News

ree Enhanced Health Checks (EHCs) are available at different community venues around North Kensington during December 2024 and January 2025.

These half hour appointments with a dedicated clinician are a popular way for North Kensington residents living and working in the area, who have been affected by the Grenfell Tower fire, to support their health and wellbeing.

Consisting of a basic health review and respiratory check there's also the opportunity to discuss any other concerns you may have. Onward referrals will be made by the clinician, if necessary. Further information is available here.

Here's how you can book your guaranteed slot (walk ins will be subject to on the day availability ):  

• Choose your date, then send an email with your name, date of birth and contact number to: nhsnwl.grenfellenhancedhealth@nhs.net. The service will then make contact to arrange an appointment.  Enhanced health checks are also available at your local GP practice.
•  Alternatively, you can call 07768 271 733 and speak to Matan (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm). 
• If you want your family members to be checked out at the same time, just mention at the time of booking as there may be free slots available. 

The following clinics are available during December 2024 and January 2025:

Building on our ongoing community-led recovery work, NHS North West London has been asked to review the health needs of those affected by Grenfell over the next four years. This review will cover services and support for survivors, the bereaved, and the wider community.

Our goal is to assess the changing health needs post-year seven and determine if current NHS services are sufficient and what support should be in place. This review will play a key role in shaping future Grenfell-specific health services.

The review of future health needs for those impacted by Grenfell is a really important next step in the NHS’s continued promise to support survivors, bereaved and the Grenfell affected community.  Together, we will examine the current evidence as to what the additional health needs are as a result of the fire and decide how we can best can provide support to meet those needs.

The outcome will inform a business case for resource allocation that will be submitted to NHS England for approval. It will cover the period from 2025 to 2029 and set out our plans to address health needs.

See the report on the initial findings on health needs.

From now until January 2025, we will host events to gather input from various stakeholders and to co-design future services. We would welcome the opportunity to collaborate with your organisation to gather as many perspectives as possible.

Upcoming events will be scheduled to enable community engagement and input. We will set out these dates shortly.

We look forward to working with you to ensure the identified health needs are met and shaped by your input.

If you have any questions, please contact us via email at nhsnwl.nkrt@nhs.net

Have your say on the future of specialist community palliative care for north west London Residents*

Public consultation 18 November 2024 to 24 February 2025

NHS North West London is inviting the public to share their views on proposed improvements to adult community specialist palliative care services across the region. These proposals are part of a commitment to provide compassionate, high-quality support for residents facing serious or life-limiting illnesses.

Robyn Doran, Senior Responsible Officer for the review, said:

"Our goal is to offer the best possible care when patients, families, and friends need it most. Compassionate care means supporting people through the challenges of life-limiting illnesses, helping them live as fully as possible, with dignity and relief from pain and symptoms."

The consultation focuses on creating a community specialist palliative care service that ensures equal access to quality care—whether at home, in the community, or at a hospice. This means every adult in north west London will have access to specialised, round-the-clock care and support when they are at their most vulnerable.

Proposed key improvements

The proposals aim to address a wide range of needs, including:

• A specialist palliative care nursing team available 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, across all boroughs.
• 24/7 telephone support for specialist palliative care advice for all North West London residents.
• “Hospice at Home” services available around the clock.
• Specialist palliative care outpatient clinics in each borough.
• Improved access to psychological and bereavement support for families at local hospices.
• Expanded lymphoedema services for conditions related to both cancer and non-cancer causes. Lymphoedema is a long-term condition where a build-up of lymph fluid in your body's soft tissues causes swelling.
• 46 new enhanced end-of-life care beds across the region, providing additional options for those whose needs cannot be met at home but do not require hospice-level inpatient care.
• Maintaining 57 consultant-led hospice specialist palliative care inpatient beds that are currently available, which our analysis shows will meet community needs over the next five years.

Dr Lyndsey Williams, Local GP and Clinical Lead for the review, said:

"This is about ensuring everyone has access to high-quality care, no matter where they live in North West London.  We want to hear from residents to make sure these services meet the real needs of our community."

Options under consultation

The consultation presents two options:

Option A (Preferred): Fully implement the proposed model, including 46 new enhanced end-of-life care beds, while maintaining the existing hospice beds without reopening the Pembridge Hospice inpatient beds. This option would be easier and quicker to implement and benefit more north west London residents as a whole.

