Total Voice Northamptonshire is now up and running based at Northampton Business Park, Northampton.

 

The service will be supporting people who have mental health issues, young people who are receiving adult mental health services, people with learning disabilities, physical or sensory impairments, older people and carers. This support is free, independent and confidential.

 

To find out more in confidence please contact:

 

Total Voice Northamptonshire, c/o Advocacy Partners Speaking Up, Victory House, 400 Pavilion Drive, Northampton Business Park, Northampton, NN4 7PA.

 

Telephone: 02033 558846

E-mail: totalvoicenorthamptonshire@speakingup.org

Website: www.totalvoicenorthamptonshire.org

 

 

Northamptonshire Carers has just launched a new support line for carers: 01933 677907

The organisation has also changed address and telephone number. Please make a note of the new details below. Staff e-mails remain the same.

Northamptonshire Carers, 7 Dencora Business Park, Booth Drive, Park Farm South, Wellingborough, NN8 6GR.

General enquiries: 01933 677837.

Members of the public will have an opportunity to air their views about older people's services, safeguarding vulnerable adults and community safety in the county.

The Care Quality Commission is holding a public meeting in partnership with LINk as part of its inspection of Northamptonshire County Council's health and social care services. The aim is to hear people's experiences of county council's health and social care services.  

The meeting will take place at The Park Inn Hotel in Northampton on Thursday September 9th at 1.30pm. If you would like to attend or would like any further information, please contact the LINk on 01604 808684. Refreshments will be available after the meeting.

 

The LINk has been asked to comment on services in the county.

 

Each year the Care Quality Commission carries out an inspection of health and social care services in the county and LINk members are being asked to share their views.

 

Please could you therefore complete our short online survey and share your experiences in confidence.

 

The Care Quality Commission and LINk will also be holding an open public forum meeting in early September. Further information will be provided shortly.

 

If you wish to receive the survey in another format, please contact Northamptonshire LINk on 01604 808684. Please respond to the survey by Thursday August 5^th

 

Thank you for your help. Your views will help to improve services in Northamptonshire.

Northamptonshire Police is running a consultation to develop and improve the services to tackle:

 

Domestic abuse

Stalking and harassment

Honour based violence

Sexual violence

Child sexual abuse

 

Please complete the survey about the services online and visit the facebook site via the link. The closing date for the completion of the survey is 31^st July 2010.

 

When the Gold Street Surgery in Wellingborough was burnt down in a fire last month it was crucial that patient care was not interrupted.

As a result of collaborative working between NHS Northamptonshire and Northamptonshire County Council, all three GP Practices previously based on the premises  have now relocated to new their new location: Hemmingwell Lodge on Nest Farm Crescent in Wellingborough.

This will be for approximately 18 months while the planned build for new premises on the Isebrook Hospital site is being completed.

 All three practices are now offering all routine and emergency GP services. Patients are asked to continue using their usual practice telephone numbers for routine and emergency appointments. Patients who experience difficulty in getting through can also call 03336 664664 as an alternative.

 

Two project workers who both have learning disabilities are set to help staff better understand the needs of people with this disability.

This is part of a major improvement programme currently underway at Kettering General Hospital to help enhance care and to ensure that staff at the hospital get relevant and inspiring training in how to make a hospital visit less stressful.

Chris Abram from Wellingborough and Karan Smith from Kettering will be working at the hospital for five hours a week each.

Our 2009 / 2010 report is hot off the press. It features updates from our work groups, case studies about patient and public involvement initiatives and feedback on our work in the community. To get your copy, call 01604 808684 or e-mail info@northamptonshire-link.org.uk.

All community occupational therapy referrals will now be dealt with from the new single point of access based in Northampton. Telephone: 01604 658448. Fax: 01604 658428.

 

The University of Northampton's Centre for Health and Well-Being is currently developing a range of research and practice related training courses in public engagement and involvement.

The course will be suitable for service users and their carers and other lay staff in health and social care related services. Proposed content could include developing research knowledge and skills, engaging in strategic meetings and communications and presentational skills. 

It is envisaged there will be eight two-hour sessions which will form a 20 credit module which can be accredited through the university’s School of Health short course framework. The course can take place either at the university or at an alternative venue. For more information please contact chwr@northampton.ac.uk.

 

Earlier this year we highlighted the public's concerns about long waiting lists for urgent equipment such as bath lifts.

Lynn Jones, Northamptonshire County Council Commissioner, and Katharine Parker, Public Engagement Manager, attended our last social care group meeting to speak about the current situation and plans to commission a new service for the provision of equipment in the county.

The county council recognises that there is a waiting list  -  including some people who have been waiting more than a year for a bath lift  - and Northamptonshire LINk will lobby the council and PCT to ensure that this waiting list is tackled before a new tender contract is in place.

The LINk has agreed to provide a representative on the Integrated Community Equipment Services board in order to represent the public and will also enquire about the possibility of an independent chairman or co-chairman being a part of that board. 

Representatives from the council and PCT said that they will regularly attend LINk meetings to update us on the tender process and the waiting list. If you would like to hear more about this issue, come along to future meetings of the LINk social care group.

If you are a patient, family or carer who has experience of major trauma, then your views are needed.

Major trauma is defined as multiple injuries caused by an event. 

The NHS’s major trauma improvement forum wants people to share their experiences and suggestions.

You can do this on the major trauma online forum or by telephone 0207 239 7806. 

 

Corby residents aged between 40 and 74 are entitled to a free health check as part of a new pilot scheme. Visit NHS Northamptonshire's website or speak to your local GP practice, pharmacist, or the minor injuries unit in Corby or call 0800 587 0879.   

There is now a team of dementia care advisors in the county whose aim is to enable people living with dementia and their families and carers to maintain the best quality of life.

There are four advisors who provide advice on the condition, local services and how to access  them, benefits, legal aspects and other helpful information.

To find out more, get in touch with the team. The contacts are:

Wellingborough and East Northamptonshire  -  Rob Hasker  -  07884 118693

South Northamptonshire and Daventry  -  Fiona Lockhart  -  07773 364580

Kettering, Corby and District  -  Alice Spence  -  07717 485045

Northampton and District  -  Liz Sturgess  -  07884 118944

The service is available from Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm. Upon contact with the team, you will be able to make an appointment with an advisor who will provide advice and guidance. Ongoing support is available for the person living with dementia and their family.

New proposals will give patients a much greater choice of GP practice.

The Department of Health is running a consultation to seek views from the public, healthcare professionals and other NHS staff.

The consultation sets out the different options for organising healthcare for patients; and the potential implications of their choices if the current system of GP practice boundaries is removed.

Take part in the consultation online before May 28th to add your views.