IRU - Friday 2nd July 2021

Information Round-up to move online

The Information Round-up (IRU) will now move online - Last week on Friday 25th June, an email was sent out with the original IRU and also a online version. People who usually receive the IRU were asked which they would prefer to see each week. I can now say that the votes are in with 26 votes. The online version was far more popular with 21 votes to 5. 

There is many advantages to bringing the IRU online as it will mean that you can see which attachments go with the correct information and also that the information is stored on our website so that you can go back and view it at a later date.

A few people have also said that the emails have been hard to view. On the website we have installed an accessibility widget on the left hand side - which you can click on to increase the size of font and also change the colours of the font to make it easier on the eye.

Have a great weekend & come on England!! 

Kind Regards, Liam (Communications Officer)

Latest Statement from the Director of Public Health - Stockport Council

Message from Alison North (Stockport Council)

Hope you are all keeping well and are looking forward to the weekend.

Please find the link to the latest Statement from the Director of Public Health - Stockport Council

We are still seeing high rates of Coronavirus in Stockport. Rates are currently at 299.2* cases per 100,000 and 125 new cases each day The latest published data can be found here.

The statement this week focuses on how the virus transmits and how to break the chain of transmission.

We will continue to be asking residents to get a vaccine when called at the weekly pop ups and take twice weekly lateral flow tests along with the hands, face, space and ventilation messages.

We are continuing to ask all older children and their families to take a lateral flow test on Sunday before their children return back to school. If they are positive or have any covid symptoms we are asking them not to return to school and to isolate to help break the chain of transmission.

For information – this weekend we are lighting up the Town Hall for the NHS birthday (request to do this on Saturday), Thank you day (Sunday) and on Monday in celebration of the NHS' 73rd birthday and Social Care and Front Line Workers Day.

For Thank you day on Sunday, the council will be thanking everyone who has played a part in supporting our communities over the past year and focusing on specific stories of volunteers on our corporate social media channels.

Stockport’s Pop up Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic Schedule Released

The Covid-19 vaccination pop up clinic will be in Stockport for at least the next eight weeks NHS Stockport Clinical Group (CCG) has announced. The clinic, supported by Stockport Council, will be moving across the borough offering first and second AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines to all adults.

This is a walk in service and no appointment is required. The schedule has been released so that people can make a note of the sessions and choose a time and date convenient to them.

This week the team will be at Sanderling House Car Park, Bird Hall Lane, Cheadle Heath, SK3 0RF on Thursday, 1 July, from 10am-4pm, and Friday, 2 July, from 9am-4pm.

Those who are waiting for their second vaccination are invited to come along eight weeks after the first dose in line with NHS guidance.

The full timetable is available below and online at www.stockportccg.nhs.uk/news/covid-19-vaccination-options/. Please note that the information is subject to change. Check our website www.stockportccg.nhs.uk and follow our social media channels for regular updates @nhsstockportccg.

In addition, locally there are a number of walk ins and bookable appointments at community pharmacies in Stockport. For full details visit www.stockportccg.nhs.uk/news/covid-19-vaccination-options/.

Across the region, there are other sites such as the Etihad Campus, where appointments must be booked online, via the National Booking Service, at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or by calling 119 for free, seven days a week, between 7am and 11pm.

Anita Rolfe, Executive Nurse, Stockport CCG, said: “This is great news for Stockport because the pop up clinics are a quick and simple way to get vaccinated. This schedule means that people can plan ahead and get their first or second vaccine at a location convenient to them.”

Councillor Jude Wells, Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health, Stockport Council, added: “I’m delighted that the pop up vaccination clinics in Stockport are continuing and I encourage people to make sure they go along. Only by getting vaccinated and following the hands, face, space advice, will we be able to get back to a more normal life.”

Your Local Pantry Families offer

Your Local Pantry is a network of affordable community food stores run by volunteers. 

There are now five within Stockport and each of them are now offering family memberships to households of three or more people for only £6.50.

Families can choose 20 items of food, retailing at between £30 and £40, easing the financial stress of the summer holidays. The pantry offers a range of food items from free fruit and veg, to branded cereal to Nando’s chicken!

