LINKED UP NEWS January 2011
“Growing Stronger Communities - by joining together, many whispers become one voice”
Members Visit Midwife Shop By Elaine Evans LINk Support Team
Members of Wirral LINk visited the Mums and Midwives Shop , Milton Pavement in the Grange Road Shopping Centre, Birkenhead on Thursday 25th November. It is the only one of its kind in the country and was set up by the Birkenhead Community Midwives at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The shop is open five days a week between Tuesday and Saturday from 10.00 am until 3.00 pm. Having a local presence allows the community to have greater access to local maternity services, help, advice and information around a wide range of pregnancy and postnatal issues. The shop sees between 25 and 30 women each day.
At the end of November, LINK members and support team staff spent a morning in Wallasey Town Hall at an event on the NHS White Paper and the Big Society, The event was well attended and well received - a full report will be published on the VCA Wirral website soon. In the meantime, there are some event pictures available at www.vcawirral.org.uk. Delegates at the event heard presentations from Annette Roberts (Chief Executive of VCA Wirral), James Kay (Acting Chair of NHS
Well, maybe not exactly here. But we would really like your contributions for the next LINk newsletter or e-bulletin. The next newsletter will be published in March, so you’ve got a little while - the deadline for submission is March 11th 2011. However we also now publish an e-bulletin every few weeks and can put stories on our website at any time. If you have a group or story that you would like featured, an article
wifery award, celebrating the excellence, innovation and impact of midwifery practice in the UK. The LINk members were very impressed with the shop facilities and
The Transition Stakeholder Group is made up of LINk members, Host (VCA Wirral) staff and representatives from Wirral Council, NHS Wirral, Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The remit of the group is to manage the transition from Local Involvement Networks (LINks) to Local HealthWatch proposed by the current Government NHS White Paper. This will help ensure that the LINk can continue to work on issues and
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The Mums and Midwives Shop - Photo by Charlotte Bevan, VCA Wirral
Although only open for 12 months, the shop has already become such a huge success that it has been nominated for a prestigious Royal College of Midwives Annual Mid-
Wirral), Kathy Doran (Chief Executive of NHS Wirral), and Margaret McCloud (Policy & Network Officer Health and Social Care, Voluntary Sector North West). Following these talks attendees were offered the chance to attend workshops on: • Transforming Community Services • Developing GP Consortia • Changing Adult Social Care • Public Health and the Voluntary Sector The presentations and workshops were filmed by Wirral TV, and the videos will be available online
Your Article Here! By the LINk Comms Sub-Group
Transition to Health Watch By the LINk Support Team
Big Society & NHS White Paper Event By the LINk Support Team
Issue 9
on a relevent topic that you have written, or comments on any aspect of the LINk’s work we would love to receive it. We are also thinking about starting a ‘Letters’ page, so if you have anything, please send it to the LINk Support Team for the next edition. This could be something that you feel has worked well in a care service on the Wirral, or something that has not worked so well. Basically, anything you’d like to see in this newsletter, get in touch and we’ll consider it!
James Kay, Acting Chair of NHS Wirral, gives his talk at the event
as soon as they are complete. A follow-up event is currently being planned to provide further information on the topics and issues raised by participants on the day. Dennis Jones, 3SA Development Officer at VCAW, said that “it was great to see so many people from
the sector taking the chance to hear about the planned changes to the NHS and what it might mean for them.” The event was run by VCA Wirral (the host organisation for the LINk) in partnership with NHS Wirral and Wirral Council.
A New Year For Your LINk By Diane Hill Wirral LINk Chair I would like to wish all LINk members a happy and prosperous 2011. This year will see the LINk begin the transition to Local HealthWatch. Some of us are familiar with these periods of change and the challenges they can bring, but it also represents a real opportunity for Wirral LINk to grow and become even more effective. A Transition Group has been set up to oversee the change to HealthWatch (see elsewhere in this
issue), but if you have any thoughts or ideas about the way forward we would love to hear them. At the same time, it is important that we do not lose focus on the main remit of the LINk during this next year - to continue to give everyone the chance to say what they think about their local health and social care services, and in particular to work to change services for the better. Finally, I’d like to thank everyone who has volunteered with the LINk during 2010 for your hard work and dedication.
