We’ve had a busy time since the festivities getting back into gear with all that is happening around care services in Southwark.

1000 Lives – Lets Talk about your health and wellbeing
We need you to all please get involved with ‘1000 Lives’ – Healthwatch Southwark is working with the Health and Wellbeing board (HWB) and its partners to collect the stories of local residents around their health and wellbeing. Get involved today!

Building Our Network Update!
On December 17th we had our public form event to build our networks and conversations. We had presentations from Southwark Council around the ‘1000 Lives’ engagement and a presentation on Healthwatch Southwark’s work in partnership with the Latin American Women’s Rights Service.

Guests were also asked to share their understanding of our priority areas. Click here to read a report, a full report is available upon request. We will be holding another forum in March.

Board Chair and Lay Board Member recruitment
We are seeking people to fill the role of Healthwatch Southwark Board Chair and Lay Board Member. To show an expression of interest please contact Alvin info@healthwatchsouthwark.co.uk / 020 7358 7005.

Focus Group findings
Sec-Chan our Development Officer has been working with groups to dig deeper into their experience of accessing and receiving services. Her findings are in a report that we will share with you soon.

Best wishes,

The Healthwatch Southwark team

Alvin, Sec-Chan and Chip

Local News

Local news from across the community

‘1000 Lives’ – Lets Talk about your health and wellbeing
Healthwatch Southwark is working with the Health and Wellbeing board (HWB) and its partners to collect the stories of local residents around their health.
The idea of taking this story telling approach is that it allows Southwark’s residents to tell us what matters to them in terms of their health, wellbeing and experience of health services for themselves, their families and communities.
The information will inform the next Health and Wellbeing Strategy. (Read info on the current strategy here).
We will also use this engagement opportunity to gather information around our four priorities: GP Access, Accessing Mental Health Services, Sexual Health Services focussing on HIV, Social Care for people without personal budgets. Read more and get involved.

Healthwatch Southwark Board Chair and Lay Board Member Recruitment
A new opportunity has become available and we will be taking applications for the role of Healthwatch Southwark Board Chair and Lay Board Member. Applications will be accepted from residents of Southwark to work with Healthwatch Southwark’s board maintain a strategic direction for our work going forward.
If you would like to show an expression of interest, contact Alvin Kinch – Healthwatch Southwark Manager: info@healthwatchsouthwark.co.uk / 020 7358 7005

Access to meetings
Southwark Council has developed a survey for residents to tell us your views on the range of health and social care services provided in the borough, particularly your experience of accessing GP surgeries and Accident & Emergency. Access to services in Southwark is varied and with increased pressure on these services it is important to have services which truly deliver for our residents. Read more and access the survey.

March 2014 public meetings: let your voice be heard
The NHS Southwark Clinical Commissioning Group Governing Body and Health and Wellbeing Board meetings are held in public which Healthwatch Supporters and members of the public can attend. Also Healthwatch Southwark also has a seat on both boards. If there is something that you think is important to say about health and social care contact the Healthwatch Team.
Find out more.

Southwark’s new London Youth Games Disability Swimming Programme
This programme is set to inspire young disabled people to achieve their potential in swimming.  It is open to young disabled swimmers who live or go to school in Southwark and are in school years five to thirteen. The individual doesn’t have to have been part of a swimming club before – a team of experienced coaches and volunteers from Dulwich Dolphins Swimming Club will be on hand. Read more.

‘My Guide is a Guide Dog’ – for people with sight loss in Southwark
‘My Guide is a Guide Dog’ involves a trained volunteer guiding a service user for a few hours a week.  They agree aims and activities in advance, for example, attending social or leisure events. During their time together the volunteer and service user identify support which can be put in place at the end of the partnership, such as other local services or friends and family members who could be trained in sighted guiding. Read more.

Every step counts – walking for heath
We’re bringing walks to you! Walking Works! Walking is for everyone. It’s free, simple and gentle on the body. You can do it wherever and whenever you like. It’s a fun way of get-ting together with other people and a healthy way to get out and about. Read more. Join today.

Community events and training near you

Calling all supporters – Southwark and Lambeth Integrated Care Event | Tues 28 Jan
Southwark and Lambeth Integrated Care is hosting an event  | Tues 28 January 2014, 5.30pm to 8pm at Cambridge House) to give you an opportunity to hear more about integrated care for adults, say what outcomes are important and influence future commissioning of services. To register for a place at the event email info@slicare.org, or call 020 7525 7888. Book today.

Health and Wellbeing day at Blackfriars Settlement | Wed 29 Jan
Come and find out about healthy choices online, have some healthy food and do some healthy activities. Also find out how to get health information online with NHS Choices, no experience needed, we’ll teach you. The event is free!  Come along from 10-4, with lunch at 1.00. Everyone is welcome so please spread the word! Read more.

Introduction to Adobe Photoshop for beginners
REGISTER FOR THE 5 WEEK COURSE (For people recovering from mental health difficulties). These classes will cover: Photo Retouching, Colour Correction, Image Enhancing, Image Manipulation, Photoshop effect, Working with Images to produce eye catching posters, leaflets & flyers. Book today.

