Sunday 9 July 2023:
Amber Heat Danger Alerts continue in place for some of the coming fortnight. wh.alerts.eoe@ukhsa.gov.uk . Everyone’s health is seriously hit by high temperatures, particularly the over 65s, vulnerable, and young people; demand for healthcare services increases; indoor temperatures are excessive; services’ delivery decrease due to effects on workforces & infrastructure.
At last, a 15-year NHS Long Term Workforce Plan. This reflects that it takes a long time for Doctors, Nurses, Midwives, Paramedics, and medical specialists to be trained, gain experience and fill the many vacancies and gaps there are at present. Indeed, we must “act now, for the long term” to protect the NHS.
But what of today? Is it good that RCN nurses can’t strike any more but so many of them remain disenchanted and this may create more nursing shortages? Junior Doctors in Scotland have suspended their planned strike whilst they consult about a proposal for a 12.4% pay increase for 2023/24 alongside a pay rise of 4.5% for 2022/23 giving them a total pay increase of 17.5% over two years.
Described by some as ‘the elephant in the room’, JUNIOR DOCTORS in England will strike for the longest in NHS history from 0659 Thursday 13 July to 0700 Tuesday 18 July, then HOSPITAL CONSULTANT DOCTORS will strike on 20 & 21 July, and Radiographers are planning industrial action in July. These disputes must be settled immediately. Watch out for announcements about how things will be affected and managed. Patients suffer serious delays, waiting lists and workloads increase, and tackling NHS backlogs is further delayed.
Our AGM and Annual Meeting will be held virtually from 1830-2030 on Monday 17 July. Anthony ‘Mac’ McKeever, Chief Executive Officer, Mid & South Essex Integrated Care Board, is our keynote speaker, before he retires from his NHS career. Mac will reflect on his time with the NHS, review the present position, and look to the future of our local healthcare system. The full programme will be announced in the next day or so. Please contact our Administrator Nikki to book places by email or voicemail to swfhealthsocial@outlook.com or 01245 322079.
The independent academic report of our Survey of some healthcare services provided by SWF and Dengie Primary Care Network will be published at our AGM. It provides a rich and detailed picture of our population, its healthcare needs and services.
The East of England Rehabilitation Network resumed after the pandemic on 22 June. We’re helping the quest to arrange an in-depth review of the demand for, and supply of, rehabilitation services throughout the East of England; this would cover community, acute and major trauma rehabilitation which are all used by Townsfolk.
One strand of work of the Mid & South Essex Integrated Care Partnership is end of life and we took part in the inaugural task group workshop for this on 22 June.
“Improve Health & Wellbeing” is one of the three strategic themes of The Chelmsford Cultural Strategy. A meeting was held on 28 June to explore the ways in which SWF can be included in this. An audit of cultural organisations, activities, creatives and resources throughout the whole District is likely to be the first step for this.
The latest UK Coronavirus Dashboard says in week ended 9 June 2023 England had 141 Deaths with Covid on death certificates (down 22 from the previous week) and in the week up to 30 June 2023 in England 720 patients were admitted to hospital with Covid (down 196 from the previous week). So Covid infections, hospitalisations and deaths are now at their lowest this year.
All Covid Spring booster, first and second vaccinations stopped on 30 June 2023. Arrangements for the Autumn full programme of Covid booster and flu jabs will be announced nearer the time. We publish many public health news items on our website and in our weekly e-newsletter. If you don’t have your own online services, you can use the SWF and other Libraries where staff will help you access the internet. For health and welfare information and subscription to our newsletter contact SWF Health & Social Care Group on swfhealthsocial@outlook.com or leave a voicemail on 01245 322079
SWF Health & Social Care Group 