Healthy Times Issue 3

Leicestershire County and Rutland

NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland membership

Healthy TimesWinter 09 Issue 3 Members’ newsletter

Leading Leicestershire and Rutland to become the healthiest place in the UK

Inside this issue:

Member volunteers’ workshop

With our help you’refour times more likely

to quit smoking

How good is my local NHS?

8000 members in eight months

33299-Healthy 3rd prf_Layout 1 24/11/2009 12:36 Page 1

Dear Members,

2 Healthy Times: Winter 09 Issue 3

Leading Leicestershire and Rutland to become the healthiest place in the UK

Firstly, I would like to thanks memberswho attended the health and wellbeingmarket and annual general meeting(AGM) in September. It was so nice tomeet many of you in person. The event atLoughborough town hall was very wellattended with around two hundredpeople visiting the various stalls.Approximately one hundred peopleattended the AGM where local healthleaders looked back on last year andforward to next year before answeringquestions from the audience. Manypeople who were unable to attend viewedthe AGM live on our website and weregiven the opportunity to email questionsdirectly to the panel. Please turn to pagethree to read all about it.

In November we asked you for your viewson maternity and newborn services inLeicester, Leicestershire and Rutland tofind out what you would like for thefuture. Thank you to members whoattended one of the events or completedthe online questionnaire. During themonth of December we are seeking yourviews about stroke and heart attackservices. Please turn to page four to findout how to have your say.

We are in the process of developing thenext stage of our membership ‘offer’ by

creating a member volunteer strategy forthose members who wish to becomemore involved. Earlier this month we helda member volunteer workshop. Memberswere joined by people already working inthe voluntary sector and by John Gant,chairman of NHS Leicestershire Countyand Rutland, to discuss how to takemember volunteering forward. Please turnto page ten to find out more.

With colder weather approaching, findout how to stay warm this winter on page13 and look at this year’s annual healthcheck results on page 11.

I would like to take this opportunity tosend season’s greeting to you fromeveryone at NHS Leicestershire Countyand Rutland and wish you all a happy andhealthy new year.

Kind regards

Andrea Clark

Head of engagementand involvement

Welcome to the winter issue of Healthy Times.

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Produced by NHS Leicestershire Countyand Rutland’s communications and engagement [email protected] 295 5866

Contents

Welcome to the winter issue

Membership events

Manage your healthyour way

We’ll help you to quit smoking

News in brief

Bin the booze and save for Christmas

Back to basics about breast cancer

Breast cancer survival rates continue to improve

Our members’ page –member volunteers’workshop

My NHS – I want to know…

Messages from theLeicestershire andRutland LINks

Be healthy – staywarm this winter

Access for all

Our contact details


Our ‘community medicine for members’ events bring experts ‘to your doorstep’ to covera variety of different topics. The events take place on weekday evenings and are free ofcharge and open to all members. To find out more about forthcoming events visit: www.nhslcrmembership.org

More than 200 people attended the health fairwhich launched our Annual General Meeting heldjointly with University Hospitals of Leicester NHSTrust (UHL).

Around 70 people attended the meeting atLoughborough Town Hall in September, with dozensmore tuning in to watch the event live via our website.

Many visitors to the fair underwent health checks andchatted to specialists about health matters.Representatives from a range of other local services werealso on hand with information and advice.

The event was hosted by NHS Leicestershire County andRutland (NHS LCR) chairman John Gant and UHLchairman Martin Hindle.

At the meeting, presentations were given by NHS LCRchief executive Catherine Griffiths and UHL chiefexecutive Malcolm Lowe-Lauri, outlining work over thepast year and plans for 2009/10.

Alongside the two trusts there were also representativesfrom Leicestershire Partnership Trust, NHS Leicester Cityand East Midlands Ambulance Service.

Our 2008/09 annual report was launched at the eventand includes a range of information on the trust, itsfinancial performance and also covers some of ourachievements from 2008/09. Copies of the annualreport, as well as a video of the AGM are available onour website at www.lcr.nhs.uk

Healthy Times: Winter 09 Issue 3 3

Community medicine for members

Health fair proves asuccess at AGM

Membership Events

The health improvement specialists from CommunityHealth Services have been working with communitygroups to promote World Mental Health Day(Saturday 10 October) and to improve health andwellbeing in areas such as Melton, Hinckley andBosworth, Charnwood and North West Leicestershire.

