Cllr Josie Iles, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, said: “We are pleased to be working with partners to further develop a collective understanding of the needs of children and young people in Kent and Medway.”

Children, Consultation, Health, News, STP, STP, Young people

Consultation: Organs excluded from the opt-out organ donation

7 May 2019 0 Comments

Opt-out organ donation: organs and tissues excluded from the new system

Department of Health and Social Care

Opened: 29 April 2019
Closes: 22 July 2019

This consultation is to ask you if the government is excluding the right organs and tissues from opt-out organ donation. We would like you to answer five questions about what you think should happen.

The government recently passed a law to change the rules for organ donation in England from 2020. The law introduced a system commonly called “opt-out” or “deemed consent”.

From 2020, everyone in England over the age of 18 will be considered to be in favour of donating their organs and tissue after death unless they:

  • have said they do not want to donate (opted out)
  • have appointed someone to decide for them after death
  • are in an excluded group

When the law was passing through Parliament, the government agreed that the law would only apply to routine transplants, and not novel or rare transplants.

The government proposes that novel or rare transplants will still require express consent. This means you or someone representing you must explicitly give permission for your organs or tissues to be donated for novel or rare transplants. Such transplants also cover what is called Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP). This is when tissues, cells and genes are manipulated in a laboratory for treatment of a disease or injury. Some of the tissues and cells come from deceased donors.

This consultation is to ask you if the government is excluding the right organs and tissues. They would like you to answer five questions about what you think should happen.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/opt-out-organ-donation-organs-and-tissues-excluded-from-the-new-system

Consultation, Government, Health, News

Dementia Drop-in Clinic

2 April 2019 1 Comment

Kent and Madway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust logo

Have you or a relative been diagnosed with dementia?

Do you need more information and support?

Whether you have specific questions, or wouldjust like to pop in for a chat. No appointment is required.

Drop in between 12pm and 2pm at St. Stephen’s Health Centre on:

  • Friday 7th June 2019
  • Friday 6th September 2019
  • Friday 6th December 2019

or

  • Friday 5th April 2019 – Hamstreet Surgery
  • Friday 3rd May 2019 – New Hayesbank Surgery
  • Friday 5th July 2019 – Hamstreet Surgery
  • Friday 2nd August 2019 – New Hayesbank Surgery
  • Friday 4th October 2019 – Hamstreet Surgery
  • Friday 1st November 2019 — New Hayesbank Surgery
  • Advice on treatment, including medication and therapies
  • Support and strategies
  • Ideas to promote weilbeing and maintain activities
  • Discuss the impact of changing relationships and responsibilities
  • Signposting and information about other services available

For more information,
please ring Ashford Older Peoples‘ Service on 01233 658125

Kent and Medway
NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust

Carers Support
Ashford, Shepway and Swale

Alzheimers Society

Age UK

Health, News, Wellbeing