Patient Leadership Training | Wed 19 Feb
This free training session, by the NHS Southwark Clinical Commissioning Group, (CCG) is for all patients involved with Locality and Practice Patient Participation Groups in Southwark. This session will cover: National NHS, NHS Southwark CCG, CCG engagement structures, Roles and skills of PPG members.
Book today.

Mental Health and Street Gangs’ workshop | 26 Feb
This workshop will focus on the mental health needs of young people involved in street gangs, the associated risks and how these can be assessed and managed. In order to do so we will consider what a gang is and what it means to be a member. Join us to be better equipped and informed on this challenging and important subject. Book today.

Keeping you up-to-date with national news

Invite Supporting family carers of people with dementia – DAA The Carers’ Call to Action
Please sign up and support the Dementia Action Alliance – The Carers’ Call to Action. DAA have 5 aims in ‘our shared vision’ to support the needs and rights for family carers. DAA will be supporting everybody, working in partnership across all organisational boundaries, to ask the right questions, explore examples of good practice and find solutions to address the needs and rights for family carers of people with dementia.
Sign up today.

Free friendship phone service for older people launched
A free 24-hour dedicated helpline for older people across the UK has been launched. ‘The Silver Line’ aims to combat loneliness in the over-65s by providing friendship, information and advice through calls to trained volunteers. Read more.

Information for Health Professionals on Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
DWP National Partnerships – Information for Health Professionals on Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has replaced Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for new claims from people aged 16 to 64 from 8 April 2013. The Department for Health and Pensions want to make sure you know about PIP, how the assessment process works and the key role that the health and social care sector have to play in it by providing evidence to DWP via our assessment providers.

Read more.

Extra funding for mental health nurses at police stations and courts
An extra £25 million of funding for mental health nurses and other mental health professionals to work with police stations and courts so that people with mental health and substance misuse problems get the right treatment as quickly as possible, and which helps reduce re-offending has been announced by the Government. Read more.

Patient Data to be collected from GPs
The NHS in England is to start collecting data on patient care by GPs for the first time. Hospital data is already collected but the NHS says extending the initiative to general practice will create a fuller picture. Leaflets explaining the scheme, and how people can opt out, are being sent to 26.5 million households.
Personal details will not normally be shared outside the NHS but some approved medical researchers may have access, in some circumstances. Anyone who does not want their information used can talk to their GP and those who have questions about how the data will be used can call 0300 456 3531.

Bowel Cancer UK Over 65 research project – calling for your views and experiences
Bowel Cancer UK is running a survey to gather the views and experiences of people aged over 65 who have been diagnosed with bowel cancer, as well their carers, family members and friends. This will be used to inform a report that we will be published this year which will highlight the various issues that exist for people over the age of 65 with bowel cancer.
The survey is now live, access the link here.

NHS England London Region invite to help shape commissioning – Opportunities to be involved
NHS England London Region is pleased to invite you to be a part of shaping the way we commission our directly commissioned health services. We have opportunities to participate in the following activities. Procurement Project Team Members for Redbridge & Tower Hamlets, a reading Group, a procurement Project Team. Read more

Women’s experiences of maternity care – survey results
Women’s experiences of maternity care have improved, but further progress is needed. Women’s experiences of maternity care have improved over the last three years, but progress is needed in some critical areas, the findings of a survey published by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) show. Read more.
HAVE YOUR SAY…Leadership Alliance for Care of Dying People – deadline Fri 31 Jan
The Leadership Alliance for the Care of Dying People (LACDP) is currently seeking the views of patients, families and carers, professionals and organisations as part of a planned system-wide response to the recommendations contained in More Care, Less Pathway, the independent report on the Liverpool Care Pathway. This focuses on a set of desired outcomes and guiding principles that will describe what high quality care for people should look like in the last days and hours of life. Read more and access the survey.

Recent NICE published guidance

NICE guidance and updates

Take head injuries seriously and treat quickly, says NICE – read more.

NICE autism quality standard will help tackle ‘real variation in care’ – read more.

Preventing chronic conditions among ethnic minorities and improving access to services – read more.

National events

The latest events from across the country

Invitation to attend Health Commission evidence hearing sessions | Mon 27 Jan
The Mayor has established the London Health Commission to improve the health of Londoners and healthcare across the capital. One of the London Health Commission’s key tasks is to gather evidence and data from Londoners and other health stakeholders such as London Boroughs, MPs, patients groups, the NHS and voluntary & community sector organisations – to really understand how health and healthcare in London can be improved for everyone’s benefit. Read more.

Train the Trainer: Breast Health Promotion course | wed 5 & Thurs 6 March
This accredited course is ideal for anyone promoting health and wellbeing messages in the community. It’s designed to give trainees the confidence and skills to cascade the breast awareness message. It includes how to be breast aware, the breast screening programme and breast cancer risk factors as well as how to help overcome barriers to accessing health service. Read more.

Medicine and Me: Living with diabetic eye disease | Fri 21 March
‘Medicine and Me’ meetings aim to provide a forum in which patients’ concerns about their illness are given top priority. The meetings provide an opportunity for patients and their families to share their experiences, to hear about the latest research and to question the experts.
These meetings bring together patients, their families, carers, advocates, patient support groups, clinicians and researchers to discuss care and research issues. Book today.