CCGs support ‘Wake Up North Yorkshire’ campaign

North Yorkshire’s Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) have backed a North Yorkshire campaign aimed at changing drinking culture and the harm caused by alcohol.

Launched by North Yorkshire County Council, the Wake Up North Yorkshire campaign has been developed after research with residents found that more than 40 per cent of 1,000 people who responded to a survey said they drank more than the chief medical officer’s guideline amount for ‘safer’ drinking.

That’s regularly more than six glasses of wine or pints of beer a week, and/or regularly more than three glasses of wine/pints (for women) or four glasses of wine/pints (for men) on any single occasion.

Dr Charles Parker, Clinical Chair Designate for the new North Yorkshire CCG, said: “Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can lead to a number of medical conditions which require ongoing care and treatment and in some cases result in admission to hospital.

“The good news is that most of the North Yorkshire residents who said they drank more than the safer guidelines are already reducing their drinking, or thinking about doing so in the future.”

For patients in the county who want to reduce the amount of alcohol they consume, there’s lots of help available – search ‘alcohol support’ on the NHS website or go to www.wakeupnorthyorkshire.co.uk.

The Wake Up North Yorkshire campaign features short videos from North Yorkshire residents talking about how they cut down their alcohol intake, as well as posters, leaflets and social media graphics.

It will run until September this year.

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North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Groups support the ‘International Year of the Nurse and Midwife’ campaign

NHS Hambleton Richmondshire and Whitby, NHS Harrogate and Rural District and NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are backing a national initiative, hosted by NHS England and NHS Improvement, which aims to showcase and celebrate nursing and midwifery.

The ‘International Year of the Nurse and Midwife’ will run throughout 2020 and is a chance to recognise the incredible work nurses and midwives do across health and social care.

Throughout the year, the three North Yorkshire CCGs will be encouraging nurses and midwives across the county to share their stories highlighting how they have made a difference to people’s lives and celebrate their achievements.

Chief Nurse for the three North Yorkshire CCGs, Sue Peckitt, said: “We have an amazing and diverse nursing and midwifery workforce in North Yorkshire and having had the pleasure of working alongside nursing colleagues for a number of years, I appreciate how hard they work and know they do everything they can to get the best possible outcomes for patients.

“Being a nurse is a very rewarding and fulfilling career and I encourage all of our local nurses to share their experiences to showcase the brilliant work that they do for patients and the public.”

Any stories shared by nurses and midwives will be hosted on the NHS England and NHS Improvement website. For information on how to share a story, visit: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nursing-people-stories-template/

NHS England and NHS Improvement will also be hosting an event at York Racecourse on 29 April to showcase innovation in nursing across the country.

York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is showing support by running a campaign featuring 20 nurses and 20 midwives – details can be found on the Trust’s website: https://www.yorkhospitals.nhs.uk/news-amp-media/international-year-of-the-nurse-and-midwife-2020/

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) and Harrogate and District NHS foundation Trust (HDFT) are planning Year of Nurse and Midwife activities and this information will be available on the North Yorkshire CCGs websites once finalised.

If you are interested in becoming a nurse, search ‘nursing careers’ today, there are hundreds of opportunities to start a career in the field.

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How to stay well over Christmas and New Year

Doctors in North Yorkshire are urging patients to check their stocks of repeat medication ahead of the Christmas period.

With most GP practices closed for Christmas Day and Boxing Day, other local NHS services often experience increased demand, with the NHS 111 telephone service receiving high volumes of calls from patients who have run out of their vital medication.

NHS Hambleton Richmondshire and Whitby, NHS Harrogate and Rural District and NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are asking patients to check their repeat prescriptions to make sure they have enough medication to see them over the Christmas period.

Dr Charles Parker, the clinical lead for NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby CCG, said: “While we do ask patients to only ‘order’ repeat prescriptions when necessary, it is really important people have enough to see them through periods when their GP practice is closed, such as the Christmas period.

“By ensuring they have enough of their prescription medication, patients will be doing their bit for the NHS by freeing up urgent care services for people with more serious health problems.”

Patients are also being asked to remember that their usual pharmacy may be closed at times over the Christmas period, though other local pharmacies may be available. You can find details of pharmacy opening times in your area on your local CCG website.

