Posts Tagged ‘nhs news’
Mums and dads urged to take up flu vaccination offer for their children
Published on Sep 18, 2018
Mums and dads in Scarborough and Ryedale are being urged to get their child vaccinated against the flu.
The vaccine is free for the majority of children aged two and three years old, primary school age children and youngsters with a health condition that puts them at greater risk from flu.
The annual vaccination programme in schools in our area is being delivered by nurses from Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust’s Childhood Immunisation Team.
Parents are being reminded to complete the online consent form for their child, available at www.hdft.nhs.uk/flu-consent or complete the paper form circulated by some schools.
The online consent form is easy to fill in and will take around 10 minutes. Parents will be prompted to type in their child’s school code, provided on the website and can also read a range of Frequently Asked Questions about the nasal flu vaccine.
For children aged two and three, the vaccine is available at their local GP practice.
Dr Greg Black, Governing Body member and Medicines Lead for NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “Flu can be a very unpleasant illness in children causing fever, stuffy nose, dry cough, sore throat, aching muscles and joints, and extreme tiredness. This can last several days or more and in many cases will lead to a parent having to take time off work to look after their poorly child.
“Some children can get a very high fever, sometimes without the usual flu symptoms, and may need to go to hospital for treatment. Children under the age of five have the highest rate of hospital admissions due to flu. Serious complications of flu include a painful ear infection, acute bronchitis, and pneumonia.
“The nasal vaccine provided through the schools vaccination programme offers good protection against flu, particularly in young children. It also reduces the risk of a child passing on the virus to a more vulnerable member of their family, such as a baby brother or sister who is too young to be vaccinated, or elderly relative who is at greater risk from complications caused by the flu.
“This particular flu vaccination has been given to millions of children worldwide and is the single most effective protection against flu we have.”
Meanwhile, in a series of films for social media – also available to watch at www.hdft.nhs.uk/flu-consent – children from North Yorkshire have been giving their opinions about the nasal flu spray and why it’s important to have it. Youngsters Maisie, Jude, Reggie, Oliver and Noah remarked how “it tickles”, “it goes up a nose hole” and how “it protects my grandma”.
Lois Alderson, Clinical Lead for Childhood Immunisations in North Yorkshire said: “We had a lot of fun talking with our five youngsters and finding out what they thought about the nasal flu spray.
“As nurses we know the benefits of having the vaccine and we know parents do too. But we thought it would be interesting to see what some of the young people actually receiving the vaccine thought about it and if they understood why it was so important.
“And even if one child thought it would protect the moon too, it was great to see they knew why it was important and what the benefits were of having it.”
You can also watch each film here:
Maisie: https://youtu.be/Ts_4QU8r7x8
Reggie: https://youtu.be/mscrFf8vAFo
Jude: https://youtu.be/rRE2IK3QBPQ
Oliver: https://youtu.be/1DKuMFDTre0
Noah: https://youtu.be/ngu2pbd08QI
Read MoreNorth Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Groups to recommission local adult autism and ADHD services
Published on Aug 10, 2018
Local health groups in North Yorkshire and York are to recommission the services currently available to adults with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), NHS Vale of York CCG, NHS Harrogate and Rural District CCG and NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby CCG want to redesign a service that better meets the needs of patients.
Led by NHS Vale of York CCG as lead commissioner, the CCGs are beginning to engage with local communities to gather insight which will be used to ensure there are improved pathways for diagnosis of autism and ADHD in adulthood.
Another aim of the engagement work is to increase awareness and understanding of autism and ADHD among frontline health professionals.
Scarborough Medical Group GP and NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG Associate Chairman, Dr Peter Billingsley, said: “We know the resources we currently have available don’t always meet the needs of adults with suspected autism or ADHD and it’s something that across York and North Yorkshire we’re eager to address.
“We want to take the opportunity to ask service users and carers how they feel about our current service and look at ways to improve the quality of the service for adult ADHD and autism diagnostics to ensure it meets the needs of the local population.
“For example, we’re aware that some people are waiting far too long for appointments and we want to improve that.”
As part of the wider North Yorkshire engagement work, there will be a public event in Harrogate Library on Tuesday 21 August from 10.30am to 12.30pm at which people can contribute to discussions about what a new autism and ADHD assessment service for adults could look like.
Locally, each of the North Yorkshire and York CCGs will be gathering feedback from people with ADHD and autism, their families and their carers.
A survey for Scarborough and Ryedale patients is also being circulated and can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/AautismADHD
You can find an easy read version of the survey here.
Below is the full interview with Dr Peter Billinglsy on Thats North Yorkshire Televsion:
Read MoreHealth and care partners back ‘Blood in Pee’ campaign
Published on Jul 26, 2018
Health and care partners in North Yorkshire are urging people to be aware of the early signs of bladder and kidney cancers and to go to their doctor if they see blood in their pee – even if it’s just the once.
‘Blood in pee’ is part of the national Be Clear on Cancer (BCOC) campaign from Public Health England in partnership with the Department of Health, NHS England and Cancer Research UK. Around 300 people in North Yorkshire are diagnosed with bladder or kidney cancer each year and approximately 120 people die.
NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG Governing Body Associate GP Member, Dr Jenni Lawrence, said: “As a GP in the Scarborough and Ryedale District, I’ve been involved in work to improve early diagnosis rates for bladder and kidney cancers. An important part of this is our blood in pee one stop clinic in Malton. Patients just have to see their GP to get a referral, and then go along to the clinic where they can receive all the tests needed in one place – and get an answer quickly.”
Bladder and kidney cancers can affect people of all ages, but the risk of these cancers increases as people get older and are most common in those over 50.
Blood in pee is a key symptom for both bladder and kidney cancer. Other bladder cancer symptoms include a urinary tract infection (cystitis) that is difficult to treat or comes back quickly after treatment and pain when peeing. Other kidney cancer symptoms include a pain in the side below the ribs that doesn’t go away, and weight loss.
County Councillor Caroline Dickinson, North Yorkshire’s Executive Member for Public Health, Prevention and Supported Housing, said: “The aim of Be Clear on Cancer campaigns is to increase public awareness of key cancer symptoms and to encourage people with those symptoms to see their GP early. This new campaign stresses how important it is if you notice blood in your pee, even if it’s ‘just the once’, to tell your doctor straight away.
“Blood in pee is a key symptom of both bladder and kidney cancers. The chances are it’s nothing serious, but these cancers are more treatable if they are found early.
“The campaign also asks people to look before they flush the toilet – and to go to see their GP if they notice blood in their pee. You’re not wasting anyone’s time by getting your symptoms checked out. And if you’ve been to the doctor but your symptoms haven’t gone away, go back – they’ll want to know and early diagnosis and treatment could save your life.”
Read MoreNHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group backs NHS recruitment campaign
Published on Jul 16, 2018
NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group is backing a national campaign which aims to address staff shortages in the NHS.
The priority is to increase recruitment into the NHS, and improve the retention of existing staff.
Key areas currently facing the worst shortages including mental health, learning disability and community and general practice nursing, will be prioritised.
Our CCG Chairman, Dr Phil Garnett, said: “Remedying the staff shortages in GP surgeries and hospitals is one of the biggest challenges we face.
“As a CCG, we’re already doing lots to attract new doctors to work in our local practices and we’re expanding the range of healthcare professionals people can see.
“There are significant workforce challenges at Scarborough Hospital, so any measures that can be taken to address those are to be welcomed.”
The campaign launched on 3 July 2018 and has been designed to increase positive perceptions and pride in working within the NHS.
The campaign is running across TV and radio, and is also being promoted through digital and social media using the #wearetheNHS.
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