Here's the latest E-New from the Bournemouth LINk!
Your October 2011 Bournemouth LINk update
Young people urged to speak up about health issues
YOUNG PEOPLE IN BOURNEMOUTH are being urged to take part in a survey that aims to discover how people under the age of 25 feel about the health and social care services they receive.
The survey will ask young people about their experiences of health services such as; social care, hospitals, doctors, sexual health, dentistry, mental health and maternity.
Bournemouth LINK launched the survey following a pilot project with SUSSED, a youth and advice centre based in West Howe. The pilot project involved 100 young people who were asked what their thoughts were on health and social care. As a result of the consultation the survey was developed by young people involved in the pilot project.
Chris Wakefield, Bournemouth LINks Development Officer said: “A very strong message came back from the young people who took part in the pilot, by having their say and being consulted, it has made them feel included as well as feeling important because they were being asked and being listened to. This survey is our Young People’s opportunity to be heard and make a change.”
The survey enables young people to share their views on the Health Service (NHS) & Social Care (services provided by Bournemouth Council to people either in their own homes; care homes and day centres) in Bournemouth.
The survey can be completed by following this link: www.surveymonkey.com/s/bmthlinkyoungpeople
Or by contacting the LINk via phone: 03001110102; e-mail: christopher.wakefield@makesachange.org.uk or by writing to Bournemouth LINK at:
Freepost Licence No BH1902, LINks, 896 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth BH7 6BR
The LINk listens to what local people have to say and tells councils and the NHS what it discovers, so that together we can make a change.
Please can you encourage all Young People to take part in this survey.
It would be appreciated if you could distribute this by e-mail; Facebook and also if you could put it on your web sites – if you have one!
The survey will not have a finish date, with data being collected at the end of each month.
LINk Questions?
1) Do you suffer from Epilepsy? The LINk would like to know how you feel the NHS is supporting you throughout this condition. When you were diagnosed: what information were you given; how long did it take you to see a specialised nurse or neurologist consultant; are you happy with your treatment? What could the NHS do to help you manage your condition better? Please send your views to: christopher.wakefield@makesachange.org.uk or write to me at Bournemouth LINk – Freepost BH1902, 896 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH7 6BR and you’ll be entered into our free prize draw for £20.00.
2) The LINk would welcome your views on the cleanliness of The Royal Bournemouth Hospital. Have you stayed or visited someone in the RBH and felt that the level of cleanliness could have been better? Please send in your comments and be in with a chance of receiving £20 in our prize draw. christopher.wakefield@ makesachange.org.uk or write to me @ Bournemouth LINk – Freepost BH1902, 896 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH7 6BR
3)
Are you or do you know someone who is suffering from Dementia? The LINk would be interested in hearing about the journey from diagnosis. Was there enough information given to the Dementia patient by the G.P? What did you want to know that you were not told? What could the NHS do to help you manage the condition better – as a patient or carer?
Please send in your comments and be in with a chance of receiving £20 in our monthly prize draw. christopher.wakefield@makesachange.org.uk or write to me @ Bournemouth LINk – Freepost BH1902, 896 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH7 6BR
Follow Us On Twitter
Just go to www.twitter.com/BournemouthLink to find out more. Twitter is an information network made up of 140-character messages called Tweets. It's an easy way to discover the latest news and follow the day to day happenings of Bournemouth LINk. If you’re already a Twitter user you can find us by searching for @BournemouthLink.
Freshers’ Fayres
We had promotional stands at Bournemouth College & Bournemouth University Freshers’ Fayres. The LINk is now reaching an additional 120 students who signed up to be LINk participants.
Community Grants
The deadline for applications was 31st September with16 applicants. The allocation of grants will take place shortly. We will add the full details of those that have been successful to our website. (www.bournemouthlink.org.uk).
