Summer 2024
Share your thoughts on improving urgent and emergency health services
What do you think of your local NHS urgent and emergency health care services?
Sharing your views with NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) could help shape improvement proposals being developed in partnership with our NHS trusts and other care organisations. The ICB is leading a review of urgent and emergency health care services and preparing to introduce urgent treatment centres (UTCs). UTCs are being introduced by the NHS across the whole of England, to treat minor injuries and illnesses.
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent currently has four minor injuries units (MIUs) and a walk-in centre (WIC), so these are being looked at, to see if they are best suited for local needs, or if alternative services can be offered.
UTCs will offer improvements compared with the current MIUs and WIC, as they will be open at least 12 hours a day, every day, and have a consistent range of services. All UTCs will treat patients of all ages, for both minor illnesses and injuries, and will carry out a wider range of X-rays during the full opening hours.
No final decisions have been made You can find out more about the urgent and emergency care strategy and fill in the online survey to give your feedback.
There will also be the chance to hear more and contribute at meetings and drop-in sessions from the end of July to early October. For help filling in the survey, or for information in another language phone 0333 150 3069 or email mlcsu.involvement@nhs.net.
Whooping cough vaccine uptake encouraged in pregnant women to combat rising cases
As the number of whooping cough (also known as pertussis) cases across the country increases, pregnant women in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are being urged to make sure they protect their babies, and themselves, through vaccination. Pregnant women are offered a whooping cough vaccination from 16 weeks of pregnancy, and it is most effective if they are vaccinated before 32 weeks. The vaccine protects expectant mothers from pregnancy complications of whooping cough infection. It also provides vital immune protection against whooping cough in newborn babies.
Babies can have their own whooping cough vaccination when they are eight weeks old. The vaccination offered to pregnant women protects the baby in the first few weeks of life, before they have their own vaccine.
New resources to support people around vaccination are available:- Routine Vaccinations for pregnant women, Routine Vaccinations for adults and Routine Vaccinations for school-age children
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Autism and breast screening
A team from across the Integrated Care System (ICS) has created an innovative, accessible video aimed at supporting people living with a learning disability and/or autism to attend breast cancer screening appointments. Local LeDeR reviews found that cancer was a leading cause of death among this group. The video provides a clear and concise explanation of the breast cancer screening process, why it’s important, and what to expect. It was created collaboratively by Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, and North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust – with the input of service users from across the area. View the autism and breast screening video here.
Carers Digital Forum
Healthwatch are launching their new digital Carers Forum, which is their latest initiative in ongoing commitment to supporting Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s All-Age Carers Strategy.
The digital Carers Forum offers an online space for carers to share their experiences and gather valuable information that can be fed back to service commissioners and providers. Collecting this feedback aims to celebrate what works well and to make recommendations about where improvements could be made.
Follow this link for further information and, if you’re interested in attending any of the listed sessions, you can register your interest by contacting 03303 130247 or emailing info@healthwatchstoke.co.uk.
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Cherry Orchard adult community mental health care facility opens
Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) marked a new era in adult community mental health in Tamworth, Staffordshire following the £2.4m renovation and expansion of Cherry Orchard. The centre provides purpose built facilities in the heart of the community to deliver services that more effectively meet the needs of local people. Alongside the refurbishment of the existing building, additional clinical space has been constructed; this will enable teams to offer further support to those in need.
Patients with heart conditions at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) set to benefit from an innovative new pacemaker procedure
Teams from the Royal Stoke University Hospital’s Heart Centre are pioneering a new conduction system pacing technique.
This new procedure sees the existing pacemaker attached to the heart via the nervous system rather than heart wall, resulting in more natural contractions. Read more.
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Podcast offering health advice to parents
A podcast, designed to provide an alternative method of support for parents and families in Staffordshire, continues to grow in popularity following its successful launch last year.
The 0-19 Service podcast was created by Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust’s (MPFT) Families Health and Wellbeing 0-19 Service to deliver health advice and practical hints and tips on how to keep children safe from harm.
The 0-19 Service podcast is available to listen to via the service pages on MPFT’s website. The podcast channel, which includes a range of podcasts from the Trust’s mental health, physical health and social care services, is available on Spotify.
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Exercise help for a healthier life
Hours of ‘friendly exercise’ are being provided to help Newcastle residents get a little fitter and healthier.
Courses range from targeting those recovering from cancer or heart troubles, to supporting mental health and young people’s wellbeing are being organised by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council.
Initially all the courses are being provided at J2 in the town centre, but some courses will be extended into the community. Find out more on Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council's website.
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Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) Centre - Stoke-on-Trent
The RVS is a volunteering service providing one-to-one, group and online services to improve health and wellbeing, resilience, confidence and connections.
As a local charity the Stoke-on-Trent branch at Charles Street in Hanley recognise that a lot of people struggle at the weekend with isolation, so have decided to open their doors on a Saturday morning to help with this and break the weekend up.
There will be a hot full breakfast and top-up tea for £5.50 or a Breakfast Bap with tea refill for £3.50.
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Drug and alcohol services
Residents struggling with drug and alcohol issues in Staffordshire are set to benefit from a new partnership. Staffordshire Treatment and Recovery System (STaRS) will now be run by Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) in partnership with Staffordshire County Council.
STaRS will also continue to work with BAC O’Connor and Betterway Recovery and Chase Recovery to help adults and young people who need support with drug and alcohol use. STaRS provide a confidential, free and easy-to-access service to anyone living in Staffordshire affected by their use of alcohol and drugs. Read more.
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Stoke-on-Trent’s Community Drug and Alcohol Service (CDAS) supports adults, young people and families experiencing challenges with drugs or alcohol. If you are worried about yourself or someone you care about you can contact directly by calling 01782 283 113.
CDAS supports both adults and young people within Stoke on Trent. You can find out more on their website.
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Combined Healthcare and Communities Together partnership continues at Port Vale Community Lounge
In partnership with Communities Together, North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust is providing mental health and guidance support through the Community Lounges initiative to attendees of Port Vale FC’s Community Lounge.
The club’s Tommy Cheadle’s Community Cupboard recently hosted another of the Communities Together Lounges for local residents and their families. The Community Lounge at Port Vale FC was the first to be established as part of the initiative, and it continues to be a great success with over 100 people attending every week to receive support.
The Community Cupboard Lounge runs weekly on a Friday morning from 10am to midday and there is also a social club for those aged 55+, Golden which runs on a Thursday each week from 10am to midday. Read more.
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New life skills support for Cannock Chase residents
A new programme called Cannock Chase Discovery has been launched to help residents access tailored support to improve their general and life skills leading to better employment opportunities. The programme offers a range of interventions across four broad categories: work, skills, health, and life. It is being delivered by Jobs 22 on behalf of Cannock Chase Council and funded by the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
The programme began on 1 May 2024 and will run until 31 March 2025. Cannock Chase Discovery will help residents who are unemployed or employed and who meet one of several criteria, including being from a low-income household, low skill levels, digital exclusion, and poor health. Read more.
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Core20PLUS Ambassador applications now open
Do you want to become a new Core20PLUS ambassador enabling you to further understand the healthcare inequalities agenda and the actions being taken across the country to reduce them?
Do you want to enhance and share your own understanding/skills and knowledge of tackling healthcare inequalities and the Core20PLUS5 approach?
Core20PLUS5 is a national NHS approach to support the reduction of health inequalities. The Core20PLUS Ambassadors programme is an opportunity for those working in healthcare who are actively improving health inequalities keen to spread, share their experience and or further enhance their knowledge and understanding on Healthcare Inequalities.
The role is open to those working in the NHS and across Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), who have a record of improving healthcare inequalities. This is a voluntary role which will last one year, with the possibility of continuing to champion healthcare inequalities as a Core20PLUS alumni.
Applications close on 20 September 2024. To find out more about the programme and how to apply, please visit: NHS England » Core20PLUS ambassadors.
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To stay tuned with our campaigns, make sure you follow us on Twitter and Facebook via @StaffStokeICS for the ICS accounts and @StaffsStokeICB for ICB accounts.
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