Tips on how to reduce loneliness in later life

Tips on how to reduce loneliness in later life

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Loneliness can affect people of all ages. As we get older, we can be presented with many challenges in our lives that can lead to loneliness. A loss of a partner, family, or friends, retirement, illness or moving into different accommodation.

Whatever the challenge, it can be difficult to find a solution, make new meaningful connections and cope with the loneliness you are experiencing.

Mental Health Foundation has created the following tips to help reduce loneliness in later life.

Read Tips on how to reduce loneliness in later life

Spotlight on… Carers Northumberland

Spotlight on… Carers Northumberland

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As part of our information and signposting service, we’re shining a spotlight on organisations offering all kinds of support to people in Northumberland. To mark Carers Week 2022 which runs from 6-12 June, this Spotlight on… is all about Carers Northumberland.

Carers Northumberland supports unpaid carers throughout the county, empowering them to have a voice and to have a life outside of their caring responsibilities. It offers information and advice, support for young carers, carers’ groups, education and employment support, Emergency Care Planning, workshops and training. Small grants are also available to enable carers to take short breaks from their caring responsibilities.

As part of Carers Week 2022 Carers Northumberland has organised some walks for all abilities at popular places such as Bolam Lake, Newbiggin promenade and Craster. See what events and activities are coming up at their website.

To get in touch with Carers Northumberland call: 01670 320025 or email: info@carersnorthumberland.org.uk

Jubilee Bank Holiday Pharmacy Opening 2022

Jubilee Bank Holiday Pharmacy Opening 2022

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Pharmacies open in Northumberland over the Jubilee Bank Holiday 2-3 June 2022

Over the long Jubilee weekend, some pharmacies will be closed. Below is a list of Northumberland pharmacies which are open over the Jubilee Bank Holiday. You are advised to telephone the pharmacy before attending to check the opening hours haven’t changed.

If you require advice out of hours, please contact: NHS 111.

 

ASHINGTON: Well Pharmacy, Nursery Park PCC, Nursery Park Road, Ashington NE63 0HP. Tel: 01670 854 002. Open: 10:00am-12:00pm on 2 June only, closed 3 June.

ASHINGTON: Central Pharmacy, Lintonville Medical Group, Lintonville Terrace, Ashington, Northumberland NE63 9UT. Tel: 01670 856 633. Open: 10:00am-12:00pm on 2 and 3 June.

ASHINGTON: Asda Pharmacy, Lintonville Terrace, Ashington, Northumberland NE63 9XG. Tel: 01670 528 610. Open: 10:00am-16:00pm on 2 and 3 June.

BEDLINGTON: Lloyds Pharmacy, The Library Site, Glebe Road, Bedlington NE22 6JX. Tel: 01670 822 282. Open: 11:00am-13:00pm on 2 June only, closed 3 June.

BERWICK-UPON-TWEED: Boots Pharmacy, 60-68 Marygate, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland TD15 1BN. Tel: 01289 306 036. Open: 11:00am-16:00pm on 2 and 3 June.

BLYTH: Asda Pharmacy, Cowpen Road, Blyth, Northumberland NE24 4LZ. Tel: 01670 542 710. Open: 10:00am-16:00pm on 2 and 3 June.

BLYTH: Blyth Healthcare Pharmacy, 30 Bowes Street, Blyth, Northumberland NE24 1BD. Tel: 01670 362 111. Open: 15:00pm-17:00pm on 2 June only, closed 3 June.

BLYTH: Boots Pharmacy, 60-62 Maddison Street, Blyth, Northumberland NE24 1EY. Tel: 01670 546 092. Open: 10:00am-16:00pm on 2 June only, closed 3 June.

CRAMLINGTON: Boots Pharmacy, 29-30 Manor Walks Shopping Centre, Cramlington NE23 6QE. Tel: 01670 736 399. Open: 10:00am-14:00pm on 2 and 3 June.

CRAMLINGTON: Lloyds Pharmacy, Sainsburys, Dudley Court, Manor Walks Shopping Centre, Cramlington NE23 6RT. Tel: 01670 712 547. Open: 10:00am-16:00pm on 2 and 3 June.

HAYDON BRIDGE: Haydon Bridge Pharmacy, Ground Floor, 5 Church Street, Haydon Bridge, Hexham NE47 6JG. Tel: 01434 684 354. Open: 19:00pm-21:00pm on 2 June only, closed 3 June.

HEXHAM: Boots Pharmacy, 7 Fore Street, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 1LU. Tel: 01434 602 024. Open: 11:00am-16:00pm on 2 and 3 June.

HEXHAM: Tesco Pharmacy, Tynedale Retail Park, Alemouth Road, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 3PJ. Tel: 0345 677 9873. Open: 09:00am-13:00pm on 2 and 3 June.

MORPETH: Morpeth Pharmacy (Wellway), The Surgery, Wellway, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 1BJ. Tel: 01670 510 005. Open: 14:00pm-16:00pm on 2 June only, closed 3 June.

