All change! Join us at our AGM 2022

All change! Join us at our AGM 2022

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You’re invited to join us at our AGM 2022, which this year will be in person at Northumberland College in Ashington.

This year we’ll be hearing about changes being made in health and social care services, from those leading the change. Our guest speakers will talk about integration of services and the increasing use of digital in care.

We will be giving an overview of our work over the past year as your local health and social care champion and we’ll also hear from health and social care students from the college about why they have chosen to work in the sector.

The event is on Wednesday 19 October starting at 10.30am. After the event there will be a light lunch provided. This will be a chance to chat with our team, our speakers and other guests which will be a mix of service providers, members of the public and health and social care students from the college. Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements.

If you’d like to submit a question in advance please get in touch.

 

This event has now passed

 

Watch our Asthma+Lung UK online event

Watch our Asthma+Lung UK online event

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Thank you to everyone who came along to our online event with Nick Powell from Asthma+Lung UK on Friday 12 August.

Nick gave a presentation about the work of Asthma+Lung UK and the support available both nationally and locally for people living with asthma, COPD, mesothelioma and other lung conditions. There was also a chance to ask questions at the end.

If you didn’t get the chance to join the session you can watch the recording of the presentation below.

Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear about upcoming events.

What is monkeypox?

What is monkeypox?

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Find out the signs and symptoms of monkeypox, what to do if you think you have it and who is eligible for a vaccine

A small number of people in the UK have recently been diagnosed with monkeypox. Most of these cases are in London and the risk of getting it is still currently low.

Although anyone can get monkeypox, most cases in the UK have been in men who are gay, bisexual or have sex with other men. If this is you, it’s important to be aware of the symptoms of monkeypox and what to do next.

What is monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a viral infection, which is spread by very close contact with an infected person.

Initial symptoms:

Fever
Headache
Muscle aches and back ache
Swollen glands
Chills
Exhaustion
Joint pain
A rash usually appears one to five days after your first symptoms. This can be on any part of your body, including your face, hands and genitals. You may also have anal pain or bleeding from your bottom.

Usually symptoms are mild enough to not require hospital admission but can last up to four weeks.

What should you do if you think you have monkeypox?

You should call a sexual health clinic if you have a rash with blister, anal pain or bleeding from your bottom and have either:

  • Been in close contact, including sexual contact, with someone who has or might have monkeypox (even if they’ve not been tested yet) in the past three weeks
  • Had one or more new sexual partners in the past three weeks
  • Been to West or Central Africa in the past three weeks

Before visiting the clinic, you should call first and tell the person you’re speaking to if you suspect you have monkeypox.

You can also call NHS 111 if you’re unable to contact a sexual health clinic.

What should you do if you think your child has monkeypox?

You should call your GP if your child has a rash with blisters and has either:

  • Been in close contact with someone who has or might have monkeypox (even if they’ve not been tested yet) in the past three weeks.
  • Been to West or Central Africa in the past three weeks.
  • Call the surgery before you visit and tell the person you speak to if you suspect your child has monkeypox.
Do you need to self-isolate if you have monkeypox?

While you have symptoms, you can pass monkeypox onto other people. You should stay home and avoid close contact with other people, particularly young children, pregnant women and immunosuppressed people.

Children should also stay at home and avoid close contact with other people.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has produced detailed advice about how to isolate safely at home.

You should self-isolate at home until:

You have not had a high temperature for at least 72 hours.
You have had no new blister in the past 48 hours.
All your lesions have scabbed over.
You have no lesions in your mouth.
Any blisters on your face, arms and hands have scabbed over, all the scabs have fallen off and a fresh layer of skin has formed underneath.
If you meet all the points above, you may be able to stop self-isolating, but you should seek medical advice first.

You should also continue to avoid close contact with young children, pregnant women and immunosuppressed people until all the scabs have fallen off and a fresh layer of skin has formed underneath.

It is not known whether monkeypox can be transmitted through genital secretions, and so it is recommended to use condoms for 12 weeks after your rash has scabbed over and fallen off.

What should you do if you are a close contact of someone with monkeypox?
If you are a close contact of someone with monkeypox and you have symptoms you should isolate for 21 days. If you test positive you will need to continue to isolate.

If you do not have symptoms you do not need to self-isolate, but you should follow guidance from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA):

Contact NHS 111 or a sexual health clinic if you develop a fever or any of the other monkeypox symptoms.
Avoid skin to skin contact with others.
Refrain from sexual or intimate contact.
Avoid international travel if possible.
Let any health or care staff know you’re a close contact before you attend any appointments.

Is there a monkeypox vaccine?

Yes. Monkeypox is caused by a similar virus to smallpox. The smallpox (MVA) vaccine should give a good level of protection against monkeypox.