In Hinckley and Bosworth and North West Leicestershire,families and service users were invited to a ‘Shake, Rattle andRoll’ event which aimed to highlight how physical activity canbenefit health and mental wellbeing. Visitors enjoyed tryingout activities such as hula hooping and salsa dancing.

In Melton, a ‘Time to Change’ event was held at KingEdward VII school. Time to Change is a national programmetackling discrimination by bringing together people with orwithout mental health problems to improve their mentalhealth by getting active at fun events. Health checks, Tai Chi,Tag rugby, and Centring Therapy were all on offer on the day.

In Loughborough, the Charnwood Mental Health Forum

organised two local events. The first, a partnership event withCharnwood Borough Council, was held at the SaturdayMarket. The stall attracted lots of visitors and staff wereavailable to answer queries on mental health and wellbeing.The results of a survey carried out were very encouragingwhen 75 per cent of visitors, when asked how they felt,replied that they felt ‘happy’.

A children’s competition aimed at 2-12 year olds was heldand the prize winners, who drew pictures of ‘happy, smileyfaces’, were Krista and Tansy Wright, Harry Ferrin and Yasin.The second event at Loughborough was ‘Tea and Talk’ heldat John Storer House which demonstrated the health andwellbeing benefits of a simple cup of tea and a chat.

You can contact the health improvement specialists team on01509 567732 or 567752.

Many thanks to Mrs Hilary Cramer who providedinformation for this article and to everyone who supportedthis event.

Message from the health improvement specialists


Around 28 per cent of people in Leicestershire andRutland are living with a long-term condition suchas heart disease, stroke, diabetes or asthma.

To help people effectively manage their health andwellbeing, a series of guides are available on a range oflong-term conditions.

Called Your Health, Your Way, they include informationon local services for patients, help and support groups,and where to find out more, including contacts,telephone numbers and websites.

The guides cover ten conditions: arthritis, anxiety andstress, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(which causes lung and breathing problems), cancer,chronic kidney disease and renal failure, dementia,depression, diabetes, stroke, and vascular disease.

Leicestershire GP Dr Chris Trzcinski said: “The Your Health,Your Way guides provide patients with an instantcomprehensive one-stop guide that will point them in theright direction to find out more about their condition, andthe local help and support that’s available to them.

“These guides are easy to read, easy to understand, andeasy to access. Information is a major key to allowingpeople to manage their long-term condition and makechanges that can improve their quality of life.”

The guides have been produced jointly by the fourLeicestershire NHS trusts: NHS Leicestershire County andRutland, NHS Leicester City, Leicestershire Partnership NHSTrust, and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.

To download one of the ten guides visit: www.lcr.nhs.uk

The NHS in the East Midlands wants to improve care forpeople who have a stroke, heart attack and angina (chestpain). The proposals includeintroducing specialist emergencycentres to treat people with asuspected stroke and specialistcentres which can offer anemergency treatment called PrimaryPercutaneous Coronary Intervention(PPCI) for people having a heartattack. We will be holding eventswhere you can find out more aboutthese proposals and the treatmentswe want to offer. In addition pleasevisit www.lcr.nhs.uk/consultation and complete thequestionnaire to give us your views on heart attack andstroke services.

Last year, NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland (NHSLCR) led the commissioning of a £1.7million project to

deliver two new stroke services. Thesewere a one-stop Transient IschaemicAttack (TIA) service for mini strokes atLeicester Royal Infirmary and a 24 hourstroke thrombolysis service. The TIAservice gives immediate treatment topeople who have suffered mini strokes,which improves recovery, and thethrombolysis service means that delivery ofthrombolysis is no longer limited to thehours of 9am to 5pm but can be deliveredto stroke patients 24 hours a day.

In addition, in 2007 NHS LCR opened strokerehabilitation wards in Coalville and Market Harborough,which means that following a stroke, people can receivecare in community settings.

Manage your health your way

Stroke and heart attack – we want your views


We are holding an event on stroke and heart attack serviceson Tuesday 8 December 2009 at 9:30am at the Highpoint conference centre, Leicester, LE3 6DJ. Lunch will be provided. If you would like to come along and give yourviews please contact [email protected] or call 0116 295 1175.



Every year around 4,000 people in Leicestershirecounty and Rutland kick the smoking habit, withhelp from the Leicestershire County and RutlandNHS Stop Smoking Service.

