At the heart of a healthy community
Issue 1 - Summer 2016
How to survive... the summer Top tips from our Dr Sim
ENJOY ONE OF OUR TASTY RECIPES!
our new eye care service is now up and running - page 6
Welcome... Welcome to the first edition of foryou – your new look NHS magazine packed with information, advice and details of the services available to support your health and wellbeing. I’m Karen Howell, Chief Executive of Wirral Community NHS Foundation Trust. There are so many different parts to the NHS these days, so it can be confusing knowing who does what. As a Community Trust, we provide services outside of hospital. You’ve probably heard talk of moving care out of hospital and closer to people’s homes. We’re at the forefront of that in Wirral and Cheshire. Our services include Community Nursing, Health Visiting, Walk-in centres, GP Out of Hours, Physiotherapy, Sexual Health, Heart Support and many more. We also have consultant-led services such as
Ophthalmology, which can treat and monitor people with complex eye problems at a venue nearer to their home, rather than having to travel to hospital. 2016 is proving to be a hugely exciting year for us. In May we were officially authorised as a Foundation Trust. This means that as a Wirral or Cheshire resident, you can now have a greater say in how your health services are run. As a Foundation Trust we can now give patients, staff and the public the chance to become members or governors of the trust, and have a formal say in how our services are provided. We have also been busy developing new services, such as our 0-19 Health and Wellbeing Service in Cheshire East. And we are working hard with other healthcare organisations to map out what
the NHS needs to look like in the future to ensure we meet the needs of our local populations. I hope you enjoy reading our patient’s stories, hearing our Medical Director’s top tips for summer, and finding out about the many services we have that can help you. And look out for my fortnightly column in the Wirral Globe to find out more about what’s happening in health!
Karen Howell Chief Executive
News bites
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The team will be helping local residents to live healthier lives and will be providing support around stopping smoking, alcohol consumption and sexual health - chlamydia screening for 16-24 year olds via school nurses and health visitors. The team will also be rolling out a health checks project. Good luck to everyone involved.
Health & Social Care BTEC
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What’s been your experience? Between Jan – Jun 2016, 2,192 people fed back about their experiences. If you’ve used one of our services don’t forget to leave your feedback. Whether it’s a compliment, concern or complaint we want to hear from you.
Congratulations! Our new Cheshire East Cherubs Breastfeeding Peer Supporters celebrated the completion of their training with certificates presented by Children’s Centre Manager, Tracy Collins. They help the trust’s 0-19 Health & Wellbeing Service through attending the Cherubs support groups, speaking to antenatal mums, fundraising and offering support through their Facebook page @CherubsofCheshire. Recruitment open days Have you heard about our recruitment open days? We hold them every few months at St Catherine’s Health Centre for anyone interested in coming to work at Wirral Community NHS Foundation Trust! There’s always a variety of jobs available, from nurses to therapists and bank staff. If you would like to join our fantastic teams working in the community and caring for people closer to home, like our Facebook page... www.facebook.com/nhsjobs for details of our next event. Childen & Wellbeing Division Expansion Cheshire East Our Children & Wellbeing Division is pleased to announce they will be delivering a number of new contracts across Cheshire East.
ISSUE
in this
news bites
Feature Our new eye care service
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Your story
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Membership & governors
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Doctor Sim
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Parents and families
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Your health news
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A day in the life
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Health & wellbeing corner
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Puzzles
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There’s a number of ways you can feedback. Ask your healthcare professional or visit wirralct.nhs.uk for full details. Save the date! Come along to our AGM and Health Fair on Thursday 8 September at St Catherine’s Health Centre. Visit facebook.com/nhsbuzz for details. Congratulations Our Health Visiting Service across Wirral and Cheshire East has been reaccredited as Baby Friendly by Unicef. Well done to all involved.
PUBLICATION DETAILS Produced by: Communications and Marketing, Wirral Community NHS Foundation Trust. SUBMISSION DETAILS If you would like to submit an idea for an article, please contact:
foryou Communications and Marketing Wirral Community NHS Foundation Trust Ground Floor, Wing 5, St Catherine’s Health Centre, Derby Road, Birkenhead, Wirral CH42 0LQ E: communications@wirralct.nhs.uk
advertorial
No time to come into clinic? Did you know you can now get a FREE NHS chlamydia postal test kit sent to your home to use discreetly and privately in your own time?
• Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection in 15 - 24 years olds, but we are also seeing increased rates in local people aged 25+. • There are often NO symptoms so many people with chlamydia don’t know they have it!
The test kit is quick, easy and confidential! A simple urine* or self-taken swab (for women) is all you need to do. Kits are sent to an address of your choice and are discreetly packaged. A freepost envelope allows you to return your sample for testing and we can text your results to you 7 - 10 days later.
Visit sexualhealthwirral.nhs.uk to request your FREE kit today. * If you are a man who has sex with men a urine test may not be the best test for you. Please pop into one of our clinics to speak to a member of the team (see timetable on our website). In partnership: Wirral Community NHS Foundation Trust Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Brook
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NEW Health & Social Care BTEC course We’ve teamed up with The Sixth Form College Birkenhead to offer a new Health & Social Care course for anyone interested in pursuing a career in the NHS. If you’re aged 16 - 19 the new Health & Social Care BTEC Level 3 Diploma could be your first step into an NHS career in community-based care. Throughout the two-year course, you will learn about the theory, science, techniques and systems that underpin the practicalities of providing healthcare out of hospital, within local communities. You will also have work placements, working alongside NHS staff to put into practice what they have learned.
studying for a qualification that will support your entry into the healthcare workplace.” Mr Eyre continued: “After completing the course, students will be qualified to apply for healthcare or therapy assistant roles within the trust and establish themselves on a framework that can support them to build a career within the NHS, and even open up opportunities to professional qualifications such as nursing and therapies.”
Head of Health & Social Care at The Sixth Form College Birkenhead, Andy Walton, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for those who want to work in this growing sector of community-based care. It will develop the skills and knowledge required to make a real difference in your community, because good quality care enhances lives.” For more information visit Sixth Form College Birkenhead website: bsfc.ac.uk
By the end of the course you will have the knowledge and skills to apply for Band 3 NHS jobs, with a CV that demonstrates relevant work experience and highlyrespected references. Julian Eyre, Deputy Director of Performance for Wirral Community NHS Foundation Trust said: “We’re delighted to be working with the College on this new collaboration as it offers a real opportunity for students who are considering working in a health or caring role. It’s a unique chance to observe and undertake real work alongside nurses, therapists and other healthcare practitioners whilst
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Community Ophthalmology Service by amy poole
Earlier this year we launched our new Community Ophthalmology Service to assess, diagnose and treat Wirral patients with complex eye conditions and to provide help for people to manage these conditions. We asked Divisional Manager, Tracy Orr how things are going… So how is it going? We’re seeing more and more patients as GPs and opticians are getting to know about us. They refer patients to our service so that they can be seen closer to home rather than going to hospital. What are the most common eye conditions you come across? Most of the patients we see have glaucoma or are experiencing flashes and floaters, irritation and dry eyes.
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What symptoms should people look out for? Persistent eye pain or pressure, blurring of vision, redness or flashes and floaters. If you’re experiencing any of these then you need to make sure you get your eyes looked at as soon as possible.
Who should people speak to if they have concerns? Speak to your GP or optician as soon as you can. They can then refer you on to an eye specialist if needed. What can people expect from your service? A diagnosis of their eye symptoms and hopefully full resolution of the problem.
What can happen if people ignore these symptoms?
What are your hopes for the future of the service?
Some eye conditions can have severe consequences if untreated and do long term damage to the eyes, reducing your quality of life.
I hope that the service will expand further as more people become aware of it. Then we will also look at offering it in more locations.
Community Ophthalmology Service Obviously, the more people we can help the better. Finally, what advice would you give to any of our readers who may have been diagnosed with or have concerns that they have an eye condition? If you’re worried please don’t ignore it. Discuss your problems with your GP and you can ask to be referred to us for help. The Community Ophthalmology Service is currently based at our
Heswall Clinic with modern facilities and the latest technology for assessing, diagnosing and treating a wide range of eye conditions. Visit our website for a full list of the conditions we can help you with – wirralct.nhs.uk The service is commissioned by Wirral Clinical Commissioning Group. What have your patients been saying? Feedback so far has been great! (see below).
