Autumn 2018

Greetings! HMR Star Awards Some Scary Sights at the Well done to Practice Manager Victoria Buckland-Fellows Surgery! Greetings one and all and (pictured with her certificate) and Dr Louise Thompson, who Having your flu vaccination can be welcome to our Autumn were both bestowed the honour of being 'Highly Commended' a scary enough proposition in itself 2018 Newsletter. This is in their respective categories at the recent Star Awards for for some but when your surgery is one of three newsletters NHS staff in the Heywood, Middleton and area. transformed into a den of to be published Victoria had been nominated for the Shining Star award and Dr spookiness, your fears may be throughout the calendar Thompson for the Innovation Star category. Well done to both multiplied! Many thanks to all those year to keep you up to of them; greatly deserved in each case!! who attended the Child Flu Clinic date with important on Halloween and joined in the fun medical information, - there were some brilliant community initiatives; and costumes on display from staff and news from the surgery. patients alike and Practice This issue contains news Manager Vicky did a great job in about the surgery, our decorating the surgery. Please staff and about services Heaton Park Pretty Mudder come again next year; if you in the local area. Well done to Dr Thompson, Dr Peet, Vicky, Louise, Leanne dare.... and Becky for completing the 5k at Heaton Park Pretty Online Services Muddy® on the 14th July 2018. This isn’t like any other Did you know that you fundraising event; it’s a muddy obstacle course that women of can book and cancel any ability can climb over, crawl under, and charge through, all routine GP appointments; in aid of beating cancer. The team looked delightful at the end request medication; and of the race as the pictures show! Memory Walk send queries via our Staff members at The Hive website: completed the 7k memory walk at thehivehealthcentre@nhs Heaton Park on Sunday 30th .net ? There is also an app September 2018 in aid of the which you can use on Alzheimers Society. It was a lovely your smart phone to day for the team and heart- ensure that you always warming to see so many people have your information to Farewell Becki! supporting such a good cause. hand. For full use of our The Hive Team have had to say a sad goodbye to our Health online services, please Care Assistant Rebecca. We are proud to advise that first attend the surgery Rebecca has completed her Access into Nursing course and with ID that shows your exams, and she is therefore leaving us to study nursing at address to obtain your university. Season Flu Vaccinations unique access code. If The Hive had no doubt that Rebecca would pass all her We would like to apologise for any you have concerns about exams and therefore began planning for her departure. It is delays in our over 65 patient using the service you can with delight that Emilie - one of our friendly support team demographic getting their flu jab book in for training with members whom has studied Health and Social Care level 3 at this year - we are just as frustrated one of our friendly college and has since completed a Phlebotomy and as you are about how the vaccines Support Team members, Immuisations course - will begin her Health Care Assistant have been rolled out in stages this who will show you the ins role at the practice. We are very proud of the achievements of year, which has caused a and outs of this user both Rebecca and Emilie. We would also like to wish Rebecca significant effect on our already friendly service. the very best of luck for her future. busy workload. The last delivery Calling All Lumps & Combat Stress – The Veteran’s Mental Health should be arriving soon, however, Charity so if you or a relative haven't had Bumps! your vaccination already – Combat stress is a charity for veterans, serving military Dr Stockton continues to regardless of your age – we personnel and their families. If you need confidential help and provide a minor surgery recommend you get booked in as advice on any mental health issue – including confusion, clinic at the practice for soon as possible, as per NHS anger and depression - you can call them on 0800 1381619, the removal of ingrowing England, BMA and Public Health email them at [email protected] , text them on 07537 toe nails, skin tags, cysts guidelines. If you don’t qualify for a 404719 or visit their webpage: www.combatstress.org.uk If or moles. Just contact free vaccination you can pay £10 you have served as a military veteran we also respectfully reception to make an to have it done here. External request that you inform the practice; this may enable any appointment for an initial article: BBC News: Flu delays for referrals to secondary care to be processed as a priority. consultation . over 65s