Option B: Fully implement the proposed model, including 46 new enhanced end-of-life care beds and reopen Pembridge Hospice inpatient beds. This would require a reduction in hospice beds elsewhere and have a longer implementation timeline due to the need to recruit specialist palliative care consultant cover and 35 additional staff.

Have your say

Rob Hurd, Chief Executive of NHS North West London added:

"We are committed to putting residents’ voices at the heart of these changes. Your feedback will help us shape a service that supports the dignity, comfort, and quality of life of everyone in our community."

To learn more and participate in the consultation, visit the NHS North West London website: www.nwlondonicb.nhs.uk/cspc

Notes to editors

For further information email nhsnwl.media@nhs.net

Free Enhanced Health Checks (EHCs) are available at different community venues around North Kensington this November.

These half hour appointments with a dedicated clinician are a popular way for North Kensington residents living and working in the area, who have been affected by the Grenfell Tower fire, to support their health and wellbeing.

Consisting of a basic health review and respiratory check there's also the opportunity to discuss any other concerns you may have. Onward referrals will be made by the clinician, if necessary. Further information is available here.

Here's how you can book your guaranteed slot (walk ins will be subject to on the day availability ):  

• Choose your date, then send an email with your name, date of birth and contact number to: nhsnwl.grenfellenhancedhealth@nhs.net. The service will then make contact to arrange an appointment.  Enhanced health checks are also available at your local GP practice.
•  Alternatively, you can call 07768 271 733 and speak to Matan (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm). 
• If you want your family members to be checked out at the same time, just mention at the time of booking as there may be free slots available. 

The following clinics are available this November:

Free Enhanced Health Checks (EHCs) are available at different community venues around North Kensington this October.

These half hour appointments with a dedicated clinician are a popular way for North Kensington residents living and working in the area, who have been affected by the Grenfell Tower fire, to support their health and wellbeing.

Consisting of a basic health review and respiratory check there's also the opportunity to discuss any other concerns you may have. Onward referrals will be made by the clinician, if necessary. Further information is available here.

Here's how you can book your guaranteed slot (walk ins will be subject to on the day availability ):  

• Choose your date, then send an email with your name, date of birth and contact number to: nhsnwl.grenfellenhancedhealth@nhs.net. The service will then make contact to arrange an appointment.  Enhanced health checks are also available at your local GP practice.
•  Alternatively, you can call 07768 271 733 and speak to Matan (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm). 
• If you want your family members to be checked out at the same time, just mention at the time of booking as there may be free slots available. 

The following clinics are available this October:

NHS NW London is committed to learning lessons from the system response to the Grenfell fire and we note the King’s Fund report. We recognise that the residents of North Kensington have been traumatised by the tragedy and we are committed to a community-led recovery.

Since the fire, we have continued to engage with survivors and bereaved groups and the wider community. One of our predecessor bodies, West London CCG, worked with over 1,200 residents, survivors and bereaved to jointly produce the Health and Well Being strategy for those impacted. The strategy and the services that are provided were shaped through this involvement and the feedback from the emergency response in the aftermath of the fire. We have been open and transparent and have published a breakdown of how resources have been allocated to meet health needs.

Further information on our work and how communities, survivors and bereaved have helped us shape our approach to local health services and how they have changed over time, including cultural competence can be found here. It is clear that we still have a great deal of work and listening to do, and we want to work with survivors, bereaved and the wider community as we assess the evidence on future population health needs and how health services can meet those needs.

We are privileged to be in service to this extraordinary local community and to work alongside and support the community through some unbelievably difficult times.

If you would like to get in touch, please email on nhsnwl.nkrt@nhs.net

Following the release of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry's phase two report, the local Council (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea) is taking time to consider the report in detail and has published a Summary of what they think the findings mean for the Council and their relationship with local residents.

The Council have advised us that they will be holding two drop-in sessions and two public meetings for local residents, where the residents can challenge and tell the Council what they want to see from the Council’s formal response to the Grenfell Public Inquiry Phase 2 report, which will be published in November 2024.

Please see attach a digital copy of the leaflet and printable version of the poster, please feel to onward share with any local community member who you think will benefit from taking part in the above sessions. Is you require print versions please let the Council know GTI.contact@rbkc.gov.uk how many, and where you would like them sent.

For ease, all information is also on the Council’s website as well.