This year the service marks a decade of achievement.Since its launch (as Resolution) the service has helpedmore than 38,000 smokers to quit and improve theirhealth, since:l pregnant women who quit will reduce the risk of

miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth and cot deathl after five years the risk of heart attack is half that

of a smokerl after ten years the risk of lung cancer is half that

of a smoker

Free of charge and completely confidential, the serviceoffers help in many forms and at a variety of venues inthe very heart of the community – from church halls andsupermarkets to leisure clubs and people’s homes.

Stop Smoking Service staff visit workplaces, leisurecentres, GPs’ practices and even prisons to give smokersthe help and support they feel they need to get themthrough the quitting process.

They aim to make the experience as easy as possible foras many people as possible. The results have played asignificant part in reducing health inequalities inLeicestershire county and Rutland, with the serviceranked eighth out of 150 nationally for the numbers ofpeople helped.

This autumn we launched a drive to get the message outto even more people across the district, with a streetcampaign in Coalville and Loughborough and asponsorship deal with Ibstock United FC.

Stop smoking service manager Tina Booth says: “Goingsmoke free is the single biggest thing you can do todramatically increase your chances of living a longer life.”

Help for you, your family oranyone you know who wants toquit – just dial 0845 045 2828

With our help you’re four timesmore likely to quit smoking

10goodreasons

to ring 0845 045 28281. With support from our specialist team you are

FOUR TIMES more likely to quit than if you go it alone.

2. A range of treatments, including nicotinereplacement therapy products, can be prescribedto help you quit and we’ll help you decide the best ones for you.

3. Our service is free and confidential.

4. The Leicestershire County and Rutland NHS StopSmoking Service is one of the most successful inEngland, ranked eighth out of 150 for the number of people we have helped to quit.

5. Every year we help around 4,000 smokers to quit.

6. If you smoke 20 cigarettes a day and you quit you will save more than £2,000 a year.

7. You can get our support close to home. Weprovide sessions and treatment in places likechurch halls, supermarkets, community centresand clubs.

8. We offer a specialist service for pregnant womenand families.

9. If you smoke, your children are more likely tosmoke.

10.Research shows that if one parent stops smoking it cuts the chances of teenagers starting by 25 percent. If both stop, it cuts the odds by 39 per cent.


‘Tis the season for flu – so makesure you get your free flu jabfrom your GP.

Everyone aged 65 and over isroutinely offered the seasonal flujab, as are younger people withlong-term conditions such as

heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis,serious kidney and liver disease. Every year the vaccine isaltered to match the seasonal flu strains in circulation.Around 15 million people in the UK have the jab each year.

This year there is a concern that those eligible may beconfused by the presence of swine flu. A separate vaccinefor swine flu is currently under production and will bemade available to eligible ‘at risk’ patients as part ofa separate campaign later this autumn.

Dr Peter Marks, director of public health at NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland, said: “The seasonal flu vaccination does not protectagainst swine flu. The vaccine to protect againstswine flu will be available in the autumn. Swine flu is a completely new virus to whichvery few people are likely to have immunity.

Seasonal flu, also known as influenza, is a highly infectiousillness caused by a virus. The virus changes every year asdoes the vaccine, so, it is important that those at riskensure they receive the jab to protect themselves.”

Every year approximately 8,000 people suffer seasonal flu-related deaths in the winter months in England and Wales.

The best way to avoid seasonal flu is to get immunised,but people can also protect themselves by practising goodhand hygiene. This means carrying tissues, catchingcoughs and sneezes with a tissue, disposing of the tissueafter one use, and cleaning hands as soon as possible.

Remember: Catch it, bin it, kill it.


News in brief

www.nhslcrmembership.org

Find out more about our news stories at: www.lcr.nhs.uk and follow the link to ‘news/events’

John Gant, the chairman of NHS Leicestershire Countyand Rutland, has launched his own webpage, Chairman’sCorner, at www.lcr.nhs.uk/ChairmansCorner to sharehis thoughts with the local community.

His first contribution was posted in September and he willaim to add new updates on a monthly basis. A feedbackfunction has been added to allow readers to post queriesor questions.

Mr Gant said: “Leading Leicestershire and Rutland tobecome the healthiest place in the UK is a bigcommitment, but we’re up for the challenge. There’s somuch happening within the healthcare community and I

want to share what’s happening with everyone. After all,the NHS belongs to all of us.

“I’m keen to hear from anyone who has any commentsor questions, so please make use of the feedback optionon the Chairman’s Corner page.