TWEEDMOUTH: Tesco Pharmacy, Tweedside Trading Estate, Ord Road, Berwick upon Tweed TD15 2XG. Tel: 0191 693 1575. Open: 09:00am-13:00pm on 2 and 3 June.

 

Download list of pharmacies

Diabetes Week – 13-19 June 2022

Diabetes Week – 13-19 June 2022

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Diabetes Week 2022 is coming up from 13 to 19 June. It’s a chance to raise awareness of diabetes and highlight the support available to anyone living with the condition. If you would like to find out more about diabetes and the support available in Northumberland, come along to our free online event on Friday 10 June to hear from Colin Renshaw of Diabetes UK.

Colin will provide information about the different types of diabetes and how to manage and live well with the condition. We will also hear about national and local support available from Diabetes UK and there will be a chance to ask questions.

Here at Healthwatch Northumberland, two members of our volunteer team have experience of type 2 diabetes and have kindly shared their thoughts below.

James’ Poem

Our volunteer James wrote a poem about his experience of type 2 diabetes:

Got diabetes
From eating too many sweeties
Didn’t care what I ate
Always cleared my plate

What symptoms did I have?
Lots of trips to the lav
Drank like a fish
Even made a wish

Was first given tablets
But didn’t change my habits
Drinking too much coca colas
Along the way I am rotting my molars

Moved on to the hard stuff
Needle is in
Needle is out
Whoops am going to shout

Sugars is o so high
Sugars is o so low
How is going to go
Or maybe it’s going to snow

Have now changed my diet
I can’t really be quiet
How low can I go
Getting a healthier glow

Colin’s Q&A

Volunteer Colin answered some questions for us about his experience of type 2 diabetes and how this affects his daily life:

When were you first diagnosed with diabetes?

22 years ago.

What symptoms did you have?

I didn’t have any symptoms, it was picked up during a routine eye examination following sight loss (unrelated).

How did it affect your life?

The main thing is that I have to check my blood twice a day.

How have you managed the condition? What healthcare support did you get? Did you get help from any support organisations?

My diabetes was initially treated with Metformin tablets and I had an annual check with a diabetes nurse. After a period of time I needed insulin to manage my sugar levels and I attended a course on how to use insulin at Blyth Hospital. I continue to have yearly check-ups with a diabetes nurse – these were online during pandemic but are back to in person now.

What is the situation now – how is the condition and have you made any lifestyle changes to improve it?

I have to have meals at regular times and carry something with me to eat. If things get out of balance, I can have a ‘hypo’ (experience hypoglycaemia) but I’m good at spotting the signs.

 

Find out more about diabetes at the Diabetes UK website.

If you would like to tell us about your experience of diabetes services or ask a question about local services and support, please get in touch.

What is Long Covid?

What is Long Covid?

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Healthwatch England has shared some useful information about Long Covid including the common symptoms and when to get support.

After contracting COVID-19 it can take up to 12 weeks for your symptoms to disappear and for you to make a full recovery from the virus. For some people, COVID-19 can cause symptoms that last weeks or months after the infection has gone. Symptoms that go on longer than 12 weeks are known as ‘Long Covid’.

The chances of having long-term symptoms are not linked to how ill you were when you first got COVID-19.

What are the symptoms of Long Covid?

There are wide-ranging symptoms making it difficult for doctors to diagnose. Everyone’s condition and symptoms are slightly different.

The main symptoms are the same as COVID-19:

  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Changes to the sense of taste or smell
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Muscle ache
  • Headache
  • Cough
  • Memory Loss
  • High temperature
  • Sore throat

Additional symptoms fall into one of three main categories:

Physical symptoms

  • Joint pain
  • Chest pain or tightness
  • Breathlessness
  • Heart palpitations
  • Dizziness
  • Pins and needles
  • Tinnitus or earache
  • Feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches or loss of appetite

Cognitive issues

  • Memory problems
  • Concentration problems (‘brain fog’)
  • Depression and anxiety

Fatigue

  • Extreme tiredness
  • Low energy
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Needing a lot more sleep than normal

When should I contact my doctor?

Advice from the NHS suggests you contact your doctor if you are worried about continuing symptoms more than four weeks after having COVID-19.

To contact your GP surgery, you can:

  • Visit their website
  • Call them
  • Use the NHS app

Your doctor will need to rule out other causes for your symptoms and may wish to conduct some tests before reaching their diagnosis. These tests can include blood tests or an x-ray.

How will I know if I have Long Covid?

Unfortunately, there is currently no standard test for Long Covid. People suspected of having Long Covid are diagnosed by ruling out the more common causes of their symptoms.

What causes Long Covid?

Long Covid is a relatively new condition, so we don’t know very much about its causes yet. Several different things are likely to cause such a wide range of symptoms in people.

Who is most likely to get Long Covid?

We have only recently started tracking Long Covid. However, over 1.8 million people in the UK have symptoms for more than four weeks.

