IRU - Wednesday 12th April 2023
Welcome to this week's Information Round-up
We hope you are keeping well and have had a nice Easter break. Last week we celebrated being 10 years old! We had past reports and also cakes on hand, it was a great chance to catch up with some much beloved staff that have now left us as well as to see some members that we haven't seen for a few years.
We have just set the date for our Dementia Awareness Day in May. Find out more information below.
You may have missed these recent articles that we have published since the start of the year.
If you want to receive the IRU link weekly you can sign up here and you will receive an email every week with the link as soon as it is public.
Dementia Awareness Day
On Thursday 18th May, join us at our collaborative event to find out more about Dementia and what support is available throughout the borough.
The event will include stalls from organisations, charities, community and voluntary sector across Stockport that support Dementia - where you can see what's available for you and your loved ones.
More information and to book on
Event details
Thursday 18th May 2023
10:00am - 16:00pm
Stockport Town Hall, Edward St, Stockport SK1 3XE get directions
Check in and Chat update
Message from NHS Volunteer Responders
You can now refer lonely or isolated patients for friendly Check In and Chat phone calls from Volunteer Responders.
You can either directly refer patients (see below), or supply patients or their carers with this phone number to request the service: 0808 196 3646.
What is Check In and Chat?
Volunteers phone patients to provide social contact. Where appropriate, they can encourage patients to make positive changes such as connecting with others, becoming more physically active and learning new skills. Volunteers can also signpost to other services in the community.
How do I make a referral?
You register on the GoodSAM portal which enables you to select the type and frequency of support. You can also view or cancel referrals within your GoodSAM account.
What is TB and what are we doing to combat it?
Message from UK Health Security Agency
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection spread through inhaling small droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person. It mainly affects the lungs, but it can affect any part of the body, including lymph nodes (glands), bones and the brain causing meningitis.
Typical symptoms of TB include a persistent cough that lasts more than 3 weeks, unexplained weight loss, night sweats, high temperature, tiredness and fatigue, loss of appetite and depending on site of disease, swellings of lymph nodes in the neck or back pain if TB affects the spine.
COVID-19 testing approach from April 2023
Changes to COVID-19 testing will come into effect on 1 April 2023, to ensure testing continues to focus on those at highest risk, enables appropriate clinical treatment and supports the management of outbreaks in high-risk settings including health and social care.
Mastercall Healthcare celebrates commitment to real living wage
Message from Mastercall
Mastercall Healthcare has been accredited as a Living Wage Employer. Their Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at Mastercall receive a minimum hourly wage of £10.90, significantly higher than the government minimum for over 23s, which currently stands at £9.50 per hour.
Mastercall is based in the North-West, a region with nearly a fifth of all jobs (18.4%) paying less than the real Living Wage - around 534,000 jobs. Despite this, Mastercall has committed to pay the real Living Wage and deliver a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work.
The real Living Wage is the only rate calculated according to the costs of living. It provides a voluntary benchmark for employers that wish to ensure their staff earn a wage they can live on, not just the government minimum. Since 2011 the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to almost 400,000 people and put over £2 billion extra into the pockets of low paid workers.
Angela Chidley, Chief People Officer at Mastercall Healthcare said:
“Mastercall is a real Living Wage employer, and we are very pleased to now being accredited as such by the Living Wage Foundation along with over 12’000 other companies. This accreditation conveys our ongoing commitment to our values and to our people who deliver our outstanding healthcare services. Inflation is soaring and mortgage rates and rents are rising, none of us can escape the squeeze on our incomes. There are more than 4.8 million people paid less than the real Living Wage that meets the cost of living, we would encourage those who have not yet accredited with the Living Wage Foundation and are in the position to do so.”
Katherine Chapman, Director, Living Wage Foundation said:
“We’re delighted that Mastercall has joined the movement of almost 11,000 responsible employers across the UK who voluntarily commit to go further than the government minimum to make sure all their staff earn enough to live on.
“They join thousands of small businesses, as well as household names such as Burberry, Barclays, Everton Football Club and many more. These businesses recognise that paying the real Living Wage is the mark of a responsible employer and they, like Mastercall, believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay."
The Care Quality Commission review on the state of oral health care in care homes
Message from NHS England
The Care Quality Commission has published the findings of a follow-up review on the state of oral health care in care homes across England. This review shows there have been improvements in the understanding of how important oral health is to keep people healthy.
Healthy Stockport - Gambling
Message from Healthy Stockport
See posters attached
GM Mental Health Offer
Message from Will Hoff (Greater Manchester Support Officer)
I am sharing with you some useful information about the NHS Greater Manchester Digital Mental Health Offer. Please could you disseminate across your networks.
PIP-UK Comfort Session with Lois Blackburn
Message from Sam Fillingham (PIP-UK)
This workshop is a special one off event to celebrate Poland Syndrome Awareness day. Even more special that this project is led by Artist Lois Blackburn, a member of our Poland Syndrome Community.
Every woman has a story about their breasts, from prepubescent hopes, to the realities of old age, from the joys or frustrations of breastfeeding. The ladies in our Poland Syndrome are acutely aware of their story with breasts and during this unique workshop you can work with Lois to gathers those stories and create artwork on the theme of breasts, creating a large embroidered quilt, that will be exhibited across the UK.
A workshop for women and teenagers (including the Trans and Non-Binary Community) to tell their stories in their own terms, words & image. Ladies with PS and any female friends or relatives welcome too. We have limited tickets but we hope to see you there.
