We extend a warm welcome to Dr Priya Singh in her new role. Priya said: “I am delighted to be appointed as Chair of the BOB ICB. I look forward to collaborating with colleagues, partners, residents and patients across the system to support and improve the health and wellbeing of local people. We know that by working together we can deliver outstanding services and make best use of our resources.”

Priya (pictured) will continue in her separate role as Chair of NHS Frimley. Read more about Priya’s new role here

All those eligible can now book flu and COVID-19 vaccinations via the NHS website, by downloading the NHS App or calling 119. View links to both NHS booking pages here: Seasonal vaccines - Stay Well (staywell-bob.nhs.uk) 

The vaccinations, available from 3 October, provide vital protection from serious illnesses and for people at higher risk ending up in hospital during winter months. Find out who is eligiable for either vaccine here 

For those adults eligible for both flu and COVID-19 vaccines, the NHS will make them available at the same time, giving the option to get protection from both viruses in one visit.

Eligible people will begin receiving invitations from the NHS to get their jabs, while GP practices and other local NHS services will also be contacting people to offer both vaccines. The flu vaccine can also be booked by searching online for a local pharmacy.

Testing for COVID-19: For those who are eligible for a lateral flow test, you can find a pharmacy with the test kits here:Lateral Flow testing - Stay Well

Take a look at our new Winter Health Hub: Winter health hub - Stay Well (staywell-bob.nhs.uk).

It contains information on seasonal vaccinations, NHS Choices, respiratory conditions and other topics, and is a one stop shop for all our winter advice and support.

Please signpost your partners and public to it and if you have any local offers such as warm spaces, please let us know so we can add the details in the hub and signpost to your sites.

If you want to boost your digital skills and learn how to navigate health and care services using your smart phone and the NHS App better, please join us at a Digital Café being run at venues across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire West (BOB). 

The initiative offers people free informal, one to one support around basic digital skills, to support you on how to access your health and care services and care records using digital devices and the internet.

There are 11 Digital Cafes taking place weekly at several local libraries and other venues across BOB. Residents will be given tips, advice and new skills to use the NHS App to access online care including ordering repeat prescriptions and managing hospital appointments.

There is no need to reserve a place just turn up - to view a full list of venues, times and locations visit the BOB ICB website here

An evaluation of ‘Hospital at Home’ (HaH) services, also known as virtual wards across BOB ICB, found they effectively treated thousands of adults and children with a wide range of conditions and reduced pressure on other NHS services.

HaH services aim to keep people out of hospital and get them home quicker by providing hospital level support, care and treatment in a patient’s home or care home.

The evaluation, carried out by Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley, identified reductions in calls to 111, demand on ambulance services, emergency department attendances and hospital admissions associated with the HaH services delivered across BOB ICB. 

Dr Rachael de Caux, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Medical Officer at BOB ICB, said: “We are proud to offer so many people within our system the choice to receive care at their place of residence instead of a hospital setting.”

For more details and to view the evaluation report click here

Local NHS teams are urging the public to take greater care when managing their repeat prescriptions, encouraging people to order only the medications they need.

Every month, our health region spends £22 million on medicines, with around 2.5 million prescriptions issued.

Approximately 75% of all prescriptions dispensed nationally are for repeat medications and it is estimated that 10% of these medicines are not required by the patient as they have sufficient supplies and end up being disposed of.

By carefully checking existing supplies before ordering a repeat prescription, patients can help reduce medicine waste and avoid stockpiling, which can contribute to shortages.

Many people mistakenly dispose of excess medicine by throwing it in household waste or flushing it down the sink, which can harm the environment. Moreover, using out-of-date medication can be ineffective or even harmful. More details on the Stay well website 

You can watch a series of animations to raise awareness of health issues associated with cholesterol which can increase the risk of heart disease or stroke.

The videos describe the importance of understanding cholesterol, the problems caused by blood fats being out of balance and how to reduce the chances of having a heart attack or stroke, and  the role of statins.

The videos and associated leaflets have been translated in to Albanian, Arabic, Hindi, Portuguese, Ukrainian and Urdu following funding from BOB ICB. The project was managed by Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley. 

Further details and to view the films and resources see here

We are still urging the public to come forward as usual for care during collective action by GP practices which started in August this year. 

Practices remain open and patients should continue to contact their practice as normal and attend a scheduled appointment at their surgery unless told otherwise.