“NHS Leicestershire Countyand Rutland’s website isalso a great place to getinformation on healthmatters and find out moreabout your local NHS.”

NHS chairman answers your questions

Don’t underestimate the threat of seasonal flu


Bin the booze and save as you countdown to Christmas


Wondering how you are going to afford Christmas thisyear? Public health specialists at NHS LeicestershireCounty and Rutland have the perfect answer: cut downon your drinking!

With less than a month to go to the big day, even moderate drinkerscan make big savings in the run up to Christmas, helping to fund afew extra presents under the tree or just taking away some of thefinancial strain associated with the season.

We know that a fifth of the population of Leicestershire drink unsafelevels of alcohol – leading to an increased risk of heart disease, highblood pressure and certain cancers.

The government recommends that adult men should not regularlydrink more than 3–4 units of alcohol a day and adult women shouldnot regularly drink more than 2–3 units a day.

And in these times of credit crunch there is even more reason toreconsider your next round – by working out how much excessivealcohol consumption is actually costing you. Drinking at home isbecoming more and more popular with many enjoying anight-in with a bottle of wine or two or a few beers. Buthow does it add up?

Leicestershire GP Dr Chris Trzcinski said: “The mainconcern of excessive alcohol consumption is the costto your health, we know that it is the leading causeof liver cirrhosis and a range of other life-threatening conditions.

“In the short term one of the main healthproblems associated with alcohol is accidents andinjuries that occur when people have had a drink.

“As more of us consider ways to tighten ourfinancial belts during the credit crunch, andperhaps looking forward to the additionalfinancial burden of Christmas, it may be worthsitting down and finding out just how much those ‘few drinks’ are costing you.”

Find out more about how your drinking adds upwith the Drinkaware ‘What did you drink last night?’calculator at www.drinkaware.co.uk/tips-and-tools/drink-diary/

For further information visit www.nhs.uk/units

members helpline: 0300 555 5345

So how much could you save?A couple who enjoy a couple of bottles of winea week could save £50 each. Beer drinkers whoget through two six packs of bottled beer canstill save around £40.

If you like a few drinks after work with friends ina bar - two large glasses of wine, three times aweek will cost you in the region of £1200 a yearand beer drinkers might think their round ischeaper – but ‘a few beers’ three times a weekwill cost you around the same.

As the party season looms, don’t forget thatcurbing the booze can help ensure you look yourbest. A bottle of wine contains around 600calories – the equivalent of five large jamdoughnuts, while a couple of pints of lagercontain around 500 calories, more than theaverage takeaway burger.



Back to basics about breast cancer


In the UK, breast cancer is the most common typeof cancer among women. More than 45,500 casesof breast cancer are diagnosed every year, usuallyin women over 50 who have reached menopause.However, it is possible for women of any age to getbreast cancer and, in rare cases, the condition canaffect men. Here are a few key things you shouldknow to make sure you are breast aware.

Types of breast cancerThere are several different types of breast cancer, which candevelop in different parts of the breast. The most commonis known as ductal breast cancer, which develops in the cellsthat line the breast ducts. Ductal breast cancer accounts forabout 80 per cent of all cases of breast cancer.

Other less common types of breast cancer include lobularbreast cancer, which develops in the cells that line the milk-producing lobules, inflammatory breast cancer and Paget'sdisease of the breast. Breast cancer can spread to otherparts of the body, such as the liver, bones or lymph nodes(small glands that remove bacteria from the body).

Breast screeningThe exact cause of breast cancer is not fully understood,but many factors increase the likelihood of developing it,including age and family history of breast cancer.

Women who have a higher-than-average risk ofdeveloping breast cancer may be offered screening andgenetic testing for the condition. As the risk of breastcancer increases with age, all women between the agesof 50 and 70 are entitled to be screened once every threeyears as part of the NHS Breast Screening Programme.

Breast cancer can be treated using a combination ofsurgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Some cases ofbreast cancer may also be treated using biological orhormone treatments.

One in nine women are affected by breast cancer duringtheir lifetime. There is a good chance of recovery if it isdetected in its early stages. For this reason, it is vital thatwomen check their breasts regularly for any changes andalways get any changes examined by their GP.

Symptoms of breast cancer The main symptom of breast cancer is usually a lump orthickened area of tissue in your breast. Most breast lumpsare found by the women who have them and it is veryimportant to be aware of any lumps or changes in theappearance, feel or shape of your breasts. The sooner acancerous lump is detected, the better the chances oftreating it successfully.

