Health

Healthier You for New Year

30 December 2017 0 Comments

Is your New Year’s Resolution about a healthier lifestyle?

Are you planning to lose weight, exercise more, quit smoking?

Before signing up for that expensive diet plan or gym membership call at the One You shop in Park Mall for free advice and support.

ONE YOU delivers a variety of free health services, support and advice including:

  • Support for quitting smoking
  • Healthy weight management for adults and children
  • Blood pressure checks
  • Support and advice on a range of lifestyle issues

With the right support and motivation you can make small changes to improve your health right away and double your chances of staying healthy as you get older.

Offering a friendly and unintimidating environment, people visit ONE YOU to ask questions and take advantage of the free health services on offer. You can drop in unannounced or arrange a scheduled appointment.

You can also get advice online at https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou

Cancelling a subscription or gym membership

If you do decide to try a diet plan or gym membership check the terms and conditions before signing and know your rights on cancelling payments:

Stopping a future payment on your debit or credit card
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/banking/stopping-a-future-payment-on-your-debit-or-credit-card/

Cancelling a gym membership
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/changed-your-mind/cancelling-a-gym-membership/

Consumer, Finance, Health, News

Health watchdog consults on future aims

18 December 2017 0 Comments

Shaping our Future

Healthwatch

Opens: 08 November 2017
Closes: 03 January 2018

Healthwatch the independent national champion for people who use health and social care services, launched in 2012. Since then, in partnership with local Healthwatch, they have worked hard to understand what people want from care services and make sure that those who run services hear these views.

They are now developing their strategy for 2018 – 2023.

Between June and September 2017, they asked the public, professionals and local Healthwatch a number of questions to help shape their future focus. They invite you to take part in the next phase of their strategy.

They asked people where they should focus their efforts to have the biggest impact.

The ideas people shared largely focussed on the following areas:

  • Working to improve existing care, particularly the access people have to support, and the avoidable differences in people’s experience of health and social care across the population.
  • Mental health and care for older people were also common issues where people wanted to see improvements.
  • Making it easier for more people to have an equal say in decisions that affect them by tackling barriers, such as public awareness and professional attitudes.
  • Ensuring that communities are involved in shaping future health and social care services.
  • Supporting a stronger, more consistent Healthwatch network – from the service the public receives, to the way the network works together to achieve change.
  • Maintaining the independence of the network and working in partnership with others to improve health and social care services.

What this means for their work

People’s feedback has helped inform the development of three aims for their future.

  1. Empowering you and your community to have your say

    We want to make sure people can access the information they need to take control of their health and care, make informed decisions and shape the services that support them.

  2. Providing a high quality Healthwatch service for you

    We want to support a consistently high quality Healthwatch service for people who want to share their views or find information about health and social care. We also want to help local Healthwatch to champion people’s views effectively and make sure that local health and social care services truly reflect people’s needs.

  3. Making sure your views help improve health and social care

    We want people’s views to drive health and social care – ensuring you get access, on an equal basis with others, to support that works for you, as well as helping to shape future services for your community.

Download “Shaping our Future”
www.healthwatch.co.uk/sites/healthwatch.co.uk/files/20171107_-_shaping_our_future.pdf

They would like to hear your views on these aims.

Have your say via the Healthwatch website
www.healthwatch.co.uk/resource/shaping-our-future

Consultation, Consumer, Health, News

New ambulance standards will save more lives

21 November 2017 0 Comments

A new set of ambulance response standards, aimed at delivering the quickest response possible for the most critically-ill or injured patients, will be introduced in South East Coast Ambulance Service from tomorrow (22 November).

The new nationally-determined standards have been introduced across the country in recent months.

Changing the performance standards, which were introduced in 1974, will improve efficiencies and free up ambulance crews to respond to emergencies. Vehicles are often dispatched to respond to patients in less than eight minutes but most patients do not need this level of response. The new standards will enable the Trust to send the most appropriate response to each patient, first time, while continuing prioritise those in the greatest need.

For example, stroke patients will receive an ambulance response at the first allocation, to ensure they can be conveyed to hospital as quickly as possible to receive the clinical intervention they require.

The availability of a transporting resource will also be improved, reducing the length of time single responders wait for back up. (more…)

Health, News

New ambulance standards

21 November 2017 0 Comments

Following the largest clinical ambulance trials in the world, South East Coast Ambulance Service is to implement new ambulance standards.

The changes focus on making sure the best, high quality, most appropriate response is provided for each patient first time.

