WYHPartnership

Have your say on how health services are delivered across West Yorkshire

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R.Webster & C.Elliott (landscape + smile)

NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (NHS WY ICB) is asking people and communities to come forward and share their views on how health services should be delivered to them locally, and across West Yorkshire.

More information here

With the passing of the Health and Care Act 2022, there is a requirement for integrated care systems (like the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership) to develop an integrated health and social care strategy and for integrated care boards to develop a joint forward plan to deliver the NHS components.

Building on the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (WY HCP) Five-Year Strategy ‘Better health and wellbeing for everyone’ published in 2020, the Partnership has coproduced a refreshed draft strategy. The Partnership is now seeking people’s views on how its ambitions for the NHS will be achieved in a new joint forward plan for the area. The plan will be published by the 30 June 2023.

People can have their say by completing a short survey online at https://bit.ly/wyviews

or by contacting their local Healthwatch by Monday 20 February 2023 to answer a few questions. More information is available on the WY HCP website at wypartnership.co.uk/your-views

Be on the lookout for symptoms of ‘Scarlet Fever’ in children

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Parents and carers in West Yorkshire asked to be on the lookout for symptoms of Group A streptococcus, or ‘Strep A’, in children (commonly called scarlet fever)

For more information on scarlet fever please visit the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scarlet-fever/

Parents and carers in West Yorkshire are being asked to be on the lookout for symptoms of Group A Streptococcus, or ‘GAS’, in children (more commonly known as scarlet fever). Symptoms include sore throat, headache, fever and a fine, pinkish or red body rash. On darker skin the rash can be more difficult to detect visually. It will have a sandpapery feel when you rub your hand over a child’s skin.

Parents and carers who identify these symptoms should contact NHS 111 online, call NHS 111 or their GP because early treatment with oral antibiotics is important to reduce the risk of complications, such as pneumonia or a bloodstream infection.

If your child has scarlet fever keep them at home until at least 24 hours after the start of antibiotic treatment to avoid spreading the infection to others.

Parents and carers are advised to call 999 or go to A&E only if your child is having noisy or difficulty breathing, there are pauses in your child’s breathing, your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue and/or your child is floppy, drowsy and or will not wake up.

The UK Health Security Agency advises that Group A streptococcus (GAS) is a common bacteria, which lots of people carry in their throats and on their skin. It doesn’t always result in illness. However, it does cause several infections, some mild and some more serious. Whilst infections are still uncommon, there has been an increase in cases this year, particularly in children under 10.

For more information on scarlet fever please visit the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scarlet-fever/

West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership Board Public meeting December 6th

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West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership’s Partnership Board (WY HCP) will meet in public on Tuesday 6 December 2022 at 2pm. The meeting will be held online using digital technology and chaired by Cllr Tim Swift, Leader of Calderdale Council and Chair of Calderdale Health and Wellbeing Board.

Cllr Tim Swift

The Partnership Board further strengthens joint working arrangements between the NHS, councils, care providers, hospices, Healthwatch, the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. Together, the Partnership improves health and care of all people living across the area.

The Board is an important group for the Partnership, which covers Bradford District and Craven, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, and Wakefield District. It brings together elected members, executive and non-executives, and independent co-opted members in one decision making process. Its work aligns to the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board.

Board members will receive an update from Rob Webster CBE, CEO Lead for the Partnership. There will also be reports on the work we are doing to tackle poverty, supporting people to leave hospital, and an update on the refresh of the WY HCP’s five-year strategy as well as progress made from the recommendations of the Partnership’s Race Review.

Working alongside communities, the Partnership Board aims to give people their best start in life with support to stay healthy and live longer. Many factors determine whether someone leads a long and healthy life, including good housing, access to green space, and building an inclusive economy that creates more good jobs, reduces health inequalities, and promotes opportunity for all. These important factors are at the heart of the Partnership Board.

The Board meets in public every three months and gives people the opportunity to ask questions and have their say.  Members of the public will be able to ask a question at the start of the meeting via a video link.  All questions submitted will receive a written response after the meeting and will be published on the Partnership’s website.