The UKHSA and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is recommending the use of the smallpox vaccine as part of our response to the rise in cases of monkeypox in the UK.

Currently, the NHS is offering smallpox vaccines to people are most likely to be exposed to monkeypox. This includes:

  • Healthcare workers who are caring for and who are due to start caring for a patient with monkeypox.
  • Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. Your clinician will advise vaccination for you if you have multiple partners, participate in group sex or attend ‘sex on premises’ venues (staff who work in these premises may also be eligible).
  • People who have been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox. You should receive a single dose of the vaccine as soon as possible, ideally within four days of contact, but it can be given up to 14 days after.
  • If you’re at risk of exposure, your local NHS services will contact you and offer you a vaccine. You can also check the website of your local sexual health service for more information.

Go to GOV.UK to find out more about the vaccine and possible side effects.

Further information about monkeypox

GOV.UK: general monkeypox information
Latest GOV.UK updates on monkeypox in the UK
NHS: general monkeypox information
Terrence Higgins Trust: monkeypox in the UK
UK Health Security Agency: Protecting you from monkeypox
Groundswell: monkeypox

 

Looking for information about health and care?

Find advice and information to help you stay well and make decisions about your health and social care support.

Have your say on Northumberland’s Family Hubs

Have your say on Northumberland’s Family Hubs

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Northumberland’s Children’s Centres will relaunch as Family Hubs in Autumn 2022 and residents are being asked for their views to help shape the plans.

The Children’s Centres currently provide a wide range of support services for children aged 0-5 and their families. As Family Hubs, this support will be rolled out to all young people extending the age range to 0-19 and to 25 for anyone with additional needs.

The Hubs will be in the heart of their communities, with midwives, health visitors, early years and mental health professionals, youth workers, and a host of other services – including relationship, parenting, and financial advice – brought together into a one-stop-shop that meets the needs of family life for young people of all ages.

Family Hubs will build on lessons learned during the pandemic and will offer online and virtual services too, so that support can be accessible in the right way, and the right place, at the right time.

 

Things I wish I had known before my loved one went to live in a care home

Things I wish I had known before my loved one went to live in a care home

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Hearing feedback from relatives of those in care homes, we know that the process of moving into a care home can be a very isolating and upsetting time. There are many different emotional and practical aspects to consider.

Sometimes decisions and choices have to be made very quickly. Even when there is more time to plan, there can be smaller, unexpected issues that arise and make you think ‘I wish I had known this before my loved one went to live in a care home’.

This list was put together by people who attended our care homes forums in 2021 and 2022. It is a simple list of things to think about and comes from their experiences of having a loved one living in a care home.

There will be other things which we have not thought of and if you have more ideas and tips, please let us know and we will add them in.

Things to do

  • Provide more socks than you think will be needed – with recognisable patterns
  • Provide slippers – two pairs at least
  • Keep a supply of clothes at your home to top up/replace items as needed
  • Label everything – clothes and other items – with your loved one’s name. They may change rooms but not their name!
    – iron in labels for clothes and shoes in addition to the home’s own labelling
    – use indelible marker to write name or room number on TV remotes and ornaments
  • Check if you can you use your own bed linen and/or curtains
  • Ask if you can move in small items of furniture. A small side table that sits against a wall gives a nice focal point for ‘knick knacks’ without taking up space
  • Think about things that brighten a room immediately – pictures, trinkets, lamps, throws, cushions, but nothing too valuable or fragile in case of breakages/loss
  • Put a favourite picture of your loved one when they were younger in a prominent place
  • Buy a spare remote control for the TV
  • Think about a small Christmas tree and decorations. Ask family and friends to send cards directly to the person in the home so they feel part of the celebrations.
  • Supply games, picture books etc. to help with visits
  • Take scented drawer liners which add a nice touch to a room

Things to know

  • Labelling is very important but things will disappear, move around the home and reappear – both in and out of your loved ones room
  • Remember to say hello to other residents – you are in their home
  • Care home tea is usually very milky!
  • Care homes can be very warm – wear layers
  • Are meal times protected – is visiting not allowed at this time or can you visit to help your loved one eat?
  • Find out the arrangements for Christmas – are you able to visit or take your loved one out of the home?
  • Leaving your coat and handbag in the car or in the manager’s office, so that you can slip out, can make leaving after a visit less stressful for you and your loved one.
  • Does the home arrange ‘virtual’ visits – who does them and how is your loved one supported to interact with the call?
  • It might be reassuring to ask what a ‘typical day’ looks like for your loved one
  • Visiting can be upsetting so it can be an idea to have someone to talk to afterwards or have a relaxing activity planned

Get in touch

If you’d like to speak to us about your experiences of care homes, care home visiting, information about care homes in Northumberland, or would like to know more about our forums, please get in touch.