LINKED UP NEWS
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January 2011
Seasonal Advice from NHS Wirral
and earache, will mean that you are one can use include: • Anti-diarrhoea and re-hydrabetter prepared. • Paracetamol or ibuprofen if tion mixtures for adults if they At this time of year, it’s a good It will also mean that A&E, 999 you have a temperature caused have an upset stomach. idea to make sure you stock up your and GP services have more time to by coughs, cold and flue • A thermometer medicine cabinet, Making sure you deal with serious and life-threaten• Paracetamol and ibuprofen can Don’t forget, antibiotics have no safely store some essentials that can ing conditions, such as heart-attacks, also be used for pain relief for effect on conditions such as coughs, help you and your family to cope stokes, breathing problems and sericomplaints such as earache, colds, flu or stomach upsets. with common complaints such as ous accidents. stomach ache, sore throats, colds, coughs, stomach upsets, flu Some basic essentials that everygeneral aches and sprains
By NHS Wirral
Make the right choice. There’s a range of NHS services on your doorstep. Sore throat Tickly Cough Hangover
Self Care
The best choice to treat very minor illnesses and injuries.
Unsure? Confused? Need Advice?
www.nhs.uk
If you need health advice or information about local health services, contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or visit www.nhs.uk
Pharmacy
For fast, effective expert advice. Your pharmacist can provide advice on common health problems and the best medicine to treat them. To find your local pharmacy visit www.nhs.uk
GP
Find your local GP at www.nhs.uk. For emergency GP Out-of-Hours call 0151 678 8496. Open 6.30pm - 8am weekdays; 24 hours weekends and public holidays
Walk-in Centre
Victoria Central, Wallasey (with X-ray facilities)
7am - 10pm (Monday to Friday) 9am - 10pm (Weekends and bank holidays)
Eastham Rake
2.30pm - 10pm (Monday to Friday) 9am - 5pm Weekends and bank holidays)
All Day Health Centre, Arrowe Park
Open 8am until 10pm, 7 days a week. You can book an appointment with a doctor by calling 0151 201 4188
Miriam Medical Practice, Birkenhead
12pm - 8pm (Monday to Thursday) 12pm - 6.30pm (Friday)
Parkfield Medical Centre, New Ferry
12pm - 8pm (Monday to Thursday) 12pm - 6.30pm (Friday)
Upset tummy Runny nose Headache Allergy (hayfever) Being sick Earache Backache Sore tummy Cuts Sprains Strains Sports injury
Serious injury Chest Pain Can’t Breathe Blackouts
A&E - 999
999 should only be used in a critical or life threatening situation
Seasonal Flu Advice For most people, flu is a mild illness and you can get better by staying in bed, drinking plenty of water and paracetamol. If you or a member of your family has a fever or high temperature (over 38C/100.4F) and two or more of the following symptoms, you may have flu: • unusual tiredness • headache • runny nose • sore throat • shortness of breath or cough • loss of appetite • aching muscles • diarrhoea or vomiting An increase in temperature is one of the main symptoms. You should stay at home, get plenty of rest and use over-the-counter painkillers to relieve symptoms. If you are concerned, contact
your GP, who will determine the most appropriate action to take. In particular, pregnant women are at least four times more likely to develop very serious complications from the flu virus than the normal population. It is therefore vital for pregnant women to take up the offer of the flu vaccine and GPs and Health Professionals will continue to offer it to pregnant women so make an appointment as soon as possible with your doctor. If you fall into one of the other at risk groups (for example you have asthma or other chronic disease) you should make sure you get your
jab so contact your GP Practice. Advice remains that if you suspect you or a member of your family has flu, is not to go to your local GP or hospital but ring instead to lessen the chance of spreading the virus. If the doctor considers it necessary, you will be prescribed antiviral drugs. They will not cure flu but will help to: • reduce the length of time you are ill by around one day, • relieve some of the symptoms, and • reduce the potential for serious complications.
Transition Continued from Page 1 engagement whilst the transition group works to make sure that there is as little disruption as possible from the structural changes. The group has recognised that the strength of the current LINk Board has been its diversity, and will be working to keep this throughout the transition period. At the last meeting of the group Tracy Devine, Complaints Manager from the Quality Care Commission (CQC), talked about health registration, enter & view visits and the rating of care homes. The CQC will be asked to be involved in future meetings of the transition group. If you would like more information about the work of the transition group, please contact the LINk Support Team.
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Current Live Consultations on linkwirral.org.uk By the LINk Support Team
LINKED UP NEWS
LINk Post Office Ads
LINk Comms Group looks to increase awareness of Wirral LINk and the Dignity in Care Campaign.