Autumn 2018

Tesco Bags for Life Making Space – Rochdale Befriending ‘Don’t be frightened of a cervical smear Programme test’ Bags of Help is Tesco’s Are you aged 50+ or a Carer aged 18+ The following article was kindly provided by local community grant supporting someone of this age range? Caroline Mitchell, Chair of The Hive Patient scheme where the money Making Space’s Rochdale Befriending Participation Group: raised from the sale of service has been set up to help you improve ‘I appreciate that a cervical smear test is not the carrier bags is being used your confidence and motivation, reduce your most fun thing you can do with your time but it is to fund thousands of local social isolation, and support you to get out an important part of every women’s life. I projects in communities and about in our local community. personally don’t look forward to this screening test right across the UK. Befriending but what you must understand is that this could Launched in 2015, Bags of Each individual is paired with a volunteer save your life. A study carried out by the charity Help sees charities and befriender who will get to know you, learn Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust showed that one in community organisations about your needs and interests, and support three women was embarrassed and didn’t attend awarded grants to fund you to take part in a wide range of social and or delayed their cervical smear test appointments. local projects. Our leisure activities. The practice nurse Colette sees hundreds of community garden was Peer Support women for this screening so don’t feel nominated as one of three It is important to have a strong network of embarrassed. Her focus is to make you feel great community projects in people around you who you can rely on, welcome, comfortable and ensure your dignity is the local area which were which is why Rochdale Befriending will maintained, while obtaining the sample. Colette is voted on in Tesco stores support you in joining peer support groups to lovely and reassures you before, during and after locally in August. We were not only help you to develop friendships, but the screening. You shouldn’t be embarrassed. delighted to receive the also could lead to starting new hobbies. Just remember Colette is a lady and she fully £1000 award for third place Referrals understands what it is like to have the screening and have already If you think this service is for you – or if you test done, so please attend your smear and just discussed with our Patient would like to be a volunteer befriender - you remember a few moments of a slightly unpleasant Participation Group and can give them a call or drop them a line and situation could prevent you being really poorly.’ patients involved with they will arrange to meet with you to discuss Please don’t hesitate to contact the surgery to tending to the garden as to the service in more detail. book in if you are due your smear test. how best to spend this They also have a Helpline that operates money on the garden. between 9:00 – am – 6:00 pm, Monday to Blue Badge Scheme Friday: 01706 572 452. The Blue Badge Scheme (disabled parking Full contact details are as follows: Maggie’s scheme) is for drivers or passengers with severe Phone: 01706 572453 Maggie’s Oldham offers mobility problems. It generally allows Blue Badge Email: free practical, emotional holders to park close to where they need to go. [email protected] and social support to You can apply or reapply for a blue badge and Address: Rochdale Befriending Service, 36 people with cancer and access related services online at the following Howards Place, their families and friends. webpage: https://www.gov.uk/get-blue-badge. St Mary’s Gate, Rochdale, Greater Help is offered freely to Before you start you will need: the details of your , OL16 1DX anyone with any type of current Blue Badge (if you have one); a digital or cancer. Simply drop-in at signed photo (passport quality and size and signed any time - you’re always Middleton Foodbank to say a true likeness); your national insurance welcome! The foodbank is holding three days of food number; proof of residency and proof of Address and opening collections in the Middleton Tesco Extra identification. As you fill in the form online you can th times: store from Thursday 29 November through also upload your photo and all relevant evidence. The Sir Norman Stoller till Saturday 1st December. This is part of To complete your application you then need to ring Building their regular pre-Christmas collections to Rochdale Council on 01706 647474 to pay the £10 The Royal Oldham help them maintain their stocks in the run up fee by debit card or, alternatively, send a cheque Hospital to Christmas and to take them into the new made payable to Rochdale Borough Council. Rochdale Road year when donations traditionally slow down. Alternatively, you can take in your photograph, Oldham They are also open to volunteers providing payment and all relevant evidence to the following OL1 2JH help to man the collection point and give out locations: Number One Riverside; Heywood and Tel: 0161 989 0550 leaflets during the three days, as well as Middleton customer information points; [email protected] encouraging people to donate if they are Littleborough Library; Library; or rg able. For more information just contact the Balderstone Library. N.B. Rochdale Council can Opening times: foodbank on only accept applications up to four weeks before Monday to Friday; 9am – [email protected] or by expiry of your existing blue badge but you can 5pm. calling 0161 643 1163. thereafter apply in the usual way.

