In this issue:

• Cost of living survey
• Easter and May bank holidays - pharmacy opening times
• Pennine Care governor vacancies and newsletter
• Tameside Hospital Lived Experience role
• TOG Mind Lived Experience Panel
• COVID-19

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

If you want to give us your feedback via one of our surveys, please go to www.healthwatchtameside.co.uk/share-your-views

Thank you.

Cost of living survey

In our last ebulletin we launched our new project. We are working with Action Together and want to find out what effect the increased cost of living is having on local people’s health and wellbeing.

We know poverty is a lonely and isolating situation. We want to show that this isn’t affecting a few people, it is real. It has a long term impact on how people are living their lives. This affects health and wellbeing (both physical health and mental health).

The survey can be completed:

• Online at www.healthwatchtameside.co.uk/share-your-views
• On paper - with a FREEPOST envelope to return it (give us a call on 0161 667 2526 to request a copy)
• Over the phone - give us a call on 0161 667 2526, leave a message, and we will call you back

Please help us with this work, by completing the survey. It is open until 19 May 2023.

We will share the anonymised findings with local partners. The information will be used, alongside other feedback, to plan future services for the local population.

For more information see www.healthwatchtameside.co.uk/news/2023-03-13/cost-living-survey

Easter and May bank holidays - pharmacy opening times

The opening times for pharmacies over the bank holidays can be found at https://greater-manchester.communitypharmacy.org.uk/our-news/easter-may-bank-holiday-opening-hours-easter-to-may-2023/

Other pharmacies may be open, but have not yet notified the NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care team and, therefore, are not included in this list. The list will be updated to include these when known.

Pennine Care governor vacancies and newsletter

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust's Council of Governors is made up of elected members of the public, staff and representatives from partner organisations.

The Council of Governors forms a direct link between Pennine Care and the communities it serves and ensures that the voice of the public, patients, service users and staff are used to inform the Trust's decisions, improve care and enhance the patient experience. 

For more information see www.mi-nomination.com/getinvolved/form/Interest

Pennine Post - this is a regular newsletter, which you can read at https://penninecarenhs.turtl.co/story/pennine-post-march-2023/page/1

Tameside Hospital Lived Experience role

Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust are looking for members of the public with/without experience of Tameside Hospital outpatients services to work with them on a number of identified areas for improvement. To help them to find solutions and new ways of working that will improve experiences of care, health and wellbeing for patients, carers and people living in Tameside and Glossop.

This is a volunteer role. Information can be found here or you can email voluntaryservices@tgh.nhs.uk.

TOG Mind Lived Experience Panel

Tameside, Oldham and Glossop Mind (TOG Mind) - The Lived Experience Panel provides an opportunity to help shape the design and development of TOG Mind services. For more information see www.togmind.org/news/lived-experience-panel.

There is also an event to find out more on Friday 31 March, from 12.30 to 2.00pm (lunch provided) To reserve a place at the event, email wellbeinghub@togmind.org or ring 0161 330 9223 and ask to speak to Caroline or Gemma.

TOG MInd are also looking to meet with different groups in the Tameside community to talk to people about mental health and wellbeing support, and to ask for feedback (anonymous and confidential) regarding TOG Mind Services including –

• Are you aware of TOG Mind services and what support is on offer?
• Can referral process be made easier?
• What are the barriers to accessing mental wellbeing services?
• How can they make services more accessible? What would help?

Any groups who are interested in taking part are asked to email karenhughes@togmind.org or ring 0161 330 9223 and ask to speak to Karen 

COVID-19

For more information, and to see who is eligible for vaccination, see www.tameside.gov.uk/covidvaccine (includes information about flu vaccination) and www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

A leaflet has been produced for adults with suspected or confirmed coronavirus who have not been admitted to hospital. You can read it at www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/12/C1634-suspected-Coronavirus-important-information-to-keep-you-safe-at-home-V8_210422.pdf

For people with symptoms of respiratory illness, including COVID-19, there is information about what to do here www.gov.uk/guidance/people-with-symptoms-of-a-respiratory-infection-including-covid-19