Posts by Tim Readman
Patients encouraged to ‘choose the right care at the right time’ over the Easter weekend
The NHS in Scarborough and Ryedale says patients who become unwell over the Easter weekend can save time if they choose the right health services.
With most GP practices
closed for the four-day Easter weekend which begins with Good Friday on 19
April, local NHS leaders want to make sure people access the most appropriate
care, depending on whether they have a minor health complaint, or something
more serious.
Residents who need urgent
medical help should ring NHS 111 – trained health professionals can advise on
where to go for the best treatment – or if it’s something less serious like a
cough, cold or rash, people can visit their local community pharmacy for advice
and support.
NHS Scarborough and
Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Chairman, Dr Phil Garnett, said: “It’s
important people use NHS resources sensibly and ‘choose the right care, first
time’.
“A wide range of common
illnesses and injuries can be treated at home simply with over-the-counter
medicines and plenty of rest. Often there is no shortcut to recovery – in many
cases these things just need to run their course.”
People suffering from
a minor ailment who need additional advice or reassurance should visit their
local pharmacy or if it’s more serious, Urgent Treatment Centres like those based
at Scarborough and Malton Hospitals are there to deal with illnesses and
injuries like strains and sprains, suspected broken limbs, fevers, abdominal pain
and emergency contraception.
“While it’s possible
to walk in and be seen, it’s much better to pre-book an appointment through NHS
111, who will direct you to the most appropriate place to meet your needs. If
you receive an appointment at the Urgent Treatment Centre, they will aim to see
you within 30 minutes of your appointment time.
“The Accident and
Emergency department and 999 are for emergencies only, in serious or
life-threatening situations.”
The local NHS is also reminding patients with
long-term conditions to make sure they have enough of their regular medication
to cover them over the long Easter weekend.
New frailty service launches in Scarborough and Ryedale
Patients in Scarborough and parts of Ryedale are set to benefit from an enhanced range of adult community services.
Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, which has been running a range of community services, health promotion and wellbeing advice as part of an £80 million contract with NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), has introduced two more services using the ‘One Team’ approach.
It has now launched a new frailty service which follows the integrated partnership working model that has been successful since its initial launch last year.
Frailty is now recognised as a ‘long term condition’ and it’s hoped the new service will encourage early diagnosis and create a systematic, preventative and proactive approach to frailty care which will help and prevent further health problems.
The new model of care has meant patients access community nursing, specialist nursing, therapy services, dietetics, stroke and other services, with personalised care so they can remain in their own homes, and avoid admission to hospital where it is possible and safe to do so, in a ‘Home First’ approach.
Following the improvements, patients are able to call a single telephone number to access round-the-clock care with front-line clinical teams working in partnership with GPs, local councils, the voluntary and charitable sector and other key organisations.
NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG Executive Nurse, Carrie Wollerton, said: “The first year of the new community services contract has seen a big emphasis on patients being looked after in their own homes, or in community settings. There’s been a much greater focus on prevention which we believe is leading to fewer people requiring a stay in hospital.
“We’re looking forward to seeing the range of services expanded from this month and seeing further benefits for residents in Scarborough and parts of Ryedale.”
Under the new model, every doctor, nurse, therapist or health care assistant looking after a patient will, subject to consent, be granted the same view of each medical record, ensuring patients do not have to repeat themselves whenever they seek treatment. This follows on from feedback received during the consultation period where patients felt strongly that they should “only have to tell their story once”.
Julia Harrison-Mizon, Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust’s Care Group Director of Primary Care, Community, Children’s and Learning Disability Services, said: “We are excited about expanding the range of services to include frailty delivered through our One Team approach which works to ensure that people maintain their independence and stay in their own homes for as long as possible.
“The staff in our three hub teams have done a tremendous job during our year one delivery which has included the introduction of an overnight nursing service and relocation to new bases closer to the people we are supporting and working closely with.”
The Trust is continuing to expand Scarborough and Ryedale services following the takeover of an £80 million contract with NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG in 2018.
The Trust will also be delivering continuing healthcare assessments for the Scarborough and Ryedale area from today (1 April 2019) and introducing another new service to the area later in the year which will offer elderly medicine clinics.
