Posts by Tim Readman
Healthy Hearts website launched to help people in Scarborough and Ryedale
A new website has been launched to help improve heart health among people living in Scarborough and Ryedale.
The Healthy Hearts website is designed to help reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack among people considered to be most at risk, and reduce the number of people dying prematurely from cardiovascular disease – a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels.
The website has been created to help people living in Humber, Coast and Vale – a region which covers Hull and East Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire, Vale of York, Scarborough and Ryedale.
More than 220,000 people in the Humber, Coast and Vale area are affected by high blood pressure, while around three in 10 people (more than 72,000) have undiagnosed high blood pressure. More than 32,000 people living in the area have an irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) and almost 30,000 people have experienced a stroke or mini-stroke.
The Humber, Coast and Vale Healthy Hearts website contains a wealth of information about how people can reduce their risk of developing cardiovascular disease, including advice about healthy eating and exercise. It also features interactive tools, with users able to use the website to determine their high blood pressure risk.
The website forms part of collaborative efforts by healthcare organisations in the Humber, Coast and Vale area to reduce the number of people suffering from cardiovascular disease. They are committed to improving the health of people who have cardiovascular disease, or are at risk of developing it, as it remains one of the most significant health challenges in the area.
More than a quarter (26%) of all deaths in England in 2017 were caused by cardiovascular diseases, with coronary heart disease and stroke accounting for the majority of those deaths. Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of death and disability in the UK, but it can often largely be prevented by leading a healthy lifestyle.
Dr Greg Black, NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG Governing Body Member and Lead for Cardiovascular Disease, said: “Heart disease and stroke are two of the biggest ‘killers’ in Scarborough and Ryedale. Often linked to smoking and obesity, it’s imperative these issues are tackled.
“The new Healthy Hearts website will be important resource for GPs and other healthcare professionals, while giving people the tools and confidence to make those all-important lifestyle changes.”
Alex Seale, Senior Responsible Officer for Planned Care at the Humber, Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership, said: “The Humber, Coast and Vale Healthy Hearts website will become a key asset to healthcare professionals and patients to help reduce instances of cardiovascular disease in our communities.
“Heart disease remains a significant challenge for health organisations within the Humber, Coast and Vale area but one we are determined to overcome by working with healthcare professionals and members of the public alike to enhance cardiovascular disease education and improve cardiovascular disease detection.
“Heart health should be everybody’s concern so visit www.humbercoastandvalehealthyhearts.co.uk for information on how you can improve your heart health and take steps to protect against cardiovascular disease.”
For more information, visit www.humbercoastandvalehealthyhearts.co.uk
Read MorePartnership nominated for leadership award
The Humber, Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership has been shortlisted for a national award in recognition of the strength of its joint working to improve mental health outcomes for its population.
The Humber, Coast and Vale Mental Health Partnership has been shortlisted for the Health Services Journal (HSJ) Award for “System Leadership Initiative of the Year”. The HSJ judging panel, made up of a diverse range of influential figures within the healthcare community, has shortlisted the Partnership despite the tough competition from hundreds of excellent applicants.
The Award recognises the progress made since the Partnership was established to improve mental health services by working together. The Mental Health Partnership has achieved many successes by bringing together all the organisations that are responsible for commissioning (“buying”) and providing mental health services across our region to put in place care that is seamless and built around the needs of individuals regardless of which organisation is responsible for each element of that person’s care.
The Partnership’s many successes include the development of specialist mental health services for new and expectant mothers across the region and the launch of the Every Mum Matters campaign; ensuring more people are treated closer to home by significantly reducing the number of patients in “out of area” placements; developing and securing funding for a Partnership-wide suicide prevention strategy and securing over £1 million additional funding to support people with enduring mental health problems into employment.
Michele Moran, Chair of the Humber, Coast and Vale Mental Health Partnership Board and Chief Executive, Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are overjoyed to have been shortlisted for another HSJ award. Being nominated for this award highlights the fantastic work that our staff members carry out to transform and improve mental health services, in an area stretching across Northern Lincolnshire, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, York and Scarborough. As a partnership we have achieved a number of notable successes through collaborative working between partners and this is something that we are all proud of. To be nominated is an amazing achievement in itself and, as always, we would like to thank all of our patients, stakeholders, our staff, and those working in close partnership across Humber, Coast and Vale. This is about working together to make a difference for our communities.”
