members magazine spring 2015

Members’ Magazine | Spring 2015www.elrmembership.org

Inside: Meet our new MD | New urgent care services | ELR CCG

52638 3RD PROOF BHBH East-April 2015.indd 1 20/04/2015 12:55

2 Spring 2015, Issue 11: be healthy be heard

This is my first welcome page for be healthy, be heard readers in my new role as Managing Director of our CCG. I feel very honoured to take on this role at such an exciting and indeed challenging time. Our NHS has been true to its principles of care for all since it was founded more than 60 years ago, but the world around us continues to change and we must adapt our services to meet those changing demands.

It’s a tribute to the care provided by your NHS that people are living longer. But that success brings its own challenges, as older people rightly aim for a good level of wellbeing, while age often brings its own challenges to their health. That’s one reason why we are giving our full backing to the Better Care Together programme (covered in the last edition) to make better use of all our resources to improve the outcomes of the care, advice and support which we plan and pay for. Please see page 11 for an update on where this programme is going – and thank you to everyone who gave their feedback on these early proposals.

Another key change is also on the cards. We have been given the

go-ahead to have a greater say in how GP care is commissioned and delivered – the opposite page explains what this means, and it will play a major part in improving healthcare overall.

Other changes for the better are also taking place. The Housing Assessment Service is one. It helps ensure people can leave hospital knowing their housing needs have been checked out before they get home. It’s a simple but excellent idea that has already shown it can make an effective difference (see page 6).

By far the greatest and most immediate change is the launch of our new-look urgent care services to deal with people’s minor injuries and illnesses. Our major public consultation on these services ended about this time last year and a great deal of work has taken place since then to get the improved services into place. For your own handy guide on where to go for your urgent care needs, please take a look at our centre pages, 8 and 9.

Making the right choice of where to go for your care can often be difficult. So local NHS organisations have refreshed their ongoing ‘Choose better’ campaign to help you decide how to tackle a wide range of health issues. Please see page 7 for details.

April also marks the start of a new financial year for the public sector, so we have unveiled our main commissioning intentions for the next 12 months on page 10. As ever, your views on these are welcome, as they are on any other health and care matters you would like to comment upon.

Be healthy, be heard readers are a special community, and we

look to you for your views on all the proposals for better services in our area. As proposals evolve into plans and clear options for the future, we trust you will not hesitate to keep sending us your informed feedback. It is vital to the success of your local NHS.

Managing Director’s welcome

Contactus:If you have a practical tip, health suggestion or an interesting story, please send it for inclusion in the next issue using the contact details below. We are also looking for cover stars – send us your picture and health story if you would like to appear on our coverEmail: [email protected]

Post: Please send all correspondence to:

East Leicestershire & Rutland CCG Freepost ADMAIL 4228 Market Harborough LE16 7ZZ

Telephone: 0300 555 5345

Please note that the membership helpline is open between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Published by: Arden & GEM CSU St John’s House, 30 East Street, Leicester, LE1 6NB



Spring 2015, Issue 11: be healthy be heard 3

Contactus: We are in the first wave of CCGs in England to take on joint responsibility for commissioning GP services from NHS England in April.

ELR CCG becomes one of the first to take on commissioning GP services

Called ‘co-commissioning’ it gives patients, communities and clinicians more scope in deciding how local services are developed.

Co-commissioning is another step in the path to creating a more joined-up healthcare service for the future.

Our CCG has been working closely with GP practices, patients and stakeholders, and will now develop new and innovative ways of providing healthcare.

For our CCG, co-commissioning is part of its long-term plans to transform primary care services to improve access to quality healthcare for patients.

Chief Operating Officer for ELR CCG, Tim Sacks, explained: “The CCG has taken on the management of primary care medical services from NHS England for all the practices in our area. This gives us a greater opportunity to focus resources where people need them most and enable us to continue to expand access to seven-day healthcare services in settings outside of hospitals.”

As CCGs are GP-led there is a very strong need to manage conflicts of interest and we have been commended on the strength of our plans to ensure appropriate decision making.

Dr Andy Ker, our CCG Vice-Chair (pictured above), said: “As of Wednesday 1 April this year, we took over responsibility for GP contracts. Our CCG has worked hard to ensure there will be no conflicts of interest for the GPs on our CCG board.

“On reviewing the CCG’s application to co-commission, NHS England commented on the robustness of the measures

we have put in place to prevent conflicts of interest and has put forward our model for other CCGs to consider.”

Our CCG had been planning for many months for this delegated responsibility.

As our CCG looks at improving services and access to them we will be encouraging feedback from our stakeholders and the public to help it shape future healthcare. There will be many opportunities to get involved as plans are developed and our CCG focuses resources on local, community-based healthcare.

Tim Sacks added: “We are looking at a number of initiatives across the area that will provide better access to healthcare locally. These include a seven-day working pilot scheme that provides vulnerable and complex patients with weekend, evening and bank holiday access to a GP, preventing unplanned admissions to hospital. We will be able to progress these further and implement even more positive changes for patients accessing primary healthcare.”



“I am pleased to be part of the ELR CCG Board. Patients are central to the plans and processes we focus on, and we can use the personal experience of the quality of care provided to our patients to influence commissioning decisions and bring about positive changes.

“I was born and brought up in Crawley, West Sussex and trained at the University of Leicester Medical School. My GP training post was at Market Harborough Medical Centre, where I eventually became a partner for 12 years before moving to Uppingham Surgery in Rutland in 2001, where I am working now.

“I have two children and they are pursuing very different careers in

aviation and sailing, and, although it seems as if I spend most of my spare time reading board papers, I do find time for cycling, and I’m currently training for Ride London100 – a 100-mile event which follows the 2012 Olympic cycle route - playing the French horn and ringing church bells.

“There have been many changes in general practice since I qualified, but the great privilege of looking after patients for many years through the difficult times in their lives remains the same. When first I was a GP, general practice had more autonomy, with practices responsible for their list of patients 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. While providing more continuity, this led to more variation in the quality of care.

“I applied to become a locality lead for ELR CCG in July 2014 because I felt that the CCG was seeking the views and experiences of patients and GPs and responding in a way that was different from the preceding organisations, and I wanted to be a part of this.”

SPOTLIGHT ON THE BOARD

Dr Hilary Fox - Locality lead – Melton, Rutland & Harborough

Meet our new MDKaren English, our interim Managing Director, has been appointed to the role permanently by NHS England.

Karen joined our CCG as chief financial officer in January 2013.

She started her career in the NHS as a Graduate Trainee, joining from the private sector. Karen has held a range of senior finance roles for a variety of NHS organisations and has worked at an executive level in the NHS. Prior to joining the CCG she gained substantial and successful experience as a senior finance professional in complex health environments in the North West and West Midlands.

Our chair, Graham Martin, said: “Karen’s appointment follows a rigorous national recruitment process which attracted a particularly high calibre of applicants.

“Karen stood out as the unanimous choice for the panel. She demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the health needs of the local population and a passion for ensuring patients receive the highest standards of care. She also articulated a clear vision for the CCG’s vital role in addressing the challenges facing the NHS in East Leicestershire and Rutland. Karen brings a strong financial background, excellent people skills and an acute awareness of the importance of working closely and effectively with our partners and stakeholders. I am looking forward to working alongside Karen as she leads us into the future.”



Patient stories Please share your NHS story with us

East Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is inviting local patients to tell their own story of healthcare to members of the CCG Board.

Carmel O’Brien, our CCG Chief Nurse and Quality Officer, said: “We pride ourselves on listening to our patients and being guided by their experiences. Over the last year we have started seeing videos of patients’ experiences and they have been invaluable.

“Our CCG’s governing body is made up of members with a range of professional backgrounds and skills, and not all of us have the same insight into frontline care. We all realise that patients’ personal insights during treatment are the best measure of how health and social care are working, as well as what we might do to improve matters.”

Patients who share their experiences can ask for their names to be kept confidential. Their person stories will be video-recorded and presented to board meetings.

Sue Staples, a Board Member of Healthwatch Leicestershire, said: “As the local patients’ champion, Healthwatch values the importance of patients’

voices being heard by key decision makers in the NHS. East Leicestershire and Rutland CCG’s inclusion of patients’ stories at the governing body meetings is a simple, direct and effective way for patients to share their personal insights into what it is like to experience NHS healthcare first hand. Such stories highlight what’s good and bad about the service and the way people feel about it – in a way that official statistics and reports may never make as clear. I would genuinely encourage more people to come forward and offer their own personal healthcare stories to the CCG.”

Patients who would like to share their experiences should contact Fiona Fretter on 0116 295 5105 or [email protected].

We are listeningThe ‘We are listening’ programme sees our CCG staff attending meetings at the invitation of local groups or holding drop-in sessions at popular venues such as leisure centres and libraries.

Graham Martin, our CCG Chair, said: “Our CCG is working to ensure local healthcare services evolve to meet the challenges that

come with the increasing demand for our services. These changes are partly because people are living longer, and in many cases with long-term illnesses. Patients’ experiences of what’s right and what’s wrong with the way we look after them and help them look after themselves are vital to planning those changes.”

People have been stopping by at our ‘listening booth’, a portable kiosk we take out into the community where patients can write down answers to questions. People can also go online and give their views on their local NHS by clicking on East Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group’s website www.eastleicestershireandrutlandccg.nhs.uk and going to the Contact Us page to use the online feedback form.

Voluntary and community groups, who would like East Leicestershire and Rutland CCG to attend one of their meetings or events to listen to members’ experiences, are asked to contact Fiona Fretter by emailing [email protected].

We would like you to tell us your own story of healthcare with the local NHS – good or bad or both – to help us better understand how people feel about the services they receive and help us plan future care.



Helping you back home after hospital A new service is helping more people return home from hospital quicker and reducing the risk of having to go back for further hospital care.

Housing officer, Tara Bhaur, is now based at Leicester Royal Infirmary to assess if people have any housing needs when they are admitted, speeding up the time it takes to discharge patients who may be homeless or have other housing issues.

The scheme is in its early days. Initially Tara will be based at the Leicester Royal for three days a week, increasing to five over the coming months. She is supported by a community worker who will look at any other issues the local councils can resolve for patients to ensure they return to a safe, healthy home as soon as they are fit to do so.

The scheme has been jointly arranged by the county and city housing authorities, the voluntary sector and NHS organisations,

Tracey Yole, Urgent Care Programme Lead for the NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, said: “This joint initiative is based on a scheme running at the Bradgate Unit at Glenfield Hospital. Here a housing worker placed at the unit assesses whether people have any housing issues at the point of admission. As it can often take time to find suitable housing or make vital improvements to ensure existing

accommodation is safe and suitable, this has sped up the discharge process.

“We knew that one of the reasons patients often stay at hospital longer than necessary, despite them being ready to be discharged, is because they don’t have suitable homes to return to.

“The scheme at the Bradgate Unit is a success and so it has been decided to trial this in the other University Hospitals Leicester sites, starting with the Leicester Royal Infirmary.”

It was initially trialled in the two weeks at the end of last year. In those two weeks it was found a quarter of patients assessed had some sort of housing issue that would prevent them being discharged. As well as those that were homeless, some would be

returning to unheated or poor quality houses which were not suitable.

Quin Quinney from Blaby District Council, who is leading the project for the housing authorities and third sector housing organisations, said: “As well as the impact on discharge, this initiative has an impact on re-admissions – if you are returning to a house with no heating in winter, it can hinder recovery or lead to secondary health issues, such as respiratory problems which would then lead to re-admission.”

An outreach scheme also is being set up for the Leicester General Hospital, Glenfield Hospital and community hospitals which will allow the staff at those sites to make referrals to the housing officer.

Housing officer Tara Bhaur – assessing patients’ housing needs before they leave hospital.



You canchoose better

Alternative NHS services provide quick, professional healthcare, 7 days a week.

NHS organisations in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland have joined forces in a new drive to help patients find the right care first time and avoid unnecessary waits at A&E.

They have given a fresh look to the long-running Choose Better campaign, with a new-look website and posters, as well as a wide-scale direct mail of an

easy-to-use guide. The guide is a handy, postcard-size pamphlet which is being sent out to more than 100,000 targeted homes across the area.

A further 100,000-plus will be distributed via GP surgeries, health centres, pharmacists and hospitals, as well as council offices, libraries and schools.

The information promotes healthcare alternatives such as self-care, pharmacists, GP practices, NHS 111, urgent care centres and walk-in centres. It includes our revised urgent care service for East Leicestershire and Rutland from 1 April, offering longer hours for minor injury and illness treatment.

www.choosebetter.org.uk



New urgent care services launched April saw the launch of our new-look urgent care service. It offers you more choice, more places to go for care and more hours of frontline care available to you across East Leicestershire and Rutland.

It is for the treatment of minor injuries, such as sprains, cuts and minor burns and minor illnesses including infections and rashes, and it’s also a source of emergency contraception.

During GP opening hours you can go to your GP practice or Oadby Urgent Care Centre. During evenings, weekends and bank holidays you can visit Urgent Care Centres in Market Harborough, Oakham, Melton Mowbray and Oadby.

The opening hours for Oadby and Wigston’s Urgent Care Centre are now longer than first proposed. Our Chief Operating Officer, Tim Sacks, said: “During and after our public consultation we had a lot of feedback about the proposed new opening times for the urgent care centre in Oadby and Wigston.

“We’ve listened to what people said and looked at updated usage figures for the centre. As a result we are pleased to confirm that the centre will open 8am - 8pm on weekends and bank holidays instead of the hours of 9am - 7pm as we had proposed. This will give patients access to the service for an hour longer in the evenings in comparison to the current walk-in centre opening times.”

Dr Giresh Purohit, our clinical lead on urgent care, explained: “The new service will allow people to access healthcare closer to home for minor injuries and illnesses and reduce the time it takes to be treated. It offers patients in our area another option for treatment of injuries and illnesses that need to be seen that day but are not emergencies.

“It also opens up more options for us as GPs to refer patients who need to be seen at evenings or

weekends or have a condition that needs monitoring out of GP core hours. We believe this service will further help people get the right treatment at the right place at the right time.”

We are grateful to the many people who were involved in the development of this service since 2012. The service was developed after extensive consultation during 2014 and through further engagement with patients, GPs and other healthcare professionals, as well as key partners including Healthwatch Leicestershire and Healthwatch Rutland.

Sue Staples, Board Member of Healthwatch Leicestershire, said: “As the local patient voice for the county, Healthwatch Leicestershire in its role as consumer champion has played an active role within the Urgent Care Project Group, scrutinising and supporting the project at all stages from pre-engagement, through the public consultation, to helping to ensure implementation on time.

“We feel assured that this exciting new service starting on 1 April will provide our patients with a long-awaited and much improved urgent care service with more choice, nearer to home, greater accessibility, longer opening hours, and thus helping to prevent unnecessary visits and relieve pressure on the Emergency Department at the Leicester Royal Infirmary.”

David Henson, Board Member of Healthwatch Rutland, said: “Healthwatch Rutland has been actively involved in the development and planning of this new service and we are pleased that the planned implementation date of 1 April has been met.

“We are delighted that the urgent care service provides improved access for our residents, and in addition to providing information to inform and direct our residents to the most appropriate service, we hope will positively contribute to reducing the pressure on our emergency departments.”



Work is already under way to tell people in East Leicestershire and Rutland about the new service and help them get to where they can best be treated.

Tim Sacks added: “We have invested a lot of time and resource into reaching as many people as possible with information about the new service. As well as information in GP surgeries and pharmacies, we are also working with key stakeholders to get information into community venues including libraries, leisure centres and children’s centres.

Extensive information about the service is available on our website and we are mailing all households in the area in May with information to make it easier to choose the right service for treatment.”

Last year we invited providers of urgent care services to submit bids to run the service. Northern Doctors Urgent Care was announced as the preferred bidder in December 2014. See our new website page - www.eastleicestershireandrutlandccg.nhs.uk/ urgent-care-services

Rutland Memorial Hospital, Cold Overton Road, Oakham LE15 6NT

Oadby Urgent Care Centre, 18 The Parade, Oadby LE2 5BJ

For full details of all local health services call NHS 111 or dial 999 for real emergencies

Accessing Urgent Care Services is quick and easyWhen Where

Weekdays8.30am to 5pm

Urgent Care Services (minor injury) with x-ray facilities available• Market Harborough District Hospital• Rutland Memorial Hospital, Oakham

Urgent Care Services outside East Leicestershire and Rutland

For information about services outside East Leicestershire and Rutland, including Corby, Grantham, Leicester City, Loughborough, Rugby and Stamford please visit: www.eastleicestershireandrutlandccg.nhs.uk/urgentcareservices

Weekdays8am to 6.30pm

GP Practices in East Leicestershire and RutlandContact your GP practice for a full range of services including minor injury.

Weekdays5pm to 9pm

Weekends and Bank Holidays 9am to 7pm

Urgent Care Centre (minor injury and illness)

• Market Harborough District Hospital• Rutland Memorial Hospital, Oakham• Melton Mowbray Hospital

Weekdays 8am to 9pmWeekends and Bank Holidays 8am to 8pm

Urgent Care Centre (minor injury and illness)

• Oadby Urgent Care Centre

Market Harborough District Hospital, Coventry Road, Market Harborough LE16 9DD

Melton Mowbray Hospital, Thorpe Road, Melton Mowbray LE13 1SJ

If you require further help with understanding the contents of this document please email: [email protected] 3RD PROOF BHBH East-April 2015.indd 9 20/04/2015 12:55


ELR CCG Commissioning Intentions 2015-16 Our commissioning priorities for the year to comeWe have a clear vision for the delivery of healthcare in our area. We aspire to improve health by meeting our patients’ needs with high quality and efficient services, led by clinicians and delivered closer to home.

In order to consider which health services we need to buy on behalf of local residents, we have asked members of the public to give their views on our priorities for 2015-2016, and we use this feedback to help inform our commissioning decisions and improve health services. Most people supported our commissioning priorities, which are:-

Long-term conditions and frail older people - examples of long-term conditions include diabetes, dementia, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, prevention and early diagnosis of cancer.

Primary care - this includes strengthening services to help people who suffer from substance misuse, such as drugs and alcohol. East Leicestershire and Rutland CCG will work closely with mental health providers and local authorities.

Community care - this includes developing integrated and co-ordinated community health services - better joined-up community services to help people avoid unnecessary admission to hospital, to avoid longer than necessary stays in hospital and to provide care close to or in their own homes.

Mental health and learning disabilities - these include improving access to psychological therapies and improving the mental health crisis response for those who are suddenly unwell and experiencing a mental health crisis.

Urgent and emergency care - these include developing and improving access to diagnostic tools such as x-rays, breathing tests and blood tests. The purpose of this will be to help diagnose a patient’s condition quicker and avoid admission to hospital. ELR CCG will also be looking at better and more consistent access to minor illness and minor injury services including patients being able to see their GPs for advice and treatment whenever possible.

Maternity, children and young people - these include looking at the need to support more choice in maternity led care, children’s and mental health services to support the early intervention and access to psychological therapies for children and young people, extending the Paediatric Psychology Service, reviewing care for teenagers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as they move into adult services.

Planned care - this will include a review of planned services in a range of specialities (for example day surgery, non- emergency operations and outpatients) where we would look at the whole patient pathway from referral to discharge.

Urgent care Frail and

older people Long termconditions

Planned care

Maternityand neonates / Children and young people

Mental health

Learning disabilities End of life

We know from past experience that NHS and social care services work best for patients, the public and staff when they have had a say in constructing them. So, over the next few months we are going to be working with members of the public and other stakeholders to raise the profile of Better Care Together and listen to people’s views and opinions on the plans as they develop.

It is still along way from being decided

• What service would be created? • Where services will be based?• How services will be designed?

This is why we are sharing thoughts with as many people as possible now… before plans become set in stone.

Get involvedTo get involved as a volunteer, express anopinion or ask a question, email: bct@eastleicestershireand rutlandccg.nhs.uk

To learn more about the better caretogether programme visit our website: www.bettercareleicester.nhs.uk

Twitter: @bctllr

To find out more you can contact your local Healthwatch – an official body set up to gather public opinion on health and social care services:

Healthwatch Rutland [email protected]

Healthwatch Leicester and [email protected] 257 4999

How does the programme work?

Why your supportis important

through every stage of lifeSupporting you

'It's about our life, our health, our care, our family and our community'

Life Journey

This way

Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland health and social care

Better care together

The current care pathways are:

These are different areas with health and social care sectors which general public use the most and need through different stages of their life. The ideas of the care pathways is it allows people to access health care through different channels so that they can get treatment quicker and closer to home. Currently there are eight care pathways, but numbers will continue to grow as more areas are being identified through public consolation.

As well as care pathways, the programme will look at better use of our buildings, technology and making sure we retain and attract the best staff.

You may find your care needs fall into more than one pathway

The programme has been broken up into care pathways.



Planned care


Mental health








Twitter: @bctllr








Life Journey

This way










Planned care


Mental health








Twitter: @bctllr








Life Journey

This way










Planned care


Mental health








Twitter: @bctllr








Life Journey

This way










Planned care


Mental health








Twitter: @bctllr








Life Journey

This way








Primary care

Community care



people comment on first thoughts

People across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland have been providing their views on the health and social care programme Better Care Together. More opportunities will follow.

The programme, which was launched in June last year, wants to see better care for people starting from maternity services right through to end-of-life care. It includes seeking to create more services for people in their own communities and homes, as well as developing specialised acute services.

During March a mobile unit was set up in key locations across the city and counties to help people find out more about proposed changes. Better Care Together also visited key groups, launched a new website with an introductory video and created easy-to-read literature. See www.bettercareleicester.nhs.uk

The March engagement events were part of plans to enable patients, carers, professionals and the public to have their say on Better Care Together’s early thoughts on shaping the future of health and social care.

Kaye Burnett, chair of the Better Care Together programme, said: “The National Health Service belongs to the people. Everyone knows the NHS and social care services are under ever increasing

pressures, as people live longer and public finances are stretched. To continue to provide safe and high quality care for people of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland we need to change how and where our services are provided.

“Better Care Together is about reshaping how we work so that we have services which are there for people through every stage of life.”

Better Care Together’s five-year vision is for a local health and social care service which “supports you through every stage of life”. Your local NHS wants to create communities and services which:• support children and parents so they have the very best start in life• help people stay well in mind and body throughout life• know your history to help anticipate and plan for your health needs• care for the most vulnerable and the most frail citizens• are there when it matters most and especially in a crisis• help support people and their loved ones when life comes to an end.

First proposals on how to achieve these aims were outlined in March and you can find out more in a 30-page brochure on the Better Care Together website www.bettercareleicester.nhs.uk.

It explains proposals in eight key clinical areas:• maternity and new-borns/ children and young people• learning disabilities • urgent care• long-term conditions• planned care• mental health• frail and older people • end-of-life care.

There are also things which can be done behind the scenes which will help care get better and provide a better service for people. It means making the best use of the resources we have in order to become more efficient and effective. So the brochure offers a vision for better use of buildings, beds, technology and our workforce in health, social care and allied public services.

People’s recent comments will help the local NHS organisations to jointly develop and clarify their first thoughts, which will eventually inform a range of proposals. Any proposals which would mean a substantial change to existing services will go out to full public consultation.

Our aim is to transform the local NHS and social care system over the next 5 years within Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

… and we are required to do this all within a very tight budget.

We know from past experience that NHS and social care services work best for patients, the public and staff when people themselves have had a say in how they work. So, over the next few months we will be listening to and involving members of the public and other stakeholders in shaping our future health and care. This is Better Care Together.

Overall our aim is to review:

QualityLocal services should achieve the highest possible standards and results.

As our population ages, more people will need health and social care.

Demand

There is a need to do more with less to address financial pressures on health and social care; to work efficiently across the system so we live within our means.

Finance

We need to retain and attract skilled professionals across all health and social services.

Sustainability

So, let’s get started and work together to deliver care centred around you!

What is it about? Our vision Better Care Together

The partners working to structure the Better care together progarmme are;

• Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)• Leicester City Council • West Leicestershire CCG • Leicestershire County Council • East Leicestershire and Rutland CCG • Rutland County Council • University Hospitals of Leicester • Leicestershire Partnership Trust • NHS England Local Area Team • Healthwatch (across LLR)• Health and Wellbeing Board for Leicester City, Leicestershire and Rutland

LEICESTERRUTLAN D

LE ICESTERSH I RE

Supports children andparents for the very best

start in life

Helps people stay well in mind and body throughout their life

Knows your historyand can plan your

health needs

Services are available when it matters and

especially in a crisis

Cares for the most vulnerable and the

most frail

Helps support patients and their loved ones when

life comes to an end.



News in briefMental health helpline

Anyone living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland can call 0808 800 3302 and get support with urgent mental health needs.

The telephone support service has been commissioned by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and is provided by the mental health charity, Richmond Fellowship.

The service is available from 2pm until 1.30am seven days a week.

The number is free from mobiles on a range of networks including 3, O2, T Mobile, EE, Vodafone, Orange and Virgin Mobile. Some other mobile networks also offer free calls to numbers with the 0808 80 prefix, however these are not guaranteed and users are recommended to check with their provider.

Exercise referral scheme

A new exercise scheme has been launched, run by Blaby District Council in partnership with Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, GP practices

and other healthcare professionals. It gives people who are currently inactive, and who have a medical condition that could benefit from physical activity, the opportunity to participate in physical activity sessions.

It offers patients a 12-week programme of physical activity and starts with a consultation session which is an opportunity for them to meet with the Exercise Referral Consultant and find out more about the scheme. This involves some initial assessments including weight, blood pressure and a six-minute walk test. Patients fill in two questionnaires on their current levels of physical activity and quality of life. This session gives patients a chance to find out more about the activities that are available, and decide what type of session they would like to attend.

Options include gym sessions, health walks and community exercise classes, such as Zumba, Fit 2 Dance, Pilates, circuits and low impact aerobics. Sessions cost between £2 and £4.50 depending on the activity. Health walks are free of charge.Patients meet again with the Exercise Referral Consultant after six and 12 weeks to see how things are going.

PPG Awareness Week: 1- 6 June 2015

PPG Awareness Week aims to promote the role and benefits of Patient Participation Groups to patients, the public and health professionals, to create more understanding of the value of true patient participation. Most GP practices have their own PPG, and you can phone the practice manager for details of how to get involved. PPGs are made up of a group of volunteer patients,

the practice manager and one or more of the GPs from the practice, who meet on a regular basis to discuss the services on offer, and how improvements can be made for the benefit of patients and the practice. In East Leicestershire and Rutland we also have a network of PPG chairs who work together in the interests of local patients.

For more information please contact Tracey Shepherd on 0116 295 5197 at our CCG offices - Tracey liaises with PPGs across our area.



Bowel Cancer Awareness We are urging older patients not to put their health at risk by opting out of bowel cancer screening. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK. April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month.

Bowel cancer occurs when the cells in the bowel multiply and attack the surrounding tissue - which can then spread to the other parts of the body. It is also called colon cancer.

Someone dies from bowel cancer in the UK every thirty minutes. It seems unthinkable doesn’t it, especially when bowel cancer is treatable when diagnosed at an early stage? Early diagnosis is among our CCG’s commissioning priorities for this year, and you can help. We are urging patients, especially those over 60 who are most at risk, to accept their invitation to the screening process when it arrives. It could save their lives. For more information, look at the website http://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/

Depression Awareness Week

Did you know that around one in five people in the UK experience symptoms of depression?

East Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group is backing Depression Awareness Week. Mental health stands as one of our commissioning priorities for this year, including improving access to psychological therapies and the mental health ‘crisis response’ process.

Depression Awareness Week runs from 20 to 26 April with the shocking fact that almost 80,000 children and young people suffer from severe depression. However, depression can affect all ages and be caused by a reaction to something in your life, or it may run in your family or it may be that you are under a lot of stress and feel you lack support.

It is a real illness with real symptoms, and not a sign of weakness. Depression can be treated. If you suspect you have the symptoms, you should see your GP as soon as possible or call NHS 111.

These are some of the most common symptoms, so if you’ve experienced four or more for most of the day, nearly every day over two weeks, it might be time to talk to someone for help:

• tiredness and loss of energy

• persistent sadness

• loss of confidence and self-esteem

• difficulty concentrating and making decisions

• avoiding others and becoming isolated and lonely

• not being able to enjoy things

• undue feelings of guilt or worthlessness

• feelings of helplessness and hopelessness

• sleeping problems - difficulties in getting off to sleep or waking much earlier than usual

• finding it hard to function at work/ college/school

• change in appetite

• sexual problems - loss of sex drive

• physical aches and pains

• thinking about suicide and death

• self-harm.



Care for frail and older people

Both the Healthwatch organisations for Leicestershire and Rutland are encouraging local people to take part in a survey about the healthcare and support for frail elderly people.

Making our health and care systems fit for an aging population is a key objective of Better Care Together (BCT). BCT is a significant programme of work which will transform the health and social care system in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) over the next five years.

As part of this work they are engaging with people across LLR

to find out what matters most to frail older people, and the people that care for them, as well as frontline staff both in hospital and the community. If you fall into any of these groups then BCT wants to hear from you.

They have created a survey to gather people’s experiences of care, whether it is your own, for a loved one or for those you work with and also to get your opinions on what needs to happen to support frail and older people. The link to the online survey is www.surveymonkey.com//9YMD87C

It’s important that as many voices as possible are able to contribute,

so once you’ve filled in the survey, please forward the link to anyone else who you think would be able to add to the discussion.

Better Care Together is asking people who use and deliver community services: “What needs to happen so that frail people in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland live well?”

This programme is about understanding patients, carers and staff experiences of care and how they would like things to change.

For carers or healthcare professionals it is about their experiences of delivering care for frail and older people.

A spokesman for the Better Care Together programme said: “What you tell us will help us to design better services and solutions that keep people well.

“We want to understand your story and what needs to happen to support frail and older people. What you tell us about your experiences will help us improve services and work out how best to spend the NHS budget.”

The closing date for receiving replies to this survey is Thursday 30 April 2015.



Energy boosting breakfastsTry our energy boosting breakfast options to help transition you from winter into spring. These healthy breakfasts are just the perfect pick-me-up after you have been unwell to help replenish your body’s much needed vitamins and minerals. Ditch the high fat and surgery breakfasts for this – you won’t be disappointed.

Green smoothieSmoothies are a great introduction to breakfast if you don’t normally have much of an appetite at the “crack of yawn”. They’re also a good portable option for your morning commute. This green smoothie is sweet and fruity, while still giving you a healthy serving of greens.

Serves: one adult Preparation time: 5 minsCooking time: none Calories per portion: 140kcal (586kJ)Ingredients:• 40g tinned mango slices (discard

liquid)• 40g tinned peach slices (discard

liquid)• 40g frozen spinach • 1 medium banana • 200ml water (or as required) What to do:Blend all the ingredients together until smooth. Add more water to achieve the desired consistency.

Tips:• Instead of tinned fruit, you can also use frozen or fresh fruit. • 150ml of this smoothie provides two of your 5 A Day. No matter how much you drink, smoothies can only make up two portions of your 5 A Day.

Or you could try:

• Banana and Oats smoothie – transform your speckled bananas into an energy- boosting liquid breakfast. Blend one banana with 2 tablespoons of oats and 100ml of semi- skimmed milk until smooth. Can also be made using a soya drink.

• ‘Very berry’ smoothie – take one banana, 140g of frozen summer berries or forest fruits, 40g of low-fat natural yoghurt and about 100ml of apple juice. Blend the banana and berries until smooth. With the blades whirring, pour in apple juice to achieve the consistency you like.

These recipes and more can be found at www.nhs.uk/Change4Life

‘Apple pie’ porridgeA warm and comforting porridge spiced up with the classic flavours of a homemade apple pie.

Serves: one adult

Preparation time: 10 mins

Cooking time: 5 mins

Calories per portion: 345kcal (1,443kJ) Ingredients:• 50g porridge oats • 200ml apple juice (with no

added sugar) • 100ml semi-skimmed milk • 1 medium dessert apple, diced • 1 pinch of cinnamon

What to do:Add all the ingredients into a saucepan. Heat and stir until boiling, then lower the heat and simmer gently for five minutes, stirring often. Spoon the porridge into a serving bowl and add a sprinkling of cinnamon.


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Find all the minor illnesses and injuries that you can use your local urgent care centre for.

Can you spot the two conditions that you would not go to the urgent care centre for?

Are you up-to-speed with your knowledge on urgent care services? Try this..

Sprains

Minor Burn

Bee Stings

Twisted Ankle

Stomach ache

Diarrhoea

Small Cut

Bruises

Eczema

Rashes

Vomiting

T W I S T E D A N K L E G M X Z T Y R UQ R Y B I O N Z S Q W E M A S D D Y U AJ Y A C F I O Q X T U C L L A M S K L CB P Z L H M V T Q F I L S D F F G A T OT N S P R A I N S T Y U I O P C V A Q LB F G H J U E R C V L O P A A D R U I DR M N B V C X Z L K J H G F D E W E R TU S D D I A R R H O E A A V C G E N L UI P T Y U V A F I N K S G Z E Z H F Y US Y Y N D H O S A G J R E V D M C S A HE A Q J W E R T G Y U M I O X P A D G MS M L N P D O G K I A U H B G J H G R YQ O T Q Y U N D W S A W C J G H C I A HW R B X C I V B N M Z Q E P T A A Y S TE Z M N T I K A N R U B R O N I M T H ME A F S P O L K J H G E R K L H O F E RD S E H J V O M I T I N G L X Y T P S FF E G T L P U A X I F T B U U P S O E GB R T S J R Y S H J R Y V G C I B L S ZC X S Z V E T F S T R O K E V V N F D L

Answer: Stroke – A&E Cold - Pharmacy


members magazine spring 2015

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