Happy New Year!
This is a slightly updated version of the article we published on 20 December 2023 in line with the copy deadline for SW Focus Issue 1068 of 5 January 2024. The updates are in italics and anything overtaken by events is ruled out. There is a new 4th paragraph below about Covid and other infections.
20 December 2023
Writing this before Christmas for publication in early January feels tricky. What will have happened by when you read this?
So now we have to start with negatives and promote what we said in what was paras 8&9:
BUT Mid & South Essex’s hospitals, ambulance service, mental health service and Integrated Care System are under huge pressure and performance isn’t good enough. They are constrained by the resources, funding and targets they’re given by central government; this is a national crisis. As this is was written, Junior Doctors start held their pre-Christmas 3-day strike and are set to strike striking again now during the busiest time of the year from 3-9 January. Nurses are outraged again. Care workers continue to be worse off than if they were stacking supermarket shelves.
New Year’s Resolutions? Government has lead responsibility for our health and welfare. Hold talks with the lower paid essential workers, the residential and domiciliary care workers, nurses and junior doctors, and don’t stop talking until settlements are reached. Both sides must negotiate realistically. These key workers MUST be paid a living wage.
Both sides must be willing to negotiate without pre-conditions and be willing to compromise. They must stick with the negotiations until a settlement is reached.
Cases of Covid, Flu, respiratory infections and Norovirus are increasing, are more virulent, last longer and take longer for recoveries. Hospitalisations for these causes are rising. We’re about to start a cold snap for which weather and health warnings have been issued. If you are ill please don’t spread your germs and follow the guidance about how to look after yourself at https://swfhealthsocial.co.uk/2024/01/03/nhs-services-are-under-severe-pressure-please-choose-wisely/ . We have been asked what is the present guidance for people who test positive for Covid. The present national public health guidance about Covid is at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/covid-19/covid-19-symptoms-and-what-to-do/ . Essentially you should: stay at home and avoid contact with other people. You can go back to your normal activities when you feel better and don’t have a temperature. If you’re worried about the seriousness, worsening or long lasting of your illness contact your GP or call 111.
Let’s start finish with the many positives, which are local. In April 2023 The Dengie & SWF Primary Care Network (PCN) started to spring into life. Whilst PCNs were created just before the opening of Crouch Vale Medical Centre and the pandemic, nothing really happened with them until 2023.
The 7 GP Practices in our PCN now share: a Clinical Lead; a Programme Lead; a Head of Operations & Inequalities Lead; a PCN Manager; a Digital Lead; a Clinical Pharmacist; 4 Physiotherapists; 3 Emergency Care Practitioners; a Health & Wellbeing Coach; 3 Care Coordinators; 3 Social Prescribers. SWF gets 50%+ of their efforts.
Our GPs have various numbers of Doctors, Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Prescribers, Practice Nurses, Paramedic Practitioners, Pharmacists, Phlebotomists/Care Assistants.
This huge increase in resources is complemented by our three pharmacies. Our wonderful SWF pharmacists are the people to see for minor and moderate health concerns. Your GP Surgery may refer you to them for suitable ailments. They’re increasingly there to advise and prescribe, you won’t have a long wait to see them, and if they find anything serious they will refer you to the right NHS provider.
We’ve made a major timely contribution with our Health, Welfare & Social Care
Assessment of the Dengie & South Woodham Ferrers Primary Care Network https://swfhealthsocial.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/health-welfare-social-care-assessment-of-the-dengie-south-woodham-ferrers-pcn-jun23.pdf which is the foundation of the initial workplan for our PCN.
In 2023 our local health and welfare services have made huge strides. However, our report equally identifies the concerns we all have, particularly about accessibility. Facts are: as reported above huge improvements have been made in the last year. But our demands of ‘the system’ have increased a lot more. There are many post-Covid reasons for this, and other factors such as the cost-of-living crisis and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. If we do ‘our bit’, by not missing appointments, wasting medications, calling 999 and visiting A&E unnecessarily, and use the appropriate local providers as above, are understanding and patient, we’ll get better service and the health & welfare system will perform better. Public health news is on our website and in weekly e-newsletters. SWF Library provides online services and help with internet access. For health & welfare information and subscription to our newsletter, email swfhealthsocial@outlook.com , or leave voicemails on 01245 322079
https://swfhealthsocial.co.uk/
We wish you a Happy and Healthy 2024.
SWF Health & Social Care Group 