Posts by Tim Readman
Survey: Expectant mums, new parents asked how they wish to receive information about their pregnancy care choices
Expectant
and new mums in parts of Yorkshire and the Humber region are being asked for
their views on how information about their pregnancy and childbirth care
options should be shared with them and their families.
The Humber, Coast and Vale Maternity Voices Partnership Group is a network of
independent, parent-led groups which bring together women and their families
with healthcare professionals, clinicians and NHS managers responsible for
maternity services in the areas of Hull, East Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire,
North East Lincolnshire, Vale of York and Scarborough and Ryedale to develop
local maternity care.
The group wants to hear from mums-to-be and new parents in these areas about
how they wish to receive information about the options available relating to
the care they receive during pregnancy and childbirth – for example, where they
can give birth.
The Maternity Voices Partnership Group has created a survey on the subject, and
is encouraging mums-to-be and new parents to share their views so they can
determine the best way to share this important information with them in the
future.
The survey, which runs until Friday, 31st May 2019, can be viewed at: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/hcvchoices
Ruth Prentice, Independent Chair of the Humber, Coast and Vale Maternity
Voices Partnership Group, said: “Maternity Voices Partnerships are here to
enable all women and their families to have a say in their local maternity
services. We are keen to hear how new and expectant mums would like information
about their choices relating to the care they receive during pregnancy and
childbirth to be shared with them.
“If you have a few spare moments please complete the survey to help us
understand how you want to receive this important information. The survey takes
just five minutes to complete and the responses are anonymous. The findings
from the survey will be shared with local organisations to help improve
maternity services in the local area.”
Sallie Ward, Humber, Coast and Vale Local Maternity System Midwife, said: “Your
views are integral in helping maternity care providers and commissioners
deliver improvements to maternity services in the Humber, Coast and Vale area.
So if you’re pregnant or have recently had a baby, we’d be extremely grateful
if you could take a few minutes to complete the survey.”
For more information about the work of Maternity Voices Partnerships, visit: www.nationalmaternityvoices.org.uk
Read MoreNHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG moves towards North Yorkshire merger
North Yorkshire’s three clinical
commissioning groups (CCGs) have agreed to merge.
The decision was ratified during a meeting in public of the Governing Bodies which represent NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby CCG, NHS Harrogate and Rural District CCG and NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG, meeting as a ‘Committee in Common’.
A detailed formal proposal will be
submitted to NHS England by 30 September and should it be approved, the three
CCGs will begin operating as a single, statutory organisation from 1 April next
year.
NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby CCG
Chair, Dr Charles Parker, said the proposed merger represents “a great
opportunity to improve healthcare for the people of North Yorkshire”.
NHS Harrogate and Rural District Chair, Dr
Alistair Ingram, said: “A single commissioning voice will make it easier to
reduce some of the health inequalities we see across the county and there will
be less duplication and bureaucracy.”
NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG Associate
Chair, Dr Peter Billingsley added: “Importantly, the governance model that will
be introduced will still allow there to be strong local leadership and patient
engagement, ensuring each area of North Yorkshire will continue to have a
strong clinical voice and patients’ views are represented.”
The proposed merger comes on the back of
reviews carried out by each of the three North Yorkshire CCGs last year, with
Amanda Bloor, formerly the Accountable Officer for Harrogate and Rural District
CCG, subsequently appointed the Accountable Officer across the three North
Yorkshire CCGs in December.
A shared executive leadership team is set
to be implemented soon.
The
proposal to merge has the unanimous backing of the three CCGs’ Council of
Members / Clinical Representatives (made up of local GPs and practice managers)
and the Local Medical Committee.
Self-care on the agenda at Filey health and wellbeing day
Filey Surgery and its
patient participation group have joined forces to organise a self-care health
care day at the town’s Evron Centre in John Street.
It takes place on Friday
10 May between 11am and 3pm; entry is free and refreshments are being provided
by Filey Tesco.
Local organisations
and services offering help and advice on a number of self-help health related
issues will be represented, including Carers Resource, Age UK, Alzheimer’s
Society, NHS weight management, Slimming World, Bike About Filey, Otago
Strength and Balance, Everyone Active, Filey Lions Club and Filey Tennis and
Bowling Club.
There will also be
self-care help and advice from Filey Surgery, with everyone welcome.
Filey Surgery Practice
Manager, Carolyn Liddle, said: “I want to thank our patient participation group
for helping to pull this event together and the organisations who are kindly
supporting it.
“This is a great
opportunity for people to find out more about how they can take care of
themselves or make changes to their lifestyle to improve their overall health
and wellbeing.”
The event in Filey is also supported by NHS
Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).
NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group backs Dying Matters campaign
NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is backing a national campaign which aims to encourage people to talk more openly about dying, death and bereavement.
The campaign known as ‘Dying Matters Week’ will run from 13 to 19 May and this year’s theme is ‘Are We Ready?’ which is a question that challenges people to consider if they are ready for their own death, or the deaths of those they care about.
The scheme also looks to encourage people to talk about their needs towards the end of their lives, including where they want to die and discuss funeral plans with friends, family and loved ones.
NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG Governing Body GP, Dr Jenni Lawrence, said: “Talking more openly about death can have a huge impact on the future of services available to patients and their families; we want people to have as much control as possible over how and where they die.
“Planning for death can obviously be very emotional and daunting which is why a lot of people don’t take care of the practical aspects such as wills, funeral planning, organ donation and potential future care for their families.
“This campaign is all about working together to make sure people get the right support when it comes to death, whether it is helping people plan for the end of their life or supporting carers, friends or family.””
The campaign can also be supported through volunteering at local hospices, supporting local bereavement charities or even hosting local community events to spread the word about ‘Dying Matters Week’.
You can find out more on the campaign and how to get involved on the Dying Matters website: https://www.dyingmatters.org/blog/dying-matters-2019-theme-are-we-ready
Dying Matters also has an events map on their website so you can see what is happening locally and wider, which you can view at: https://www.dyingmatters.org/page/map-awareness-week-events-2019
NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG also has an entire section about End of Life Care on our website: at www.northyorkshireccg.nhs.uk/your-health/end-of-life-care/
Read MoreNew support service for people affected by dementia
People whose
lives have been affected by dementia, their families and carers can get free
help and support from a new service available across North Yorkshire.
The service
is being provided by Dementia Forward and is funded by North Yorkshire County
Council and the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) covering the county, as part
of their work to help people live independent, healthy lives for as long as
possible. Dementia Forward has been working with the County Council in the
Harrogate and Vale of York CCG areas and they will now also cover Scarborough
and Ryedale, Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby and Craven CCG areas,
previously delivered by Making Space.
Richard Webb, North Yorkshire’s Corporate Director for
Health and Adult Services, said:
“Dementia Forward is a local charity that provides a highly responsive,
individual support service for people living with dementia, and the people who
care for them.
“The aim of
the service is to help people living with dementia and their family, friends or
carers to feel empowered and informed so that they have choices following their
diagnosis. Information, advice and support is provided through a wide range of
local services, including a North Yorkshire Helpline; home visits from a trained
dementia support advisor; signposting to other sources of help; education
programmes and a range of wellbeing and social activities.
“One
of Dementia Forward’s most popular activities is singing. Two members from one
of their groups told us: ‘We started in January.
David was diagnosed last year and a Dementia Support Advisor from Dementia
Forward came out to see us and she told us about all the different support and
activity groups. David loves it and looks forward to it – now he can’t drive
and you’re very restricted when you have dementia. We’ve never gone out singing
or done anything like that but it’s really good isn’t it?’ and ‘It lifts you up
and you look forward to coming.’ How good is that!
“Dementia
Forward will continue to increase understanding of dementia across North
Yorkshire, and build on the excellent work previously delivered by Making
Space. Their remit will also include education and awareness sessions to a
range of groups, including schools and businesses.”
The support service
is available to anyone living in the county who is affected by dementia, from
pre-diagnosis to end of life. Support
will be provided to those diagnosed, their family and carers, including
situations where a family member lives outside North Yorkshire. Dementia Forward will be a key partner in
implementing Bring Me Sunshine, the dementia strategy for North Yorkshire.
Jill Quinn,
Chief Executive of Dementia Forward, said: “Being awarded the contract across
the whole county is extremely important to us as we have looked forward to
ensuring everyone living in North Yorkshire can access the same quality of
dementia care and support.
“Our services
are designed to give the right support at the right time, and from the very
first conversation with us we can open doors to the things that people may
need. We achieve this by working closely
with colleagues in health and social care services and other voluntary
organisations, as well as the wonderful support provided by volunteers and
local communities.
“We want to encourage
people who are looking for dementia support to get in touch in touch with us, and
also hope to hear from people who would like to volunteer with Dementia
Forward.”
Dementia
Forward will be holding information roadshows across North Yorkshire throughout
May. For further information about them
and the services Dementia Forward provides, ring the Dementia Forward Helpline 03300
578592 or go to www.dementiaforward.org.uk.
Dementia
Forward’s second Dementia Conference is called ‘Show me you care 2019’ and will
be held on 1 July 2019 at Rudding Park, Harrogate. To express an interest in
attending, email netty.newell@dementiaforward.org.uk.