Historically ambulance services are allowed up to 60 seconds from receiving a call to sending a vehicle. They told us this isn’t long enough.

So from now on call handlers will be given more time to assess 999 calls that are not immediately life-threatening, which will enable them to identify patients’ needs better and send the most appropriate response.

Ambulance services are measured on the time it takes from receiving a 999 call to a vehicle arriving at the patient’s location.

Life-threatening and emergency calls, under the current standards, should be responded to in eight minutes. We know that most patients do not need this level of response.

So, in future there will be four categories of call.

Category 1 – Calls from people with life-threatening illnesses or injuries

This short animation explains more about these calls:

Category 2 – Emergency calls

Hear more about these types of calls:

Category 3 – Urgent calls

Watch this short animation on what an urgent call is:

Category 4 – Less urgent calls

Learn more about what this means:

Health

Consultation on pharmacy needs in Kent

16 November 2017 0 Comments

pharmacy logo

2018 Pharmaceutical needs assessment consultation

Kent County Council

Opens: 25 November 2017
Closes: 22 January 2018

How often do you use your local pharmacy? Does your town need more? These are some of the questions being put to Kent residents in a new consultation.

Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments (PNAs) are used by commissioners such as Kent County Council and local NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups to identify local health needs that could be addressed by these services, and by NHS England to decide whether to approve applications for new pharmacies in an area.

Residents and health professionals are being urged for their views in a brief questionnaire. KCC Deputy Director of Public Health, Allison Duggal said: “We have a statutory responsibility to look at the need for pharmaceutical services in Kent and the essential services they currently provide, including dispensing, providing support and advice on health and medicines, collection of medicine waste and supporting public health campaigns. We’d like to encourage as many people as possible to take part in this consultation so we can shape the future of pharmaceutical services in the county.”

The important role that pharmacists can play is highlighted in the NHS England ‘Stay Well This Winter’ campaign which KCC supports, urging people feeling under the weather this winter to avoid A&E, and to instead consider visiting their local pharmacy for quick, early advice. This is especially important over the winter months – when people are more likely to become ill or feel poorly.

Going to the pharmacy early will give you access to medication and advice on common ailments, but they can also:

  • provide expert advice to manage long term conditions and let you know if you need to see your GP or make a hospital appointment;
  • Give you advice on how to care for an elderly relative or friend who has a bad cough, trouble breathing, cold or sore throat.

(more…)

Consultation, Consumer, Health, Kent County Council, News

Choosing the right health service can save money

16 November 2017 0 Comments

Embracing self care for lifeDuring Self Care Week we want remind you to choose well when accessing local health services.
Some health conditions such as sprains, colds and coughs can be treated without a trip to the GP. Treating self treatable conditions at home, and using the right health services for your needs will help take pressure off the NHS.

The NHS constitution, which is the NHS handbook, says ‘please recognise you can make a significant contribution to your own and your family’s good health and wellbeing and take responsibility for it.’ It is important to take some time to understand how you may be able to help yourself before accessing health services.’

There are 3.7m visits a year to A&E for self-treatable conditions such as colds, flu and colic, which puts the NHS under unnecessary strain. This means less time for people with life threatening conditions such as severe bleeding or heart attacks who vitally need A&E services.

Before visiting A&E, consider whether there is a service better suited to your needs. Think about using information on NHS choices, calling NHS 111 or visiting your local pharmacist for advice. Don’t spend four hours waiting for an A&E appointment for something you may be able to treat at home.

Feel confident in looking after your health, help our NHS and embrace Self Care for Life.

Health, News, Wellbeing

Community Pharmacy

15 November 2017 0 Comments

Embracing self care for lifeEmbracing Self Care for Life – Pharmacists can provide you with expert advice from the High Street

To mark Self Care Week 2017 (13 – 19 November) we want to highlight your health expert on the High Street – the community pharmacist.

Pharmacists are highly trained health professionals who can give advice and recommend treatments for self treatable conditions such as coughs, colds, sprains and strains.

Many people still visit the GP or A&E for conditions that could be treated at home or with pharmacists’ advice. Using the wrong health service increases the strain on our NHS, so it is important to think about what is the best service for your health needs.

People go to the doctor with common ailments because they are unsure how long symptoms last and need reassurance that it isn’t anything more serious. Instead of waiting for an appointment at your surgery, consider going to your local pharmacist first. Pharmacists will help you choose the right treatment for your ailment and can explain the normal duration of symptoms. They can also offer you help to stop smoking, manage your weight, as well as providing flu jabs and blood pressure checks. Many pharmacies even have private consulting rooms. If you have a cold or flu it is worth remembering that antibiotics won’t help. In fact, taking them can reduce their effectiveness when taken for ailments they can help with.’