Members of the public are asked to email their questions to westyorkshire.ics@nhs.net before Monday 5 December at 5pm – highlighting the question to be asked at the Board. People can also call 01924 317659 to submit questions. Members of the public who want to ask a question will then be sent a Microsoft Teams link to the meeting. 

The agenda, papers, and link to watch the meeting live can be accessed from Tuesday 29 November evening at: www.wypartnership.co.uk/meetings/partnershipboard/papers

 You can find out more about asking questions to the Board at:  www.wyhpartnership.co.uk/meetings/partnershipboard/questions

Health and care leaders back a trauma informed approach across West Yorkshire

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Health and care leaders across West Yorkshire are united in their support to tackle and address barriers that people affected by trauma can experience when accessing care.

The West Yorkshire Adversity, Trauma and Resilience Programme, jointly delivered by West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (WY HCP) and West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), has an ambition to ensure West Yorkshire is a trauma informed and responsive system by 2030. Initiatives to prevent harm and improve wellbeing, particularly for those who are most vulnerable and face multiple difficulties, include:

  • Training to thousands of multi-agency colleagues including the police, schools, housing providers, primary care, accident and emergency and local authorities
  • Developing an adversity, trauma and resilience web portal bringing shared resources together – coming soon

West Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe OBE is also the Senior Responsible Officer for the Adversity, Trauma and Resilience Programme and said:

“People who experience adversity and trauma are at higher risk of poor physical and mental health. Children are more likely to adopt anti-social and health-harming behaviours, get involved in violence, be excluded from school and attain low exam results. Adults facing multiple disadvantages can be more predisposed to addictions, dying by suicide and being absent from work than those who don’t.

“While fully eradicating trauma remains unlikely, by working together we can help to strengthen community resilience, mitigate existing harm and ultimately improve lives for people living and working in West Yorkshire.”

Chief Superintendent Jackie Marsh, West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) Director, said: “Collaboration is key to make sure that we do not add to harm and that we work in ways that mitigate the impact of where there has been harm already.

“Trauma and adversity cannot be prevented and responded to by one sector. That’s why it’s crucial that all our organisations and system leaders work together and that we listen to grassroots expertise to deliver the shifts in culture and practice needed to achieve our vision of ensuring the area is trauma-informed and responsive to people’s needs. We have a way to go but that work has started and is happening right now across West Yorkshire.”

The West Yorkshire Adversity, Trauma and Resilience Programme was set up in June 2020 and comprises over 300 members.

Take antibiotics seriously this World Antimicrobial Awareness Week

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[ Excerpt – read full article here ]

The NHS in West Yorkshire will be joining health organisations around the world to raise awareness of the global problem of antibiotic resistance and to encourage people to pledge to tackle it.

According to the World Health Organisation, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest threats to global health. Drug-resistant infections killed 1.25 million people in the world in 2019, including 141,000 patients in high income countries like the UK. This is estimated to rise to 10 million deaths per year by 2050 if we don’t act now.

Antibiotics kill bacteria or prevent them from spreading, but because bacteria are adapting to survive them, these medicines are becoming less effective. If antibiotics stop working to treat infections, this might stop us from carrying out common healthcare activities such as doing major operations or giving cancer treatments where infections are common, and we need effective antibiotics to prevent them. We may see more premature babies, children and adults on intensive care dying from infections.

That’s why healthcare professionals across the region are supporting Seriously Resistant (www.seriouslyresistant.com), a campaign originally developed in Leeds that aims to raise awareness of antibiotic resistance and educate people how they can help to keep antibiotics working.

“You can pledge to make better use of antibiotics and help save these vital medicines from becoming obsolete by becoming an Antibiotic Guardian – antibioticguardian.com/”

“To find out what you, your family and friends can do to help tackle antibiotic resistance and to help keep antibiotics working, please also visit www.seriouslyresistant.com”

Vaccination chief urges people to get boosted as West Yorkshire hits the half million milestone

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The leader of the West Yorkshire Vaccination Programme has rolled up his sleeves to encourage people to get their autumn booster as soon as possible.

Dr James Thomas, Medical Director for the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and practising GP, celebrated the rollout passing the half million milestone this week by getting his own top-up dose.

Just over a million people in West Yorkshire are eligible for the vital top-up jab, and over half of these have now been vaccinated. With COVID, flu and other respiratory illnesses in circulation and infection rates on the rise, Dr Thomas is urging everyone who is eligible to get their booster now to ensure maximum protection throughout the winter and festive period.

