|
|
In this issue, the following topics are covered:
- Have your say on primary care
- Water safety
- Healthy ageing champions
- Reduce your stroke risk
- Protection from winter illnesses
- Vaccination schedule for pregnant women
- Five to thrive sessions for parents, carers and grandparents
- Pension credit
- Domestic abuse
|
|
|
People living in the Black Country are being invited to share their views on the future of primary care.
The NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) is working with GPs and health leaders across the Black Country on a programme of work to transform and improve primary care over the next five years.
Primary care includes general practice, community pharmacy, dental and optometry services. These services are often the first places people go to for help with their health.
Join the ‘Future Primary Care Conversation’ until Friday 20 September 2024.
Fill in a survey and share your views.
. Local people can also have their say by:
- calling 0121 612 1447 to receive help filling in the survey
- speaking to your local Healthwatch
A Dudley borough People Panel meeting will also take place, where people can speak to primary care staff from the NHS Black Country ICB and get help filling out the survey. It will take place at:
-
Dudley – Monday 16 September, Brierley Hill Methodist Church, Bank Street, DY5 3DA, 10.30am-1.30pm
To sign up for the People Panel please visit the NHS Black Country ICB events page.
|
|
|
Summer is an amazing time to enjoy our beautiful waterways, but we must be mindful that, according to RLSS UK’s National Drowning Report 2023, warmer weather is directly linked to an increase in fatal drowning incidents.
46% of drownings occur in the summer months and this rises to 75% amongst 13 – 17-year-olds.
It’s worth repeating and remembering key water safety messages. Please share these with others to help them stay safe:
- Look out for warning signs or hidden dangers like shallow water or ledges to get stuck under
- The water is still cold and the shock can be deadly
- Check the depth – it can be deceptive
- Don’t go alone
- If you fall in or become tired in the water, stay calm, float on your back and call for help
- If there’s no lifeguard - don’t go in!
- If there is a life-threatening situation, call 999
|
|
|
Could you become a healthy ageing champion?
- Help support people to age well in Dudley
- Raise awareness of healthy ageing initiatives in your community or workplace
- Be a positive role model and promote a better later life
- Feed back information and questions to Dudley Council’s Healthy Ageing Team
- Get involved in activities and encourage others to give things a go
- Get regular information that you can share to support people you know (friends, family, neighbours, colleagues)
For more information, contact the Healthy Ageing Team 01384 816437 healthyageing@dudley.gov.uk
|
|
|
A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or cut off and brain cells are damaged or die. Keeping a healthy blood pressure and treating an irregular pulse can stop you from having a stroke.
- Check your blood pressure at your GP or participating pharmacy - recommended at least every five years for people aged 45+.
- If you are invited for an NHS Health Check by your GP practice, attend the appointment.
For more details on strokes go to https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stroke/ and www.stroke.org.uk
|
|
|
Summer may not yet be over, yet health professionals are already looking to protect people from winter illnesses.
Flu vaccination
From September the people invited to have their flu vaccination will include:
- Pregnant women
- Children aged two and three
- School children from reception to year 11
- Children with clinical risk
From October the invite will extend to:
- Those aged 65 and over
- Care home residents
- Front line health and social care workers
Look out for invites from your GP surgery and consent forms from your children’s schools.
RSV
Two new respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programmes will be introduced in September.
1) To protect infants by vaccinating pregnant women (from 28 weeks)
2) For older adults aged 75 to 79 years old
RSV is a common virus, but for some, it can be much more serious. The new vaccination will help to prevent thousands of cases of RSV, GP visits and hospital admissions.
|
|
|
The NHS offers pregnant women vaccinations that help protect them and their babies during and after pregnancy.
Vaccines help the body’s natural defence system (the immune system) to develop protective antibodies.
Antibodies fight disease and produce longer term protection against a particular disease. So, if someone is vaccinated against a disease and they come into contact with it at a later date, their immune system will respond to that infection more quickly.
Vaccination can help prevent disease or make the illness less serious. Antibodies developed while pregnant pass to the unborn baby and help to protect them in their first few months of life.
To find out what vaccinations the NHS advises pregnant women to have and when, go to the vaccinations in pregnancy page on the NHS website
|
|
|
Brain development in babies and children relies on good relationships with others, especially parents, carers and grandparents.
FREE interactive 'Five to Thrive' sessions are being held online on Monday 9 September 11am – 1pm and Tuesday 8 October 6 -8pm.
The sessions will focus on the five parts of five to thrive - Talk, Play, Relax, Engage and Respond. You can watch this video to find out more and book a place online now.
|
|
|
If you’re over State Pension age or know someone who is, we want to make sure you, or your family and friends, aren’t missing out on Pension Credit.
What is Pension Credit?
Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.
If you are eligible for Pension Credit, this could mean extra weekly money and access to a range of other benefits.
Although Pension Credit is means tested, you may still qualify if you have savings or if you own your own home.
|
|
|
Domestic abuse can happen to anyone, including older people, and can take many forms. It includes physical or sexual abuse, violent or threatening behaviour, coercive or controlling behaviour or economic abuse. It doesn’t matter if it happens once or more, it’s still abuse.
Help and advice is available for victims, including specialist support for older people, by calling 01384 455411.
Watch our video via YouTube
|
|
|
|