The NHS recognises the importance of the publication of the Grenfell Independent Inquiry report on those affected by the fire and the possible impact on your health and wellbeing.

Rob Hurd, Chief Executive Officer at NHS North West London said: “We know that survivors, bereaved and the wider community have been waiting for the publication of the report and we recognise its importance within the NHS.  We understand the upset this will cause and for many it will bring back memories and horror of the night of the fire.  We want to provide reassurance that the NHS will be here for you now and in the future.”

Dr Andrew Steeden Clinical Lead for North Kensington added: “There are a range of services and support available and at the request of local community, NHS North West London has worked with our partners to put in place arrangements for a place for quiet space and reflection that they can visit and get support from their own community.”

All those who feel they need that little extra support are encouraged to speak to their GP or contact the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service on 020 8637 6279 from 8am to 8pm Monday-Thursday and 8am to 5pm on Friday. More information, including an option to self-refer online, can be found on their website: www.grenfellwellbeing.com

Andrew added: “We continue to think about the night of the fire, those who died and those left behind.  We pay tribute to all and thank the local community for their ongoing support.”

END

Our latest NKR Insight bulletin has been published: https://www.grenfell.nhs.uk/download_file/view/599/214

We discuss our plans to check in with the community to ensure we are on the right track to move towards a community-led recovery. We want to hear from as many people as possible so will be out and about in the community as well as gathering views via a survey.

This issue also advises that the JSNA has been published and provides information on getting an enhanced health check (EHC) as well as congratulating ACAVA's CEO Rasha El-Sady for supporting the community's mental health through creative workshops, including Men's Sheds. 

We want to hear from you!

We recently shared details on what we had previously heard about the Grenfell-affected community’s health needs and our proposals to make changes to support a community-led recovery.

This Next Steps document collated all the rich insight the NHS alongside our valued partners had pulled together over the last few years by asking survivors, bereaved and the local community lots of questions about their current health needs and what they are worried might occur in the future.

This feedback also fed into the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA), which has now been published.

We received lots of feedback from our valued partners that people want more of a say and that the NHS needs to be more open about what they are doing.

We have listened very carefully to this feedback and although recent elections regrettably meant we had to put a temporary pause on our plans to engage further with the community, it has meant we were able to reflect on these past feedback and propose a way forward.

We also need to move quickly as – despite the disruption to our plans caused by recent elections - we are still required to produce a new North Kensington Recovery programme business case at the end of August and we want to make sure the up-to-date views of the local community are included.  The intention of the business case is to describe how we will move to a community-led recovery and ensure we are using the resources we have as effectively as possible, which is something people have fed back they want us to do. The business case will be considered by NHS England and will lead to a decision on the future funding for health services for Grenfell-affected populations. 

As part of this process we wish to gather the views from as wide a section of the community as possible. We would like to thank our partners for their support and goodwill as we check in with you all, to ensure we are on the right track.

We will be out and about in the local community meeting local organisation and stakeholders and will also hold some online meetings for people to attend.

f you would like to meet with us or propose we organise a meeting at a community venue near to you, please let us know nhsnwl.nkrt@nhs.net or text or call 07884547094.

You can also give your feedback using the following ways: 

• Complete this short survey
• Email us using nhsnwl.nkrt@nhs.net
• Write to us at: North Kensington Recovery Programme, Freepost Healthier North West London (please note you do not need to use a postage stamp)

Thank you for your support.

Free Enhanced Health Checks (EHCs) are available at different community venues around North Kensington this August.

These half hour appointments with a dedicated clinician are a popular way for North Kensington residents living and working in the area, who have been affected by the Grenfell Tower fire, to support their health and wellbeing.

Consisting of a basic health review and respiratory check there's also the opportunity to discuss any other concerns you may have. Onward referrals will be made by the clinician, if necessary. Further information is available here.

Edward Woods Community Centre ihas kindly agreed to start hosting these checks on the first Friday of every month, starting on Friday 2 August (2024). This community centre is in the heart of the Edward Woods Estate and offers a wide range of activities and services for families, elders and individuals in the local community.

Here's how you can book your guaranteed slot (walk ins will be subject to on the day availability ):  

• Choose your date, then send an email with your name, date of birth and contact number to: nhsnwl.grenfellenhancedhealth@nhs.net. The service will then make contact to arrange an appointment.  Enhanced health checks are also available at your local GP practice.
•  Alternatively, you can call 07768 271 733 and speak to Matan (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm). 
• If you want your family members to be checked out at the same time, just mention at the time of booking as there may be free slots available. 

