Your regular news update on health and social care in Barnet
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Welcome to the August issue of your Healthwatch Barnet newsletter
This month's newsletter is full of news and updates, including special events from our partners. Included in this issue:
- Men's health matters: find out how you can contribute to our new report
- New Royal Free Hospitals' telephone appointment line
- The Integrated Care System - a report on our special public event
Extra polio vaccine dose for children
- Your cancer experience could help improve local services
- New Age UK Barnet Talk: can you think yourself young?
- Wednesday, 17th August, a special launch for BEH Mental Health Trust Recovery Strategy
- Mental Wellbeing Art Workshop Colindale Library
As always, you can get in touch by email or phone if you would like to share your views on health and social care in Barnet.
Healthwatch Barnet championing men's health
A reminder that our new project is focused on men's health. We know that men have the worst health outcomes in all health measures, including heart disease, diabetes and forms of cancer, and they’re less likely to get medical help when it’s needed. So we're asking what good health means to men, where they get their health information, and what would make looking after their health easier. Please complete our survey or share it with the men in your lives.
New Royal Free Hospitals telephone appointment line
Do you have an out-patient referral or appointment at the Royal Free, Chase Farm or Barnet Hospital? If you do and have a query about it, you can now contact the out-patient appointment call centre: 020 7443 9757, Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm (excluding bank holidays). The call centre can help with queries about your care, including first appointments, follow up appointments and test results. If the team is unable to answer your question, they will forward your call to the relevant service.
Update: the North Central London Integrated Care System and Barnet Borough Partnership
Barnet's new Integrated Care System (ICS) came into force at the beginning of July. Healthwatch Barnet was pleased to host an event for the general public on the ICS with directors of NCL ICB (North Central London Integrated Care Board). You can watch the full event on our YouTube channel and there's a short report on our website too. If there’s anything you would like to add or any extra questions you have, drop an email to Healthwatch Barnet.
Extra polio vaccine dose for children in London
Children aged 1 to 9 years old in London are being offered a dose of polio vaccine. For some children this may be an extra dose on top of their routine vaccinations. In other children it may bring them up to date with their routine vaccinations.
There are signs the virus may be spreading in London and the number of children vaccinated in London is lower than it should be. Boosting immunity in children should help protect them and reduce the risk of the virus continuing to spread. If your child is eligible for an extra dose, the NHS will contact you to ask you to book an appointment for the vaccine.
Your cancer experience could help improve local services
The North Central London Cancer Alliance is looking for residents with lived experience of cancer, or residents who provide unpaid care for people living with cancer, to join its group of Patient Partners. Hearing and acting on the views of people with lived experience is central to how this organisation’s works, and it wants a diverse range of people to be involved. Being a Patient Partner means that you can contribute in different ways depending on how much time you have and how you think you can best help. For example, you could contribute to a group or project, or you could comment on publicity materials.
Talk: can you think yourself young?
Age UK Barnet present this fascinating talk from neuroscientist Professor Catherine Loveday on the science of positive ageing on Thursday 15 September 7pm at the Ann Owens Centre, Oak Lane, East Finchley N2 8LT
Find out:
* How attitudes to ageing can improve your health and may even protect against dementia
* What we can learn from the super-agers
* How the way we speak to someone can affect how old they feel
* Why and how to challenge negative ageing stereotypes
£5 donation to Age UK Barnet on the door! Refreshments included. To book your place, contact Teresa on 07502 989 403 or by email.
Garden events for the BEH Recovery Strategy
Happening tomorrow Wednesday, 17th August, 11am to 4pm, a special launch for the new Barnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust Recovery Strategy. Hear all about it and enjoy much more besides! Want to get involved or know more? Email for more information.
Free Mental Wellbeing Art Workshop
There will be a free Mental Wellbeing Art Workshop run by local artist Esperanza Walsh at Colindale Library as part of their Creative Communities programme. You can book now, just contact the library.