If patients feel they need urgent health care over the festive period, they should dial 111. If appropriate, patients may then get an appointment at one of the local urgent treatment centres.

If it’s an illness or injury that is serious or life threatening, patients should always call 999 for an ambulance or go to the nearest emergency department.

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North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Groups back World Antibiotics Awareness Week campaign

NHS Hambleton Richmondshire and Whitby, NHS Harrogate and Rural District and NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are backing a national campaign which aims to increase awareness of antibiotic resistance.

The campaign known as ‘World Antibiotics Awareness Week’ will run from 18 to 22 November targeting the general public, health workers and policy makers to improve awareness and understanding of antibiotic resistance through effective communications, education and training.

Speaking on behalf of the three clinical commissioning groups in North Yorkshire, Dr Tim Rider, GP Prescribing Lead, said: “Taking antibiotics inappropriately encourages harmful bacteria that live inside you to become resistant. That means that antibiotics may not work when you really need them. This puts you and your family at risk of a more severe or longer illness.

“If you or a family member has a cold or flu, antibiotics probably aren’t the answer, ask your pharmacist to recommend medicines to help with the symptoms or pain, they are experts in minor illnesses.

“Antibiotics are needed for serious bacterial infections such as sepsis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, meningococcal meningitis and sexually transmitted diseases. If you are worried you may have something more serious than a cold or flu, speak to your doctor who will be able to advise you on the best treatment option.”

With no new antibiotics developed in the last 30 years patients are encouraged only to take them if they need to. Taking them unnecessarily could make them less effective when fighting serious infections.

Without the effectiveness of antibiotics, routine operations like hip replacements, organ transplants and caesarean sections or chemotherapy treatments will become increasingly dangerous or impossible.

Patients can support the campaign by becoming an ‘Antibiotic Guardian’ at:  https://antibioticguardian.com/

More information on the campaign can be found on the World Health Organisation website: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-antibiotic-awareness-week

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3 North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Groups announce appointments to strategic leadership team

The three North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby CCG, NHS Harrogate and Rural District CCG and NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG, today announce two appointments to their shared senior leadership team.

Wendy Balmain has joined the team as Director of Strategy and Integration. Wendy previously served as Director of Transformation and Delivery for Harrogate and Rural District CCG where she was responsible for delivering health care commissioning for the CCG and led work to integrate community and adult social care services. Wendy brings extensive experience across health and social care both at a national and local level to her new role. As Director of Strategy and Integration she will be responsible for primary care transformation and commissioning, including implementation of primary care networks, and will work closely with partners across North Yorkshire to expand integrated service models.

Simon Cox has been appointed permanent Director of Acute Commissioning. Simon has been serving in this role temporarily since January 2019. Prior to this he served as Chief Officer of NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG. Simon started his career as a practitioner in operating theatres in Leeds General Infirmary and brings thirty years of NHS experience to his new role. As Director of Acute Commissioning he will oversee the relationship with acute providers across the three North Yorkshire CCGs including commissioning and performance. He will also support transformation and service redesign initiatives ensuring that acute care best serves the needs of North Yorkshire.

Both Wendy and Simon have commenced in their new roles. Amanda Bloor, Accountable Officer for the North Yorkshire CCGs, said: “I am delighted that we have secured such talented senior leaders to work alongside me as we transform the way we deliver for the people of North Yorkshire.

“Wendy and Simon are the first directors to join the team which will provide strategic leadership for the three North Yorkshire CCGs, replacing director positions which were previously replicated across the CCGs. This ‘scaled up’ approach will enable us to work strategically with our partners as well as achieve consistent decision making across North Yorkshire for the people we serve.

“Both Wendy and Simon bring a wealth of health care and leadership experience and decades of public service to their new roles. They are committed to retaining the local focus of our work, delivering for local people, while enabling us to share good practice across North Yorkshire. This will enable us to make the most of our combined resources and contribute to better health outcomes for our community.”

In September 2018 the three CCGs’ Governing Bodies voted to introduce a shared senior leadership team across the three organisations. Recruitment is under way for three remaining positions on the new team:  Director of Vulnerable People, Director of Corporate service, Governance and Performance and Chief Nurse. Announcements will be made once appointments have taken place.

For further information contact the Communications Team at hardccg.media-enquiries@nhs.net or 01423 799300.

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