News items from July 2015
Need your Will writing or revising? Get it done for only £35 thanks to Age UK campaign
There should be a will, and there is a way!
For some years now, local charity Age UK Leicestershire & Rutland, has campaigned to reduce the 7 out of 10 people who die without a will.
As a result, more than 20 local solicitors have generously agreed to reduce their Will Writing charges for older people to only £35+VAT for a single, uncomplicated Will - a reduction of around £100.
The offer is available from 1st September to 31st October 2015.
To find out more:
Read the press release, visit the Age UK website or call Age UK on 0116 299 2233.
Age UK says:
“Even if you have made a will, perhaps it was so long ago that it is time to consider whether it needs revising. Don’t miss this opportunity to put matters straight!”
Carer talks to the Leicester Mercury about dementia and the support available
One of the carers we support, Kathleen Eggleton, was featured in the Leicester Mercury recently, talking about dementia and the support available for carers.
Would you like to help shape healthcare in Leicestershire?
Below is a list of forthcoming Involvement Opportunities across Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust:
The Trust's Complaints Review Panel is looking for a group of patients/carers to join a scrutiny panel to help them review the way they respond to complaints. Call Omita Gaikwad on 0116 295 7630 or email [email protected]. Travel expenses will be reimbursed.
The Trust's Community Health Services team said: "It’s very early days but we are looking at holding a Listening Into Action event in November about falls prevention both in hospitals and at home. We are particularly looking for stroke survivors or their carers. We are interested in gathering feedback from stroke survivors who were nursed at UHL and community hospitals." Call Linda Bull - Matron Coalville Community Hospital on 01530 467450 or 07826 858370 or email [email protected]
The Trust's Adult Mental Health Communications Team are looking for a group of patients willing to provide comments on a newsletter aimed at patients. Hard copies of the newsletter are available, alternatively email feedback is welcome. Call Clare Neill on 0116 225 6637 or email [email protected]
The Trust's Better Care Together team are seeking current or previous service users of mental health services to join a group of other likeminded individuals to help shape future mental health services. This is part of the Better Care Together programme for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland - a partnership between all local health and social care providers to work better together to improve the health and wellbeing of our population. The Better Care Together team said: "The mental health workstream is one of the areas we are looking to improve the patient experience and we'd like your help to do this. If you can spare two days a month to go to a two hour meeting about how we make sure service users get to shape future services then we'd like to hear from you. All you need is passion and commitment to make a difference." Find out more
The Trust's Adult Mental Health Services team are looking for service users/carer representatives for the Care Programming Approach (CPA) Group. They said: "This group seeks assurance from services on standards of CPA practice. CPA is a key policy nationally and service users and carers need to be involved in ensuring that the organisation is keeping up with good practice, how it is delivered and how variations, if any, are managed." Call Dr Girish Kunigiri, Consultant Psychiatrist, Bradgate Mental Health Unit on 01162252625 or email [email protected]. The group meets every quarter. Travel expenses will be reimbursed.
The Trust's Reader Panel Service is a group of lay readers that quality checks the Trust's patient information to ensure it’s understandable and doesn’t contain jargon. They are particularly looking for service users/carers with experience of Adult Mental Health and Families, Young People’s and Children’s Services. Call Di Graham on 07879115033 or email [email protected]
The Trust's Smokefree Action Team are looking for service users and carers who have a view about LPT’s smokefree strategy (the plan to go completely smokefree by the end of 2016), and particularly those who have had experience of using electronic cigarettes (ecigs). Call Louise Ross, Stop Smoking Service Manager on 07824 835 650 or email [email protected] Initially a telephone survey. Louise will call people back if they let her know (text or email) that they would like a conversation.
The Trust's Pharmacy team are looking for a one-off commitment to attend a meeting to discuss the way forward for pharmacy/medicines services within the Trust. No more than half a day max. Travel expenses paid. To find out more email Anthony Oxley, Head of Pharmacy [email protected]
The Trust's Research and Development (EPPIC project) team would like to collaborate with service users and carers to help improve the quality of LPT's research. They said: "We're still in the planning stages but we're looking for a long term commitment starting in the autumn for around 18 months (or longer if people wish to). We will train volunteers to work with staff to help design research studies because their involvement will likely increase the quality and success of research projects. We want to develop a pool of talent which staff can work with when planning research. The level of commitment will vary depending on each project." To find out more call Gail Melvin, Research Manager on 0116 2955805 or email [email protected] The EPPIC project will involve meeting with the project team and then attending some training before working with staff to plan research studies. You'll also be invited to occasional meetings and asked to review documents and keep a reflective diary. Expenses will be reimbursed, including for your time.
Age UK Leicester Shire and Rutland Macmillan Bereavement Support Project
The aim of the project is to support older people living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland who have been bereaved as a result of cancer. The service can be tailored to meet the needs of the individual but could include:
- Emotional and practical support to people over the age of 50
- Home visits and/or telephone support
- Pre and post funeral support when needed
- Help with paperwork, forms, appointments and notifying authorities
- Information and advice on welfare benefits
- Help to access support with employment issues
- Sign posting to other services
- Family support
- Group activities
- Befriending
To find out more please call Helen Williams on 0116 299 2235 or email [email protected] (Monday-Wednesday).
Free gym access for carers in Leicestershire
Northamptonshire Carers are working with Carers Trust East Midlands to offer carers sessions at local gyms free of charge in Charnwood, Harborough, Melton and Oadby. So if you're a carer and you feel that attending a gym would help you relax or maintain your own health then please take a look at the links below to find sessions near you.
Charnwood
Harborough
Melton
Oadby
To find out more please call 0330 119 2142.
Thank you for coming along to our Carers Summertime Health and Wellbeing Events!
We held two very successful Carers Summertime Health and Wellbeing Events recently - one in Coalville on 4th June and the other in Hinckley on 16th June, to celebrate all the hard work carers do.
There was a range of information stalls, guest speakers and activities for carers to get involved with. Jane Robins from Leicestershire County Council talked about the Care Act and the Carer's Assessment.
Paul Tyson gave a talk on healthy eating, while Emma Hopkins, Physical Activity Coordinator at Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council (Hinckley Leisure Centre) provided information on healthy walks and activities.
Activities on offer at both events included Chair Based Exercises, Laughter Workshops, Complementary Therapies, Line Dancing and Blood Pressure and Diabetes Testing.
Here are a few comments from some of the carers that attended:
“I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun”
“It was a great event and very informative”
“I loved the chair based exercises”
“I have not seen my husband laugh like that in ages”
“Thank you for such a lovely time”
“Good to know my blood pressure is ok”
“Can’t wait for the next time”
“I feel so uplifted and relaxed”