‘‘Very thorough and complete service. Very beneficial to attend Heswall clinic rather than hospital.’’ ‘‘Nursing staff professional and chatty. Consultant pleasant, professional and efficient at the same time as being sympathetic.’’ ‘‘Fast, informal, much easier and quicker than a hospital visit.’’ Glaucoma is the group of eye conditions that cause sight loss by damaging your optic nerve. The sight loss caused by glaucoma is permanent, while treatments can’t restore any sight loss, it can prevent it from happening in the first place. Flashes of light and floaters are small shapes floating in your field of vision. They can be different shapes and sizes. Flashes and floaters are quite common in normal eyes but if they become worse you should speak to a GP or optician. Dry eye can make you feel you have something in your eye, like an eyelash or a piece of grit, even when there is nothing there. Dry eye can make your vision slightly blurry, though usually only for short periods of time.
Keeping your eyes healthy Looking after your eye health is really important. It’s estimated that more than 2 million people in the UK could be living with some form of sight loss and it’s suggested that 50% of sight loss is avoidable if detected and treated early enough. Here are the top five tips from the RNIB: 1. Regular eye tests – you should aim to get your eyes tested once every two years 2. Stop smoking – smoking can double to the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, the UK’s leading cause of sight loss 3. Eat healthy and watch your weight – foods that are rich in nutrients can help to delay and prevent some eye conditions and maintaining a healthy weight can help to reduce your risk of developing conditions which can lead to sight loss 4. Keep your eyes covered in the sun – UVA and UVB rays in sunlight can harm your eyes. Wearing sunglasses, glasses or contact lenses with built in UV filter will protect your eyes 5. Safety first – prevent serious damage to your eyes by using eye protection if you’re doing DIY or playing certain sports
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Your story... A model boat for a model nurse by lindsay booker Sometimes, we can be taken by surprise from the gestures our patients make. Just as the “Boaty McBoatface” story was dominating national and international headlines, a different sort of boat was being christened in Wirral. Specialist Nurse, Sue Bryne was astonished when she was given a model boat in her name, “The Sue Byrne”. Built by her patient Mr Jeffery Prout, it was his way of showing his deepest thanks for the wonderful care she had given him.
Sue Byrne pictured with... The Sue Byrne.
We are always proud and humbled by the thanks we receive from patients. Often these compliments come from our online feedback form, social media or by patients simply saying thank you to our staff who support and help with their care. 8
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Diagnosed in 2014 with prostate cancer, Mr Prout, from Woodchurch, suffers from especially varied and complex symptoms which need constant monitoring and reassessment. Sue has been responsible for his care since his diagnosis and has developed a close friendship with Mr Prout and his family. Mr Prout’s wife, Cathy said: “He’s always pleased to see her… she lifts him up, gives him something to aim for. She has such an excellent bedside manner. He trusts her one hundred per cent.”
A builder by trade, Mr Prout has continued to apply his skills into retirement and throughout his illness, building model boats for his family members and Wirral Hospice St John’s. The hobby is now an integral part of his rehabilitation, and in this case, a way to show his thanks and gratitude to his nurse and friend. Sue Byrne said: “I always did admire his boats, but I had no idea he was making one for me! He thanked me for everything I’d done for him. The boat itself is in prime position in our house. My family love it and everyone comments on it saying how lovely it is.”
I have incredible reassurance because she will always answer me and listen to what I have to say. She is somebody to call on to allay my fears and worries when things are down. I don’t know what I’d do without her.
Sue deals primarily with pain management and mobility issues. She supports Mr Prout through all the highs and lows, visiting him whenever her assistance is needed. Mr Prout said “I have incredible reassurance because she will always answer me and listen to what I have to say. She is somebody to call on to allay my fears and worries when things are down. I don’t know what I’d do without her.” Hearing our patients’ stories can be incredibly powerful. When a patient shares their experience with us, it gives us a very privileged insight into what that experience has been, and also lets us know if we are doing our jobs the right way.
Mr Prout, Sue Byrne and the famous boat.
You can find more of our patient stories on our website wirralct.nhs.uk where you can hear the experiences of others who have used our services. If you would like to share your story to help us highlight the value of what our staff do every day, please contact our Patient Experience team on 0800 694 5530 or you can email: wcnt.patientexperience@nhs.net
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Meet your Council of Governors Your Council of Governors represents the interests and views of the public, our members and our staff. It is a central part of a foundation trust and oversees the work of the Board in running the organisation. Here you can read why each governor felt they wanted to represent our members across our four constituencies. Our staff governors and appointed governors are also listed.
Irene Cooke Birkenhead
Ian Jones Birkenhead
Donald Shaw Birkenhead
Bill Wyllie Wallasey
As a carer and Queens’ Nurse, I wish to make NHS trust services visible and accessible to the Birkenhead population.