The following clinics are available this August: 

Measles doesn’t just cause your child discomfort, it also puts them at risk of serious health complications if the infection spreads to the brain or lungs, but this is preventable.

It’s easy to think that measles is just a rash when in fact it can cause serious complications. This is why one in four babies and children who catch measles could need to be treated in hospital.

In the early stage of infection symptoms include a fever, cough, sore, red or swollen eyes and aches and pains. For many children these symptoms cause discomfort and difficulty sleeping. The rash then develops a few days later.

It’s when measles spreads to the brain or lungs that it becomes very serious and even life-threatening. When this happens, it can cause:

• blindness
• hearing loss
• brain damage
• breathing difficulties

Measles spreads very easily and we are currently seeing a rise in cases in north west London. The best way to prevent the infection and the associated risks is through vaccination.

The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine has been repeatedly tested and is regularly reviewed to make sure it’s completely safe. Detailed information about the vaccine is available on the NHS website.

Having the right information about measles, what the risks are and how they can be prevented is important when considering whether to vaccinate your child.

If you have questions about measles or the MMR vaccination, contact your GP for advice. Alternatively, you can visit one of the NHS pop-up clinics across north west London to talk to a health professional, no appointment needed. Whether you’ve decided to vaccinate your child or just want to talk to somebody, you can find your local walk-in site here.

We are excited to share HPAL, a unique digital platform designed to support Integrated Palliative and End of Life Care across North West London. HPAL brings together the best resources in palliative care, making them easily accessible for clinicians, patients, and carers.

Click here to visit HPAL

HPAL features a ready populated clinical triage tool designed to address common clinical challenges in palliative care through a clinically designed search function. It’s service directory provides real-time information on available services in each Borough across North West London. It improves care at the point of contact through saving clinicians time by offering easy access to curated summaries of key symptoms. Its separate portal dedicated for family carers improves self-management for both patients and carers, and a portal for clinicians providing a fantastic resource for primary care, hospital and care home clinicians.

HPAL also provides summaries of national guidance tailored to the Integrated Care System (ICS) and local needs. Users can search for information specific to their boroughs. It helps the ICS meet its obligations and improve equality of access across the ICS.

Since its launch, over 500 users accessed the website within just three days, receiving excellent feedback for its ease of use. A huge thank you to Harlington Hospice for developing this invaluable resource for North West London.

Together, we are transforming Palliative and End of Life Care for our community.

NHS dentists provide all the necessary treatment that you need to keep your mouth, teeth and gums in a healthy condition.

We appreciate that some individuals and families may not yet be registered with a dentist so here are details of practices throughout Kensington & Chelsea who are currently accepting new patients.

To get NHS dental treatment, contact one of these practices and ask for an NHS appointment.

Enhanced Health Checks (EHC) are a great way to keep you and your family healthy in 2024 - and they’re available at different community venues around North Kensington this July.

The first session for July is being held on Tuesday morning [2 July] at The Space from 9am to 12.30pm.

These free checks are a great way to keep a check on your family's physical and mental health, as well as discuss any health concerns you may have. It is recommended that you get a health check every year.

If you want your family members to be checked out at the same time, just mention at the time of booking as there may be free slots available. 

To book your slot choose your date, then send an email with your name, date of birth and contact number to: nhsnwl.grenfellenhancedhealth@nhs.net. The service will then make contact to arrange an appointment.

Alternatively, you can call 07768 271 733 to speak to Matan (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm). Enhanced health checks are also available at your local GP practice

Slots for July include:

Junior doctors will be on strike from 7am today) [Thursday 27 June] until 7am on Tuesday 2 July 2024.

During this period hospital services are expected to be very busy. Please help us to help you by visiting 111 online or calling NHS 111 for advice on the best service for your needs.

Appointments

If you have an appointment, you will be contacted if it needs to be rescheduled. If you don’t hear anything, attend your appointment as planned.

Getting help

• If it’s not an emergency, contact your GP or NHS 111 online or over the phone
• In an emergency, always call 999

For non-emergency health needs, you should access the alternative NHS services available to you:

• NHS 111: Fully trained health professionals are available, 24/7, to help if you need medical help or advice, or you are unsure about whether you should go to hospital. You can contact NHS 111 online, or by calling 111.
• Your GP: The majority of practices in north west London will remain open during the strike, though many will be under increased pressure. Do continue to attend your GP and dental appointments unless you have been contacted and told otherwise.
• Pharmacy: Pharmacists are trained health professionals who can help with your medication questions and minor health concerns. Many offer private consultations without an appointment, and can advise where to get further help if you need it.