Response from NHS Bournemouth & Poole ref: Carers Breaks
The government have made £400million available to pay for breaks for carers from 2011-2015, distributed to Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) through their baseline allocation. However, we are aware that these funds have not been ring -fenced, and PCTs can decide locally how to plan support for carers and what resources to allocate to this. Here are the questions we asked our local PCT and the response we received about carers’ breaks:
1. How much money has NHS Bournemouth & Poole received to pay for breaks for carers?
NHS Bournemouth & Poole has not received any ring-fenced allocation specifically for carers’ breaks.
2. How do you plan to allocate these funds?
NHS Bournemouth & Poole is investing an additional £152,000 into short breaks this year. Details of how this will be invested is being agreed with the carers consultation group.
3. How have you involved local carers’ organisations in drafting your plans for this money?
The Carers consultation group has developed, in conjunction with the Primary Care Trust and Local Authority commissioners, a Carers Strategy and Action Plan. This, as well as further engagement with the consultation group, will shape and inform how the additional investment will be used
Caring for our Future
On 15th September, the Government launched Caring for our future: shared ambitions for care and support – an engagement with people who use care and support services, carers, local councils, care providers, and the voluntary sector about the priorities for improving care and support. Here’s a link to the report: http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_130111.pdf
If you’d like to comment on this consultation, we’d love to hear from you. Contact Chris on 0300 111 0102 or email: chris.wakefield@makesachange.org.uk
Stop Smoking Service
New figures reveal that an estimated 34000* people in the South West quit smoking and over 1900 in Bournemouth and Poole with the help of the Bournemouth and Poole NHS Stop Smoking Service between April 2010 and March 2011. Mark Harris, Manager of the Bournemouth and Poole Stop Smoking Service explains: “The NHS offers free local support that really works. One in two people who use their local NHS Stop Smoking Service are not smoking four weeks later. That’s double the rate of success than if you are using medication like nicotine replacement alone.” To find out more contact: 0300 3038 038 or visit the website: www.quitwithus.nhs.uk
LINk Questions?
Should there be a Stop Smoking Service specifically for the 25 & under? Why?
Please send in your comments and be in with a chance of receiving £20 in our monthly prize draw. christopher.wakefield@ makesachange.org.uk or write to me @ Bournemouth LINk – Freepost BH1902, 896 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH7 6BR
HealthWatch
Bournemouth Borough Council, Dorset County Council and the Borough of Poole are working together to ensure there will be a smooth transition to HealthWatch in October 2012. All three councils would like you to take part in shaping HealthWatch in this area and would love to hear your views. A short questionnaire has been put together to enable you to do this quickly and simply. It should only take a few minutes of your time. The deadline for taking part is November 30th 2011. The questionnaire can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HealthWatchBPD
Equality Delivery System Launch 23rd November
Dorset Race Equality and the local NHS would like to invite you to an Equality event on 23rd November, 12 to 2pm at the Carrington House Hotel in Bournemouth. For more details please follow this link: http://www.dorsetrec.org.uk/
Vote for Local Projects
NatWest Community Force is a new initiative working with local communities to support the people, projects and charities making a real difference where you live. Please support the local groups who’ve applied for this funding (Bourne Free, Boscombe Beach Community Projects & Springbourne Family Centre are amongst them) they are competing with thousands of other charities, so vote here:http://communityforce.natwest.com/and search for Bournemouth.
Poole Health Information Survey
The Patients’ Association is helping Poole Hospital to review the information that is produced for patients in-house. If you have been a patient at Poole Hospital recently and have received written information from the hospital it would be really helpful if you could complete the survey which is at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/poolehealthinfosurvey
The questionnaire is anonymous and your feedback will help us to understand how the information which Poole Hospital produces is received by patients and make suggestions for improvement. If you have any questions or concerns about this survey, please contact Tina Thompson, Regional Manager South West at tina@patients-association.com or on 07527 334215.