The condition is most common in:

  • 35 to 49-year-olds
  • Women
  • People with underlying health conditions which limit their normal activity levels
  • People working in health, social care or education
  • People who are living in poorer areas across the country.

Treatment and support

Find out what treatment options are available on the NHS and what support you can get to help you manage your symptoms.

Read about your options

 

Visit our Covid-19 Information Page

 

Online Event – Diabetes UK

Online Event – Diabetes UK

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Join us in the run up to Diabetes Week 2022 to hear from Colin Renshaw from Diabetes UK on Friday 10 June, 1pm-2pm.

In this free, online public event Colin will provide information about the different types of diabetes and how to manage and live well with the condition. We will also hear about national and local support available from Diabetes UK. There will be a chance to ask questions.

Register now and we will send you a link to join closer to the event: 

If you would like to tell us about your recent experience of diabetes services please get in touch.

Your feedback: January to March 2022

Your feedback: January to March 2022

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As your local health and social care champion, we listen to your experiences of using NHS and social care services so that those running and paying for services know what is working well and where improvements can be made. We also help you find the support and services you need through our Signposting and Information Service.

Over the last three months we heard from people through our website, social media, telephone calls, by post, emails and at events. Our monthly Here to Hear drop-in events across the county continued, and our themed online sessions are proving popular – this quarter we heard from the Integrated Wellbeing Service about the health-related services it provides, from the West Northumberland Living Well Service (social prescribing) and from Parkinson’s UK.

In total we had feedback about services from 75 people and signposted 25 people to services or answered their questions.

Find out more about who we heard from, what they told us and which services we’ve been hearing about, in our latest report.

 

To tell us about your experiences of care, or that of a friend or family member, please get in touch.

Online Event – National Autistic Society

Online Event – National Autistic Society

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Come along to our free, online public event to hear from Nellie Allsop from the National Autistic Society who will provide a brief overview of autism and the support available in Northumberland.

Nellie will share an overview of what autism is, drawing on her personal and professional experiences. She will also provide information on how autistic people and their families can access support, both locally within Northumberland and nationally.

There will also be a chance to ask questions.

Register now and we will send you a link to join closer to the event:

Where can I go to get help for my health out of hours?

Where can I go to get help for my health out of hours?

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Health issues unfortunately don’t leave us alone at the weekend and people are often in need of medical assistance out of hours. Using NHS guidelines, we have provided some advice and information on where you can go for help when your GP is closed.

Where you can go to get help out of hours

The NHS pledges to provide services at a time that’s convenient for you. They have produced guidance on how best to access services out of hours that can be found in full online – NHS out-of-hours services.

  • Phone NHS 111
    This service is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is a service that provides medical advice as well as the details of the services closest to you that help you deal with your need following a medical assessment.
  • Visit your local pharmacy
    Your pharmacist will be able to help you with a number of issues. How your pharmacy can help
  • Visit your nearest NHS walk in centre
    If you need treatment for minor injuries or illnesses such as cuts, bruises and rashes you can visit your nearest NHS walk-in centre, urgent care centre or minor injuries unit. These are not suitable for treating long term conditions. To be seen at one of these services you do not need an appointment, or to be registered. You may be referred to one of these services by NHS 111, or you can just walk in.

When to visit an urgent care centre

Take a look at the NHS guidance on when to visit an urgent care centre (walk in centre) to find out if this is the right service for your health needs.

Find out more

Should I go to A&E?

Accident and Emergency departments are for serious or life-threatening emergencies and should not be used as an alternative to a GP appointment. You should go to your nearest A&E if you require urgent medical attention.

For example if you’re experiencing:

  • loss of consciousness
  • chest pain
  • breathing difficulties
  • fits that are not stopping
  • severe bleeding that cannot be stopped
  • severe allergic reactions
  • severe burns or scalds
  • stroke
  • major trauma

Not all hospitals have an A&E department. Use the A&E service search to find your nearest A&E department or read the guidance in full from the NHS to find out more about when to go to A&E.

Out-of-hours medicines

Running out of your medication during the holidays or over the weekend can be a big worry. If you run out the medication you need outside of your GP practice’s normal opening hours and need some urgently, there are a few steps you can take to get an emergency supply.

Where you can get medication from will depend on whether you already have a prescription or whether a prescription is needed. Take a look at the guidance from the NHS to find out more.

Find out more

Prudhoe Healthy Living Week

Prudhoe Healthy Living Week

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We are taking part in Prudhoe Community Partnership’s ‘Prudhoe Healthy Living Week’, which runs from Monday 25 April until lunchtime on Saturday 30 April at Prudhoe Community Hub (61 Front Street).

Local organisations will be offering activities and information about physical and mental health support throughout the week, and we will be there on Tuesday 26 April from 10am until 3pm.

Come along and see us – we’ll have information and freebies to give away. We’d also like to hear about how you use your local pharmacy services. Hope to see you there!