My top priorities are to oppose privatisation, expect the highest service quality and to improve health outcomes in Birkenhead.
I believe that Wirral residents should have access to excellent, modern, patient focussed healthcare.
The NHS has served me magnificently throughout my life. I now want to take the opportunity to give something back.
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Sara Braidwood Wallasey
Ann Barlow Wallasey
I live in Wirral and am a keen advocate of Health and Wellbeing for the local population.
I am concerned about the NHS and realise how important it is to my family, friends and wider community.
Kevin Sharkey Wirral South and Neston
Irvita Sharma Wirral South and Neston
As a Governor I want to ensure the continuity of the high level of patient service satisfaction with the community trust.
I represent youth who are strongly underrepresented in the NHS. I aspire to offer a fresh perspective on matters.
Appointed governors Prof Janice Gidman Associate Dean (Learning and Teaching), Faculty of Health and Social Care, University of Chester
Sue Fennah Wirral West
Veronica Cuthbert Wirral West
I am passionate about the NHS, enthusiastic about new challenges, driven to improve services and committed to quality healthcare provision.
Recently retired from a lifelong NHS career I am strongly committed to provision of quality and effective community healthcare services.
Norma Hayes Specialist nurse
Director of Operations and Delivery, Local Area Team, NHS England
Annette Roberts Chief Executive, Community Action Wirral
Clare Fish Director of Strategy, Wirral Borough Council
Paul Edwards Director of Corporate Affairs, Wirral Clinical Commissioning Group
Karen Prior
Staff governors
Tom Meade Resuscitation Officer
Andrew Crawshaw
Healthwatch Wirral Manager
Angela Price Professional Development Lead for 0 -19 Health and Wellbeing Service
Our first member meeting as a Foundation Trust, 13 July 2016
Visit wirralct.nhs.uk for full details of all our Governors and how to become a member. If you wish to make contact with one of the trust’s governors, please telephone the Trust Board Secretary’s office on 0151 514 2888 or by e-mailing cog@wirralct.nhs.uk
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Do you have the red hair gene? Dr Ewen Sim Medical Director Wirral Community NHS Foundation Trust
The top of my head is still smarting after being kissed by the sun when I least expected it, even the tops of my ears are stinging. Being a redhead born in the 60s, sunburn was a regular summer hazard. Sun-cream was an exotic luxury, so I became accustomed to covering up and avoiding it, or suffering the consequence of sore peeling skin and blisters. But the other day I took my hat off because it felt nice and cool, forgetting that the sun can still be as strong when it is not hot, and I paid the price. 12
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Caring for yourself this summer
I have 2 copies of the red hair gene, a natural variation of the MCR1 gene that is involved in producing protective skin pigmentation. This puts people like me at a considerably higher risk of sunburn and ultimately skin cancer. But what’s recently come to light is that 30-40% of the population carries a single copy of the gene and is therefore at a higher risk of skin cancer too. But they may not know it, as they may tan and don’t have red hair. So you too could have a higher risk. The good news is that another study shows if you’ve got the gene you’re more likely to look younger than your years! Just make sure you stay safe in the sun and limit exposure when it’s at its strongest. • Keep in the shade between 11.00am and 3.00pm
Summer cold? Hayfever! I see a steady stream of people with cold symptoms in summer blocked nose, cough and sneezes. They often want antibiotics, but many actually have a mild viral infection or hay-fever. Lots say they’ve never had hay-fever before, but you can develop symptoms later in life. So consider trying an over the counter non-drowsy antihistamine; you may find that your symptoms settle after a week.
Keep hydrated A very common problem this time of year is relative dehydration, which can lead to thirst, lethargy, tiredness and dizziness. It’s particularly dangerous for the very young (who may ‘dry out’ quickly) or the older person who may not show the symptoms so well. Hot weather leads to loss of fluid through sweat and breathing. Your urine also becomes darker and more concentrated if you’re not drinking enough. Patients often arrive with their 500ml bottle of water and point to it saying they’re drinking plenty, but actually it is only that one bottle of water they are sipping from. You need to drink 4 - 5 times that amount each day, even when it’s not hot (we see a similar effect in winter when the central heating goes on). It’s so important to drink even more water if you are working outside in the sun or if you are taking part in any sport.
• Use a high SPF sunscreen to protect areas that are not covered up, especially hands, face and ears, also lower legs and feet if these are exposed.