Stephen Eames, Independent Chair for the Humber, Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership, said: “This is fantastic news and a testament to the hard work and commitment of local leaders. This
is well-earned recognition for the cutting-edge work the Mental Health Partnership is doing, which is improving peoples’ lives across Humber, Coast and Vale.”
The full list of nominees for the 2019 HSJ awards can be found here. Winners will be announced at the 2019 HSJ awards ceremony, which is due to be held in London on 6 November 2019.
Read MorePharmacy opening hours – August 2019
Prescribing of over-the-counter medicines is changing in Scarborough and Ryedale
Doctors
in Scarborough and Ryedale will no longer usually prescribe medicines that
patients can buy over-the-counter for a range of minor health concerns,
including hay fever, coughs and colds, aches and pains and sunburn.
Patients
are instead encouraged to visit their local pharmacy for advice and treatments.
There’s
no need to make an appointment to see a pharmacist, making it quicker and
easier for patients. It also helps free up GP appointment slots for those who
need them most.
Some
of the products to treat minor, short-term illnesses can be purchased
over-the-counter at a lower cost than that which would be incurred by the NHS.
Some
medicines are also available from other retail outlets such as supermarkets,
convenience stores and health food stores. These are usually general sales list
items and can be purchased without advice from a pharmacist.
Clinical
Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in Humber, Coast and Vale have adopted new guidance
issued by NHS England last year following the results of a public consultation
on the prescribing of over-the-counter medicines for minor, short-term health
concerns.
The
guidance does not affect the prescribing of over-the-counter treatments for
long-term conditions or more complex conditions, or where minor illnesses are a
symptom or side effect of a more serious condition.
The
NHS spends around £136 million a year on prescriptions for medicines which
could otherwise have been bought over-the-counter. By reducing the amount of
money the NHS spends on over-the-counter medicines, the NHS can give priority
to treatments for people with more serious conditions such as cancer, diabetes
and mental illness.
Dr
Phil Garnett, NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG Clinical Chair, said: “Our NHS
services are precious and by buying medicines over-the-counter for minor health
concerns from your local pharmacy or supermarket, rather than obtaining them on
prescription, we can make more efficient use of NHS resources and free up more
GP appointments for people who need them most.
“Having
home remedies to hand ensures people can self-manage minor illness or injury.
Medicines to keep in stock include pain relief tablets, antiseptic cream, cough
remedies and antihistamines.”
Alex
Seale, Senior Responsible Officer for Planned Care at the Humber, Coast and
Vale Health and Care Partnership, said: “CCGs in Humber, Coast and Vale are
working in partnership to ensure their populations are aware of the
prescription changes happening nationally within the NHS.
“Empowering
the public to self-manage minor conditions or injuries by buying products
over-the-counter is a positive behavioural change we need to embed into our
communities to ensure NHS resources are used effectively.”
Visit www.prescriptionchanges.co.uk for
more information about the prescribing changes and for a full list of
conditions for which over-the-counter medicines will no longer be routinely
prescribed.
Annual General Meeting is open to the public
Members of the public are invited to the Annual General Meeting of NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) on Wednesday 24 July.
The event will be hosted at The Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough from 6.15pm.
Talking points will include the challenges faced by the NHS over the last 12 months, local health spending, developments in the area as well as the priorities of the CCG over the next year.
There will also be an opportunity at the end of the meeting to ask questions and have an informal chat with Governing Body members and staff from the CCG.
Amanda Bloor, Single Accountable Officer for the three North Yorkshire CCGs, said: “There have been a number of challenges faced by the NHS this year. However, we have seen some good progress in the work of the CCG, some examples being the work around the recruitment of international GPs and the continued efforts to encourage the local population to self-care and choose the right care first time when it comes to their health.”
“The AGM is a great opportunity for us to hear from members of the public and get their opinions on the work of the CCG and how we could improve our services. It is also a chance to provide local patients with more information on the services we commission first hand.
“We understand the importance of public engagement and hope the meeting will encourage patients to share ideas and feedback to the Governing Body. We look forward seeing new faces and welcoming back others.”
The AGM is open to everyone, but if you intend to come along, please email SCRCCG.enquiries@nhs.net, – refreshments will be available from 6pm for anyone attending.
If you want to attend and you have a disability, such as a hearing impairment, do get in touch and we can put measures in place to make sure you are able to fully participate.
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