As well as offering affordable food, the pantry volunteers are knowledgeable about other support services in Stockport, so if you need any additional support, please do let us know. You can contact us at pantry@foundations-stockport.org or on  07866 999844.  

The pantry are always on the lookout for volunteers too, so if you have a few spare hours a week in the holidays, please drop pantry@stockporthomes.org an email.

Loneliness and isolation leaflet and support information

Message from Alison Whitelegg (Stockport Council)

I’m working on the distribution of the attached loneliness leaflet and trying to get it out into the community.  I wondered if this is something Healthwatch might be able to help with at all and if so where you could put them and how many copies you’d want? 

Also we are really keen to promote the pages on the Healthy Stockport website https://www.healthystockport.co.uk/loneliness-and-isolation.

Beechwood Counselling Course

Message from Amy Geldard (Beechwood Cancer Care)

Does your role involve supporting others? Would you benefit from being a more effective communicator?

Beechwood delivers the online Level 2 Counselling Concepts course that is focused on developing skills in the professional context of counselling, communication and personal development.

What will you gain from this course?

- An understanding of the different therapeutic models of counselling

- Exploration and understanding of the core conditions of a counselling relationship

- Development of effective listening and communication skills

- Tutoring and support from an experienced and qualified counselling professional

Course start date: 13th July

If you are interested and would like further information, please contact: counselling@beechwoodcancercare.co.uk

A vision for 2030 – The launch of the One Stockport Borough Plan

Message from Polly Riggs (Stockport Council)

This week saw the launch of the One Stockport Borough Plan, a plan created in collaboration with people from across Stockport including Healthwatch, as well as those from local businesses, voluntary and community organisations, public services and young people. The Borough Plan sets out a vision for Stockport in 2030.

It focuses on creating a borough that is even more ambitious, inclusive and caring, for all residents and people who work or spend time here.

The Borough Plan focuses on nine priorities across three key areas – One Heart, One Home and One Future – to achieve the aim of creating One Stockport that works for everybody. Each section sets out a clear set of actions, and it is hoped that the people of Stockport will roll up their sleeves and get involved in helping to deliver the plan and, in turn, a better Stockport. 

To find out more and download the plan, visit https://www.onestockport.co.uk/the-stockport-borough-plan/

Free event for patients - Menopause and HRT

Message from Katy Wallace (BMI Healthcare)

The BMI Alexandra Hospital will be running a free online event for members of the public on Menopause and HRT – what every woman should know on the 20th July. It will be lead by Consultant Gynaecologist, Dr Sujata Gupta who works at the Alexandra Hospital, Cheadle.

We would be grateful if you could forward on this email to anyone you feel would like to attend the virtual event and let your patients know that they are able to attend to find out more on Menopause and HRT.

To book a free ticket and for more information go to: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/menopause-and-hrt-what-every-woman-should-know-tickets-161591533627

Updates from Stockport Council

Thank you from Cllr Peers

Councillor Amanda Peers, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Neighbourhoods says: “On National Thank You Day, I would like to recognise and extend our heartfelt thanks to the individuals, community groups and organisations of our voluntary and community sector.

The work you do is amazing and is essential in supporting our most vulnerable residents through this pandemic. I’m incredibly proud of the people who volunteer and work in our communities, the commitment you show and continue to put into creating our caring and inclusive neighbourhoods is second to none.  Thank you so much - you are simply the best !!!”

Gender-Based Violence Strategy Consultation

Greater Manchester are developing a strategy which contains a series of commitments to end gender-based violence, and they want to know what you think about them.

You can help shape the Gender Based Violence Strategy by taking part in the consultation at: www.gmconsult.org . Please share your views before Monday 2 August. For further information or enquires, email GM.

Important information for VCSE organisations who deliver health and social care in GM

If your organisation delivers health and social care services and/or activities and receives funding from a GM Clinical Commissioning Group or other health and social care related body, then changes due to take effect in April 2022 will affect your organisation.

