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HEALTHYHOUNSLOW The Newsletter for NHS Hounslow Clinical Commissioning Group Issue: 3 Summer 2016 Dear Hounslow Resident, This month's newsletter brings you the latest updates from Hounslow CCG, including news about: Dementia awareness Self-care Living well with diabetes Carers week Improved care for children across North West London As I’m writing this, we are making preparations for our Annual General Meeting to be held at the Hounslow Civic Centre’s Lampton Conference Centre on the 19th July 2016 between 11:15 – 2:45pm. We are keen to meet a s many people at the AGM to share Hounslow Clinical Commissioning Group’s work in 2016. We will have a “Health Market” where people can come along and ask questions and collect healthcare information with our main providers, partners and colleagues. We are encouraging people to submit questions that they would like to ask prior to the meeting. If you have a question you would like to ask, please submit the question to [email protected] alternatively call on 020 8538 2414. Dr Nicola Burbidge – Chair, NHS Hounslow Clinical Commissioning Group Safe In The Sun With the holiday season fast approaching I would like to remind Hounslow residents about being safe in the sun and heat. Below you will find some top tips: Top Tips Plan your day in a way that allows you to stay out of the heat. If you can, avoid going out during the hottest part of the day (11am-3pm). If you must go out, stay in the shade, wear a hat and some loose fitted clothes. Drink cold drinks like water or fruit juice regularly and avoid tea, coffee and alcohol. Take cool showers or baths. Remember to regularly apply sun screen with a high Sun Protection Factor (SPF) to yourself and children. Advice on how to reduce the risk of sun damage for yourself or somebody you know can be obtained from NHS Choices, NHS 111 or from your local chemist. Advice on sun protection from can be found on the Cancer Research website. Hounslow CCG Supports Dementia Awareness In the UK, approximately 820,000 people are living with dementia. A number that has been forecast to increase as the population ages. Dementia is an illness caused when parts of the brain are affected by certain conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease or a series of strokes. It usually affects people over the age of 65 and becomes more common as people get older. People with dementia may experience problems with: memory difficulties with thinking problem-solving communicating doing day-to-day activities such as getting dressed. There are no cures for dementia, however leading an active and healthy life may reduce the risk of you developing the condition, as well as other serious health conditions, when you are older. This includes eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, reducing your alcohol intake, stop smoking and making sure you keep your blood pressure at a healthy level. Hounslow is doing really well on diagnosing dementia The increase in dementia diagnosis in Hounslow between August 2014 and April 2016 is 27.2%, showing that Hounslow CCG has made an enormous effort to increase the diagnosis rate. Hounslow CCG supported Dementia Awareness Week, which took place between 16 - 20 May 2016. During the week, our dementia specialists were based at Hounslow health clinics raising awareness of dementia and running Dementia Friends Sessions. We took this time to fundraise for Alzheimer’s UK, Dementia UK and Age UK Hounslow. Working with our Hounslow social care colleagues, we raised £1450.00. Age UK Hounslow run weekly Dementia sessions and many other activities at their base in Montague Hall, Age UK Hounslow and can be contacted on 020 8560 6969 or vis their website http://www.ageuk.org.uk/hounslow/ or https://www.dementiauk.org/ for further information. “If you’re concerned that you may be experiencing symptoms of dementia, it’s important to speak to your GP. The sooner you know what you're dealing with, the sooner you can get on with your life and feel in control again. “We believe that life doesn't end when dementia begins, and we will try to do everything we can to help people living with dementia hold onto their lives and the things they love for longer.” The services in Hounslow that contribute to the diagnosis of dementia are: GPs throughout the Borough Cognitive Impairment & Dementia Services based at the West Middlesex University Hospital who provide the majority of diagnosis http://www.wlmht.nhs.uk/service/hounslow-cid-service/ Be Self-Care Aware? What is self-Care? We are focused on helping people look after themselves, and so one of our priorities is Self-Care. Self-Care means looking after your health, starting in simple ways, such as brushing your teeth, or eating plenty of fruit and vegetables. For people with long-term conditions, Self-Care is also about managing the condition so that you can continue to live well. This can involve making changes to your diet, taking enjoyable exercise or knowing about the medication you need to take. The doctors and nurses who look after you can help you with this. Staying active Self-Care also means staying active by doing things that are important to you, such as gardening, seeing friends and family, feeling part of your community, and continuing to work, if possible. It involves looking at what you can do and want to do, rather than what you can’t do. It aims to help you take care of yourself, and to let you know what’s available to help you look after your health. Our goal is to: improve health awareness - the things that can keep us feel well prevent illness help people manage their own care effectively reduce hospital admissions provide more community support to help people remain at home Further information on self-care can be found here http://www.hounslowccg.nhs.uk/your-services/self-care.aspx A healthy lifestyle is an important part of self-care for everyone. Working With Communities In Hounslow Healthwatch Hounslow are currently supporting Hounslow CCG in an exciting new project recruiting volunteers from a range of communities in Hounslow the aim is to ensure that people that have recently settled in Hounslow have access to information about self- care, health and social care services available in the London Borough of Hounslow. Please note: self-care does not mean that you need to manage on your own without any help from a health professional. If you are at all unsure, please seek advice from your GP, nurse or pharmacist or call 111. For further information on self-care and on how to get involved please email [email protected] Living Well With Diabetes Diabetes is a condition which causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high. There are different types of diabetes but the most common form is ‘type 2’ diabetes, which affects approximately 3.5 million people in the UK. There are also thought to be around 549,000 people with undiagnosed diabetes in the UK. In 2015/16 there are 17,795 people in Hounslow identified with diabetes and 10,709 people have been identified at high risk of getting diabetes in the near future. The main symptoms of diabetes are: feeling very thirsty; passing more urine than normal; feeling very tired; and unexpected weight loss. Type 2 diabetes is also more common if you are overweight or you are of a South Asian, African or Caribbean background. Dr Raquel Delgado, local GP and Clinical Diabetes lead of NHS Hounslow Clinical Commissioning Group said: “If you have any of these symptoms, go and see your GP – especially if you have a history of diabetes in your family.” She added: “The sooner you are diagnosed, the sooner your doctor or nurse can help you to manage the condition and prevent you developing the health problems associated with diabetes.” If you are living with diabetes there is a lot that you can do that will help you to take control of your diabetes and avoid future problems. Your GP or practice nurse will advise you on monitoring your blood sugar levels. If you have type 2 diabetes, you do not usually need to test yourself at home – you will have blood tests arranged by your practice. Key steps to managing your diabetes are: Take your medication and insulin properly Maintain a healthy weight – this will help control your blood glucose level Eat a healthy, balanced diet Stop smoking Stay active Have the flu jab every autumn Go to your regular check-ups Recognising that you are not alone and sharing your experiences can help you to find the inspiration you need to achieve your dreams no matter how small or how large. A Diabetes Patient Reference Group has been set up by Hounslow CCG to represent the views of people with diabetes and their carers in the local area. The group provides a way to capture these views and ensure that they are used to influence and shape decisions on the design and delivery of diabetes services in the Hounslow. For further information please email [email protected] or call 07826 944796 Carers Week In June, Hounslow CCG and the London Borough of Hounslow celebrated National carers week. We reached out to carers by hosting information stalls across the borough in leisure centres, shopping malls, health centres and by having coffee mornings with support groups. The borough’s leisure centre provider, Fusion offered free access to their centres for the week for carers.

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