Posted on: 4 January 2024
What else has been happening this week?
Your home, your choice campaign evaluation
Last year, the West Yorkshire Housing Partnership (WYHP) ran your home, your choice, a campaign to encourage people to think about ‘rightsizing’ and finding a home that’s right for them as they age. WYHP comprises 13 housing associations and two local authorities with homes in the region.
Evaluation, published in December 2023, showed that the campaign generated great engagement across West Yorkshire. People feel more confident to have conversations about rightsizing and know more about where to find support. The materials have longevity and findings are influencing housing policies and strategies across West Yorkshire.
Call to organisations across West Yorkshire to join the journey to become ‘trauma informed’
Organisations across West Yorkshire can now sign up to a West Yorkshire Charter and commit to preventing trauma and adversity. Making services and systems trauma-informed is a big, ongoing effort that requires time and resources. Organisations completing a readiness checklist can think about how their services currently work and what changes they need to make before committing to the charter. The Adversity, Trauma and Resilience Programme, jointly delivered by West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership and West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership, can help organisations to meet any gaps and to be part of the charter. The charter was initially developed through the Visible Project in Leeds with input from various stakeholders and is part of the goal to be more aware and responsive to trauma by the year 2030. See the animation for an explainer about what adversity, trauma and resilience mean and the news pages for more information.
NHS strike action
From 3-9 January, some NHS services will be affected due to strike action. The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action. If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned.
The NHS is asking patients to choose services appropriately during industrial action and take simple steps to help ensure care is available to patients who need it most. This includes using 111 online as the first port of call for health needs, and only using 999 if it is a serious or life-threatening emergency.
Are you in this Dry January?
This month is Dry January, and Alcohol Change is encouraging people in West Yorkshire to consider taking part and to reap the benefits like a better night’s sleep, more energy, a calmer mind, and a fuller wallet.
For many of us, January can provide a perfect opportunity for a reset.
Visit dryjanuary.org.uk to find out more.
Stop Smoking Service celebrates its first birthday
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Stop Smoking Service turned one recently.
In our latest case study, Carl Hickman, project and service manager leading both acute inpatient and maternity pathways, tells us more about the challenges and successes, as well as what those using the service are saying and plans for the future.
Read more on the difference our partnership is making pages.
NHS Trials Home Testing for Chronic Kidney Disease
Tens of thousands of patients at risk of kidney disease will be able to get tested from the comfort of their own homes as part of a £30 million tech and AI innovation fund this winter.
The Healthy.io early detection device will initially be sent to 30,000 patients who are considered most at risk for kidney disease.
Analysis suggests the device could help detect 1,300 cases of undiagnosed chronic kidney disease (CKD) over the coming months, as well as stopping some patients from developing end-stage renal disease – improving outcomes for individuals and reducing pressure on the NHS by preventing unplanned hospital admissions.
The trial of the app and device in West Yorkshire is part of the national Health Technology Adoption Acceleration Fund, made available to local NHS teams to support faster deployment of promising innovations that would improve patient care by helping cut waiting lists, speed up diagnosis, or deliver new and improved ways to treat patients in time for winter. You can read more on NHS England’s website.
Community pharmacy
Individuals will be able to walk in or make an appointment at registered pharmacies, to receive a consultation from an NHS pharmacist. If clinically appropriate, they can be supplied oral contraception for the first time, switch from one type of contraceptive pill to another, or can receive the next supply of their current oral contraceptive. Visit: nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy-offering-contraceptive-pill-without-prescription
In addition, the NHS Community Pharmacy Blood Pressure Check Service, which has previously been delivered by pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, can now be delivered by trained members of the wider pharmacy team, who will work within their scope of practice alongside pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, from 1 December 2023. Visit nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions-and-pharmacies/find-a-pharmacy-that-offers-free-blood-pressure-checks/
Congratulations to all from West Yorkshire who made the New Year Honours list
The New Year Honours list includes recipients who have made "exceptional" contributions to society and to the country. Huge congratulations to all who made the list including people across West Yorkshire.