Health and Wellbeing in Havering

Calling all ladies, sisters, mums and daughters...

The Havering Us Girls! programme is designed for 'low active' females who live in the Borough and are looking to get fit or get back into exercise.

Have fun while exercising; come on your own or with friends, mums, daughters (must be aged 11+). This is a free eight-week programme funded by FreeSport.

Find out more here.

Queen’s Hospital leads the way in fight against sickle cell disease

The haematology team at Queen’s Hospital is leading the way in a clinical trial to improve treatment for patients with sickle cell disease.

It is the only non-teaching hospital to take part in the first phase of the trial, and recruited more patients involved than any other hospital.

Dr Claire Hemmaway is a Consultant Haematologist at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust, which runs Queen’s and King George hospitals, where she has led this drugs trial.

Her success at recruiting 16 patients to take part led to an international audience when she was invited to present the findings on behalf of Global Blood Therapeutics and her co-investigators at the annual American Society of Haematology (ASH) Conference in Orlando.

The number of local patients taking part has since risen to 21 and Dr Hemmaway and her team are expected to lead the second phase of the trial, which begins in June this year.

Public health spending consultation underway

Havering Council is currently consulting on how to provide the best public health services for residents. A four week consultation is now underway and ends on Wednesday 9 March 2016. You can see full details of the proposals here.

Family thank hospital for

lifesaving care

The Pashley family have paid a return visit to Queen’s Hospital to thank staff for saving the life of 16-year-old Matt after he collapsed on the football pitch.

Matt was playing for Witham Town when he collapsed and was rushed to Basildon Hospital. He was then transferred to Queen’s for emergency surgery, which saw part of his skull removed when bleeding was discovered on his brain.

The family were so grateful for the care and support he received at Queen’s, they decided to raise some money among family and friends, and even dad Kevin’s workmates at Ford, to donate to the King George and Queen’s Hospital Charity.

Get free, professional help to feel better

Is money, work, relationships or caring for your family getting on top or you, or making you feel stressed, worried or panicked? You are not alone, free and confidential NHS help is available.

You don’t need to visit your GP to get help, just go online. Together with a qualified therapist you will decide the right support to help you feel better. This could range from talking therapy and wellbeing workshops, to stress management advice and physical activity.

We’ve helped thousands of people who were experiencing the exact same feelings as you and they have said this service has helped them feel better.

Weekend GPs’ service in Havering Did you know that GPs in Havering have opened a weekend service? Our local GPs are ready and waiting to see you from noon - 5pm on Saturday and noon - 4pm on Sunday. Any patient registered with a Havering GP can call to book an appointment direct on 020 3770 1888. To make it even easier to be seen, it is now possible to book appointments for Saturdays and Sundays by calling up from Thursdays each week, as well as on the day. Weekend GP appointments are easy and convenient, so if you are unwell or injured and can’t get to see your own GP during the week – call us this weekend. Book an appointment on 020 3770 1888 between 2pm and 9pm, Monday – Friday or 9am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday. More information available here.

Have your say on proposed changes to stroke rehabilitation services The local NHS want to make changes to stroke rehabilitation services, to make sure people recover better and more quickly. A consultation to see what local people think of the proposals is currently underway.  At the moment if you have a stroke, the current rehabilitation service means: You’ll spend more time in hospital than you need to, even when it is better for you to be at home You won’t always have specialist stroke staff taking care of you Your recovery will take longer. More people surviving strokes means more people need local rehabilitation and support services which is why the NHS thinks now is the right time to make changes. The changes being proposed would mean patients would spend less time waiting in a hospital bed for the right sort of care, and instead receive rehabilitation more quickly to help them go home sooner and there would be a single specialist stroke rehabilitation unit at King George Hospital. No decisions have been made and there is still time to have your say - the consultation closes on Friday 1 April 2016. Full details of the plans for stroke rehabilitation and how to comment on them can be found here.

If you think you or someone else is having a stroke, call 999 immediately.

The sooner you receive treatment, the better your chances of recovery.

Havering Mind Open Day Your local mental health charity Havering Mind is opening its doors on Wednesday 24 February. Come along to find out information about mental health and learn what services are available to you. The event will take place between 11am -3:30pm in its centre in Harrow Lodge Park, next to Hornchurch Sports Centre.

Previous edition You can see previous editions of Health and Wellbeing in Havering here.