• Public Health England Consultation • A Consultation on the pricing By Audrey Meacock LINk Vice-Chair of branded medicines • Alcohol pricing in Wirral If you’ve been in your local Post • Public Health - Healthy Lives, Office over the past few months, Health People you may have noticed a new advert • Experience of black and on the information screens above minority ethnic patients: a the counter. consultation Adverts for the LINk have been • Transparency in outcomes: running in ten Post Offices across a framework for adult social the Wirral, focussing particularly care on the Dignity in Care campaign • Liberating the NHS: Greater and asking for people to feedback choice and control their experience of dignity and re• An Information Revolution: a spect in Wirral care services. There consultation on proposals are also postcards available in the • Consultation on Cancer Drugs Post Offices for feedback to be sent Fund back to us via Freepost. The Comms Group has decided not to focus too much on promoting the LINk brand in light of the forthcoming change to HealthWatch. However, we intend to continue strongly pushing the activities and priorities of the LINk, including press adverts, leaflets and posters. If you have any potential opportu-
Recent news from linkwirral.org.uk By the LINk Support Team
By the LINk Support Team
• Article from the Guardian on ‘bed blocking’ in hospitals... • Doctors advising Wirral flu sufferers to stay at home... • Arrowe Park visitor restrictions relaxed - 1 visitor per patient per session... Follow the LINk at www.twitter.com/LINkWirral
One of the slides that appear in the LINk Post Office Adverts
nities to promote LINk campaigns, particularly Dignity and Respect, please let us know by contacting the LINk Support Team. We have the opportunity to change the advert that is running to match specific LINk campaigns - we ex-
pect, for example, to use the screens to advertise the change from LINk to Local HealthWatch. If you have seen the adverts running in your local post office, we would love to know what you think - get in touch!
like to give feedback about health issues affecting children or young people, please contact the LINk Support Team urgently.
a range of information on health & relationships, staying safe, young carers, young parents, housing and drugs & alcohol. There is a also a ‘Have Your Say’ section to help the Council and partners consult young people about issues and services that affect them. The aim of this section is ‘Young People Making a Difference’.
Healthcare for Wirral’s Children & Young People
• Patients able to rate NHS dentists online • Wirral GPs among first to trial By the LINk Support Team major Government reform of The LINk is setting up a task-andNHS • Help and Support for Older finish group looking at healthcare for children and young people in People Wirral. This group will look at is• Quit for Kids sues including teenage pregnancy, • Carers Rights Day • Kissing Without Prejudice alcohol and drug issues, smoking cessation, sexual health and childProject • Wirral Council Rough Sleeping hood obesity. If you are interested in joining this group, or would Estimate • Northern Burn Care Network Newsletter
Recent Tweets!
January 2011
Teen Wirral Site
Wirral Council has launched www.teenwirral.com for Wirral’s 13 to 19 year olds. As well as things to do including youth clubs, sport, arts and culture, the site has
Classifieds and diary dates By the LINk Support Team & the LINk Board Christian Cancer Friends Together Meets twice monthly in West Kirby, all welcome. Contact Marie on 0151 625 8775 or Pat on 0151 638 6370 LINk Board Meetings in Public January 11th, 9.30am start at the Pavilion in Birkenhead Park February 3rd, 9.30am start at the Pavilion in Birkenhead Park Discharge / Dignity in Care Working Group These groups have been combined, and the next meeting will be held at
Birkenhead Pavilion on Thursday 20th January starting at 9.30am. Communications Sub-Group The next meeting of the Communications Sub-Group will be held on Wednesday 26th January at Birkenhead Fire Station, starting at 9.30am. Merseyside LINk Event A regional event for Merseyside LINks to look at transition to HealthWatch will be held on January 21st at Aintree Racecourse. Contact the LINk Support Team for details. LINk Coffee Mornings We are currently planning a series of Coffee mornings for early
2011. These will be informal, everyone-welcome events, and will feature presentations of topics including Infection Control and Personalisation. Dates and venues will be announced shortly. If you have any idea for topics that could feature as presentations during 2011, please let us know. LINKED UP NEWS If you have articles, events or features that you would like to see in the next edition of LINKED UP NEWS, please contact Phil Davies. The deadline for the next edition is 1pm on Friday March 11th 2011.