 

Download the list as a PDF

Your Care, Your Way – what you said

Your Care, Your Way – what you said

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Healthwatch England has published new findings, which show services are failing in their legal duty to provide accessible information for people with physical and learning disabilities.

As part of the Your Care, Your Way campaign, between March and May 2022, an online survey was carried out which heard from 605 people affected by communications challenges.

People being refused communication support

One in four respondents (28%) – including deaf, blind and people with learning disabilities – said they had been refused help when requesting support to understand information about their healthcare. This included information being provided in formats such as Braille, British Sign Language and Easy Read.

Not being given information in the right format affected people’s mental health and wellbeing (38%), meant they missed out on important information about their health (29%) or meant that they could not contact a service they needed (27%).

Respondents also reported that the quality of communication from NHS and social care services had worsened over the last two years. Two-thirds (67%) felt that the way health and care services communicate with them had gotten worse or slightly worse over the course of the pandemic.

Impact on people who have mental health conditions

It is not just people with sensory impairments or learning disabilities who are affected by this issue.

A fifth (22%) of those who reached out to Healthwatch to share their experiences identified themselves as having a mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety.

Of these people, 35% reported they rarely or never get the support they need to understand healthcare information or communicate with staff. The majority of them (70%) also said that the lack of information in a format they could understand further impacted their mental health and wellbeing.

Why we need better Accessible Information Standard

The findings come as NHS England (NHSE) is conducting a review of the Accessible Information Standard (AIS). The Government created this legal requirement in 2016 to ensure all publicly funded health and social care providers meet the information and communication needs of people who are deaf, blind or have a learning disability. Publication of this review is expected later in the year, with updates to be implemented by April 2023.

Earlier this year, Healthwatch England uncovered that many health and social care providers significantly failed their duty to ask about people’s communication needs and then act on this information.

They joined forces with leading disability organisations, including RNIB, RNID, Mencap and SignHealth, to inform the long-awaited review of the AIS. The coalition called on NHSE to take on board their recommendations, including stronger accountability across services to protect people’s rights to accessible information.

Louise Ansari, national director at Healthwatch England said:

“Our findings are a stark reminder that some of the most vulnerable people in our society are still excluded from access to healthcare because they communicate in British Sign Language or they need information in visual formats. And this is despite the fact that their rights to accessible information are protected in law.

“People’s right to accessible information should be based on their communication needs, not just on a diagnosed disability. For instance, people who have a mental health condition or are waiting for a diagnosis should have a right to request communication support in the same way as people who have a sensory loss or a learning disability.

“If people cannot get information about their healthcare they understand, this can have a significant impact on their mental health and can lead to them missing doctor’s appointments or taking the wrong medication, putting them in danger.

“As we are waiting for the review of the Accessible Information Standard, we strongly advise that NHSE and the newly created 42 integrated care systems ensure equitable access to healthcare for everyone.”

Find out more about the results of the accessible information survey

Get in touch

If you would like to tell us about your experience of accessing health and social care services in the last 12 months please get in touch.

Online Event – Asthma+Lung UK

Online Event – Asthma+Lung UK

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Join us on Friday 12 August, 1pm-2pm to hear a presentation from Nick Powell from Asthma+Lung UK.

In this free, online public event Nick will provide a brief overview of asthma, COPD, mesothelioma and other lung conditions.

We will also hear about the national and local support available from Asthma+Lung UK. There will be a chance to ask questions.

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

 

This event has now passed.

Mental health services and autistic children

Mental health services and autistic children

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Are NHS mental health services working for autistic children and young people?

We have been hearing from local families that some NHS mental health services aren’t working for them. To understand what is happening, we would like to hear about the experiences of as many autistic children and young people as we can. This includes children with a formal autism diagnosis, currently being assessed, or where there is an indication of autism. We want to know what is working well and what could be better.

Please tell us about your family’s experiences online, or by getting in touch in a way that suits you.

What you tell us will be included in a report to those who pay for and provide these services, along with recommendations of how services could be improved for children and young people. It will be anonymous and we will ensure you cannot be identified.

Read what Sarah, Ellie and Jennifer have to say and then tell us your story…

Parent Sarah says “For both of my children it took several years to get a diagnosis of ADHD and autism. Both have had issues with their mental health alongside their ADHD and autism. The delay in diagnosis impacted negatively on their mental health and both also experienced additional deterioration after Covid-19.