Autumn 2018

Volunteering Open Young Minds Most people would agree that giving to others is a good Open Young Minds is a confidential young person’s service that thing. But it can also do a lot of good for your own provides support for young people aged 12 - 21 years old who have mental wellbeing. Small acts of kindness towards other mild to moderate emotional health issues and live in Heywood, people, or larger ones like volunteering in your local Middleton or Rochdale. As a community mental health service they community, can give you a sense of purpose. It can focus on providing you with the opportunities to develop and grow the make you feel happier and more satisfied with life. skills, knowledge and experiences that allow you to take control of Sometimes we think of wellbeing in terms of what we your issues, which is done with the support of a wellbeing co- have: our income, our home or car, or our job. But ordinator. evidence suggests it's our actions and our thoughts that To gain access to the service, you need to complete a referral form. have the biggest impact on mental wellbeing. There are two different forms: one for those aged under 18 and one Positive mental wellbeing means feeling good about for those 18+. You can access the forms online at: yourself and the world around you, and being able to get https://www.rochdalemind.org.uk/youngpeople , or alternatively, call on with life in the way you want. the following number to request a paper copy in the post: 0800 107 0729 Caroline Mitchell, Chair of the Hive PPG, is a big When Open Young Minds receive your completed form they will advocate of this: ‘Helping and supporting other people, contact you (within 2 weeks) and ask you to come in and meet a and working with others towards a shared goal is good wellbeing co-ordinator in order for them to get a clear understanding of for our mental wellbeing. I volunteer once a month, at your circumstances and needs. Your wellbeing co-ordinator will guide the weekend, for a charity called Lifeshare, helping you through the groups and activities we and other organisations have serve breakfasts to the homeless people of Manchester. to offer. They will listen to you and help support you to find techniques Volunteering can be a good way to meet new people. It and ideas that will benefit your wellbeing. gives you an overwhelming sense of purpose and To enquire further about the service, please telephone Vicky or Mel on achievement helping people that may be less fortunate 01706 752357 or email them at the following addresses: Melanie than yourself. Volunteering can also help you gain Tilley : [email protected];Victoria Russ : confidence by giving you a chance to try something new [email protected] and feel a sense of satisfaction. New skills can be Although Open Young Minds like to offer their services to all young gained which in turn benefit you as a person. You really people, they do accept that sometimes their service may not meet can make a difference volunteering and have a positive your level of need. However, if you feel you may need a little extra effect on the organisation/charity etc. you are helping. If help and advice they can put you in contact with a more appropriate anyone else is interested in joining me they can email service. [email protected]’ Below are a few of the other local services available for those who may need a little extra support: Pete Thompson, Finance Manager at the Hive, also #Thrive volunteers for a charity, near where he lives in You can currently contact #Thrive from Monday to Friday between 9 which involves driving the elderly and/or disabled to am and 5pm via the following options: hospital appointments and social groups. Says Pete: Tel: 0161 716 2844 ‘The thing about volunteering is that you get so much Fax: 0207 019 7418 more out of it than you put in. It gives you such a great Alternatively, you can visit their webpage 24/7 at: feeling to know you are having a positive impact on www.healthyyoungmindspennine.nhs.uk/thrive other people’s lives’. Healthy Young Minds (formerly CAMHS) If you feel that you need help from a specialist mental health service, It does help if you become involved in an area of talk to a teacher or your GP who can advise whether this is needed volunteering that appeals especially to you as it is more and help to get you an appointment. Alternatively, you can visit their likely you will continue in the longer term, as well as webpage at: http://healthyyoungmindspennine.nhs.uk/ gaining greater pleasure from doing so. This may Kooth – Online Counselling involve some research on your own part, but in the Kooth is an online service, which provides safe and anonymous online meantime, the following dedicated volunteering search support for young people between 11 and 25 years old. Online help is websites and advice pages may be a good starting available daily at the following times: Monday to Friday from 12pm point: https://www.ncvo.org.uk/ ; https://do-it.org/; to10pm and Saturday and Sunday from 6pm to10pm. To register, https://www.gov.uk/volunteering. please visit their website at the following address: https://kooth.com/

Online directories There has been a great coup for our patients recently, as not one but two online service directories to help direct them to health and support services in the area have now gone live. The first has been created by Middleton native and community champion Tony Ettenfield, which has taken no little time or graft and he has done a great job in creating an accessible, user-friendly webpage at the following address: https://www.betterhealth4.org.uk/ The second has been created by the HMR CCG and Rochdale Council and can be accessed at: https://www.ourrochdale.org. uk/kb5/rochdale/directory/home.page