May 2015 Dear colleague, Welcome to the May 2015 edition of our regular health ebulletin bringing you news from LVSC, Regional Voices (of which LVSC is a constituent member), the Department of Health, Public Health England, Care Quality Commission and NHS England. Where relevant, the ebulletins may include information from London's voluntary & community sector (VCS) as well as regional policy news - e.g. from the Greater London Authority, NHS England (London region), London CCGs,etc. We also intend to keep you up to date on the government's Five Year Forward View, including the transformation agenda in London (see LVSC section below to find out more about LVSC's work on this area in the coming year). If you wish to discuss any items to be included in future bulletins, please feel free to contact me. Kind regards Sandra Sandra van der Feen Policy Officer, LVSC sandra@lvsc.org.uk Mondays - Wednesdays only LVSC newsLVSC's health policy work 2015-2016LVSC is a constituent member or Regional Voices, one of the strategic partners of the Department of Health, Public Health England and NHS England. LVSC has been funded for another year to take forward the strategic partners programme – Stronger Connections for Better Health. This programme is about building mechanisms for an effective flow of information, intelligence and evidence between voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations and the Department of Health, Public Health England and the NHS England. We have also been funded through our Regional Voices membership by NHS England to help take forward the Engaging Patients and Communities Programme of the Five year Forward View. This work will include improving local commissioning with small VCSE groups; support better involvement in primary care commissioning and other areas.
More information can be found on LVSC's health pages. You can also contact Sandra van der Feen, Health Policy Officer, LVSC: sandra@lvsc.org.uk (Mon-Wed only). Return to top Whole Systems Change: Co-producing models of health & careThe report of the event which took place on April 16th is almost completed but we are still waiting for some information and comments before we can publish it. We do have some additional content regarding the workshops which is available online. They can be downloaded from LVSC's health policy page Return to top London wide newsLondon GP mental health scheme helps hundreds, skills up primary care staff and saves thousandsAccording to NHS England, "more than 600 people now visit their GP instead of the hospital for regular physical and mental health checks thanks to a successful London scheme saving the NHS thousands". Across Newham CCG's 61 surgeries four teams Community Psychiatric Nurses (CPNs) are on stand-by to see patients with stable severe mental illnesses who have opted into the service. They no longer visit the psychiatrist in outpatients and can instead be seen at their local practice where they and their carers can get physical health checks Some of the money saved through this initiative has already been reinvested with East London NHS Foundation Trust to establish new services. The Clinical Commissioning Group is hoping to work alongside patients with mental health problems to support them getting back into the workplace. Return to top National newsPrime Minister on plans for a seven-day NHSDavid Cameron has given a speech setting out his plans for "a 7-day NHS, safe in our hands - for every generation to come. A press release can be viewed on the government website Return to top Mental health staff working with police and courts now cover half of EnglandNew Liaison and Diversion teams are now in place across half of the country to ensure that vulnerable people are supported in both police custody and the courts. The first wave began in April 2014 and this initiative has recently expanded to cover 28.5 million people as part of a two year trial. For more information, visit the NHS England website Return to top Innovation Test Beds search extendedHealth and social care innovators now have until 12 June to express an interest in being part of the Test Beds Programme. The programme, which opened on 26 March, is inviting expressions of interest from innovators from any sector in the UK and internationally who want to test their ideas to deliver health services in better ways at scale, and in a real clinical setting. Through the programme, and with the support of the 15 Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs), innovators will partner up with NHS and social care sites to trial new technologies, digital services and other innovations in service delivery with the potential to bring big benefits to patients. London has 3 AHSNs: University College London Partners (UCLP); King's Health Partners and the Imperial College Health Partners (ICHP) In practice, a test bed site could mean equipping patients with wearable technology, combined with a new working pattern for clinical and nursing staff, all with the aim of helping people manage long-term conditions, address issues early and reduce preventable trips to hospital. Over the summer, AHSNs will identify NHS and social care organisations as potential 'test bed sites' which will be matched to appropriate innovators. The partnerships will then receive national support to implement high potential innovations that respond to local clinical needs. There are also a number of opportunities to find out more about the programme and ask questions. More details are available on the NHS website. Return to top
Help the NHS improve by providing them with feedback on your local NHS services