“Many different health and care services have been involved with my children, but these services are unfortunately not all joined up. Often referrals would be accepted for support but then discharged on the basis that other services were already involved or were better suited to provide support, care or treatment. When support has been received this is time-limited or specific to concerns at any one time leading to the process of needing to fight to seek help again later down the line.

“My children’s mental health difficulties have been seen as being ‘part of their autism’ rather than a separate condition that required treatment and help. This has led to difficulties and challenges getting the right support and most appropriate services involved for their mental health. Many people on the autistic spectrum have anxiety and mental health issues. This is not autism but the effect of having to adjust to the world around them and the many challenging situations they face.

“What has been most difficult is that every step of the way I have had to fight to get the right support my children need, challenging what we have previously been told and doing a lot of research ourselves. At times we felt we were not being listened to. It feels like we have had to become specialists in our own right, whilst also caring for children with additional needs that can be very challenging.”

Young person Ellie told us “The mental health professional I saw at the NHS didn’t seem to know very much about autism, so they didn’t realise that the appointments themselves were very stressful for me. I don’t think they always believed me when I said how bad I was feeling because on the surface I appeared to be okay.

“My mental distress at the time was extremely high and I was experiencing some very dark thoughts, but I didn’t feel listened to or understood. I would have liked to have had someone like my dad with me at the appointments but that wasn’t an option because they were held at school.

“My mental health has slowly improved since then but that’s because I started seeing someone privately who has experience of working with autistic people. I feel very lucky about this because I know not everyone would be able to afford it.”

Jennifer, whose child is autistic, says “The initial relief of my child being provided mental health support was quickly replaced by concern, as instead of getting better they got worse. A lack of knowledge and understanding about autistic presentation meant the therapist didn’t connect authentically with my child, who in turn felt invalidated by the whole experience.

“The number of sessions offered was limited and at the end of the programme I was shocked to find my child didn’t reach the threshold for further support. Instead, we were provided with a list of community-based support organisations and left to fend for ourselves. As a parent I now have a complete lack of confidence and trust in the NHS mental health system.”

Tell us YOUR story

Whether your child may be autistic, is currently being assessed or has a formal autism diagnosis, we’d like to hear their experiences of mental health services. We’d like to know what went well and what could have been better. Tell us your story online, or if you’d prefer to speak to one of our friendly team in confidence, please get in touch.

This piece of work has now closed.

Living well with dementia sessions

Living well with dementia sessions

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Dementia groups in Northumberland: living well with dementia

 

These weekly dementia groups in Northumberland from Royal Voluntary Service are designed for people with mild to moderate dementia or cognitive impairment. The sessions offer a range of stimulating and purposeful activities that promote good physical health and mental wellbeing. These include crafts, cookery, nature-based activities, games, puzzles and gentle exercise sessions. Activities can also help with maintaining social skills. Carers are welcome and can take part in the morning sessions and join the group for lunch if they wish.

Berwick Youth Hostel TD15 1HJ: every Monday (not Bank Holidays) 10.00am to 2.00pm.

£12.50 per session including lunch for individuals with dementia (£5.00 for carers if having lunch).

Alnwick Cricket Club NE66 1BL: every Wednesday 10.00am to 2.00pm.

£12.50 per session including lunch for individuals with dementia (£4.50 for carers if having lunch).

Beaconhill Community Centre, Cramlington: NE23 8EH. Every Thursday 10.00am – 2.00pm.

£12.50 per session including lunch for individuals with dementia (£4.50 for carers if having lunch).

For more information or to book please contact Margaret by emailing: margaret.facey@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk or call: 07500 033349.

 

What is dementia?

The word ‘dementia’ describes a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. These changes are often small to start with, but for someone with dementia they have become severe enough to affect daily life. A person with dementia may also experience changes in their mood or behaviour.

Dementia is caused when the brain is damaged by diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease or a series of strokes. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, but not the only one. The specific symptoms that someone with dementia experiences will depend on the parts of the brain that are damaged and the disease that is causing the dementia. (Alzheimer’s Society).

 

Find more information about dementia support and activities at our dementia page.

Have your say on diabetic eye screening

Have your say on diabetic eye screening

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NHS England would like to hear from people with diabetes and those who support them, about their views on diabetic eye screening and how to improve the service in the future.

The Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP) aims to reduce the risk of sight loss amongst those living with diabetes by early identification and effective treatment of diabetic retinopathy.

The screening programme invites anyone with diabetes aged 12 years or over for digital eye screening once a year. Your views will help shape the way the screening programme is delivered going forward.

You can also give your views for improving the service by emailing: Trudie.metcalfe@nhs.net

All feedback should be submitted by Saturday 6 August 2022.

Read more about diabetic eye screening (including Easy Read)

If you would like to tell us about any diabetes or eye health services you have used recently please get in touch.