Image of two young people, one holding an umbrella over the other

Have your say on support for children and young people

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North East and North Cumbria NHS Integrated Care Board and Northumberland County Council are looking at how to strengthen support for children and young people with emotional wellbeing and mental health needs.

Northumberland’s Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Strategy for Children and Young People 2022-25 sets out how this will be achieved.

The aim of the strategy is to give children, young people and their families the confidence that they are receiving the best support possible.

Have your say on the strategy by completing this short survey. Closes 4 February.

Laptop and coffee cup with Epilepsy Action logo

Online event – Epilepsy Action

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Join us for our next free online lunchtime event on Friday 10 February, 1pm-2pm, to hear from Simon Privett, Volunteer Coordinator for Epilepsy Action. Simon will talk to us about what epilepsy is, how it can present, tips to help manage it and how we can help others living with epilepsy.

We will also hear what support is available from the charity and there will be a chance to ask questions.

Register now and we will send you a link to join closer to the event: bit.ly/Epilepsy-Action-Feb-23

For more information about epilepsy or to find out more about Epilepsy Action visit the Epilepsy Action website.

This event has now passed

loneliness in young people Northumberland

Loneliness in young people

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Loneliness in young people

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has launched its new loneliness in young people campaign activity as part of the Better Health – Every Mind Matters campaign.

The campaign primarily aims to reach 16-34 year olds by continuing to encourage them to ‘lift someone out of loneliness’, knowing that this will likely help their own feelings of loneliness. This is based on recent research that shows that people in this demographic are at higher risk of feeling lonely compared to other age groups, but less likely to seek advice and support.

Remember that feeling lonely is something that all of us can experience at any point and can have a huge impact on our wellbeing.

Sometimes admitting we feel lonely can be hard but it’s important to remember that many others experience feelings of loneliness too, and that this feeling can pass.

It can often feel easier to reach out to someone else who may be feeling lonely and there are plenty of simple, free actions you can take, such as going for a walk, sending someone a text, or inviting someone for a hot drink.

 

Support and information

If you’re feeling lonely this winter, or want advice on helping others feel less lonely, visit the Every Mind matters loneliness webpage 

Take the Mind Plan quiz to get a personalised mental health action plan with practical tips to help you deal with loneliness as well as stress, anxiety, low mood and trouble sleeping.

Find more resources at our young people’s health and information page

Priority services register

Stay switched on

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You may be eligible for free support from your energy supplier by signing up to its Priority Services Register.

It’s a free service that makes sure extra help is available to people who need it like pensioners, people who need power for essential medical equipment or those who need help in a power cut. Alternatively, you might be struggling to access your payment meter or read small print on your bills.

The register helps energy suppliers know which customers need extra support. This can be because of your age, disability, a problem with your mobility, if you have an illness, suffer from mental health problems, have communication needs, or there have been changes in your life (such as pregnancy or if you have children under five). There may also be other circumstances, so it’s worth asking.

All you need to do is contact your energy supplier and tell them about your situation. If you’re eligible they can help with things like advance notice of power cuts, priority support in an emergency, or sending bills to a family member or carer.

To get help from your supplier or network operator, simply contact your energy supplier(s) via phone, website or app and ask to be put on their Priority Services Register. If you have different suppliers for gas and electricity, you need to contact them both. If you switch supplier in the future, you’ll need to register again.

You can get extra support if you:
• Are disabled or have a long-term health condition
• Have a hearing or sight condition
• Have a mental health condition
• Are recovering from an injury
• Are pregnant or have children under five living with you
• Have extra communication needs (such as if you don’t speak or read English well)
• Need to use medical equipment that requires a power supply
• Have reached your state pension age
• Have poor or no sense of smell
• Would struggle to answer the door or get help in an emergency

You might still be able to register for other reasons if your situation is not listed – for example, if you need short-term support after a stay in hospital.

Find out more about the Priority Services Register on the Ofgem website

health and social care feedback Northumberland December 2022

Health and care feedback Dec 2022

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Health and social care feedback December 2022

Thank you for continuing to tell us about your views and experiences on NHS and social care services last month. What we hear helps us build a picture of what is working well and where there are issues in NHS and social care services, and is passed to those providing services to help with decisions about local care.

Below is our ‘at a glance’ report for December 2022, which gives an overview of the main issues we heard about during the month and some examples of feedback.

Healthwatch Northumberland feedback report December 2022

Amble fishermens health event

Health event for Amble fishermen

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Health events for Amble fishermen and families

Well Up North Primary Care Network (PCN), as part of its health equity drive for the people of North Northumberland, has joined forces with the SeaFit Programme, along with Healthwatch Northumberland and Amble Harbourmaster to deliver a new health equity pilot programme  ‘Health at the Quayside’ for the fishing community of Amble (past and present), and their families. The SeaFit Programme is run jointly by The Fishermen’s Mission and the Seafarers Hospital Society.

Dr Saul Miller, Clinical Director of Well Up North says ‘We are really excited to be bringing together those like ourselves who want to help improve the health of fishing communities along the north Northumberland coast. If this initiative proves successful it will make waves all around the British coast given the many fishing communities there still are and their known health difficulties.’