Changes to look out forSee your GP if you notice any of the following:

l a lump or thickened area of tissue in either breast,

l discharge from either of your nipples (which may bestreaked with blood),

l a lump or swelling in either of your armpits,

l a change in the size or shape of one or both of yourbreasts,

l dimpling on the skin of your breasts,

l a rash on or around your nipple,

l a change in the appearance of your nipple, such asbecoming sunken into your breast, or

l pain in either of your breasts or armpits which is notrelated to your period.

A lump in your breast may not be the resultof breast cancer. The majority (90 per cent)of breast lumps are benign (non-cancerous). A breast lump may be caused by a harmless cyst (a small fluid-filled lump) orfibroadenoma (benign growths that are very common). Your breasts may also feel lumpyjust before your period.

However, if you notice anychanges to one or both of your breasts as listed above,get them checked by your GP.


Healthy Times: Winter 09 Issue 3 9members helpline: 0300 555 5345

Breast cancer survival rates and breast screening take-up in Leicestershire and Rutland are among the bestin the country, according to latest figures.

The news came during October’s national BreastCancer Month, one of the most high profile healthcampaigns, designed to raise awareness of thedisease, raise funds for research and provide supportto people with the disease and their families.

Each year an estimated 800 people are diagnosedwith breast cancer in Leicestershire and Rutland.Nationally eight out of 10 women now survive breastcancer. In Leicestershire and Rutland, the figure is83.9 per cent.

However, breast cancer remains the biggest cancerkiller for women, both locally and nationally.

NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland has the bestuptake for breast cancer screening in the EastMidlands – 83.4 per cent. All women aged over 50will receive an invitation to attend screening every

three years. But one of the mosteffective ways of early diagnosis is self-examination.

Leicestershire GP Isabel Kuncewicz said:“The key to improving survival rates is todiagnose and treat the disease in itsearliest stages.

“Like many cancers, living a healthylifestyle, such as maintaining a healthyweight and reducing alcohol consumption,will reduce your risk of breast cancer, butregular self-examinations will help youestablish what is normal for you. If youidentify anything abnormal, such aspersistent unilateral breast pain or a lump,visit your GP.

“If you are aged over 50 it is important toattend regular breast screening. We knowscreening saves lives.”

Breast awarenessBe aware of how your breasts look and feel andreport any lumps to your GP as soon as possible.

If you get to know the way your breasts normally lookand feel, it will make it easier to spot any changes.

Check your breasts in the showeror bath or before dressing. Do thisafter your monthly period becauseyour breasts can feel lumpy beforeyour period is due.

Breast cancer survival rates continue to improve

l know what isnormal for you

l look and feel

l know whatchanges to look for

l report any changeswithout delay

l attend for breastscreening if aged 50 or over

Be breast awareBreast Aware, a free NHS leaflet producedby the NHS Breast Cancer Screening andCancer Research UK, sets out a five-pointplan for women:



Member volunteers’ workshop -Our vision, your healthAlmost 50 members came along to our latestmembers’ workshop in October to find out moreabout volunteering in the NHS.

The event, at the Brite Centre in Leicester, featured a widerange of speakers, including Steph Marlow, from CoalvilleCommunity Hospital, Bev Gillman from LeicestershireLINk, and the Young Ambassadors, a group of youngpeople who give their time to help develop the NHS.

The speakers focused on different ways in which peoplecan contribute to the NHS, from volunteering in hospitalsand on wards, to helping make decisions and ensuringthe quality of NHS services through joining ‘watchdog’organisations such as the local improvement networks, orLocal Involvement Networks (LINks).

NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland (NHS LCR)chairman John Gant launched the day with advice andsupport on volunteering. As a non-executive director,John sits on the trust board of NHS LCR and helps paiddirectors make decisions about local healthcare, includingdeciding priorities.

Andrea Clark, head of engagement and involvement atNHS LCR, said: “It was a great day, and really useful tous. Those who attended took the opportunity to voicetheir opinions and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the widevariety of people who attended.

“Part of the day was about developing a programme ofvolunteering in our own organisation, using members tohelp us spread the message to lead Leicestershire and

Rutland to become thehealthiest place in the UK.We will now be building onthis, developing a volunteerstrategy, which will then besent out to all members.

“My thanks go out to allthose who attended, and Ihope to see you at the nextworkshop.”

