As we enter the last week of January in another national lockdown, the excitement of Christmas is behind us, and this leads me to reflect on the importance of focusing on our mental health and wellbeing. Further down in this email you will find some valuable resources from the newly launched NHS Every Mind Matters Campaign, including coping with covid and wellbeing and a free tool to develop your own Mind Plan to to help you deal with stress and anxiety, improve your sleep, boost your mood and feel more in control.
On a more positive note, the NHS Covid Vaccination programme has got off to a flying start in the New Year, with over 4.3 million people in England having received their first COVID-19 vaccination (figures up to January 20th 2021). This figure is changing rapidly, as the NHS continues to expand it’s vaccination programme. This is a fantastic achievement and we should congratulate the NHS and the hard work of many 10,000s of healthcare workers and volunteers who have helped (and continue to) deliver this amazing vaccination programme. We have heard from many of you of how quick, easy and relatively painless (excuse the pun!) the whole covid vaccination experience has been. However, please do continue to let us know if you have encountered any problems/issues with the covid vaccination.
I just want to close this week’s blog on a related reminder; if you, or any one you know has not yet had their flu vaccination or missed their appointment, then please do consider getting the flu vaccination. The NHS is currently focusing on catching up on all who are eligible for the free NHS flu vaccination (especially those over the age of 50) and who may have missed the first phase of vaccinations, it is not too late to get your flu vaccination!
Finally, thank you to all of you who have been using our new Whatsapp text service (07759298450) to provide us with feedback – it is hugely appreciated as it gives us the evidence we need to be able to advise the people who pay for and provide the health and social care services you use on the ways in which you need them to operate. Keep it coming!
Answer 5 quick questions to get your free plan with tips to help you deal with stress and anxiety, improve your sleep, boost your mood and feel more in control. Try the quiz
National lockdown: Stay at Home. Coronavirus cases are rising rapidly across the country. You must stay at home. The single most important action we can all take is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.
Read the detailed guidance on the national lockdown 2021:
Vaccination Public Patient Enquiry Line:
0300 7900 267
This help line cannot be used to discuss personal patient information or to book a vaccination appointment. It is another channel to keep people informed if they are uncertain about the Covid-19 vaccination programme.
Covid Update from NHS Milton Keynes CCG:
The following figures cover the 7 days up to 7 January 2021
Total positive cases – 2286 decreased by 7%.
No further data on covid vaccinations administered across Milton Keynes is currently provided by the local NHS. However, the following Regional Covid vaccination figures are published by NHS England up to and including Jan 20th 2021 (provisional figures). Note Milton Keynes is under East of England figures.
Region of Residence
1st dose
2nd dose
Cumulative Total Doses to Date
Total
4,303,730
436,848
4,740,578
East Of England
494,557
53,396
547,953
London
465,074
53,353
518,427
Midlands
821,729
66,611
888,340
North East And Yorkshire
715,903
71,508
787,411
North West
595,673
62,710
658,383
South East
692,239
75,837
768,076
South West
492,386
53,145
545,531
NHS England also publishes weekly and monthly covid vaccination figures by age group and Region, these can be viewed at NHS England’s Vaccination webpage.
UK Disability Survey Launched
The Disability Unit at the Cabinet Office is developing a National Strategy for Disabled People. Publication is planned for Spring 2021. Survey closes 23 Apr 2021.
To help the government with understanding the barriers that disabled people face and what it may need to focus upon to improve the lives of disabled people, we need to hear about your views and know more about your experiences.
This survey will ask about your life experiences either as a disabled person, a carer or parent or as someone who has an interest in disability issues.
Many people have had big changes in their lives as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and there will be an opportunity at the end of the survey to state if your life has changed notably due to COVID-19, and in what ways. However, please answer other questions thinking about yourself, your own experiences and your current situation.
To support the local Deaf community, Access Ambassadors have set up a page on their website with accessible health and well-being information. All the links are to pages with information in BSL https://www.access-ambassadors.co.uk/deaf-health-bsl-videos.
Please note the following schedule of events organised by DUK South East region.
The attached letter gives instructions on how to register for them.
Virtual events in the South East
Thursday 21 Jan 1-2.30pmLiving emotionally well with your diabetes.
(Karen Pearson, Deborah Barnett & Christopher Hutchins, Talking Therapies)
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/y5z5rq7x
Wednesday 3 Feb, 1.30-3.00pmSelf-Management: Empowering people with type 2 diabetes.
(Erwin Castro, Diabetes Nurse Consultant)
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/y4bur8fp
Monday 8 Feb, 11.00-12.30pmEating well with diabetes.
(Nicky Mendoza, Diabetes Dietitian)
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/y2wpdqca
Tuesday 9 Feb 7.00-8.30pmEmpowering those with type 1 diabetes
(Dr Mayank Patel, Consultant in Diabetes)
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/y6mewcld
Thursday 11 Feb 1.00-2.30pmHow to talk about your psychological wellbeing with your Diabetes health professional.
(Karen Pearson, Deborah Barnett & Christopher Hutchins, Talking Therapies)
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/y4jue7gu
Wednesday 17 Feb 6.30-8.00pmDiabetes and Dementia
(Miss Rutendo Muzambi: MPharm – from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine)
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/y6pst9sr
Thursday 18 Feb 1.00-2.30pmSick day Rules for People living with type 1 diabetes (putting the theory into practice).
(Anne Eltringham Cox, Diabetes Specialist Nurse)
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/y5lbdqa2
Monday 22 Feb 1.00-2.30pmSick day Rules for People living with type 2 diabetes (putting the theory into practice).
(Anne Eltringham Cox, Diabetes Specialist Nurse)
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/yy6pjbyp
Thursday 25 Feb 10.30-12.00pmPre-Diabetes and reducing risks of developing type 2 diabetes in the South Asian community.
(Dr Shiba Qamar, GP & Aqib Elahi, NDPP educator)
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/yybolndr
Thursday 4 March 2.00-3.30pmSelf Management: Empowering people with type 2 diabetes from the South Asian community.
(Dr Binodh Chathanath, GP)
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/y4dy8be5
Monday 8th March 5.00-6.30pmLooking after your feet and signs of when to seek help
(Michelle Stafford, Clinical Lead for Diabetes Foot, South East Clinical Network)
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/y4qqv64n
Reminder that NHS Dentists and GP services will remain open during current national lockdown
The Government guidance on the national lock down says, “The majority of public services will continue and you will be able to leave home to visit them. These include the NHS and medical services like GPs and dentists”.
Remote consultation, triage and risk assessment remain key prior to patient attendance for face to face dental care.
MK Friends Shop – Delivering to Wards in MKUH
The Friends of Milton Keynes University Hospital usually run a grocery store and Ward Trolley service. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we’ve now implemented a daily Ward Delivery service.
Pick from our selection of snacks, drinks, chocolates and confectionery, newspapers and magazines, and essential toiletries.
We want to hear your experiences of local health and social care services so that we can work to improve them. The more feedback we receive, the more powerful our message becomes.
Healthwatch Milton Keynes advertises health & social care funded, charity and community activities/groups/events to its members. We are only able to advertise trusted sources, for example services that are BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) accredited or CQC regulated. It is usually not within Healthwatch Milton Keynes’ remit to endorse paid for services to its members. However, all content is considered on a case by case basis.
Our mailing address is:
Healthwatch Milton Keynes
Suite 113 Milton Keynes Business Centre
Linford Wood
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK14 6GD
United Kingdom