More advice can be found on the BOB ICB website 

This October, join the 2.5 million people who have been inspired by Stoptober.

Even if it is your first time or you have tried before, Stoptober gives you the perfect opportunity to quit smoking.

Stay smoke-free for 28 days, and you are 5 times more likely to quit for good. With the right support, quitting is easier than you think.

If you want to stop, see what support is available locally visit the BOB ICB website 

Have you created a healthcare innovation or invention from your experience as a patient or family carer? If so, you could join the NHS Patient Entrepreneur Programme – a free, 12-month programme that supports innovators with access to a wide range of business and development sessions, funding advice and mentors. Applications for the 2024/25 programme opened on the 1 October 2024  – find out more about the programme here

Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies and Sport England have devised a mental health treatment which combines talking therapy and physical exercise, including countryside walks with alpacas.

People being treated for anxiety and depression by NHS Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies, an Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust service, were invited to test the new approach incorporating physical activity alongside talking therapy.

The approach will now be trialled nationwide by the NHS and Sport England. For more details visit the Trust website 

Buckinghamshire Council is delighted to announce this event is back for 2024.  

It is aimed at people who are autistic or have a learning disability, or both, and for parents, carers and anyone else who provides support.

It showcases the fantastic range of services that are available which help support people with special needs and autism to live a fulfilled and healthy life. There are two free events at: 

• The Gateway, Aylesbury on Friday 25 October between 10am and 4pm.  

• Stony Dean School, Amersham on Wednesday 30 October from 10am to 4pm.

Please share these events with your partners and service users. You can find more information and book a place on the Buckinghamshire Council website.

In September, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust threw open its doors at Stoke Mandeville Hospital near Aylesbury, and invited local residents to discover what goes on behind the scenes.

Visitors learned more about the work of the Trust's surgeons and theatre teams, its upper limb suite, mortuary facilities, the work of its ophthalmology and therapy teams, and how to spot the signs of sepsis in the ‘escape room’ set up in the simulation suite.

You can view a video of the event and also the Trust's annual general meeting held on the same day by visting their website here - pictured is the Himig Padayon Choir performing on the day.

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is delighted that three of its staff have been shortlisted for The Nursing Times Workforce Awards, which shines a light on those excelling in nurse recruitment and retention, wellbeing, and inclusion. More details here 

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) has received planning permission for the new centre on the John Radcliffe Hospital site in Oxford.

On completion, the building will provide additional operating theatres to address waiting lists for elective (routine) procedures, as well as meet the demands of the growing population in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire. 

This project will reduce elective waiting times and improve patient pathways for many years to come. In addition, dedicated hybrid theatres will give OUH a leading edge and enable it to offer the most up-to-date procedures in suitable facilities, and across multiple specialities.

More details are available on the OUH website.

As winter approaches, childhood illnesses often increase. We know it can be stressful when your child is unwell, and sometimes it is difficult to find clear and accurate information on what to do. This is where the Oxfordshire Healthier Together website and app can help.

On the website, you will find information on common childhood illnesses, including ‘red-flag’ signs to look out for, where to seek help, and tips for keeping your child comfortable and healthy. 

Download the free Healthier Together app for on-the-go NHS support. It helps you to assess your child’s symptoms and directs you to the nearest and most appropriate care setting for their needs. 

Robots are being used as a training tool for Oxfordshire County Council's occupational therapists, helping them to gain a better understanding of the impact of touch during physical and seated assessments.

The therapists are working with three partners on the innovative research which relies on robots to take the place of a person being assessed. The robots are programmed to take on different life-like characteristics and health concerns.

It is part of a five-year partnership between the county council's innovation service and Oxford Robotics Institute, helping to design the future of cutting-edge technology in adult social care.  

More details at Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

Consultant psychiatrist at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Anya Topiwala received a £2.4m Wellcome Career Development Award, to fund eight years of research into alcohol-related dementia.

Previous studies by Dr Topiwala showed that alcohol consumption may cause dementia, but it is not yet known why this happens - the new funding aims to find a cause. 

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust’s Annual Members Meeting and Annual General Meeting 2024 was held in September and highighted the Trust's progress over the past year, and also acknowledged the latest challenges. 

To find out what was discussed at the meeting visit the Trust webiste here 

The Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) Strategy 2020-2025, promotes a vision of healthcare that is compassionate and enabled by the highest levels of research and innovation. 

This aim is centred on the OUH values and is underpinned by four strategic pillars: patient care, partnerships, people and performance.

