News and information
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.
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.”