Whatever you’re doing this summer, take extra care for the vulnerable and children; they may need reminding to take simple precautions. Remind them to take proper care of their skin and to make sure they are drinking enough. And don’t forget you might benefit from taking an antihistamine.
• Re-apply sunscreen often
Visit: wirralct.nhs.uk
• Cover up with protective clothing, wear a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses
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Helping children, young people and families lead healthier lifestyles
Fit Club feedback ‘You have transformed my daughter’s life completely’. ‘Excellent service. It has really helped my daughter and I cannot thank the team enough’.
Have you got a child in primary school? Ask them if they’ve seen our Fit Club Road Show! Fit Club is run by our 0-19 health promotion team. They deliver weekly Fit Club sessions to help children and young people* with nutritional advice and healthy eating, along with physical activities for the entire family to get involved with. But as well as running weekly sessions in the community, the team also deliver the programme in local primary and secondary schools. The Fit Club Roadshow has started touring local primary schools to encourage children to eat healthier and move more,
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whilst having lots of fun. For secondary pupils, the focus is more on helping to improve their self-esteem, mood and confidence, whilst making healthy lifestyle choices. *To attend the weekly fit club sessions, children must be referred by their GP, paediatrician, school nurse or health visitor, or have been identified as being overweight in the National Childhood Measures Programme (NCMP).
‘Fit Club resources are very good and the team are very well organised’. Since the launch of Fit Club our team has supported 200 children and young people to make healthier lifestyle choices. To find out more information please call the team on...
0151 514 2509
Parents and Families
Breast Start App
Calling all you parents to be!
All you need to know at the touch of a button Like any new skill, learning to breastfeed can be tricky at first. But thanks to our fantastic FREE Breast Start App, help is at hand 24/7. Breast Start has been designed to support local breastfeeding mums. It includes information and advice about the most common issues that any new mum is likely to face in the early weeks of breastfeeding. The app is easy to use and has been designed using interactive icons. Each icon relates to a specific topic and covers all the basics; how to feed your baby, how to express and how to keep your baby safe at night. Sometimes it can be a challenge to breastfeed in public for the first time and the Baby Welcome section of the app includes a list of local venues who welcome breastfeeding families. The list also covers other areas of the country, so when you’re travelling you can
be sure to find a breastfeeding friendly venue. Just make sure you have your data roaming switched on! Information about local breastfeeding support groups is also included, along with maps of how to get there. The app also provides information about Wirral’s local donor milk scheme. Donor milk is used regularly by local premature baby units and maternity wards to provide support to mums and babies when they need it most. For more information call the North West Milk Bank on 0151 482 7599. Our free Breast Start App is available to download via the App Store or Google Play. For more information about breastfeeding contact the Infant Team on 0151 514 2354 or visit wirralct.nhs.uk
Shake Up Your Summer The summer holidays are the perfect time for families to get active and try new things together. Change4Life’s 10 Minute Shake Up is a great way for you and your family to get more active this summer. It’s a great way to help you and your family get your 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Visit the Shake Up Zone at nhs.uk/change4life and choose your family 10 Minute Shake Up activities.
You are invited to attend our antenatal sessions. Over four weeks you will learn about labour, exercises, relaxation and life with your new baby. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other new parents. All our sessions are run by health visitors, midwives and physiotherapists. Sessions are available across Wirral during the daytime or evenings: Birkenhead St Catherine’s Health Centre, Derby Road, Birkenhead CH42 OLQ South Wirral Eastham Clinic, Bromborough, 31 Eastham Rake, Eastham CH62 9AN Wallasey Victoria Central Health Centre, Mill Lane, Wallasey CH44 5UF Seacombe Children’s Centre, St Paul’s Road, Seacombe CH44 7AN West Wirral Hoylake Parade Community Centre, 31 Hoyle Road, Hoylake CH47 3AG Pensby and Thingwall Children’s Centre, Fishers Lane, Pensby CH61 8SD To find out when our next courses start and to book your place, please call us on...
0151 677 3679 foryou - Summer 2016
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Parents and Families
Watching your baby growing into a toddler is an exciting time for families. They change so quickly, becoming more independent and learning new skills. At this age little ones start to explore the world around them and will need your guidance to keep them safe. They will not yet be able to communicate in words and may start to have temper tantrums if they cannot make you understand what they want or why they cannot have it.
development or your families’ health.