Date and time
Sat, 29 Apr 2023 11:00 am - 4:00 pm BST
Location
St Matthews Church House Grenville Street Edgeley, Stockport SK3 9EE United Kingdom
Insight day and readiness programme
Message from Rachel Rowland (Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust)
Over the next couple of week we have some pre-employment things happening, we have the readiness programme for those wanting to apply for the Trainee Nursing Associate or Trainee Health Care support worker Apprenticeships. We also have an insight afternoon we are running with Stockport FT and NWAS where people can learn more about NHS Careers and current vacancies.
C&B Money maximising road shows
Message from Ellie Unwin (Pure Innovations)
Please see the posters attached for Cheadle and Bramhall’s money maximising road shows. There are a variety of services there to give out advice and info and even help with blue badge applications.
Health advice/info workshops
Message from Ellie Unwin (Pure Innovations)
Please see attached posters for our men and women’s health advice workshops delivered by public health. Everyone is welcome.
Your view matters – take part in the East Cheshire and Stockport NHS Sustainable Services Survey
East Cheshire NHS Trust and Stockport NHS Foundation Trust are working together to understand how some health and care services could be improved and sustained in the future. Both trusts believe that there are opportunities to work together to improve and secure services for patients in the longer term.
They are asking patients to share their experience of using some of our specialist services and find out what is important to you when using these services. Your feedback can help to develop outline ideas for how to improve the services they provide.
Specialist services include:
● Cardiology – diagnosing and treating diseases of the heart, blood vessels, and circulatory system. It includes coronary artery disease, heart rhythm problems, and heart issues.
● Critical care and anaesthetics– this is medical care for people who have life-threatening injuries and illnesses usually in the intensive care unit.
● Diabetes and endocrinology – these are health conditions related to eight major glands throughout your body, such as the thyroid gland, pituitary gland, adrenal gland, and pancreas.
● Gastroenterology and endoscopy– these are conditions that affect the digestive system
● General Surgery- is one of the largest specialties in the UK with many sub-specialties, such as breast surgery, colorectal, endocrine, gastrointestinal surgery, transplants, and vascular surgery.
● Gynaecology - deals with the health of the female reproductive system, such as the vagina, ovaries and breasts.
● Imaging (X-ray and radiology)
● Paediatrics - is the area of medicine that manages clinical conditions affecting infants, children and young people.
● Trauma and orthopaedics – this is surgery that includes the musculoskeletal system including bones, joints, and structures that enable movements such as ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves
Andrew Loughner, Medical Director for Stockport NHS Foundation Trust said
“We already have good working partnership with our colleagues and neighbours in East Cheshire NHS Trust, and we want to continue to work together to provide the best quality, and best value services we can for our patients. If you or anyone you know uses our services, then please have your say in this survey so we can take your views on board, and we can be as responsive as we can to local needs.”
Dr John Hunter, Medical Director East Cheshire NHS Trust said,
“Close collaboration between hospitals is increasingly recognised as a driver for the delivery of high quality care to local populations. Although our organisations have worked together for many years on the delivery of stroke care and urology services, we believe there are opportunities for further collaboration on clinical services that will improve and sustain our services. Your opinion on our services is invaluable and will guide us as we explore how our hospital trusts can work together to improve and enhance our delivery of care to you.”
If you or someone you know has used hospital services, please take 10 minutes to complete our survey.
or call 0191 535 5881 if you would like support to complete it. The survey is open until 11th May 2023.
Invitation to feedback on the GM Wellbeing Programme
Message from Sheni Ravji-Smith (NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care)
We are pleased that you have been engaging with our NHS GM Wellbeing Programme - we hope you have found it valuable to support your wellbeing, and the wellbeing of those around you.
Your feedback is valuable to us to make sure that the activities and resources we create are responding to what you need to help keep you at your best. To support us in designing our next phases of work, we would like to invite you to complete a short survey. It will take approximately 10 minutes to complete and your responses are anonymised:
We are keen to hear about your experiences of the GM Wellbeing programme, and the impact it has had on your wellbeing. The survey is open until midnight on 21st May 2023, and the findings will be shared during the summer period.
Community Champions Newsletter Sign up
Message from Nadia Khan (Sector3)
The following link is a sign-up form for the Community Champions Newsletter, which will come out at the end of each month. Please get signed up to stay in touch with important information on health and wellbeing from Public Health as well as information on training and achievements from community champions.
NHS England
Primary Care Bulletin - 6 April 2023 (Issue 233)
Cancer Stakeholder Bulletin - April issue
NHS Volunteer Responders - Check in and Chat update
Your NHS Dentistry and Oral Health Bulletin - ICB Delegation Special
Virtual wards bulletin - April 2023
Digitalising Social Care
Digitising Social Care Newsletter - April 2023
Care Quality Commission
Still time to share your views on changes to CQC's assessment reports
News from the Care Quality Commission: March 2023
GMCVO
Online drop-in next Wednesday for organisations trading for a social purpose
Take part in vital research on the social enterprise sector in Greater Manchester
Stockport Council
Sector3
GM Green Spaces Fund, Streetgames training, Free Kitchenware, Greenspace Volunteer Awards + more!
Department of Health and social care
Adult Social Care Update: 05.04.23
Stockport Samaritans Newsletter
Stockport Samaritans Newsletter - April 23
Rethink Mental Illness
Manchester Evening News
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
Visit our Information and Signposting directory
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 happy or frustrated 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.
