Healthwatch North Tyneside News – 29 January 2021
January 2021
Welcome to Healthwatch North Tyneside’s e-News. Please feel free to forward to anyone who may find it useful and they can sign up here to receive their own copy. If you’d like an article included in a future eNews, please email l.johnson@hwnt.co.uk
Our news
Look out for our Living Well North Tyneside booklet at North Tyneside’s vaccine centre – a helpful overview of health and wellbeing services
We’ve teamed up with a group of local organisations to form the Living Well North Tyneside Partnership. The first joint project is a useful booklet providing information and advice on local health and wellbeing services.
The booklet ‘Living Well North Tyneside’ provides information on how to maintain a healthy mind and body, how to access useful services in the borough including shopping and prescription delivery services, and lots more. You should be given a copy when you go to a North Tyneside vaccine centre for your Covid-19 vaccination.
Download Living Well North Tyneside booklet
We’ve updated the popular Mental Health Support leaflet
We’ve updated the very popular Mental Health Support leaflet, providing information about places that people can access mental health support without a referral from the NHS. The leaflet has details of groups and services that you can contact to self-refer for support with your mental health needs.
Have your say
Are you waiting for treatment?
There has been national headlines about treatments being delayed and some local people have told us about their treatment being delayed by health and care service. We want to hear about your experiences of waiting for treatment and whether you feel you have been kept informed about what’s happening.
Tell us about your experience of getting prescriptions
We’d love to hear your experience of getting prescriptions in North Tyneside, including ordering prescriptions from your GP and getting the medication you need from a pharmacy.
Our website also has information about what local services are available.
Everyone who completes a survey will be entered into a prize draw to be in with a chance of winning £25 Love2Shop vouchers.
If you are deaf or hearing impaired then join us on Zoom to share your views on local health and care services
If you are deaf or have a hearing impairment we’d like to capture your views and experiences of local health and care services. Join our discussion on Tuesday 2 February at 1pm on Zoom. A Speech to Text operator will be present and a British Sign Language/English translation is being arranged. Register your interest by clicking here or the button below.
Register for our Zoom session here
Local news
An update on vaccinations in North Tyneside
Fantastic news that residents and staff from the 31 residential and nursing homes in North Tyneside have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The local vaccination programme is well underway with people in their 70s now being invited for a vaccine. Most over 80s have now received their first dose but if you are over 80 and haven’t yet got an appointment for your first dose and would like to have the vaccine, please contact your GP practice.
Please remember that the roll out is following the priority group order agreed nationally. You will be contacted by your GP or the NHS, so please don’t call your GP practice about the vaccine programme unless asked. You can find out more information about the vaccine programme here.
20,000 COVID vaccine milestone passed in North Tyneside – Read more here
Thank you to Maggie Young who asked us to share this lovely feedback about her vaccination experience in North Tyneside.
“Yesterday it was the turn of my husband and I to have our jabs. We were completely and utterly impressed by the organisation of the event. Nothing was left to chance, from simple directions to explanations and advice, all given with kindness and understanding from the medical staff and all auxiliaries.
“In these days of negativity and complaints I feel it is most important to give credit when it’s due. Thank you all for organising and providing a first class experience.”
Scam alerts
There have been reports of people receiving scam phone calls regarding the Covid-19 vaccine. Please be aware the NHS will NEVER:
- Ask for your bank details
- Ask for payment (vaccines are free)
- Arrive at your home unannounced to administer the vaccine
- Ask you to prove your identity by sending documents such as passports.
Age UK North Tyneside has also warned that North Tyneside residents are being contacted by someone claiming they are from Age UK and have been asked to help with shopping. These callers are then asking for bank details. If you receive one of these calls, please hang up immediately. Age UK North Tyneside will never ask for your bank details, and will only contact you if you have requested a call. If you are ever unsure that a call is genuine, please hang up and call Age UK NT back on 0191 280 8484 option 1.
Useful information and opportunities
Together Apart: Navigating self-isolation in North Tyneside
VODA has produced a booklet, Together Apart, providing useful information to help residents stay safe whilst self-isolating. Download the PDF here
Stay well this winter
With cold weather forecasts continuing into the coming weeks, we want everyone to look after themselves. The NHS website has a Stay Well this Winter guide on their website with useful tips on keeping warm and staying healthy.
How to stay well in winter – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Information and advice from Healthwatch England:
- Healthwatch’s response to NHS England’s proposals to update the legislation for how the NHS works at a regional level
- What does shielding mean?
- Covid-19 vaccine – what you need to know
- The latest coronavirus advice and guidance and support
Help inform CQC’s future strategy
Care Quality Commission want you to tell them what you think about their proposals for their future regulation of health and social care. They want to hear your feedback and thoughts so they can make their strategy work for everyone. You can share your views on the CQC’s website here. Closing date 4 March 2021.
NICE Public Involvement Expert Panel
NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) are inviting members of the public who are interested in getting involved in their work, to join the Public Involvement Expert Panel.
The Expert Panel was set up to improve the involvement of patients and the public in NICE’s work by having a pool of engaged patients and public members. This pool will support committee recruitment, inform NICE’s work, and enable more rapid engagement of patients and the public to respond to new initiatives in a timely way.
You can join the Expert Panel at any time here
Become a Tyne and Wear Sight Loss Council member
Are you living in Tyne and Wear, blind or partially sighted and interested in advocating for others?
Join a community of blind and partially sighted advocates and help support visually impaired people in your area to live the lives they want to lead. To find out more here or email volunteering@pocklington-trust.org.uk. Website https://www.sightlosscouncils.org.uk/
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