Keir Mann has been appointed as the new Assistant Director for the North Kensington Recovery (NKR) programme. The appointment is for an initial period until September, to provide the programme with leadership while NHS North West London completes it restructure.

Many of you will have worked with Keir before as he has been part of the North Kensington Recovery team for the past three years in the role of Head of North Kensington Recovery and Partnerships.

Keir says: “It is a privilege to be asked to take on this role at a challenging but crucial stage in the recovery process. I look forward to working with as many of you as possible in shaping the future health support for local communities.“

The latest edition of our Insight bulletin has been published: June 2024

We provide a statement commemorating the 7th year anniversary of the Grenfell Tower tragedy and highlight some of the planning for reflective events that community groups were involved with.

We also highlight some details on what we did to get the messaging out to the North Kensington community about the recent measles outbreak and the importance of children being up-to-date with their vaccinations.

This was also the topic of conversation at a recent free family health day, which the NHS jointly hosted at Lancaster West with the North Kensington Resource Centre during half term week. 

Our thoughts remain with the community at this sad time.

Voluntary organisations around North Kensington (including Healthier Futures and Health Partners) will be opening their doors this Friday [14 June], to welcome residents who want to be with others to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire. There are also quiet spaces available if residents prefer to reflect in solitude on their loved ones.

Refreshments are on offer at various venues including Bay 20, The Dalgarno Trust, FAWA and Men’s Sheds (afternoon from 2pm) and the Grenfell Tower Trust is also offering massages, as well as space for reflective thinking.

Around 10 women from the Al-Hasaniya women’s centre’s Together for Grenfell project (featured here) are heading into central London on Wednesday afternoon for afternoon tea.  They also plan to plant seeds in memory of their loved ones in the Morocco gardens.

Lancaster West Estate will host an afternoon of speakers, poetry and music from 2pm-5pm. Everyone is welcome.

Children and young people might want to express their feelings through art. Baraka Community Centre is hosting an Abundance Art workshop on Friday.

A silent walk takes place every year and the walk will begin at 6.30pm [on Friday] from Notting Hill Methodist Church. 

Looking ahead, Youth Action Alliance are again putting the finishing touches to their One Heart festival, taking place on Saturday 22 June.

This is just a small selection of the many community events taking place on the anniversary and across the week. Our thoughts are with the community during this sad and reflective time.

Everyone remembers where they were when they heard about the Grenfell Tower fire – a night when 72 individuals tragically lost their lives. Every single one of these deaths was – and remains - a heart-breaking loss for the loved ones left behind and the local community as a whole.

The National Health Service (NHS) would like to acknowledge the ongoing impact of the disaster on the community and express our deepest condolences to all those impacted.  

Although nothing we can say or do will bring back your loved ones, we would like you all to know that the NHS is here to support you and your family.

Our thoughts are with you all on this sad anniversary and we will be joining you in the 72 second silence on Friday 14 June at 11am.

Rob Hurd, CEO, North West London ICS

The NHS has updated its service leaflet to advertise the full range of NHS health and wellbeing services that are available to the community. Click here or on the image to view.

Clement James and the NHS are teaming up to offer free NHS app training sessions.

Sessions will be held in person on:

Day: Wednesday 12 June

Time: 13:00 - 15:00pm

Place: The Clement James Centre, 
95 Sirdar Road, W11 4EQ

Further information on the day is available here:

The NHS app can be downloaded onto your smartphone and tablet and is a handy way to get health information, check your medical records, book appointments and manage repeat prescriptions. For further information click here.

Enhanced Health Checks (EHC) are a great way to keep you and your family healthy in 2024 - and they’re available at different community venues around North Kensington this June.

These free checks are a great way to keep a check on your family's physical and mental health, as well as discuss any health concerns you may have. It is recommended that you get a health check every year.

If you want your family members to be checked out at the same time, just mention at the time of booking as there may be free slots available. 

To book your slot choose your date, then send an email with your name, date of birth and contact number to: nhsnwl.grenfellenhancedhealth@nhs.net. The service will then make contact to arrange an appointment.