Further information is available by emailing hnf-tr.scarboroughryedale@nhs.net
Read MoreDoctors share skin cancer expertise
Skin cancer
diagnoses in York and North Yorkshire were given a boost when GPs gathered to
learn more about technology that can help them identify potential skin cancers.
More than 40
family doctors from across NHS Vale of York and Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical
Commissioning Groups were shown how to take high-quality photographs of lesions
using regular cameras as well as dermatoscopes, sophisticated pieces of
equipment that can take detailed magnified pictures of moles and skin lesions.
Dermatoscopes
have been bought by York Against Cancer for all GP practices across the Vale of
York, and the charity also funded the dermatoscopy course held at York’s Marriott
Hotel during March.
Dermatoscopes
used in practices in Scarborough and parts of Ryedale have been funded by NHS
Scarborough and Ryedale CCG.
The course
was arranged as part of a quality improvement programme led by both Dr Andy
Muinonen-Martin, Consultant Dermatologist and York Trust Skin Cancer Lead, and
Dr Dan Cottingham, Macmillan GP Cancer and End of Life lead for the Vale of
York CCG. It was delivered alongside
fellow clinicians Dr Elizabeth Blakeway and Dr Angana Mitra.
The experts
showed GPs how to take three specific images of any doubtful lesion, from a
general overview to a close-up and a specialised dermatoscope image.
The
photographic procedure meets new guidance issued by the York Teaching Hospitals
NHS Trust so that GPs and hospital doctors can assess lesions and come to an
informed clinical decision about which patients need hospital appointments.
The GPs
learned how to use the photographs to familiarise themselves with different
types of skin cancer. The teaching also emphasised common benign diagnoses that
mimic skin cancer.
It’s hoped
the training will help reduce the number of people who have to attend hospital,
sparing many an anxious wait for further investigations. Those that do need to
be seen can then be sent more efficiently to the correct specialist the first
time.
“Our emphasis was on improving the quality of
the pictures that GPs take and increasing knowledge about using the
dermatoscopes and interpreting the images,” said Dr Cottingham. “The course was
a big success and we got lots of positive feedback.
“Thanks to
York Against Cancer for providing the funding for this event – we could not
have done it without them.”
Julie
Russell, general manager of York Against Cancer, attended the day. “It was
really informative and we hope it will help GPs get the best out of the
equipment we have funded,” she said.
Dr Peter
Billingsley, Associate Chair of NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG, said: “The use
of dermatoscopes in GP practices is transforming the way skin lesions are
investigated and, importantly, many patients no longer need to go through the
anxiety of a hospital wait.
“This was a fantastic course and I’m delighted
to many of my colleagues took the opportunity to attend.”
Complete online test to determine Type 2 diabetes risk
People in Scarborough and Ryedale and across the wider Yorkshire and Humber region are being encouraged to know their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes – by taking an online test, which takes just three minutes to complete.
Some 12.3 million people in the UK are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. If left untreated, diabetes can cause blindness, kidney failure, limb amputation, heart disease, stroke and even early death.
Identifying the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes as early as possible is crucial so people can make lifestyle changes sooner to lower their risk of developing the condition. Around three in five Type 2 diabetes cases can be prevented if people maintain a healthy weight, eat well and increase the amount of physical activity they do.
People living in Humber, Coast and Vale – a region including Hull and East Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire, Vale of York and Scarborough and Ryedale – are encouraged to visit www.diabetes.org.uk/risk to find out whether they are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Those people who are considered to be at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes should contact their GP surgery to find out whether they are eligible for the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme – a free, personalised programme to encourage individuals to make small and achievable changes in order to live a healthier lifestyle.
Participants will receive support to reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in a number of ways. A dedicated health coach will support them to make positive changes to their diet and encourage them to be more physically active. As they progress on the programme, they will build on their dietary knowledge and their progress will be reviewed after six months and again at nine months.
Since its launch in July 2018, some 2,000 people across the Humber, Coast and Vale area have been referred to the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. Nationally, patients who have participated in the programme have lost an average of 3.6kg.
