In this issue:

• COVID-19 survey closing
• Healthcare over Christmas and the New Year
• NHS 111 First
• CQC - Do Not Resuscitate review
• Hospital consultations
• COVID-19 vaccinations
• COVID-19 update

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.

This survey has been running since May 2020, and during that time several interim reports have been published. If you would like to read these, please look on our website at www.healthwatchtameside.co.uk/healthwatch-tameside-publications

The final date for completing the survey is 8 January 2021. We are hoping to get as many responses as possible in the last couple of weeks. We will then analyse all the data, and produce a report in the spring of 2021. Please ask your family and friends to let us have their views.

The survey can be completed in a number of ways;

• Online at www.healthwatchtameside.co.uk/covid-19-survey
• On paper
• Over the phone

If you would like a paper copy of the survey with a FREEPOST envelope to send it back in, or would like to complete the survey over the phone, please give us a call on 0161 667 2526. 

Have your say! Thank you.

Urgent Treatment 

Did you know there’s a new, more convenient way for you to get the urgent care you need? Instead of going to A&E, just contact 111 first. NHS 111 can book you a timeslot at A&E if needed.

Anyone with a health condition that cannot be treated by a pharmacist or GP should call NHS 111 or go online https://111.nhs.uk/, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Contacting NHS 111 before going to an Emergency Department (A & E) or Urgent Treatment Centre, will:

• Ensure you GET THE RIGHT HELP in the right place
• Help keep you, your family and friends SAFE by avoiding too many people being in the waiting room
• Help you be seen in an agreed time slot

If there is an emergency, ring 999 as usual.

CQC - Do Not Resuscitate review

In October, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) asked the Care Quality Commission to review how do not resuscitate orders (DNACPR) were used during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

They have a survey so they can hear the experiences of people who have had a DNACPR added to their records, or had one reviewed, since the start of the pandemic in March.

The link to the survey is https://surveys.cqc.org.uk/DNACPR-OnePoll.aspx?audience=VCSGeneral

Hospital Consultations

Manchester communities are invited to comment on two major hospital redevelopment plans - Wythenshawe Hospital and North Manchester General Hospital.

We know some people travel to appointments at these hospitals that may live elsewhere in Greater Manchester. For more information about the plans, and how you can get involved, please have a look at these web pages:

Wythenshawe Hospital - https://mft.nhs.uk/future-wythenshawe-hospital/

North Manchester General Hospital - https://mft.nhs.uk/transforming-the-future-at-north-manchester-general-hospital/

COVID-19 vaccinations

Information about the new vaccine is available at https://tamesideandglossop.nhsvaccinations.co.uk/

Additional information can be found on the government website at www.gov.uk/government/collections/covid-19-vaccination-programme

 

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COVID-19 update

Tameside moved into Tier 3: Very High Alert  on Wednesday 2 December. This is being reviewed on 16 December.

For information on the latest restrictions for Tameside, local support, advice and service changes, visit: www.tameside.gov.uk/coronavirus

You can form a Christmas bubble - for information see www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-a-christmas-bubble-with-friends-and-family

COVID-19 testing will continue throughout the Christmas period, including Christmas Day. See information about local testing at www.tameside.gov.uk/coronavirus/testing