Alternatively, you can call 07768 271 733 to speak to Matan (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm). Enhanced health checks are also available at your local GP practice

Slots for June include:

Measles cases are on the rise in London, including North Kensington*.

It is really important that your child is vaccinated against measles, which is a highly infectious childhood illness. Children and young adults need two doses of the MMR vaccination for protection against measles.

If you are unsure whether your child has been vaccinated, please don’t hesitate to ask your GP. Vaccine appointments can be booked through your GP or using one of our walk-in clinics. 

• 23 May 2024, Westbourne Park Family Centre
• 31 May 2024, Central Mosque

Additionally, the following clinics have been set up at St Charles Enhanced Access Hub for children registered with West London GPs (located at St Charles Centre for Health and Wellbeing, Exmoor St, W10 6DZ).
Parents will need to book an appointment through their GP:

Weekdays: 18:30-21:00,

Sat: 08:00-20:00

Sundays and Bank holidays: 14:00-20:00

W11 and the NHS will jointly host a family health day at the ​​​​​​​Lancaster West's North Kensington Resource Centre on Wednesday 29 May during half term week. This is an opportunity to pick up leaflets and ask questions about any health concerns you may have.

More vaccination clinics and health days are being set up and we will update you on any new dates soon.

* Typical symptoms of measles include:

• A measles-like rash - red spots non-itchy, sometimes raised and joined together to form blotchy patches. The rash starts three to four days after the initial symptoms behind the ears, then the face, trunk of body and limbs.

• Small white spots inside the cheeks and on the inner part of the lips.

• A fever of 39ºC or more without taking paracetamol or ibuprofen, a rash which goes away with pressure and at least one of the following:
  - cough
  - runny nose
  - conjunctivitis

If you suspect your child has measles already please call 111 or contact your GP. Please do not attend the clinic in person as the illness is very infectious - you will need to isolate for the incubation period is typically around 10 to 12 days but can vary from 7 to 21 days. Patients are infectious four days before and after the onset of rash.  

North Kensington Resource Centre and the NHS will jointly host a family health day during half term week, with something on offer for all the family.

Families attending the event on Wednesday 29 May (starting from 2pm until 5pm) can get their blood pressure checked and also forward book an Enhanced Health Check (EHC) for themselves and/ or other family members for a future date.

Change4life is also on hand to offer nutrition and wellbeing advice and you can listen into one of Family Action bite size sessions on budgeting and healthy eating.

Older children can view a Fit for Life Youth boxing session whereas younger Younger children can enjoy a story session courtesy of Playground theatre.

Leaflets on a variety of topics will be available in different languages and HeyGirls, a social enterprise dedicated to eradicating period poverty in the UK, will offer free period products.

Bank Holidays can affect the opening hours of local pharmacies. This table provides the opening hours for pharmacies in North West London which have been asked to open over May Day (6 May 2024) and the Spring Bank Holiday (27 May 2024).

There may be additional pharmacies opening which are not listed. If the pharmacy you would like to visit is not listed here, then you can check their opening hours by searching at ‘NHS find a pharmacy’ or by calling NHS 111.

Additionally, some pharmacies may close early on 4 May or 25 May 2024, however you can check their opening hours by using the above contacts.

Families with young children in North Kensington have a great selection of activities to choose from, to help keep their children active and healthy.

These include Stay and Play sessions, Baby massage, Speech and language support and even a session supporting a child into nursery.

You can view the timetable here:  .

The latest edition of our Insight bulletin has been published: April 2024

We provide an update on the North Kensington Recovery team's work, which includes starting our 'Next steps' conversations with the community  in Mayon what future health services might look like. We also highlight the various community health checks and health events being hosted at different venues around the community. .

This issue celebrates Eid and also features the work of Family Friends who support families and are involved in a GP project providing Enhanced Health Checks to families.

From 22 April until 30 June 2024, the seasonal COVID-19 booster will be available, free, for those who are at greatest risk of becoming seriously ill from the virus.

The national booking system opens on 15 April and a number of walk-in sites will be open across North West London from 22 April.

No booking is required at walk-in clinics, but you are advised to contact the vaccination site in advance to confirm their opening times. Individuals do not need to be registered with the NHS to use walk-in services and do not need to bring any identification.