Our members’ page

If you were unable to attend theworkshops, or would like to knowmore about becoming a member,please call us on 0300 555 5345.



NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland has beenawarded a ‘good’ rating for quality of services inthis year’s Annual Health Check, published inOctober by the Care Quality Commission (formerlythe Healthcare Commission).

The assessment examines how well NHS trusts acrossEngland are performing against the government’sstandards for NHS healthcare. Primary care trusts arerated for their quality of healthcare services and howeffectively they manage their financial resources.

For 2008/09, NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland (thecommissioning organisation) has achieved a ‘good’ ratingfor quality of healthcare services and has maintained a‘fair’ rating for management of financial resources.

Chief executive Catherine Griffiths, said: “These resultsare evidence of the great steps we’ve taken to improvethe quality of care our patients receive. Over the past fewyears we have progressively improved our ratings, makinga leap from ‘weak’ to ‘good’ in just two years. This is agreat reflection of our staff commitment to delivering atop class healthcare service. We’ve scored top marks in anumber of areas that should be very reassuring to the

community, such as safety and cleanliness, dignity andrespect, and keeping the public healthy.

“We will continue to strive to make Leicestershire andRutland the healthiest place in the UK and continue towork hard commissioning and delivering a world classhealth service.”

NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland was among 50per cent of primary care trusts given a ‘good’ rating forquality of commissioning services and was found to havefully met its core standards and existing commitmentssuch as safety and infection control and patient waitingtimes. Across the country, 45 per cent of PCTs achieved a‘fair’ rating, 3 per cent were ‘weak’ and just 2 per centwere ‘excellent’.

The trust achieved a ‘good’ rating for an expanded rangeof national priorities which includes targets for cancerscreening and mortality rates, breastfeeding prevalenceand childhood obesity rates.

The quality of financial management of the trust wasassessed as ‘fair’ by independent auditors. NHS LeicestershireCounty and Rutland was found to be operating withinestablished guidance and operating effectively.

My NHS - I want to know…“How good is my local NHS?”


The Local Involvement Networks (LINks) giveeveryone in Leicestershire and Rutland theopportunity to say what they think about bothhealth and social care services. The groups were

set up so that patients, families and voluntarygroups who want to influence and changeservices can, by telling the people who providethe services what is working and what is not.


Messages from the Local Involvement Networks (LINks)

A ‘Listening Day’ in January will give people in Rutland achance to talk to their Local Involvement Network aboutthe health and social care issues which matter to them.

This will be an important step in the LINk’s work inunderstanding the views of the Rutland community andeveryone is welcome to have their say. If you don’t want tospeak in person, you will be able to let the LINk steeringgroup have your information in writing. You can come asan individual or representing your organisation and youwill be welcome to stay for just a few minutes or for thewhole day.

Representatives from the NHS andsocial care services will also be thereto update the LINk on their successes,ambitions and concerns for Rutlandservices.

To discuss your involvement in the Rutland LINk Listening Day, call 01572 759158 or [email protected]

Visit www.communityvoicesonline.org and go tothe Rutland LINk page for updated information.

That was one of the key messages from the recentLeicestershire LINk Conference. Over 150 delegateswere asked to respond to a number of questions onhealth and social care issues based on their ownexperience, or that of relatives or friends.

Concerning health, it was agreed that many areasseemed to be performing well both at GP premises andhospitals, although there were issues raised about GPout-of-hours services. In addition, it was felt that thecommunication between hospitals and GPs followingpatient treatment needs to be improved.

Issues on social care caused most concern withrespondents feeling that the public did not understandthe services available, did not feel they shouldcontribute to costs and that support for carers was poor.

Of major concern was the belief that the NHS and socialcare were not working well together.

Leicestershire LINk will now be working on the pointsraised by delegates at the conference, and talking tomanagers within the NHS and social care about howthese improvements can be made.

Leicestershire LINk is an independent group of localpeople, community groups and voluntaryorganisations that want to improve health and socialcare services. Importantly, the Leicestershire LINk isindependent, and we have powers to help us to do ourjob – such as visiting health and social care services toask questions and report on what we find.