You can view the Strategic Framework on the Strategy page of the OUH website, which includes six strategic objectives to enable OUH to achieve its vision.

Healthwatch Oxfordshire would like to hear about your experiences of getting help for women's health issues, such as perimenopause, periods or cervical screening, as well as your experiences of health services more generally.

• What works well and what could be better?
• Is there anything that makes it difficult to get the help you need?
• What ideas do you have for how women's health services could be better?

Please share your experiences and views by completing an anonymous online survey here The survey is open until 31 October 2024. Healthwatch Oxfordshire will use your feedback to help shape support and improve services.

If you would rather talk to someone about your experience, or would like a paper copy or translated survey, please contact Healthwatch Oxfordshire on 01865 520520 or at hello@healthwatchoxfordshire.co.uk 

Active Oxfordshire is delighted to announce a new physical activity training offer for health and social care professionals in Oxfordshire.

This training is designed to increase awareness of the importance of physical activity in health and long-term conditions and increase knowledge of referral routes and activity offers across the county. 

Training will be delivered by physiotherapist Emma Tucker, in her new role as the Physical Activity Clinical Champion for Active Oxfordshire. 

The training is a national initiative being piloted in four places, including Oxfordshire. For more information and to book training visit their website here 

More than 2,800 nominations were received for the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) Staff Recognition Awards 2024.

The finalists in each category were announced in June and the winners were revealed at the awards ceremony at Oxford Town Hall on 5 September.

BBC Radio Oxford presenter Bridgitte Tetteh hosted the event which included categories based on the OUH values - for a full list of the categories and pictures of winners see here

The awards are made possible by the generous support of Oxford Hospitals Charity.

Photo shows Bridgitte alongside Professor Meghana Pandit, Chief Executive Officer at OUH - image courtesy of Ed Nix. 

Congratulations to the charity for winning the Oxford Bus Company’s 'Brand the Bus' competition.

It was great opportunity to highlight the important work the charity carries out supporting patients and staff at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH).

As part of the celebrations the charity's bright pink bus - which has images of the charity's and OUH staff emblazoned on its side - was paraded through the streets of Oxford in August (pictured).

At the same time a video promoting the charity was shown inside the Oxford Bus Company’s fleet of vehicles. For more details of the charity see here

The Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) is on Monday 7 October 2024 at 5.30pm (doors open from 4.30pm).

The meeting will be held at the Meadow Suite, Park House, University of Reading, Whiteknights Campus, Reading, RG6 6UR with the option to attend in person or via a live stream.

All members of the local community including staff, patients, carers, families and the public are welcome to attend to hear about their local NHS, including an in-depth look at our performance for the year 2023/24 and our plans for the future.

At the event, you can ask the Board of Directors questions or submit them in advance. For more details including how to join via a live link visit the Trust website here or email: foundation.trust@royalberkshire.nhs.uk  

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and University of Reading have reached a UK-first milestone in their research into the treatment of osteoarthritis.

It involved injecting tiny plastic beads - the size of a grain of sand - into the knees of 40 patients to block the blood vessels that inflame the tissue and cause pain.

Initial results reveals the treatment might provide a way of tackling osteoarthritis. For more details visit the Trust website here

Neurotypes, a neurodiversity podcast by Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is back.

In the third episode, lead nurse consultant Reuben Pearce sits down with Hannah Wilson and her dad Keith. Hannah, who is autistic and has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) talks us through her journey with these conditions, from navigating school and university to her life now as an aspiring actor.

You can listen to the podcast on the Trust website here

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is proud to celebrate an extraordinary milestone: the remarkable 50-year service of Mandy Proctor, a dedicated member of the Trust since 1974.

Over five decades Mandy has worked in a variety of departments, from obstetrics and gynaecology to the medical care for the elderly department, and more recently, sexual health. Her contributions have touched countless lives over the years.

Reflecting on her long career, Mandy said: “It does seem amazing to think about 50 years as a whole. I still thoroughly enjoy working for Berkshire Healthcare and hope to have many more years here."

Mandy is pictured being presented with a special award for her long service by the Trust's Chief Executive, Julian Emms. View the full story on the Trust website here 

In September, to mark Red4Research Day, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's Research and Development team was out and about on the Health Bus (pictured).

They met with people across the county to highlight how research aims to improve patient care and to encourage people to take part in their studies. 

For more details on the team's work and to get involved visit the Trust website here