In the UK most people are only 20 minutes away from an expert on the High Street. If you have a long term condition and are worried how common ailments may be affecting you, or just want some advice on managing your medicines, visit your pharmacist first.  Save yourself the time and hassle of booking a GP appointment or visiting A&E. Choose to feel confident about managing your health and take a trip to your local pharmacist.

Embrace self care for life.

Health, News, Wellbeing

New provider for 111 and GP-led out of hours service

14 November 2017 0 Comments

Ashford Clinical Commissioning GroupA new provider has been appointed to run the NHS 111 and GP-led out of hours services in east Kent.

Integrated Care 24 (IC24), a local not for profit, gold-mark accredited socialenterprise with extensive experience of providing out of hours GP services and NHS 111, will take over the contract from the current provider, Primecare, from the beginning of December.

NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones. Patients who use the service will be put through to a team of highly trained advisers, supported by healthcare professionals, to have their symptoms assessed.

They will be given the healthcare advice they need or directed to the local service that can help them best. Patients who are assessed by 111 as urgently needing to see a GP when their practice is closed will be referred to the out of hours GP service. (more…)

Health, News

Embracing Self Care for Life

14 November 2017 0 Comments

Embracing self care for lifeTo mark Self Care Week 2017 (13 – 19 November) we want to share ways for how you can embrace Self Care for Life.

Embracing Self Care for Life is about living well and being healthy.  Being active, eating healthily and learning when to self treat common ailments are all ways to embrace self care.

Many long term conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) are avoidable. However, numbers are still increasing. It is important to embrace self care, making healthy life choices now in order to look after ourselves in the future.

‘There are some really simple changes you can make to help avoid getting a long term condition.

  • Move more! If going to the gym isn’t for you, try walking part of the way to work, taking the stairs or having a dance to your favourite songs!
  • Stop smoking!  One of the best things you can do for your health is to stop smoking.  Ask your local pharmacist about stop smoking services.
  • Sleep. A good night’s sleep is essential to good physical and mental health so don’t burn the candle at both ends, make sure you get at least 7 hours sleep a night!
  • Eat well. It is vitally important that we get the nutrients we need and avoid excessive amounts of salt, fat and sugar. Try swapping chocolate and crisps to nuts and fruit for healthy snack options. Ask your pharmacist for advice on managing your weight.
  • Relax. We have such busy lives that we sometimes forget to take time out to relax, but it is essential for our physical and mental wellbeing.  Find time in the day to be still and quieten your mind. Consider mindfulness or yoga as these can be helpful.’

During Self Care Week, and always, make time to think about the positive steps you can take to embrace Self Care for Life. Let’s make Self Care a life long habit.

Get more information from:

 

Health, News, Wellbeing

Ashford Oak’s pupils’ Smoke free school gates sign displayed

9 November 2017 0 Comments

A design by Mary-Jane Hornes’ and Casey Cripps of Ashford Oaks Primary School, to encourage people not to smoke around school gates, has been made into signs and are currently displayed on the gates of Ashford Oaks, Beaver Green Primary and Willesborough Junior schools.

Smoking has been identified as a priority for both KCC Public Health and the Ashford Health and Wellbeing Boards. The council is committed to helping tackle this issue and these signs are part of wider educational initiatives designed to help both protect children’s wellbeing and to make Ashford a healthier borough.

Jane Marshall the pastoral team leader at Ashford Oaks said: “The girls are thrilled to see their designs on the school gates, it’s wonderful for them to see the culmination of all their hard work every time they come into the school.

“The process of designing the signs has really helped raise awareness amongst all the children about the dangers and risks associated with smoking. We have received a very positive reaction to the sign and believe that it will have an effect in reducing the amount of people smoking outside the school gates.”

Cllr Bradford, Portfolio Holder for Health, Parking and Community Safety, said: “We are delighted to see the signs on the school gates, and it’s even better to hear the positive impact the designing of the signs has had on the children. It’s fantastic news that the school is confident the signs will have an effect in reducing smoking outside the school gates as that’s what this initiative is all about, protecting children’s wellbeing and making Ashford a healthier place.”

If any other primary schools are interested in having a sign for their school gates they should contact envhealth@ashford.gov.uk

Ashford Borough Council 09 November 2017
https://www.ashford.gov.uk/whats-on/news/no-smoking-signs-make-first-appearance-9th-nov/

Children, Education, Health, News