Those eligible for vaccinations this spring are:

• adults aged 75 years and over.
• residents in care homes for older adults.
• individuals aged 6 months and over* who are immunosuppressed (as defined in the Green Book, chapter 14a; tables 3 and 4).

The list of North West London sites offering COVID-19 vaccination for the Spring 24 campaign is available here

*Please also note that not all sites offer vaccination to children. It is advised to contact the site in advance to check this.

Dentists check the general health of your mouth, teeth and gums and can spot early signs of dental decay, gum disease and other illnesses. 

This is why registering with a local dentist to attend regular dental check ups will help to keep you and your family healthy. 

You can find an updated list of dentists accepting NHS registrations here: https://www.grenfell.nhs.uk/doenload_file/view/584 

For other boroughs please use the ‘find a dentist tool’.

Dental care is free for children under 18 (or 19 if in full-time education), pregnant women, if you're on a low income or receivng benefits.  

Enhanced Health Checks (EHC) are a great way to keep you and your family healthy in 2024 - and at community venues around North Kensington there is plenty of availability at different community venues this April.

These free checks are a great way to keep a check on your family's physical and mental health. There's also time to discuss any health concerns you may have. It is recommended that you get a health check every year.

If you want your family members to be checked out at the same time, just mention at the time of booking as there may be free slots available. 

To book your slot choose your date, then send an email with your name, date of birth and contact number to: nhsnwl.grenfellenhancedhealth@nhs.net. The service will then make contact to arrange an appointment.

Alternatively, you can call 07768 271 733 to speak to Matan (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm). Enhanced health checks are also available at your local GP practice

Slots for April and May include:

Bank Holidays can affect the opening hours of local pharmacies. The attached table provides the opening hours for pharmacies in North West London which have been asked to open over the Easter Holidays.

Please note that Saturday 30 April 2024 is not a bank holiday; however there will be some pharmacies who normally open who will be closed on this day.

There may be additional pharmacies opening which are not listed. If the pharmacy your usually pharmacy is not listed here, then you can check their opening hours by searching at www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-pharmacy or by calling NHS 111.  .

111 is for people who need medical help and advice when not in a life-threatening situation. Highly trained advisors, who are supported by healthcare professionals, are available on NHS 111 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calling 999 is for emergencies only.

In April 2023 NHS North West London and NHS England confirmed its ongoing commitment to making sure that the right services are in place to meet the health needs of communities affected by the Grenfell Tower Fire in North Kensington in the long term.

The North Kensington Recovery team now wants to work collaboratively with everyone in the local community, to gather your views on what health services and support you need for the next five years. As part of this process we have produced a ‘Next steps’ document, which reviews all our previous discussions, and makes suggestions for how services might look in the future.

You can find the Next Steps document and supporting documents here.

The changes have not been finalised, agreed or approved, so we welcome the views of all residents, especially those groups we don’t normally hear from (children and young people, people from diverse communities, as well as the views of parents and individuals with disabilities and learning disabilities, etc) so we can draw a new plan which contains your contributions.

On the 07 May 2024 we will start engaging with the community to get their feedback and would also like to hear your views. 

You will be able to respond to the contents of the document via email, post, or by attending one of the events and workshops we will organise, working in partnership with community-based organisations.

We plan to set up some in person events in North Kensington, where we will invite your thoughts on the changes outlined above. We will provide the dates and times soon.

We will then ask you whether you agree with this plan before proposing any further changes. Contact nhsnwl.nkrt@nhs.net if you have any questions.

On behalf of the North Kensington Recovery Programme, we look forward to hearing from you and would like to thank you in advance for your help.

Did you know that you can boost your health and wellbeing, improve your skills and confidence by accessing free Social Prescribing and Self-Care activities, available to North Kensington residents and those affected by the Grenfell Tower Fire?

Today's Social Prescribing Day (14 March) gives us the opportunity to promote all these services, which are available all year round to individuals and families. These services are accessible via your GP, your GP practice, going directly to an organisation running a service, or by filling in a Healthier Futures referral form.

So what’s on offer, for people of all ages and cultural backgrounds? Adults can access a wealth of complementary therapies and activities, from guided meditation and yoga, to art, cooking classes, boxing, walking groups and more. There are also advice sessions linked to debt or employment training.

The French African Welfare Association (FAWA) provides supervised walks, information as well as advice and cookery via its culturally appropriate ‘Action for Health’ diabetes programme, designed for people from BAME backgrounds, click here to refer yourself.