The first event will take place on the 25th January from 1pm to 3pm at Coquet House, Amble, NE65 0AP. There will be a range of free services for retired and active fishermen from health checks, physiotherapist, mental health support, Prostate Cancer UK, a GP, pharmacist and a Social Prescribing Link Worker. Healthwatch Northumberland will also be on hand to listen to the fishermen’s experiences of local health services.

Karen Gibson, Health Inequality Project Lead for the PCN states “This pilot programme is designed to improve the physical and mental health and wellbeing of our fishermen. Working in the fishing industry is one of THE most challenging jobs.  Work-related injuries are high within this industry and time spent at sea means it can be difficult to access appropriate healthcare.  We also know that there is anxiety within the community in relation to requirements for the ML5 medical certificates coming into play in November 2023. There will be plenty of information available on this, along with our healthcare team providing on the spot support.  We are very much looking forward to working collaboratively with our partners in this pilot. Healthcare in a place based setting in the heart of the fishing community in Amble.

Carol Elliott, SeaFit Manager, says “The SeaFit Programme has been running for the past four years, taking health and wellbeing services to various ports throughout the UK.  We are delighted to see the interest that is growing from PCNs and other healthcare providers. This means we are able to connect more fishermen with much needed health and wellbeing support through the Fishermen’s Mission and the Seafarers Hospital Society.

Further dates throughout the year are:  Wed 29th March, Wed 31st May, Wed 26th July , Wed 27th September, Wed 29th November. Keep an eye on our events page for details.

For further information about welfare support please contact the Fishermen’s Mission Area Officer Peter Dade 07917 754259

For further information about the SeaFit Programme please contact Carolelliott@fishermensmision.org.uk or call 07486 319621

 

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Are you struggling to access health services this winter?

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With the NHS under extra pressure this winter, we need to hear your experiences of care to help services understand what is working and spot issues affecting support for you and your loved ones.

The NHS is facing added pressures this winter. This means that it can be more challenging for people to receive the care they need.

Feedback from the public can play a vital role in helping health and social care services understand what is working and spot issues affecting the care of local people.

This is why we have launched a campaign to get more people to share their experiences of care this winter.

If you or a loved one have used GPs, hospitals, pharmacies, care homes or other support services this winter, we want to hear about your experience.

Every experience matters

Have you faced challenges or delays accessing health and care services this winter? If you have, we want to know how this has affected your health and wellbeing.

Have you found accessing NHS services easy? Are there any aspects of the care you got that you really valued?

Your positive or negative feedback can help services hear what is working and spot issues affecting care for you and your loved ones.

Have your say

Please share your experience and help us make NHS decision-makers aware of what needs to change to improve access to care.

We’re completely independent and impartial, and anything you say is confidential.

Share your story

You can also provide feedback on care by giving us a call on: 03332 408 468

Tell us about your Covid booster

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We’d like to hear your experiences of getting a Covid-19 vaccination in autumn/winter 2022.

Delivering the vaccination programme continues to be a massive task for the NHS and its partners and the way the services work has changed over time.

Your feedback will be shared with them to understand what is working well and what could be done better. All information you give us will stay anonymous.

Please tell us how it went when you booked your appointment, what it was like when you visited the vaccination centre, and how things might be improved for the future.

Tell us about your Covid-19 autumn/winter 2022 booster

Latest coronavirus information

This survey is now closed.

new care facility Rothbury

New care facility for Rothbury

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A new care facility in Rothbury will open in January 2023

 

 Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust says – 

We are very pleased to let you know that work which will enable both NHS community hospital and residential care to be delivered from Rothbury Community Hospital is now complete.

The health and care partnership, which is the first of its kind, between Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Rothbury Cottage Care Ltd (part of People First Care), will deliver this care for the residents of Rothbury and surrounding villages. This partnership is an excellent example of integrated healthcare being delivered in the local community and of the person receiving care being at the centre of decision-making.

The inpatient ward at the hospital has been transformed into a homely residential care home with the provision of flexible NHS beds. Residents and patients will be able to access the facility from Tuesday 10 January 2023.

The flexible NHS bed provision will be available for patients who need longer-term recuperation and rehabilitation and end-of-life care. A team of district nurses, GPs and nurse practitioners will provide clinical support alongside healthcare currently delivered in the community and in peoples’ homes.

A huge amount of planning and hard work has gone into this and we thank all involved for their dedication, determination and patience. We are sure that both NHS patients and care home residents will receive compassionate and high-quality care and that this facility is very welcomed by Rothbury and the surrounding communities.

The care facility has 12 en-suite bedrooms and residents and NHS patients will enjoy home-cooked food which will be prepared on site. The refurbished day room and lounge provides space for patients to relax, socialise and do various activities. There is also a laundry room. The space is homely and welcoming, which is very important as most people accessing the facility will be elderly and vulnerable. There is already a strong interest from the local community.

View a virtual tour of the new care facility for Rothbury

A detailed review of the NHS provision will be done at three and six-month intervals. They will include the number of admissions to health beds, reason for admission, length of stay, if patients are unable to access the health beds, including their reason for needing admission, and feedback from staff and patients. The trust can then make any changes that are required.

A range of people and groups from the local community have been instrumental in the development of this model of care. We would like to personally thank every single person who has been involved in enabling this pioneering model of care to become a reality – those in the local community, those who work in our trust and colleagues from Rothbury Cottage Care.

 

 

Tell us your views and experiences of health and social care services in Northumberland