Archive for May, 2014

Anyone with an interest in local health is invited to come along to our next Governing Body meeting on Wednesday 28 May.

It will be the first meeting of the new Governing Body membership since recent elections.

Governing Body meetings are held in public every two months and where people can listen to the board discuss and make decisions about local health services.

Meetings start at 1pm and there is a chance for the public to ask questions from 12.30pm.

Venue – Family Life Centre, Ash St, Southport

To confirm your attendance please call .

See meeting papers.

This year’s Dementia Awareness week encourages people to open up and talk about dementia rather than bottling up their concerns.

The Alzheimer’s Society is organising a number of local activities during the awareness week, so people can find out about the range of advice and support available locally – especially those worried about their memory or the memory of a person they care for.

There will be information stands at the following venues throughout Dementia Awareness Week, which runs from 18-24 May.

• Dunes Leisure Centre, Southport
• Atkinson Arts Centre, Southport
• Ward 14A, Southport Hospital

You can also call Alzheimer’s Society Sefton on for local information.

Local NHS patients are being encouraged to rate the care and treatment they have received with Liverpool Community Health (LCH) NHS Trust services.

The Friends and Family Test was introduced in 2013 initially in hospital wards, A&E departments and Maternity Services and will soon be rolled out nationally for community health services.

LCH are one of the first community health trusts in the country to use the national ‘Friends and Family Test’, which asks patients whether they would recommend an NHS service to their friends and family if they needed similar services.

Patients are invited to respond by choosing one of six options ranging from extremely likely to extremely unlikely. There is also the opportunity to leave further feedback, either anonymously or with their contact details for further support.

The Friends and Family Test can be completed after each contact with a health professional by using comments cards, or by leaving feedback on the LCH website. LCH health professionals are now also using mobile technology with an electronic version of the Friends and Family Test for visits to patients in their own homes and other community settings.

If you would like to find out more about Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust or complete the Friends and Family Test for an LCH service, visit www.liverpoolcommunityhealth.nhs.uk

The findings of a national survey by Ipsos Mori about CCGs across the country have shown some positive results for Southport and Formby.

Carried out on behalf of NHS England, the survey aimed to gauge perceptions and working relationships between CCGs and their key local partners.

As well as member GP practices, bodies like Sefton Health and Wellbeing Board, Sefton CVS and Healthwatch Sefton were also invited to complete the survey.

A similar exercise was carried out in 2012 prior to the CCG becoming a statutory organisation and these latest findings compare favourably with the baseline results.

NHS Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has a new Chair following elections amongst its GP practice membership.

Dr Rob Caudwell, who has been a GP in Southport for eight years, takes over the role from Dr Niall Leonard.

Rob said: “It’s a great privilege for me to gain the support of the practices that make up the CCG and I’m looking forward to the year ahead. It’s an exciting time for the CCG as we finalise our five year plans for improved health and health services, and it will be good to get out and about to meet more of our local residents at our public events as we continue to involve them in the work we are doing.

“I thank Niall and fellow members of the outgoing Governing Body for their work. Already we have achieved a great deal and we begin our second year with some new faces and with plans to do more for Southport and Formby residents.”

Whilst Niall was re-elected to the Governing Body he chose not to stand in the nominations for the position of chair. He will however continue to play a pro-active role on the board as Clinical Vice Chair.

Niall added: “We had a competitive election, which reflects the commitment and interest of our member GP practices in wanting to play a part in the success of the organisation and, more importantly, improving the quality of health services for our local residents.”

There are four new members of the Governing Body, who join four re-elected and six appointed members below:

• Dr Rob Caudwell – Chair, Marshside
• Dr Niall Leonard – Clinical Vice Chair, Roe Lane
• Paul Ashby – Practice Manager, Ainsdale Medical Centre *new*
• Colette Riley – Practice Manager, The Hollies *new*
• Dr Martin Evans – The Grange
• Dr Hilal Mulla – Corner Surgery
• Dr Kati Scholtz – Norwood *new*
• Dr Doug Callow – Chapel Lane *new*

Existing appointed members:

• Helen Nichols – Vice Chair and Lay Member
• Roger Pontefract – Lay Member
• Dr Jeff Simmonds – Secondary Care Doctor
• Fiona Clark – Chief Officer
• Martin McDowell – Chief Finance Officer and Deputy Chief Officer
• Debbie Fagan – Board Nurse

The first meeting of the new Governing Body, held in public, takes place on 28 May at the Family Life Centre, Ash Street, Southport. Anyone can come along and hear the Governing Body discuss and make decisions about local health services.

To confirm your attendance and find out the start time of the meeting, please call .

A new one stop shop for Sefton’s military veterans has opened its doors offering advice and assistance on a range of issues including health, housing and employment.

Sefton Veterans Project brings together a range of specialist organisations to provide personalised support under one roof at the Bowersdale Resource Centre in Seaforth. The project is funded by NHS South Sefton CCG, NHS Southport and Formby CCG and the Charity Expect Ltd, and run in partnership with Sefton CVS and Sefton Council.

The service has already begun to help local veterans to find work and new homes, as well as supporting them to access mental health, drug and alcohol services.

One service user, John, a former member of the Parachute Regiment, said: “Just over a year ago I was really down on my luck – I had no job, I was angry at myself, and I was struggling to support my girlfriend and kids. A couple of guys I know told me about the Sefton Veterans Project. Because it is run by an ex squaddie I went to see them. I knew they would understand and I knew I could talk to them without being embarrassed or feeling like l was a loser or a waster. It was great talking to vets again. The Project Manager, Dave Smith, managed to find some funding and training for me. I now have a full time job and I can now hold my head up again and support my family.”

This free and confidential service is open to all military veterans and former reservists no matter what their age, or how long they have served in the armed forces – even if it was just for one day. The service also provides support to families in the armed forces community, as well as current serving personnel.

Ex Royal Engineer Tom, a 93 year old veteran of World War 2, contacted the Sefton Veterans Project to help him track down a medal he was awarded for his part in the Normandy Landings.

Tom said: “When I visited them they were marvellous. Dave helped me fill out the form straight away and I had the chance to chat with a handful of younger ex-military. Young or old we don’t change much, we all like telling our secret stories. I pop in a couple of times a month to catch up. I like to take them a Swiss Roll, have a chat and a cup of tea. Dave has helped me a couple of times to get into my house when I’ve mislaid my keys. I feel whole again now I have my lost medal back.”

Veterans using the service are assigned a dedicated case manager, who acts as a single point of contact for all their needs. The official launch was an opportunity for military veterans to hear more about the wide range of services involved – including Sefton Council, SSAFA Forces Help, Resettlement Property Services, Lifeline substance misuse service and Job Centre Plus.

The launch was also a chance for partner organisations to reaffirm the commitment they made when they signed the Sefton Covenant. This pledge sets out the obligations of statutory organisations towards local veterans.

Fiona Clark, Chief Officer of both CCGs, said: “We know that ex-forces personnel do not always find it easy to access help when they need it, so it is our hope that this innovative project will help to improve the quality of life for people who have made a personal sacrifice to keep us safe.”

Sefton Veterans Project is based at Expect Ltd’s Bowersdale Resource Centre, Crescent Road, Seaforth. For more information either drop-in between 9am and 5pm on Wednesdays or call between Monday and Friday.