Interpreting in the NHS
How does interpreting work in the NHS? What is the role of an interpreter in a health consultation? Bournemouth Interpreters’ Group, Bournemouth & Poole NHS and Dorset Race Equality Council would like to invite you to a presentation & workshop on interpreting in national health services. To sign up e-mail: register@dorsetrec.org.uk
Wednesday, 2nd November 2011, 10:00 am—2:00 pm, Carrington House Hotel, Knyveton Road, Bournemouth, BH1 3QQ
Maternity Group
The Maternity Services Liaison Committee (MSLC) is a Dorset wide group made up of maternity service users, service providers and commissioners (who buy services for the local area). The group meets regularly to discuss how maternity services can be improved for local women, parents and families and Poole LINk is a member of the group. If you’d like to know more about the MSLC go to: http://www.bp.nhs.uk/getinvolved/maternity-liaison-services-committee.htm
Your experience and skills could make a real difference to health research-Join a NETSCC panel or board
NIHR Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre (http://www.netscc.ac.uk/?src=PPIboard2_1011) is home to a number of health and public health research programmes and is part of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). We currently have vacancies for public members in both the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) http://www.hta.ac.uk/public/getinvolved/prioritisation.shtml?src=PPIboard3_1011 and Public Health Research (PHR) http://www.phr.nihr.ac.uk/getinvolved/public_involvement.asp?src=PPIboard4_1011 (PAB).
Members of the public need to be involved in research because research that takes account of the views, experience and understanding of members of the public is more likely to provide useful results for the NHS.
For further information and to apply, please visit our
http://www.netscc.ac.uk/getting_involved/?src=PPIboard5_1011
The closing date for applications is Tuesday 8 November 2011.
Bournemouth Parent Carer Forum
Bournemouth Parent Carer Forum is holding a FREE Discovery Day at Boscombe Chine Gardens on Thursday 27th October 2011 at 10-12.30pm for all ages from 0-90.
Activities on the day include arts and crafts, parachute games, discovery trail with certificate, goody bags, free refreshments and lots more. If you bring along an item of clothing to decorate they will provide the fabric paints.
Boscombe Bob (http://www.bobsdiary.co.uk/) will be attending and Oakmead Rugby Club (http://www.clubs.rfu.com/Clubs/portals/OakmeadiansRFC) would like to show everyone how to play inclusive touch rugby.
The forum is a voluntary organisation run by parents and carers for families with children and young people, who have additional needs of any kind, whether diagnosed or undiagnosed.
They are newly formed and represent a voice for the people of Bournemouth so that unmet needs can be recognised by working closely and in partnership with the local authority.
Do come along and join in the fun and help make their day a success.
For more information about the day or to know more about their work please contact either Elaine or Katharine on 07585404335 or 07585404337
They are supported by Cllr Chris Wakefield – Bournemouth Borough Council Member Champion for Carers.
Digital Outreach
Digital Outreach and the BBC are working to ensure that older people and disabled people have the benefit of support before the digital switchover from the analogue TV signal is made in February and March 2012. Volunteers and community supporters are needed to spread the word in their local communities and help identify older and disabled people who will need help from the Switchover Help Scheme. The Switchover Help Scheme is run by the BBC and offers people aged 75+ and disabled people everything they need to convert one of their TV sets to digital. If you need more information please contact Gary Finch or Peter Munns at Help and Care, 0300 111 3303 or email contact@helpandcare.org.uk.
Beautiful Sounds - workshops for adults with learning disabilities
Coda will be starting their Beautiful Sounds music workshop again after half term. They’ll be using a new music therapy facility and hosting this workshop for adults with learning disabilities, at Coda Music Centre in Walkford.
The workshops will start on Thursday 3rd November at 11.30am until 1.00pm. Carers and friends are welcome to attend too. There’s no need to come to every workshop and if the 3rd November isn’t convenient, people can catch up and join in during one of the following weeks.
Further details attached but do call if you need any more information.
Phil Hallett - Chief Executive - 01425 276161 www.coda.org.uk
Thanks for your help, LINks can’t work without you!
We’re always looking for volunteers to get involved in LINk projects and your comments direct the LINks work – so tell us what you think about local health and social care services.
Contact Chris Wakefield, Bournemouth LINk Development Officer: