The Long-term Conditions & Personalisation Team at the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board are seeking individuals with lived experience of stroke, diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease to work with them on a voluntary basis as an involvement partner to bring lived experience to their work. The team support people in West Yorkshire living with long-term conditions to live and age well.

The work of the team involves people, their families, their carers, the NHS, social care, and voluntary and community organisations working together, to enable services to be integrated around what matters to people and ultimately, they feel in control of how their care is planned and delivered. 

The team are seeking support for the following projects:

1. A blog on living diabetes for National Diabetes Week campaign 12-16^th June 2023:

This ask involves someone contributing to a blog to share their lived experience of living with diabetes and using continuous glucose monitoring to self-monitor and manage their condition. The team are preferably seeking an individual with diabetes from the South Asian community in West Yorkshire.

If interested, please contact Sarah De Biase via email sarah.debiase1@nhs.net by 4^th June 2023. Sarah will get in touch to discuss what is involved and support will be available to write the blog.

2. Work with to help develop the Long-term Conditions and Personalisation Team’s involvement framework to optimise how they work with individuals, groups, and communities to co-produce their priorities and ensure their work meets the needs of those living with long-term conditions in West Yorkshire.

If interested, please contact Kulvant Sandhu via email kulvant.sandhu@nhs.net by 16^th June 2023. Kulvant will get back in touch to discuss further what is involved.

3. Work with to co-produce a long-term condition public facing campaign aimed at raising awareness of risk factors for stroke, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. This campaign will run from Feb 2024 across West Yorkshire to support people living in local communities to better understand their risk for various long-term conditions and learn what they can do to know their own risk and to take steps to prevent the development of a long-term condition. The role will involve working with members of the team, community partners and rugby league and cricket teams to bring the campaign messages out into communities across West Yorkshire.

If interested in this opportunity, please contact Sarah De Biase via email sarah.debiase1@nhs.net by 16^th June 2023. Sarah will get in touch to discuss the campaign and expectations/time commitment further.

Please note: all above involvement opportunities are seeking individuals willing to work with the team on a voluntary basis.

The NHS in West Yorkshire is urging people to plan ahead for their healthcare needs in the run up to what is expected to be a particularly busy time for health and care services in the region. 

The spring bank holiday falls on Monday 29 May so it’s important that you are prepared and know how to get help if needed during this time.

Dr James Thomas, Medical Director for the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, said: 

“Many health and care staff will be working over the bank holiday period, but services are likely to be extremely busy. Stay well by acting now and please choose the right service for your needs if you need support during this time.

“If you take regular medication, check you have enough for the week ahead and if you need more, please order and collect it before the bank holiday. Having a well-stocked medicine cabinet and taking care if you’re taking part in physical activities will also help avoid a visit to your local emergency department.

“It is important that people continue to use our services when they need them. If you or someone close to you needs medical help, please get advice about the most appropriate treatment option by using 111 online (111.nhs.uk) or calling 111 if you don’t have access to the internet. Remember 999 and A&E departments are for the most serious or life-threatening injuries or illnesses.”

NHS 111 is a free, 24 hour online or phone service that provides help and advice on the most appropriate medical care; it can also arrange phone consultations with healthcare professionals and book appointments at urgent treatment and out of hours medical centres.  Parents and carers of young children can also find health advice on the West Yorkshire Healthier Together website.

For people who have repeat prescriptions, electronic repeat dispensing (known as eRD) gives them the reassurance of knowing their next prescription will be ready for collection at their pharmacy when they need it, and flexibility so they have medication at busy times like bank holidays. Guidance on how to order a repeat prescription is also available on the NHS website, or you can use the NHS App to order repeat prescriptions, or change your nominated pharmacy, in just a few taps. You can also use the NHS website to find a pharmacy near you which will be open over the bank holidays.

People may also consider having at home a small stock of basic medicines for minor illness or injury. These may include paracetamol, plasters, indigestion remedy and anti-diarrhoeal medicine. See the NHS website for advice on what you should keep in your first aid kit, or ask your local pharmacist for advice.

Mental health support will continue to be available throughout the bank holiday period. Visit togetherwe-can.com/mental-health for details of local services. For urgent help in a mental health crisis, call your local 24 hr helpline:
•    Bradford 0800 952 1181
•    Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield 0800 183 0558.

Regardless of the bank holiday, the NHS is urging anyone who needs medical care to continue to come forward in the normal way: attending booked appointments unless they are contacted; using NHS 111 for advice on which service to use; or calling 999 or going to your nearest emergency department (A&E) if someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk. 

Useful links

·       NHS 111 online – get help for your symptoms.

·       NHS electronic repeat dispensing (eRD) regional webpage.

·       How to order a repeat prescription

·       Find a pharmacy.

·       NHS advice on what to keep in a first aid kit at home.

The Vita Wellbeing Day has been booked for the 6th of June 2023, 10-2pm at The Piecehall, Blackledge, Halifax HX1 1- Caygill Suite

Discover a day filled with laughter, joy, and connection as Vita Health Group celebrate the importance of your mental well-being. You and your loved ones are invited to the incredible event packed with exciting activities and valuable resources.