The Healthwatch Oldham 100 Project (HWO 100) is simple and straightforward. We release a bi-monthly short survey on specific health and social care topics to try and understand your views and opinions. These surveys are directly sent out to those who have joined the HWO 100 and we also publish it on our website.
The findings from these surveys will be used to identify particular trends, shape our future work and allow us to share your thoughts with the services involved.
The information we collect will be anonymous, so you can be completely open and honest, and you can opt-out at any time.
This last year, more than ever has been very challenging in light of the COVID-19 pandemic which has impacted on all our lives and more people have looked for online support to help their mental health and wellbeing.
Therefore, like last year, we have made this month’s Healthwatch Oldham 100 survey about your current mental health. What helps you manage it, and any services that have recently provided you with support.
The survey will be available until the 5 February 2021 and you can access it below:
We have teamed up with the Oldham Safeguarding Adults Board to find out how easy it is for wheelchair users in Oldham to access social groups, physical activities and local services.
Now more than ever people must be able to maintain positive mental and physical health by keeping active and connecting regularly with friends and family. However, we have heard from people in Oldham that this can be hard for people who use a wheelchair to get about and sometimes lack of wheelchair access or appropriate or affordable transport can impact on people mental and physical wellbeing.
Therefore, Healthwatch Oldham has teamed up with the Oldham Safeguarding Adults Board to find out how easy it is for wheelchair users in Oldham to access social groups, physical activities and local services. Please complete the survey which can be done online or give us a call and we can send out a paper version or complete over the phone. We will also be running focus groups (virtual) so if you would like to attend one of those please email your interest at info@healthwatcholdham.co.uk
We are also keen to contact any Oldham groups who would be happy for us to come and talk to members to hear about people’s experiences and help us change things for the better in Oldham.
The closing date for this survey is 10 February 2021.
Use this service to get free daily vitamin D supplements if you're at high risk (clinically extremely vulnerable) from coronavirus (COVID-19).
During autumn and winter, everyone is advised to take vitamin D to keep their bones and muscles healthy and to support their general health. This is particularly important if you've been indoors over the spring and summer as you may not have been getting enough vitamin D from sunlight.
Who can use this service?
You can use this service if all of these apply:
you have received a letter from the NHS or the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) saying you're at high risk from coronavirus
you're aged 18 or over
you live in England
When you apply, you will be checked to ensure you're on the shielded patients list of people at high risk from coronavirus. If you have received a letter about this, you're on the list.
They will share your name and address with a partner provider working with DHSC and they will send you 4 months' supply of supplements.
You can make 1 application for vitamin D supplements. You need to apply before Sunday 21 February 2021. Click on the link below:
Go-ahead for major development at The Royal Oldham Hospital
A green light has been given to a £28million four-storey extension to the main hospital site building at The Royal Oldham Hospital.
The Northern Care Alliance NHS Group (NCA) is celebrating the confirmation of business case approval, which will allow them to demolish existing facilities and in its place deliver a four-storey extension to the main hospital site building at The Royal Oldham. Inside the new-build will be two new 24 bedded general surgery wards and the creation of a new emergency theatre within the current theatres unit. This will allow The Royal Oldham to operate as the hub site for high risk and emergency general and colorectal surgery for the north east of Greater Manchester.
David Jago, Chief Officer at The Royal Oldham Hospital, said: "The new surgical hub will provide much needed expertise to the people of the north east of Greater Manchester. It will enable other developments at The Royal Oldham, which will advance our ambitions to provide care and employment to the people of Oldham and beyond.”
A main contractor for the capital works, IHP has been selected and a public consultation on the new build took place in November 2019. Planning permission for the extension has also been granted and so building work is expected to start within the coming months with the new building opened by spring 2023.
Dr Nick Tierney, Divisional Clinical Director for Surgery at The Royal Oldham Hospital said: “This is fantastic news for the Division of Surgery and for all of the patients, staff and the population in Oldham and the surrounding areas. Having a new state of the art theatre for emergency and colorectal surgery will allow our surgeons to perform at the highest possible level with positive benefits in the quality of care delivered to our patients.”
Northern Care Alliance Chief Executive Raj Jain said: “It is great to see The Royal Oldham Hospital receiving this well-deserved investment to improve the hospital’s infrastructure, and I would like to thank all of those staff who have been involved in the plans and the design so far as part of the planning process. I am really looking forward to seeing the development take shape and witnessing the difference it will make to patients, staff and the public in the surrounding area.”
Social Sense
Free Winter Activities for Older Residents
Free Activities to help Greater Manchester Residents through the Winter
Starting 12 January 2021, there will be hundreds of free activities on offer to help older Greater Manchester residents through the winter, especially those living with dementia.
The activities will be provided through the Greater Moments app in partnership with Bright Copper Kettles CIC, an organisation who provides practical, evidence-based wellbeing activities within care homes.
The Greater Moments app has been developed by Social Sense and Hitch Marketing as part of Dementia United, Greater Manchester’s programme for dementia. The aim of the app is to bring local services, activities and social experiences together in one place, enabling greater connection throughout communities and improved wellbeing for carers and those with long term conditions.
People living with dementia and those who care for them are a population group widely reported to be significantly affected by the tougher measures of lockdown and restricted social interaction1
The Greater Moments team recently brought a live streamed Christmas event to an estimated audience of more than 1000 people - an event supported by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as one that could “bring people together despite social barriers”.
The activities will create fun and stimulating experiences in homes and care settings whilst, the weekly drop-in zoom sessions will connect professionals and family members who can share experiences, ideas and what is working well to maintain a positive mood.
Founder of Bright Copper Kettles CIC Caroline Benham explains: “The winter months are already challenging and this year it is compounded by COVID-19 and its effect of keeping families apart. Through this exciting partnership we can achieve our shared aim of demonstrably improving quality of life through carefully planned, positive and meaningful activities”
Leading the Greater Moments programme for Social Sense is Stacey Adams, who added: “Our aim with the Greater Moments app and programme is to help those living with dementia seek out and enjoy more of the moments that matter. The app was always intended to bring the best of Greater Manchester into one place. Until physical doors reopen, we’re working doubly hard to bring greater moments to people wherever they are living. This partnership is an exciting next step.”
In addition to the virtual group activities, the free distribution of high street magazines will be continuing across the region. These can also be requested on an individual or network basis through the app.
Please note that Healthwatch Oldham does not endorse the articles mentioned in this eBulletin.It's designed to provide information to enable you to make an informed choice.
Kind regards
Martyn Nolan
Research / Project Support
Healthwatch Oldham
Tel: 0161 622 5700
Healthwatch Oldham
12 Manchester Chambers, West Street, Oldham, OL1 1LF.
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