All of us can help improve the NHS by giving feedback after visiting the dentist, a GP practice, or when we use local hospitals, community services and mental health services. The Friends and Family Test enables patients to make their voices heard and is a quick way for all patients to give NHS staff a "thank you" or say how things could be better. Patients have already given more than 7 million responses in two years and the Friends and Family Test is now operating across most parts of the NHS. Return to top Find out how patients rate their quality of life after planned operationsPeople who receive one of four surgical procedures (hip and knee replacement, groin hernia surgery and varicose vein treatment) can feed back on their quality of life before and after their treatment. This information is known as Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMS), that can be used by patients, medical staff, carers and commissioners to understand where some hospitals perform better or worse than one would expect. PROMS are an important source of patient feedback and can help inform people's choice for where they have their surgery or treatment. The results are published on the 'myNHS' website Return to top Information and resources about integrated pioneers on the NHS websiteThe NHS website now holds information about the sites in an easily accessible way. It contains For example the Resource Centre contains integrated care value case toolkits for the different pioneer sits. In London these are: Return to top
Excess winter deaths and morbidity and the health risks associated with cold homes
The guideline is for commissioners, managers and health, social care and voluntary & community sector practitioners who deal with vulnerable people who may have health problems caused, or exacerbated, by living in a cold home. It will also be of interest to clinicians and others involved with at-risk groups, housing and energy suppliers. This guideline makes recommendations on how to reduce the risk of death and ill health associated with living in a cold home. The aim is to help: - Reduce preventable excess winter death rates.
- Improve health and wellbeing among vulnerable groups.
- Reduce pressure on health and social care services.
- Reduce 'fuel poverty' and the risk of fuel debt or being disconnected from gas and electricity supplies
- Improve the energy efficiency of homes.
Overview Recommendations Return to top Events & training Writing that winning tender18th June 2015 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM – at Voluntary Action Islington
Further information and registration With the move away from traditional grant funding, many organisations find themselves having to compete for funding through the commissioning process. This may be to continue existing services or to start new projects. Organisations need to understand the commissioning and tendering process to be able to present a viable case. This course will cover the different types of tendering process, putting a proposal together, preparing a realistic budget, being able to present your case and understanding the nature of contracts to ensure it knows what is being agreed. The London for All course looks at the essential skills involved, including identifying potential contracts, deciding whether to bid, writing an initial response, costing, demonstrating value for money and making your tender stand out Return to top
Taking a deep breath: Cleaning up London's air
Tuesday 7th July 2015
16:30pm - 21:00pm at St Bride Foundation, Bridge Lane, London, EC4Y 8EQ London continues to suffer the effects of poor air quality leading to around 4,300 early deaths per year. You'll be getting to the bottom of how to develop an action plan and put it into action, working with councils, planners, politicians and other communities. Event aims: - Exploring robust solutions for tackling air pollution through law, policy, technology, behaviour change, sustainable transport, data sharing and community empowerment
- Discussing how citizen science can help you and your community
- Developing new ideas and solid actions to improve air quality
- Meeting people who share your ambitions and who you can make lasting connections with, including policy makers, local planners and other community groups
Please confirm your attendance here Contact Sam Jelliman s.jelliman@lsx.org.uk 02072349400 for more information Return to top United Nations – International Yoga Day – Sunday 21 JuneDSYM UK in association with S-VYASA 21 June was declared as the International Yoga Day by the United Nations General Assembly on 11 December 2014. Yoga, a 5,000-year-old physical, mental and spiritual practice having its origin in India, aims to transform body and mind. The aim of the event is to create holistic awareness of yoga and its health benefits.
The event, supported by the High Commission of India, is scheduled for 21st June 2015 at the Archbishop Lanfranc School. Event information
Link to leaflet There will be a yoga exhibition in the main hall, yoga workshops in the classrooms and marquee & tents pitched on the playing fields where yoga related organisations would be able to promote their activities or style of yoga. Workshops & Lectures will be held on: - Ayurveda, Pranayam, Mantrachanting, Guided meditation, Chair Yoga,
- Yoga for children
- Yoga Therapy for common ailments – Diabetes, Blood pressure, Asthma, Arthritis, Back Pain etc by Dr Robin Monoro
Bookings details will become available soon but you can book the workshops here
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