In this issue:

• Healthwatch in the community
• Mental health helpline 24/7
• Support
• Answer Cancer
• COVID-19 - which test?

If you have feedback about these topics, or any recent experiences about health or care services you think we should know about, give Healthwatch Tameside a call on 0161 667 2526. Or email info@healthwatchtameside.co.uk

Thank you.

Healthwatch in the community

Last week staff from Healthwatch Tameside attended an event organised by Our Kids Eyes at the Village in Ashton. We spoke to people to find out about their experiences of using health and care services. We were also able to provide signposting information about services available.

Are you organising an event we could have a stall at? If so, please get in touch with us using the contact details below.

Perhaps you have got feedback to share with us?

• What went well?
• Were you able to access the care you needed?
• What could be improved?

We'd love to hear from you. We have a number of ways you can contact us.

Our surveys can be found at www.healthwatchtameside.co.uk/share-your-views

If you would like to complete a survey over the phone, or on paper, please give us a call on 0161 667 2526, or email info@healthwatchtameside.co.uk. Alternatively, you can tell us what you think, or ask us a question, by phone or by email. If you leave us a brief message with your name and phone number on our answerphone, we will call you back.

We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.

Mental health helpline 24/7

Pennine Care have a Mental Health Helpline for anyone living in Tameside and Glossop requiring urgent mental health support – this includes people already known to mental health services, those who are not known and carers!

Call 0800 014 9995 - 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The type of support available includes:

• Listening to you and helping you work through immediate problems
• Working with you to find ways to move forward or suggest ways of working
• Giving you information about other services that may be helpful to you or the person you care for

The support line is run by experienced mental health professionals. For more information see www.penninecare.nhs.uk/help

Support

Here is some information about services and charities who provide support to local communities:

Anthony Seddon Parent Peer support - where you can talk to other parents and carers about raising children who are experiencing mental health issues or living with a mental health condition. There will be staff who can offer support and advice if needed. The next meeting will be:

When:   26^th October 2021

Time:      5.30pm – 7.00pm

Where:   The Anthony Seddon Centre, 12 George Street,  Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6AQ

If you would like to attend, please book via reception - phone: 0161 376 4439 or email reception@tasfund.org.uk

Arthritis Action - give hands-on, practical help to combat the pain of arthritis through self-management and lifestyle advice. They offer an integrated self-management approach, which looks at both the physical and mental health impact of living with arthritis. They support people living with musculoskeletal conditions through healthy eating advice, mental health resources, pain management techniques, local Groups, and exercise advice and resources. For more information see www.arthritisaction.org.uk/

There is also a young people's hub - www.arthritisaction.org.uk/young_adults/

Diversity Matters North West Access Support Service - this new free service is available to all BAMER women based in Tameside, who need language support to make appointments and attend meetings in public spaces. The service provides you with a companion who speaks your language and can help you express concerns, ask questions, and understand the responses given in English. To book an Access Support Worker to help you or someone you know, please ring Hasina on 07591 572844 or email her on hasina@diversitymattersnw.org.uk

For more information about support and activities available, see https://diversitymattersnw.org.uk/our-activities/

This is the Greater Manchester Cancer Screening Engagement Programme. Free online training sessions from Answer Cancer are available. Examples include:

• Support for carers, families and relatives of people affected by cancer
• Answer Cancer Facts & Myths

For more information, including dates and how to book, see www.cancerchampionsgm.org.uk/events/

COVID-19 - which test?

Covid is still circulating and we are being asked to keep up with all the precautions to help reduce the spread, including letting fresh air into our homes to keep them ventilated, socialising outdoors and staying socially distanced where possible, and continuing with the basic measures of washing hands and wearing face coverings in shops and on public transport and in crowded and busy places.

Keeping up with the regular, rapid testing, twice a week for those without symptoms, will also help prevent you unknowingly passing on the virus.

It’s important that even if you have the mildest of symptoms, please isolate straight away and take a PCR test. Please do not use rapid lateral flow tests to confirm if you have COVID-19 or not when you have symptoms. To book a PCR test if you have symptoms visit www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.

For more information see www.tameside.gov.uk/rapidtesting

There are regular vaccination hubs around the borough, additional pop-up clinics and a vaccination bus. If you would like more information about the location and opening times for each, see www.tameside.gov.uk/covidvaccine. If you are eligible for a 3rd booster jab, you will be contacted by your GP or the NHS at the right time. There must be a gap of at least 26 weeks since your 2nd jab.

For up-to-date information about the latest rules and guidance see www.tameside.gov.uk/coronavirus