It’s really important that you take baby to see your health visitor when they are 9-12 months old, to have a developmental review to monitor their growth and development and ensure they are on track with their language and learning. Your health visitor will also chat with you about safety, sleep, diet and behaviour. It’s also a chance for you to ask any questions or discuss any concerns you may have about your baby’s
Your health visitor will arrange your baby’s 9-12 month review at a convenient time and date to suit you. They can see you at your home or one of our Healthy Child Clinics. If you have not heard from your health visitor about scheduling your baby’s review please call our team on...
You will even get a free tooth brush and tooth paste to help you look after baby’s first teeth! Scheduling your baby’s 9-12 month developmental review
0151 514 0219
Between 9-12 months your baby should be learning new skills such as: • turning to his/her name and making lots of new sounds • enjoying pat-a-cake games and toys that make noises • becoming mobile - almost walking alone • picking up small things and exploring them • being demanding and pointing to things out of reach • holding a spoon, but needing more practice to feed him/ herself • using a free flow feeder cup
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Are you a carer?
In the UK there are 6.5 million unpaid carers, looking after partners, relatives or friends that are ill, elderly or disabled. Many juggle their caring responsibilities with work and looking after their own families. Life can be difficult. That’s why we’ve developed a range of information to help. Our website now has a dedicated section for carers. It outlines what support you can expect from us, and has advice and tips about looking after your own health, as well as that of the person you look after. There’s lots of other useful information to try and support you in your caring role. The information has been developed with help from patients and staff across our services. It also includes what to do if you have concerns about the quality of care the person you look after is receiving. If you’re a carer, make sure you know what support you can get from your local community NHS services by visiting wirralct.nhs.uk
Did you know… • in our lifetime 3 in 5 of us will be carers and many of us will also need care • 3 in 4 carers feel undervalued and unsupported • 51% of carers have let a health problem go untreated *Research report from carersweek.org
Easy Read
Many patients feel anxious when visiting NHS services and patient information leaflets with too much jargon can cause added confusion and stress, particularly if you have a learning disability. That’s why we’ve been developing our own bespoke collection of Easy Read leaflets. Easy Read means the information is stripped back, so that only the important points remain. It uses simple language and big, clear pictures or symbols to illustrate the text, which have been designed specifically for people with learning disabilities. Easy Read also makes information easier to understand for anyone who has difficulty reading, and for many elderly or deaf people, or those who don’t use English as their first language. Our new leaflets have been so well received that we are expanding our catalogue and in many cases are now using the Easy Read leaflets for ALL our patients. Jo Harvey, Director of Human Resources & Organisational Development said: “We are really proud of the excellent research and work that is contributing to our trust equality and diversity agenda. Feedback on the Easy Reads produced so far has been excellent and we look forward to expanding our catalogue and further improving access to healthcare for patients with learning disabilities.” You can download our Easy Read leaflets from our website: wirralct.nhs.uk
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Integration... working together for better patient care Rapid Community Service
Integration seems to be a buzz word at the moment, but for us it provides a real way to improve patient experience and patient care. We’ve been working closely with Wirral Borough Council to develop teams of professionals (called Integrated Care Coordination Teams) that include NHS nurses & therapists and social care professionals. These teams help people who have long term or complex health and social care needs, by jointly identifying what support they need to keep well in their own home. They also help people to improve their quality of
life, restore their confidence and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions. The teams are based in four hubs in Birkenhead, Wallasey, South Wirral and West Wirral. Each hub has a team which plans, coordinates and delivers each patients’ healthcare, bringing in nurses, social workers, therapists GPs, pharmacists, and any other professionals required. So each patient is looked after by one team, and will eventually have one care record. It means we can look after more people at home rather than in hospital.
This is another new service we have developed to look after patients who are in a crisis, but aren’t suffering from a life-threatening condition. For example if you have complex health needs, and can suddenly no longer cope at home. Until now, you may have found yourself calling an ambulance and having to be admitted to hospital, even though you don’t actually require emergency medical treatment. Now, your GP can refer you to the new ‘Rapid Community Service’ which will respond within four hours to organise immediate nursing or social care within your own home.
