Stand Up for your Good Health and Well-being (Issue No. 020318)

Keeping Warm & Well This Winter

There are lots of easy, practical steps you can take to save energy and reduce fuel costs:

Efficient Heating

·       Ensure that the household temperature is kept no higher than 21°C, unless a medical condition necessitates it. It is easiest to regulate the temperature using a room thermostat, so install one if you don’t already have one.

·       If you have a central heating system, make sure you are using timers and programmers to switch the heating on only when someone is active within the house. Heating should not be left on overnight, except for medical reasons.

·       Move furniture away from radiators, and install cheap radiator panels or tin foil behind them, to ensure the heat is reflected back into the room.

·       Keep your radiator clear. A sofa in front of the radiator will stop the heat circulating around the whole room.Use thermal or heavy curtains, letter box covers and key hole covers to keep the heat in and draughts out, saving up to £35 a year on your energy bills

·       Set heating to come on only when someone is active in the house (not overnight) and set thermostats no higher than 21°C, unless a medical condition means you need a higher temperature.

·       There are now government-backed full and partial grants available to help you pay for insulation.You can find out more about these grants and other energy saving information by visiting www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

or by calling the Energy Saving Advice Service on 0300 123 1234.

Draught-Proofing Insulation

·       Keep chills out this winter by buying a home draught-proofing kit from a local DIY store

·    Insulate your loft to save up to £250 a year on energy bills. 270mm or 10 inches is recommended.  Visit  www.energysavingtrust.org.uk or call 0300 123 1234 for more advice

Water

·       Do not leave an electric immersion heater on for more than an hour, particularly if you are on an Economy 7 tariff. The immersion should only be used for a quick ‘boost’ of hot water.

·       Fit a thermostat to your hot water cylinder. Setting the thermostat to 60°C will keep water hot and save energy

·       Buy a cheap water cylinder jacket to prevent heat loss from the tank. It could save you up to £35 a year on fuel bills

·       Have a shower instead of a bath – it saves on both water and fuel usage

·       If you’re with Thames Water, get a free water saving shower head at http://freebies.thameswater.co.uk

Appliances

·       Turn  appliances off at the plug, particularly overnight, to reduce your electricity bills

·       Turn lights off when not in use and use energy saving bulbs to reduce your electricity bills

·       Only fill the kettle with enough water for your needs. If you only want a cuppa, only put that much in to boil!

·       Use pan lids to reduce steam and the energy needed for cooking

·       Use economy settings for appliances, such as 30°C for washing machines

If you believe that a more support is necessary, please contact   the HEET project: http://www.theheetproject.org.uk . Tel: 02085201900

Getting extra support from your energy supplier:

Priority Services Register which could offer some extra help!

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/extra-help-energy-services/priority-services-register-people-need

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/getting-extra-support-from-your-energy-supplier/

https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/guarantee-pension-credit

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants-and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills/

More information at:  https://www.energyhelpline.com/ or call 0800 074 0745

Switching Supplier

Households can save up to £200 a year by switching supplier, or even just changing to a new tariff. Have a bill or annual statement to hand, then go to the Go Energy Shopping website (https://www.energyhelpline.com)  to start the search. If they do not have access to the internet, they can call the Energy Helpline on 0800 074 0745. To find out who supplies your fuel (necessary for price comparison):

Uswitch:

https://www.uswitch.com/

UK Power Networks

https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/

Information and  Referrals:

NEA ‘Top Tips’ leaflet   (Private Rented Sector)

http://www.nea.org.uk/projects/community-action-partnership/cardiff/fuel-poverty-leaflets/

For further one-to-one support to help manage your bills or to check you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to, contact  your Citizens Advice.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/

https://citizensadviceenfield.org.uk/

The HEET project:

If you need more support in saving energy at home please contact The HEET project: www.theheetproject.org.uk

Energy Saving Advice Service, Tel:  0300 123 1234 : www.energysavingstrust.org.uk

Energy Helpline  www.energyhelpline.com

Turn2us

Turn2us is a national charity that helps people in financial hardship gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services.

www.turn2us.org.uk

Grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants-and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills/

https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/guarantee-pension-credit

Step Change Debt  Charity

https://www.stepchange.org/debt-info/gas-and-electricity-arrears.aspx

National Debtline

www.nationaldebtline.org

The following links provide  additional information about the effects of cold weather  on  our health.