If you want to get involved or find out more, pleasecontact the LINk Office tel: 0116 229 3103, [email protected] or visit our websiteon www.leicestershirelink.org.uk

Rutland LINk

Leicestershire LINk

“Health and social care need to work together”



It is essential that you keep warm during thewinter. You can do this by:l dressing appropriately l keeping active l eating good meals l if possible‚ do not switch off the heating to save on

fuel bills, ensure you get your winter fuel paymentif you are eligible

The Department of Health’s Keep Warm Keep Wellbooklet is packed with advice on how to stay healthythis winter. You can download it direct atwww.lcr.nhs.uk

Alternatively you can download Age Concern’s toptips to keep warm this winter atwww.ageconcern.org.uk or call their informationline on 0800 00 99 66.

Be healthy… Stay warm and well this winter

Tips for keeping warm and well

Each year there are an estimated 30,000additional deaths in winter linked to the coldweather – and more than half are the over 65s.

Excess winter deaths are defined by the Office of NationalStatistics as the difference between the number of deathsduring the four winter months (December to March) andthe average number of deaths during the precedingautumn (August to November) and the followingsummer (April to July). In 2007/8 there were more than2000 excess winter deaths in the East Midlands.

Although it is unusual for exposure to the cold to directlykill people, it can have a major impact on those withrespiratory (breathing) or cardiovascular (heart)conditions. Overall, deaths are from heart attacks‚strokes‚ bronchial and other conditions‚ and may oftenoccur several days after exposure to the cold.

Spending too long in the cold will lower bodytemperature which can often aggravate circulatorydiseases‚ which can lead to strokes and heart attacks orrespiratory illnesses such as bronchitis or pneumonia.

Dr Tim Davies, deputy director of public health at NHSLeicestershire County and Rutland, said: “Older peoplewith existing health problems are more at risk‚ so theyneed to take extra care when it is cold. Older people areless able to judge if they are warm or cold‚ meaning theymay not put on an extra jumper or put on the heatingbefore they get too cold. Many older people tend to livein older houses with inefficient heating systems and/or noinsulation. This makes it harder to heat their homes.

“Older people will often try to cut their energy bills byreducing the amount of heating they use and many failto take advantage of their winter payment which aims tocover the increased heating costs.

“We know that older people on low incomes spend upto 30 per cent less on food than is needed for a healthybalanced diet. This could make them more vulnerable tothe cold.

“We can all do our bit by helping to spread the messageto older neighbours, friends and family and help themprepare and stay warm and well this winter.”



Access for all

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We can provide versions of all ‘be healthy, be heard’ membership publications in other languages andformats such as Braille and large print on request. Please contact the engagement and involvementdepartment, telephone 0116 295 7626. Please state which publication you require when you call.

Access for all



Healthy Times: Winter 09 Issue 3 15members helpline: 0300 555 5345

The next edition of Healthy Times will be published in March 2010.The spring issue will be packed with more health advice, forthcomingevents and members’ news and views.

If you have a practical tip, health suggestion, or an interesting storyfor us then please send it for inclusion in our newsletter using thecontact details below.

Contact us:Website: We have a dedicated interactive website where you can access informationabout the membership scheme, find out about the benefits of becoming a member andcheck for discounts.

Send your questions or comments to us via the enquiry form online by visiting:www.nhslcrmembership.org

Post: Please send all correspondence to:NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland MembershipFreepost Admail ADM4149Loughborough LE11 1YW

Telephone: The membership helpline is open between 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday. Please call us on 0300 555 5345.Published by: NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland, Lakeside House, 4 Smith Way, Grove Park,Enderby, Leicester, LE19 1SS

NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland is the operating name for Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT

Next time…

Be creative and think healthy.


Available to download online. Printed versions available from all hospital sites, local tourist information centres, libraries and service shops.

HELPSTAMPOUT CARBON

Postal address: Marketing, Passenger Transport Unit, HT&WM, County Hall, Glenfi eld, Leicestershire, LE3 8RA

Out & AboutOut & AboutOur NEW guide shows services to all three Leicester Hospitals

Contact 0116 305 8777

or visit www.leics.gov.uk

/transport_downloads

Contact 0116 305 8777

or visit www.leics.gov.uk

/transport_downloads

Leicester

General Hospital

Every 10 mins 7 till 7

For more information contact 0116 305 8777 or visit www.leics.gov.uk/enderby_park_ride

Fast Easy Hassle Free

Maximum comfort on ournew premium service

The ideal way of getting to the LRI & city centre.

OpeningAutumn

2009

Leicester

Royal Infirmary

Glenfield

Hospital

PARK&

RIDE

Enderby


Documents

Healthy Times Issue 3