Keep your eyes peeled for our new sexual health website The team is excited to launch their new interactive website. They have been busy working on a new look and style for the Sexual Health Wirral site along with lots more content and videos. Information has been developed to include advice and support about looking after your sexual health, along with a focus on prevention. As well as letting you know what you can expect from the service and all things sexual health, the website is packed with information about lifestyle topics & choices, details of the partner organisations we work with, and a section dedicated to healthcare professionals. You can even go on to book an appointment for certain procedures and request a postal testing kit for chlamydia. Further development will take place throughout the year with help from our patients. Visit our new look website at sexualhealthwirral.nhs.uk and like us on Facebook @SHWirral
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Last year we received over 7,000 compliments from patients about our staff and the quality of our services and we’re inviting members of the public to make their nominations for a ‘Patient Choice Award’. If you’d like to say thank you to a member of our staff or a team, visit our website and complete our Patient Choice nomination form. The winner will be announced at our Staff Awards in February 2017. Here’s what some of our patients have said about our services in the last 6 months…
“The treatment I received was outstanding. My physio was the best physio I have ever seen. His techniques and ideas I have never come across before. I thought I wasn’t going to ever get better but he has shown me I can get back to normal again. Amazing!” Physiotherapy Service “A big thank you to the community nurses who looked after our Mum during her final weeks. The service provided was exceptional and really did help us as a family at one of the most fraught times in our lives.” Community Nursing Service
Actor Louis Emmerick presented this year’s Patient Choice Award to Heather Farrell, pictured centre. Who will next year’s winner be?
“Very professional staff. Friendly, helpful and good with my son.” Community Dental “You truly have gone above and beyond to help me get back on track and help me understand how being a parent really is. I have gained a lot of knowledge and understanding and that is down to you.” Wirral Family Nurse Partnership “I was treated with respect and a great deal of care by staff and nurses who were fantastic” Walk-in centre
Visit wirralct.nhs.uk to make your choice! foryou - Summer 2016
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A day in the life Philip Rhodes Senior Health & Wellbeing Advisor I support local children, young people and their families to lead healthier and more active lifestyles. My working day usually begins at 9.00am, however to meet the needs of local families and their children I currently run a weekly early morning Fit Club clinic in a school until lunchtime. The afternoon is usually the busiest part of the day, as my time is spent supporting families after school or early evening. On the days I deliver my early morning clinic I head back of the office around lunch time to grab a bite to eat. Lunch is followed by a catch up with the team, quick scan of my emails and a check through my to-do list. I’ve recently been working on developing health & wellbeing workshops which our team has delivered in a number of schools as part of our 0 - 19 Fit Club Roadshow. The workshops were themed around this summer’s sporting events - the Euros, Wimbledon and the Olympics and aimed to get youngsters moving more as well as helping them to understand the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.
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After a brief drink and chance to update our records it’s onto my next clinic at St Catherine’s Health Centre for childhood weight management assessments. It’s then onto delivering our Fit Club session in the community which involves a 50 minute activity session with local children and two members of our health promotion team. During the session parents/ carers have it a little easier. They have the opportunity to chat with other parents/carers and an advisor about what they are doing at home to help their family make small and manageable changes to their health and wellbeing. My role includes contacting families of year 6 school children who have been screened via the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). The national programme is rolled out throughout primary schools and measures children’s height and weight. Dependant on the outcome our team provide a number of care packages to support children and their families
to lead healthier lifestyles. Support is provided by our team of health trainers and can either be on a 1-1 or group basis. After receiving feedback from our families we have launched a new care package - ‘Parents DIY Support Pack’ - a new way of delivering support to families who lead busy lifestyles. We provide families with a comprehensive support pack which outlines key points to work on so they can work at their own pace and make small, meaningful lifestyle changes.
Did you know? • 0-19 health promotion team was set up in Sept 2015 • made up of five advisors who support local children, young people and their families to live healthier lives • backgrounds include school nursing, Healthy Schools, adult weight management, community nursery nurses and personal training
Is pain taking over your life? Make a quality choice and ask your GP for physiotherapy or osteopathy from Wirral Community NHS Foundation Trust. Delivering quality care and outstanding results we treat: back and neck pain - knee conditions sports injuries - whiplash - sprains and strains - stress incontinence - vestibular problems neurological conditions - work related injuries wirralct.nhs.uk
dont d elay... ask fo r wirral ct today!
Our digital footprint With the rise in social media – we have been growing our own digital channels! The internet is more important than ever for patients to keep informed about the healthcare choices available to them. In the past six months we’ve had over 260,000 visits to our website, our Sexual Health Wirral website has seen a 33% increase in visits from 2015 and our social media channels such as Facebook/ nhsjobs has gained over 1,200 likes in a short period of time. If you’re on social media; follow, like, share and visit us online. Facebook/nhsbuzz – Keep up with the latest trust news stories, events, service updates and weekly columns.