Five ways to stay healthy over winter

It may be cold outside but winter needn't be the unhealthiest time of year for you and your family.

https://www.nhs.uk/LiveWell/Winterhealth/Pages/Winterhealthhome.aspx

10 winter illnesses

Some health problems, such as asthma, sore throat and cold sores, are triggered or worsened by cold weather. Here's how to deal with cold weather ailments.

https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/winterhealth/Pages/Winterhealthrisks.aspx 

https://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/science/cold-weather-health.php

7 Surprising Effects Of Cold Weather On The Body

https://www.care2.com/greenliving/7-surprising-effects-of-cold-weather-on-the-body.html

STAND UP FOR GOOD HEALTH - ISSUE 1

Stand Up For Good Health - Issue 1

Welcome to the first issue of our ‘Stand Up For Good Health’ Newsletter.

Here at Diversity Living Services (DLS), we have recently started our new project “Stand up for good health and wellbeing” which is funded by the Big Lottery Fund.

The project aims to promote good health amongst the residents of Enfield, especially BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) Communities.

The project activities include:

•        Health advice and information to access services

•        Free health coaching including nutrition advice

•        Fitness classes

•        Healthy eating cooking classes

•        Health related educational events and workshops

•        Blood pressure and weight checks

Through our newsletters we aim to share with you news and information about health issues that affect most our communities. It will include tips to improve our health and wellbeing as well as events and services available within the borough.

If you have news and events or want to tell readers your story, please email us at healthinfo@diversityliving.org so that we can include them in our next e-bulletin.

DLS has joined the “One You” public health campaign targeted at changing lifestyle choices which greatly determine your health status later in life.

Six components are promoted in the campaign: Checking yourself, eat well, move more, be smoke free, drink less, stress less and sleep better. A long list but well worth it!

Find more at: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou#HmmKl5Umv1rpgfXV.97

We have a few resources in our offices. Please get in touch if you want to join the campaign.

Saadia Guedira (Health coach and registered Dietitian)

Recent Events

• DLS organised a “Female genital mutilation (FGM)”conference on the 6th of February to mark the UN International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM.

• Healthy Eating Talk: on the 6th of February, our Dietitan talked to “Wadajir Community Group” in the Green Towers with an emphasis on the harmful consequences of a meat based diet. Our communities are encouraged to get some of their protein requirements from plant foods.

Health Advice

Five ways to stay healthy this winter: https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/winterhealth/Pages/Healthywinter.aspx

Food to fight cold and flu, more at:  https://www.webmd.boots.com/cold-and-flu/flu-guide/vitamins-supplements-colds-flu-relief

In The News

Black women urged to get screened for cervical cancer

More at: http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/black-women-urged-get-screened-cervical-cancer

Cervical cancer symptoms: Six warning signs you should NEVER ignore

Find more at: https://www.dailystar.co.uk/health/580306/Cervical-cancer-symptoms-smear-tests-prevention-treatment

Health Services

Did you know you can be eligible for a free NHS Health Check?

The NHS Health Check is a health check-up for adults in England aged 40-74. It's designed to spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and dementia. As we get older, we have a higher risk of developing one of these conditions. An NHS Health Check helps find ways to lower this risk.

More at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/

Local Energy Advice Programme (LEAP)

Struggling to pay your energy bills? Has it been too cold in your home this winter? Is living in a cold home affecting your health?

LEAP (Local Energy Advice Programme) is a new free energy and money saving advice service. LEAP can help you save money and keep your home warm and cosy. More: https://www.applyforleap.org.uk/  or call 08000607567.

Events & Activities

• Free health advice, nutrition and diet clinic will be held at Edmonton Green Library on the 10th of March from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm.

If you wish to attend, the above events, please drop-in or book for an appointment by sending an email to healthinfo@diversityliving.org or calling on 02088036161

• Would you be interest in attending an Exercise class every Thursday from 11.00 to 12.00 at the Green Towers Community Centre, for more information please get in touch.  A small contribution of £3.00 per participant is required per class.

If you would like to receive our newsletters by email please let us know by email healthinfo@diversityliving.org and we will add you to our subscribers list

LETTER FROM JANE ELLISON, PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH – FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM).

Department of Health

 LETTER FROM JANE ELLISON, PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH – FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM).

 10 July 2015

The next few weeks are commonly known amongst anti-FGM campaigners, not without good reason, as the ‘cutting season’. This horrific name marks a time of year when many young girls are taken abroad to have FGM performed, in order that they can ‘heal’ over the long summer holiday period – mainly to avoid detection when they return to school.