This document explains a little more about the proposed changes but in summary:

• Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are currently responsible for the commissioning of all health and social care services.  From April 2022 CCGs will be abolished and replaced by Integrated Care Systems (ICSs)
• Decisions will be made about which services and activities are commissioned at GM, local authority and neighbourhood level
• Funding pots and contracts will change as new groups and people take control of decisions around what services and activities are funded

There is a lot of work happening behind the scenes to work out what an ICS will look like in GM. Members of the GM VCSE Leadership Group are involved in the process and we have held two VCSE Assemblies to ensure that VCSE organisations in GM have a voice in the discussions.

We recommend that you take time to ensure you understand the changes so that you can anticipate what might happen under the new arrangements and how you may need to adapt. Please sign up to our Health and Social Care VCSE Engagement eBulletin to stay up to date with developments.

GM Health and Care Champion Awards 2021

Nominations are now open for the Greater Manchester Health and Care Champion Awards 2021. The awards are a unique opportunity to recognise those people who really have gone above and beyond to care for and support the people of Greater Manchester over the last year.

Award categories include recognising our key worker and community champions, innovators, volunteers, leaders at any level and those who have helped improve the wellbeing of those around them during such a challenging year.

The awards are open to all individuals or teams, paid or unpaid, who work in the health or care sector in Greater Manchester or through broader work help improve the health and wellbeing of others. Nominations can be completed by colleagues or members of the public who wish to see an individual or team’s hard work recognised.

Nominations can be completed online by visiting www.gmhsc.org.uk/awards and must be returned by the deadline of 6 August 2021. The winners will be announced at a sponsored virtual event October 2021.

Launch of the Borough Plan

Our plan for Stockport for the next 10 years, the One Stockport Borough Plan, launches today. The plan has been developed in collaboration with organisations across Stockport, including businesses, voluntary organisations, community groups and public services.

The ambitious plan is focused around 3 key areas: One Heart, One Home and One Future. These include ways we can celebrate the wonderful diversity in our borough, make Stockport the best place to grow up in, and ensure our economy is one of the most thriving in the North West and everyone is included in the increasing digitisation of our society.

Thank you to all of our partners and staff who have worked hard to create this innovative document. We can all play our part in ensuring that the ambitions set out in the Borough Plan are met by continuing to get involved and support our communities here in Stockport.

To download the plan or the quick-read summary version, click here.

You can get involved in ensuring that the plan is delivered. Visit the One Stockport website to see all of the great work currently going on, or join the Stockport volunteering hub to make a difference in your community.

National ‘Thank You Day’

National ‘Thank You Day’ is taking place on Sunday 4 July. It is a chance to say a thank you to everyone who has helped our communities and businesses through this challenging year - from family members to key workers, good neighbours to volunteers, delivery drivers to teachers, religious leaders, local councils and schools, businesses and communities throughout the UK. The council will be marking the day by lighting up the town hall and focusing its social media on the day to celebrate the spirit that got us through in Stockport and say thank you. For more information and resources on how to get involved, visit: https://thankyouday.org.uk/

Do you need data about Stockport residents?

The Big Stockport Picture site is a new open data portal for Stockport, providing access to data published by organisations across the Borough, including the council, health partners and housing providers. It has been designed to encourage the reuse of data for the benefit of Stockport citizens while also increasing transparency. 

You can access The Big Stockport Picture at: https://bigstockportpicture.co.uk. The volume and variety of data on the portal will continue to grow as new datasets are added and published. To contribute data to the portal please email Stockport Council.

Information and Signposting

For up to date health and social care information, signposting and guidance call Healthwatch Stockport on

0161 974 0753 10am - 2pm or email info@healthwatchstockport.co.uk.  

Or do you have a health or social care experience you want to share – how did your last appointment with your GP or dentist go? Are you frustrated or thrilled with the service you received – let us know so we can work with local services to influence better commissioners and better outcomes for you and your family. Contact the Healthwatch Stockport office above or submit feedback here at www.healthwatchstockport.co.uk/share-your-views

If you have any information you would like to share on the Stockport Information Round up please send any details to comms@healthwatchstockport.co.uk