Dr Thomas said: “I am so grateful to our vaccination teams in West Yorkshire for all they are doing to get people protected ahead of what we know will be a hugely challenging winter. NHS staff and GP and pharmacy colleagues have been working flat out to protect those most susceptible to serious illness from both COVID and flu and delivered over 120,000 boosters a week during October, which is a fantastic achievement

.

“As we head into the winter months and busy festive season, the booster offers important protection and peace of mind for those at greatest risk and their loved ones, so if you are eligible for the booster and yet to come forward, I strongly urge you to roll up your sleeves and get the jab done!”

Everyone aged 50 and over, or who has a condition that puts them at greater risk from COVID-19 is eligible for the vital top-up jab to keep their immunity as high as possible this winter. This includes people with weakened immune systems, learning disabilities and pregnant women. Frontline health and care workers and unpaid carers are also eligible and being urged to protect themselves and those they care for by getting their booster and flu jabs.

Anyone eligible can book an appointment on the National Booking Service at www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine or by calling 119 free of charge. The West Yorkshire programme is also running a large number of walk-in and pop up clinics in local communities to make it as easy as possible for people to get their booster. People can search for clinics near them at www.nhs.uk/grab-a-jab

Rachel Spencer-Henshall, Public Health Lead for the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, said: “It is great that so many people have already made the smart choice to get their booster. We know that with winter comes both increased infection levels and also increased socialising indoors where viruses spread more easily. The increase in COVID infections is very concerning and latest data the UK Health Security Agency shows that flu infection rates are also on the rise so I would urge everyone who is eligible to get both their booster and their flu jab to keep them safe this winter.

Together we Can campaign to help the NHS

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West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (WY HCP) is set to once again run ‘Together We Can’ this winter. The campaign helps people access health and care services at the right time and place.

The campaign also encourages people to choose well and to opt for convenient self-care, where safe to do so during the winter months.

Ruth Buchan, Chief Executive Officer for Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire, said: ”As health services will be extremely busy this winter, we’re asking for everyone to play their part and to be better prepared during the cold and flu season. You can protect yourself and each other by having a flu jab and seeking advice for minor health concerns from your community pharmacy if needed. Our trained healthcare staff can help you choose over counter medicines and offer a range of clinical services too”.

The campaign has an easy to navigate website [togetherwe-can.com]. Here you will find help and advice and tips for keeping well this winter, as well as other useful information on how to stay healthy.

Dr Adam Sheppard, a Wakefield GP and Chair of West Yorkshire Urgent and Emergency Care Programme Board said: “Health and care services are here to help. During winter and times of significant pressure on local services, we still encourage the public to come forward and not to delay if they need help or are concerned about their health, but we want to ensure they’re using the right services and they know when to go to a pharmacy, use NHS 111 or their GP practice.  You can save time by ordering prescriptions and seeking medical advice online by downloading the NHS App. Find out all you need to know this winter by visiting togetherwe-can.com”

Together we can choose well this winter.  Together we can make a real difference so please:

  • Access online services. You can book appointments or order repeat prescriptions through the NHS App. Visit 111.nhs.uk or call 111 if you need urgent medical help 24/7 and can’t access the internet.
  • Remember GP practices are here to help and will ensure you get the right care appropriate for your needs.
  • Have your flu and COVID-19 vaccines. If you’re over 50, pregnant or have a long-term medical condition, get your free jabs.
  • Take good care this winter there’s lots you can do to stay well and protect yourselves and others around you this winter.
  • Visit your local community pharmacy for medical advice and treatments for things like colds, tummy troubles, rashes, and pains.
  • A range of urgent care services are available to ensure people can access the right care for their needs. This ensures Accident and Emergency Departments (A&E) are freed up to treat those that need it most including emergencies, those with serious injuries and life-threatening situations like heart attacks.
  • Don’t wait until you are in mental health crisis. There’s a wide range of support and resources available for everyone, including a 24/7 free phone line. Visit togetherwe-can.com/mental-health
  • We can all spread the kindness this winter by looking out for each other and our neighbours. Visit: ourneighbours.org.uk