Frontline staff are crucial in identifying and protecting against FGM, so the NHS must be even more vigilant in the coming weeks and take every possible action to prevent this abhorrent practice. Some of the signs to look out for are:

·         Young girls attending for inoculations to travel to countries with high FGM prevalence;

·         Young girls talking about travelling home for ‘special’ ceremonies or rituals;

·         Families planning absence from school that would extend the summer holiday period.

I would also like to remind you of the safeguarding requirements on the NHS as there have been a number of recent developments for health professionals around FGM (see Annexes). Please cascade this information amongst your staff and ensure they are fully aware of their responsibility to protect girls from this act, which is illegal in the UK and extends to cover girls taken overseas.

NSPCC helpline staff have now been trained by FGM health experts so that NHS staff can receive support from a 24/7 team of advisors who can discuss the often complex circumstances surrounding cases of FGM. The helpline number is 0800 028 3550. Please ensure that your staff are aware of this important source of information and assistance.

Please also make sure that your organisation has stocks of the ‘Statement Opposing FGM’ leaflet (a wallet-sized document sometimes known as the “health passport”) for families travelling abroad who may be pressured to allow girls to undergo FGM. These are availa-ble to download from www.nhs.uk/fgm or to order from www.orderline.dh.gov.uk in a wide range of languages.

 JANE ELLISON Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health ( Signed)

Thank you for your invaluable support in protecting girls.  

ANNEX A – RESOURCES:

Training:

FGM e-learning training modules: Raising awareness of female genital mutilation. The five e-learning modules are free of charge to all NHS staff via the ‘e-learning for health’ platform and cover a range of issues in relation to FGM at all stages of a girl or woman’s life including:

- Introduction to FGM;

- Adult women both pregnant and non-pregnant;

- Children and young women;

- Communication skills for staff;

- Legal and safeguarding issues .

These e-learning modules have been developed by Health Education England and are available at: www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/female-genital-mutilation

Safeguarding guidance:

Female genital mutilation risk and safeguarding – guidance for professionals

Published by the Department of Health in March 2015, this provides support to NHS organisations when developing or reviewing safeguarding policies and procedures around female genital mutilation (FGM). It can be used by health professionals from all sectors, particularly designated and named safeguarding leads, and local safeguarding children board members. The guidance is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-women-and-girls-at-risk-of-fgm

‘Statement Opposing FGM’:

This wallet-sized leaflet is a preventive tool for families travelling to FGM practising

countries. It can be shown to family members who may be pressuring a girl to undergo FGM. It is signed by a number of government Ministers and clearly states that FGM is

illegal, details the health problems it causes and lists sources of support. Available in

English and ten other languages:

www.nhs.uk/fgm and www.orderline.dh.gov.uk

Patient Information Leaflet:

More information about FGM - This leaflet is to be given to patients identified with FGM. It defines the different types of FGM, explains the health consequences and the help and support available, and provides information on the FGM data being collected in the NHS. Available in English and ten other languages:

www.nhs.uk/fgm and www.orderline.dh.gov.uk 3

ANNEX B – REQUIREMENTS:

Safeguarding duties:

The forthcoming FGM mandatory reporting duty will require a referral to the police every time a confirmed case of FGM is identified in a child under 18 years of age. We will issue guidance and advice on this in due course and assure you that we will work with you to ensure the implementation of the duty across the NHS is as smooth as possible.

In the meantime, safeguarding responsibilities remain as before and as for all other forms of child abuse. This gives us the opportunity to protect girls and prevent FGM before it can take place. All NHS staff must take appropriate safeguarding action every time they identify a child with, or at risk of FGM following local safeguarding arrangements.

Recording FGM data:

Acute Trusts put in significant efforts during the last financial year to comply with the mandatory requirement to record FGM in a patient’s healthcare record and submit monthly returns, which were then published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support and the work you have done to ensure compliance with this requirement within your Trust. Your engagement to date means we now have a much more informed picture of FGM across the NHS patient population. This is invaluable for commissioning the right services, targeted where they are needed. It also means that the NHS is in a better position to provide the right care for women living with FGM and to protect girls at risk.

On 1 April 2015, we published a new information standard, ‘SCCI 2026 FGM Enhanced Dataset’, which revised what information is collected, and the method and frequency of collection. It is now mandatory for acute Trusts to comply with these updates. The requirement to record FGM data has also been expanded to GP practices and Mental Health Trusts who will be required to submit information under the Enhanced Dataset when treating patients who have FGM, and ensure that they are compliant by October 2015 at the latest. Please ensure that over the summer and beyond this important and valuable information collection continues to develop in your Trust – it is vitally important that you maintain the good work done to date.

To support this we have sent every General Practice an FGM information pack containing a range of resources and materials.