Health News
Walking for hospice
Pupils from Cardinal Pole RC Secondary School in Homerton put their best feet forward to raise money for Hackney’s St Joseph’s Hospice.
Pupils, parents and friends took part in the Ten Bridges sponsored walk from Vauxhall Bridge to Tower Bridge and raised £400 for the hospice which provides care and support for terminally ill people from all over east London.
Mr Glover, Assistant Headteacher, said: “We will continue to support the fantastic work that the doctors, nurses and volunteers do at the hospice.”
Who cares?
Do you know someone in Hackney who goes that extra mile to help people feel valued and respected?
The People’s Award for Dignity in Care provides the opportunity to recognise individuals or teams, who work in health and social care, for the support they provide those in care.
The winners will be those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to provide care.
To nominate, call: 020 7972 4007, or visit: www.dignityincare.org.uk.
Recognition for befrienders
A local mental health charity has been nationally recognised by the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation.
City and Hackney Mind was awarded Approved Provider Standard (APS), the national quality benchmark for organisations providing one-to-one volunteer mentoring and befriending. The scheme is backed by the Cabinet Office and the Department for Children, Schools and Families, and signifies competence and safe practice in the field.
The organisation provides adults who are experiencing mental health difficulties with a trained volunteer befriender to help combat loneliness and isolation that can often accompany mental distress.
Cyrillia Francis who runs the service said: “We are delighted to accept this award. It validates the wonderful work that is done by our volunteers.”
For info call Cyrillia on: 020 8525 2316.
Find out what's on offer
Are you a carer? If so, come along to Hackney Town Hall to find out more about the services and benefits that are available.
The free, annual Carers Conference takes place on 17 March in the Assembly Rooms, from 10am to 3.30pm. Carers – people who look after a friend, relative or neighbour – will be able to speak about their experiences of working with the Council and NHS; meet other carers; apply for a free two-day retreat; find out about free training courses; and lots more.
The theme of this year’s conference is partnership, and the event will explore and develop ways the Council and NHS work to support carers.
People can also apply for the Hackney Carers Card, which offers concessionary rates of up to 50 per cent at Council leisure centres, and discounts at local shops.
Cllr Nargis Khan, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “I strongly urge carers in the borough to come along to the conference and find out more about the services that are available for them.”
If you would like to attend the conference call: 020 8985 1600 or visit: Unit 17, 11-20 Tudor Grove, E9.
Reaching disabled people
Disability Backup, Hackney’s forum for disabled residents has welcomed its 100th member.
Funded by the Council and run by local charity Hackney Family Backup, the forum has discussed key issues including leisure services, care assessment and transport since it launched last October.
Catherine Love, Forum Co-ordinator, said: “We’re so happy that we are reaching disabled people across the borough, this is a real opportunity for local people to have a say about the services they receive.”
To find out more, or to join the forum, contact Catherine on: 020 7275 0088 extension 209.
Drive for health
A sexual health bus is setting off around the borough again as part of the CHPCT’s SHO-me campaign.
The bus, which was visited by over 5,000 people during its pre-Christmas launch, has been touring Hackney in the run up to Valentine’s Day, offering free condoms, contraceptive advice, plus tests for chlamydia, HIV and pregnancy.
On-board facilities include a private consultation room, a soft seating area for informal discussion and a range of information on all aspects of sexual health.
People looking for advice or services can log on to a dedicated website which allows them to ask confidential questions of sexual health expert Dr Sarah.
The Sho-me bus will stop at
- Hackney Community College, N1, Tues, 10 Feb, 9-5.30pm
- Hackney Community College, N1, Wed, 11 Feb, 9-5.30pm
- Tesco, Morning Lane, E9, Thurs, 12 Feb, 11-6pm
- Tesco, Morning Lane, E9, Fri, 13 Feb, 11-6pm
More information
Visit: www.sho-me.nhs.uk
X-rays are going wireless
The radiology department at Homerton hospital is set to become one of the first in the country to go wireless with a new state-of-the-art X-ray machine.
The Ysio wi-D machine represents the very latest technology and will improve diagnosis for patients coming from both the accident and emergency department, and the hospital wards.
Colin West, the hospital’s Head of Imaging Services, said:
“X-ray technology has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years. The installation of the new system means more accurate images and less radiation for the patient. It also means far speedier diagnosis for trauma patients who will be brought into the department from accident and emergency.”
The £400,000 machine will be installed during the next few weeks, and is due to be up and running by mid-March.
Praise for mental health service
A Minister praised a facility that focuses on the rehabilitation of people with mental health problems, during a recent visit to Hackney.
Shahid Malik, the Ministry for Justice Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, met patients at the John Howard Centre, in Homerton, and after chatting to them about their experiences, played pool in one of the communal rooms.
The centre is run by the East London NHS Foundation Trust and is the base for specialist forensic services in Hackney.
‘Excellent’ for elderly at home
Help for older people to live in their own homes for as long as they wish in Hackney is ‘excellent’, according to a new Government report published this week.
The Council’s In-house Home Care Service retained its top-rated score following an annual review by the Commission for Social Care Inspection.
An accompanying report noted the Council’s work to develop round-the-clock residential care in designated housing blocks. It also stated that the service upholds good standards of practice, for instance, managers attending Age Concern forums.
Cllr Nargis Khan, Cabinet Menber for Community Services, said: “I welcome this result, and am delighted that residents are continuing to receive an ‘excellent’- rated service.”
Weighty discussion
Residents jumped at the chance to air their views on how to make Hackney a healthier, happier place. A CHPCT and Council-run event at Ocean on 31 January, saw intense and productive conversations about how to maintain a healthy weight, followed by a wholesome hot lunch. Event organiser, Joy Kahumbu, said: “Obesity is one of the major threats to health in Britain today, affecting physical as well as mental and emotional well-being.
“It’s important we all share an understanding of the benefits of healthy weight and what we can all do, as individuals and as a community, to ensure the places where we live, play, learn and work support our efforts to eat well and be more active.”
Page updated: 15 Jun 2010
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