Facebook/nhsjobs – This is the page to follow for all our advertised jobs, recruitment events and open days. Like the page and be the first to know about our vacancies.
wirralct.nhs.uk – Our website is where you can find everything you need to know about our services, who we are, what we can offer and where to go if you need help.
Facebook/0219HVHub – The Health Visiting Hub provides information, support and advice to help families give their children the best possible start in life. Like the page and discover all the latest child friendly events and classes.
sexualhealthwirral.nhs.uk – This is the site for all your sexual health needs. You can get advice, information and the latest clinic opening times. Find a clinic near you!
twitter @wirralct – We tweet hot off the press news from ourselves, our partners, local and national media. Get advice from our services and spread the word about our events and campaigns.
foryou - Summer 2016
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Health and wellbeing corner Citrus chicken A zesty protein-rich dish. Try serving this with brown rice and some green beans. Serves: 2 Time: 45 minutes Recipe from NHS Choices
Ingredients
Method
1 tsp sunflower oil
1. Heat the oil in a pan and brown the onions over a low heat for two to three minutes.
½ onion, finely chopped 1 chicken breast 1 dessert spoon wholemeal flour ½ red pepper, sliced Juice of 1 orange, or 75ml unsweetened orange juice plus 25ml water 1 carrot, peeled and sliced 1-2 medium potatoes, cubed Chopped parsley (optional) Black pepper, freshly ground 130g brown rice, raw
2. Cut the chicken breast into large pieces and coat each piece in the flour. Then add the chicken to the pan and brown for two minutes, stirring all the time to make sure it doesn’t stick. 3. Once the chicken is cooked, add the other ingredients. Then bring it to the boil, turn the heat down and simmer over a low heat for about 20 minutes, until the vegetables are soft and the chicken is thoroughly cooked. 4. While the chicken is cooking, cook rice according to packet instructions. Allergy advice This recipe contains wheat (gluten).
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foryou - Summer 2016
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get active this summer Being active every day helps us all to stay healthy: • gardening is a great way of getting outdoors and being active
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• dust the cobwebs off your bike and go for a family bike ride
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• walking is a fun and easy way to get active - leave the car at home and stroll to the shops
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1. Twelve (5) 4. Hoard (5) 7. Unaware (9) 8. Gape (4) 10. Wore away (6) 12. Birds of prey (6) 13. Notion (4) 16. Large spider (9) 18. The lowest point of anything (5) 19. Implied (5)
1. Journal (5) 2. Menagerie (3) 3. World’s longest river (4) 4. Secret or hidden (6) 5. Bustling (7) 6. Abated (5) 9. Placed a bet (7) 11. Thinner (6) 12. Consumed (5) 14. Proficient (5) 15. Female relative (4) 17. Part of a circle (3)
• swimming is a great way to relax and unwind • take a ball to the beach for a kick-about with the kids • get the family involved in Change4Life’s 10 Minute Shake Up For more ideas visit nhs.uk/Change4Life
Vitamin D The sun is our main source of vitamin D. However, being in the sun for too long can lead to health problems such as dehydration, sunburn, sunstroke and the risk of skin cancer. If you plan to be out in the sun: • cover up with suitable clothing
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Solution on wirralct.nhs.uk
Sudoku 6
Spending 20-30 minutes outside a few days per week in the summer (between 10.00am and 3.00pm) is enough to top up your vitamin D. People with dark skin absorb less sunlight and may need to spend more time in the sun to generate enough vitamin D. For paler skinned adults and children the time may be less. It is advised that young children aged less than six months old should be kept out of direct sunlight.
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foryou - Summer 2016
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Community Ophthalmology Service Do you need monitoring or treatment for… • Glaucoma • Iritis (inflammation of the iris) • Dry eye syndrome • Concretions • Persistent Blepharitis (swelling of the eye lids) • Gradual onset ptosis (drooping eye lid) • Uveitis (swelling of the middle layer of the eye) We provide specialist monitoring and treatment, out of hospital and closer to home. Ask your GP or optician for a referral to Wirral CT’s Community Ophthalmology Service* an expert service providing specialist care for people with complex eye conditions. For a full list of the conditions we treat visit our website: wirralct.nhs.uk *Available to people aged 16 or over registered with a Wirral GP.
wirralct.nhs.uk