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Green
LINKED UP NEWS Mums and Midwives Shop Together -
January 2011
Grow Your Own Veg By Keith Farroll, Community Engagement Officer, Arena Futures Would you like to get involved in one of the UK’s fastest growing activities? Green Together is a Lottery Funded project in Tranmere / Rock Ferry providing Community allotments with a sustainable approach. At the moment they have community plots on Bebington Road which are ready for use and are looking for anyone who would be interested or who would like to learn more about gardening. The benefits of getting involved are: • Social aspect / meeting people • Light regular exercise • Learn new skills • Grow your own veg • Support from trained staff Researchers writing in the journal Environmental Health found
that allotments were associated with increased levels of physical activity at all ages and improved health and wellbeing in those over the age of 60. Times Online recently reported that the charity ‘Thrive’ believed that there was sufficient evidence to suggest that gardening can be of benefit to those suffering from severe depression, Alzheimer’s disease or recovering from strokes and brain injuries. Research has indicated that the calming effect of nature means even looking at plants or flowers can result in a fall in blood pressure within 5 minutes and lower stress hormones according to the publication If any LINk members would like to get involved or need more information contact Ian Jones or Keith Farroll; Together office, Royal Standard House, 0151 644 4830
VCA Wirral, which hosts the Wirral LINk project, suggested that staff and took the opportunity to instead of exchanging Christmas talk to the Mums, Dads and even cards to each other this year, they Grandparents who would chip in to were attending at buy some equipthe time. The LINk ment which will support team also be of great value produced a report to the people who of service users rely on the shop. opinions using the For further inDignity in Care formation about Campaign Cards the shop or to which were left in contact your comthe shop for the munity midwife mums to fill in. with concerns Members from about pregnancy LINk and staff or postnatal isfrom local supPhoto by Charlotte Bevan, VCA Wirral sues, please call port organisation 0151 604 7682.
Continued from front page...
Happy New Year! By the LINk Support Team The LINk Support Team would like to wish all LINk members a very happy new year. 2010 saw plenty of changes in the team, with two new staff joining us (Elaine Evans and Phil Davies), and Lynda Denman leaving us for pastures new within VCA Wirral. Karen Prior and Lisa Phillips have remained ever-present! The last year has seen Wirral LINk continue to build on the strong foundations laid during
2009, and really start to be noticed in the health and social care community as a positive force for change. None of this would be possible without the dedication, time and hard-work of the LINk members, and in particular those members who find time to sit on the Board. The Support Team, and all the staff at VCA Wirral, would like to thank the members for their effort, and look forward to continuing to support the LINk through 2011.
Contact Details Mayor’s visit to the community plot in 2009
Friends of Birkenhead Park The Friends of Birkenhead Park asked ProHelp if they could assist them with a lease for some land that they had acquired on the perimeter of Birkenhead Park. The land had been disused for over 25 years and the Friends wanted to convert it into a Community Garden and Growing Area. Kirwans Solicitors kindly stepped forward and explained some of the complicated legal speak in the document which ensured that the Friends were not left with an unworkable piece of land. Because the land falls into a conservation area and contains many covenants this advice was invaluable. In November, work finally started on the land and the internal pathways and car park were laid, the Edward Kemp Community Garden and Growing Area sign was erected and the new gates in-
stalled. In January, the plan is to start landscaping the gardens and growing area and a team of volunteers are raring to go. Sally Dobbing, Community Projects Officer Birkenhead Park, said that “none of this would have been possible without the advice of Kirwans and the assistance of Julie Podmore! Thanks!” If you are interested in the Edward Kemp Community Gardens and Growing Area or have any experience in business planning, marketing or would just like to get involved then please contact Sally Dobbing on 0151 653 5697 or email sdobbing@liverpool.ac.uk. ProHelp is a project supported by VCA Wirral.
Wirral Local Involvement Network (LINk) c/o VCA Wirral, Fire Station, Exmouth Street, Birkenhead, CH41 4NF Tel: 0151 203 2111 Fax: 0151 666 5300 Email: wirrallink@vcawirral.org.uk www.linkwirral.org.uk
LINk Support Team
Karen Prior, LINk Manager (part-time) Ext. 203 Elaine Evans, LINk Support Officer Ext. 211 Phil Davies, LINk Comms & Information Officer (part-time) Ext. 207 Lisa Phillips, LINk Admin Support Officer (part-time) Ext. 209 To contact LINk staff call 0151 203 2111 (+ Ext)
Office Hours 9.00am - 4.30pm
Editor: Phil Davies Design: Phil Davies To subscribe or change your contact details, phone 0151 203 2111 LINKED UP NEWS is published on behalf of Wirral LINk by: VCA Wirral, Fire Station, Exmouth Street, Birkenhead, CH41 4NF Copyright © 2011 Wirral Local Involvement Network (LINk) Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided in this newsletter is accurate, but we cannot guarantee accuracy and our articles do not constitute legal or professional advice. Opinions expressed in the newsletter are not always to be taken as expressing the opinions of Wirral LINk or VCA Wirral. Advertisements, products or services listed are not necessarily recommended by Wirral LINk or VCA Wirral.