Welcome to the September 2015 edition of Hambleton,
Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group's
newsletter.
Lambert Memorial Hospital ward temporary closure
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust informed the CCG that a ward at the Lambert
Hospital, Thirsk, has temporarily closed (as of 7 September) due to staffing pressures. We
have been told by the Trust that this is necessary to maintain the high levels of care for
patients who need inpatient hospital care.
We agree that patient safety and quality of care must be the main priorities for the service,
and for these reasons we understand why the ward has temporarily closed.
We are working with the Trust to ensure that all is being done to resolve the short-term
staffing issues as quickly as possible, as well as looking at longer term sustainability.
For more information, please visit the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust website
Going down a ‘storm’ at recent country shows
The Fit 4 the Future team have recently set-up tent at Egton and Muker shows.
Having a proper chat with the public (and Storm Troopers alike), positive feedback
was once again received on overall GP services in our area. Some interesting
conversations around end of life care were raised and concern over transport was
also a common theme.
These two shows were the last for this summer and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed our
chats with the public.
Look out for details of our next Patient Congress, coming soon!
Take That Step programme could help prevent diabetes
To help prevent diabetes and other health conditions such as obesity, circulatory
diseases and some cancers, HRW CCG, Hambleton District Council and North
Yorkshire County Council Public Health are working on a joint initiative called Take
That Step.
The programme is available to residents of Hambleton aged 18 and over who meet
some essential criteria. They are particularly interested in hearing from residents in
the Bedale, Stokesley and Thirsk areas. Participants must be referred to the Take
That Step programme by their GP. Read more
Sporting Memories come to life
A Northallerton charity group funded by the CCG has been given sporting
equipment by Thirsk-based Factory Eleven. Sporting Memories Network uses
reminiscence activities to bring like-minded people together to discuss their love of
sport, helping people tackle loneliness, depression and dementia.
It holds drop-in sessions at Northallerton library every Thursday between 11am
and noon where anyone aged 50-plus is welcome to come along and share
memories and memorabilia or play sport and enjoy refreshments with new
friends. Read more
Wheelchair services update
Two clients raised their concerns directly with the CCG over the time taken to
repair broken/damaged wheelchairs and also the time taken for assessment and
provision of wheelchairs that were fit for purpose.
Over the past few months HRW CCG has undertaken an exploration exercise to
understand the current service profile, commissioning arrangements and delivery
method across North Yorkshire. HRW CCG has also undertaken a summary
review of the equivalent service delivery model in the Tees area by way of
benchmark and comparison.
HRW CCG is a partner (with other North Yorkshire CCGs and service provider
HDFT) of a wheelchair service working group led by the North Yorkshire lead
commissioner for the service at HaRD CCG. The group is supported as one of
three national pilot sites with the aim of supporting and fast tracking our work
locally.
The group has prioritised the development of a “fit for purpose” service
specification for wheelchair needs assessment and provision (including repair
services) across North Yorkshire including the development, agreement and
contractual inclusion of all relevant data collection and KPIs for the service (which
will include and thereby support the national data set collation) none of which
currently exists in any structured report, form or framework.
We’ll keep you up-to-date on progress.
'Tiger Sarah' completes Great North Run
Congratulations to a HRW CCG colleague, Sarah (left) who completed The Great
North Run on Sunday dressed as a tiger!
When asked if she'll ever want to run again she said "My feet really hurt but it was
so much fun. In fact, I've just signed up for my first Yorkshire Marathon!"
Sarah ran the race for Herriot Hospice Homecare, a charity which provides care to
patients with life–limiting illnesses across Hambleton & Richmondshire. Their
services are free to patients and carers. For more information, please
visit: www.herriothh.org.uk
There is still time to donate! Simply visit Sarah's Just Giving web page
New counselling service for young people with cancer
The James Cook University Hospital has started a new specialist counselling
programme for children and young people who have been affected by cancer.
The counselling sessions will be delivered by an experienced, qualified counsellor
from the Trinity Holistic Centre at James Cook which provides support to families
affected by cancer and long term conditions.
The counselling service is open to children or young people who have a cancer
diagnosis themselves or to children and young people who have a family member
with a cancer diagnosis.
Parents and guardians are also able to access the service for advice and guidance
to enable them to provide appropriate support to their child or young person.
This service is available for families who live across the area and is aimed at
supporting children and young people aged between five and 24, though there is
some flexibility depending on individual needs and maturity of the child or young
person.
The scheme has been funded as a result of a community innovation fund from
South Tees CCG bringing new expertise to South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation
Trust and is expected to be in high demand.
Heather McLean, business manager at the Trinity Holistic Centre said: “The
services provided at the Trinity Holistic Centre are expanding rapidly and we are
delighted to now deliver this specialist counselling service to support our local
children and young people and their families affected by cancer from our beautiful
purpose built centre.”
For more information or to ask to be referred contact the Trinity Holistic Centre on
01642 854839 or [email protected]
The Friarage MRI scanner appeal update
The Inner Wheel Club of Northallerton’s generous donation to The Friends of the
Friarage Hospital has provided a welcome boost to the Friarage Hospital’s MRI
scanner appeal.
Mrs Joan Smith, president of Inner Wheel, chose the scanner appeal as her
designated charity during her year of office and was delighted to present a
generous £720 cheque to the chairman of The Friends of the Friarage, Dr Upendra
Somasundram.
The Friends of the Friarage Hospital are working in partnership with South Tees
Hospitals Charity to raise £2million for an MRI scanner - an essential piece of
medical equipment used to investigate almost any part of the body – at the
Friarage Hospital.
The money was raised at an afternoon tea held at the president’s home last
summer, coffee mornings and various fundraising activities throughout the year.
Dr Upendra Somasundram, said: “A MRI scanner for the Friarage will have huge
benefits for people living in and around Northallerton. I would like to say a big
thank you to all the club members and everyone who helped to raise the money for
supporting our appeal.”
Contacting your Health Engagement Network representative
As a member, you can directly contact your Health Engagement Network
representative:
Hambleton – Ken Elliott – [email protected]
Richmondshire – Jane Ritchie MBE – [email protected]
Whitby and surrounding area – Linda Lloyd – [email protected]
Get in touch
As always, if you have any comments
on this newsletter please call us on
01609 767600 or email us at
[email protected]
You can also follow us on Twitter
@HRW_CCG or like us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/HRWCCG
You can find us online - www.hambletonrichmondshireandwhitbyccg.nhs.uk