People aged 40 and over are also encouraged to get a free NHS Health Check to assess their risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other conditions.
While Type 2 diabetes is largely linked to lifestyle, some people are more likely to develop the condition if they have an immediate relative who has diabetes, or if they come from black and minority ethnic (BME) groups. In addition, the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes increases as a person gets older.
Diabetes Prevention Week, which takes place between 1 and 7 April, aims to raise awareness about Type 2 diabetes and increase knowledge about how to prevent the condition.
Alex Seale, Senior Responsible Officer for Diabetes at the Humber, Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership, and Chief Operating Officer at North Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Tackling Type 2 diabetes is hugely important for the Humber, Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership as we want everyone in our area to have the opportunities and support they need to stay healthy and age well.
“I would encourage people living in the Humber, Coast and Vale area to visit www.diabetes.org.uk/risk to find out their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes – it takes only a couple of minutes to complete the online test. People in at-risk groups are particularly encouraged to complete the test.
“If the test indicates a person is at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes they could be eligible for the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. So far, more than 250,000 people nationally who were on the cusp of developing Type 2 diabetes have been referred to classes which offer advice and support on food, diet and exercise.”
For more information about the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme visit www.england.nhs.uk/ndpp.
Read MoreWork continues to improve mental health services for new and expectant mums
Published on Mar 7, 2019
Mental health services for new and expectant mums in Scarborough and Ryedale and other parts of the Humber and Yorkshire region are continuing to be developed courtesy of NHS funding worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Having secured a share of a £23 million nationwide investment announced by NHS England in 2018, the Humber, Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership – a collaboration of 28 health and social care organisations – is working to deliver specialist community perinatal mental health services in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, Scarborough and Ryedale, and the Vale of York.
The funding is part of a £365 million plan by NHS England to ensure 30,000 more women in all areas of England can access specialist perinatal services by 2021.
Perinatal mental health problems are those which occur during pregnancy or during the first year following the birth of a child. Perinatal mental illness affects one in five (20%) women, and covers a wide range of conditions. If left untreated, it can have significant and long lasting effects on the woman and her family.
Examples of perinatal mental health conditions include:
Moderate to severe postnatal depression
Anxiety disorders, including obsessive compulsive disorder and panic disorder
Eating disorders
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Severe mental illnesses including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and bipolar affective disorder
Postpartum psychosis
Severe self-harm
Suicidal thoughts
Late last year, pre-existing perinatal services began to be developed further, while new ones were created to ensure women in all parts of the Humber, Coast and Vale area who experience complex mental health needs have access to treatments and support as early as possible. Providing support for families and signposting to relevant services has also been part of the service improvements.
Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust has strengthened its already established specialist community perinatal mental health services in Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire. The Trust is also working with NAViGO and Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust to introduce a new service in North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust is also introducing new specialist community perinatal mental health services across the Vale of York and Scarborough and Ryedale.
Michele Moran, Chair of the Humber, Coast and Vale Mental Health Partnership Board and Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive, said: “So many new and expectant mothers experience mental health problems and we’re proud to work with our partners to extend the perinatal service into underserved areas and hopefully help hundreds of women and their families.”
Michelle Thompson, Perinatal Mental Health Lead for the Humber, Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership and Assistant Director for Women’s and Children’s Services for North East Lincolnshire CCG, said: “Having a baby is a major life event for mums and dads, and it’s natural to experience a whole range of emotions and reactions during and after pregnancy.
“But if these problems start to have a big impact on day to day life, it might be a sign of a mental health problem and this service will provide some much needed specialist support for local families who are experiencing difficulties during or after the birth of their child.”
If you are concerned that you or someone you care about might be experiencing perinatal mental health problems you can speak to health professionals involved in your care, such as your GP, midwife or health visitor, who will be able to offer support and refer you to an appropriate service.
For more information, please visit the following websites:
For Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire patients: https://www.humber.nhs.uk/services/perinatal-mental-health.htm
For Vale of York and Scarborough and Ryedale patients: https://www.tewv.nhs.uk/services/north-yorkshire-and-york-perinatal-mental-health-service/
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