People with a disability can access legal advice and peer support through ADKC by emailing Glenda on personaldevelopment@adkc.org.uk or 07541 951 506.

Families might enjoy spending time together at ACAVA’s friendly Cultivate Create gardening group as they not only get to grow fruit and vegetables, they also get to enjoy the fruits of their labour by cooking and eating delicious meals using their home grown produce.

Younger children aged under 6 can express themselves through weekly family-based music and movement sessions at Meanwhile Gardens. Parents and carers are also welcome to join in the dancing, singing and parachute play sessions, or try their hand at playing a musical instrument.

Families can also access support and advice from Family Friends, who provide group and individual sessions catering for children and young people of all ages.

Indeed everyone can access the support of a Social Prescribing link worker through your GP. To sign up, ask anyone at your GP practice to be referred to Social Prescribing. If you are not registered for a GP practice, please email nhsnwlccg.neohealthsplw@nhs.net. You can also contact Healthier Futures Health and Wellbeing Team directly via email health@kcsc.org.uk or by calling 0208 159 2197.

For further information on all these activities click here 

The weekend saw the start of Ramadan. This is a holy month observed by British Muslims and Muslims worldwide,consisting of fasting (sawm), prayer (salah), reflection, and community.

If you want help with managing your diabetes safely during Ramadan month (10 March to 9 April) then MyWay Digital Health has partnered with Diabetes and Ramadan International Alliance (DaR) to bring you two courses for managing your diabetes safely during this fasting month. Containing helpful advice, information and tips, these free courses are aimed at both people living with diabetes and healthcare professionals.

Both courses are available in English, Arabic and Malay and diabetes experts will be on hand at regular intervals to answer your queries via Q&A sessions. The courses will remain open throughout Ramadan, so that you can come back to revisit the content across the month and you may also want to signpost other people living with diabetes to them.

You can also access a Ramadan information page here: Ramadan | Know Diabetes, and join the 40,000 north west Londoners who have a KnowDiabetes account to help them manage their diabetes.

Registration for the courses is open at https://ramadan.mydiabetes.com/ Ramadan | Know Diabetes and you can sign up for tailored advice, translated videos, recipe plans and more here.

All the pages on the KnowDiabetes website are accessible in other languages using the Reach Deck accessibility tool, which can translate the website into over 100 different languages. The toolbar can be accessed by clicking on the orange icon on the bottom right corner of the site - there’s a helpful explainer video on the languages page here: Languages | Know Diabetes.

The month-long fast will be broken with the celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr (otherwise known as the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast) on Wednesday 10 April, but the Know Diabetes website is accessible all year round. 

Following feedback from patients, GP practices and primary care networks on our same day access programme, we issued a letter (below) to GP practices on 5 March, setting out the feedback we have received and how we will take it forward in our planning.

In response to this letter we have received questions asking if we have changed our approach.

We would like to be clear that we remain committed to increasing access to primary care and we have issued the following statement:

“NHS North West London remains committed to improving access to primary care. This is the number one issue residents consistently raise with us, as do practices concerned about the growing pressures they are under. Having listened to feedback from our patient groups, GPs and PCNs, we recognise that our proposals to increase access have been misinterpreted. It is for this reason that we have decided to allow more time to work with PCNs, GPs and patients to clarify our plans.”

Letter sent to GP practices on 5 March 2024:

We are writing to advise you on the latest developments in response to your feedback on the Same Day Access programme in NW London. As you will know we have had lots of points raised by General Practice teams, patients, and our wider stakeholders. Access to General Practice is one of the most important and consistent issues that our residents raise across all boroughs in North West London while many practices raise the pressure on them from the volume of appointments residents request. It is important that we collectively continue to explore ways to ensure residents get the access to general practice they require.

We have listened to your concerns and areas where you have sought clarification. We have heard this through some of our preliminary workshops, in discussions with the LMC and in many conversations we have heard from GP practices and residents across NW London. We have always been clear that we want this programme to develop with you and in collaboration with patients.

We are pleased to be able to inform you, after considering the issues raised, we have adjusted the programme in the following ways:

- The single offer of enhanced services for General Practice for 2024/25 will include the current enhanced services (as released in 2023/24), and the pipeline schemes planned for 2024/25. Please see the appendix for further details;

- The Same Day Access programme will not form part of the single offer for enhanced services for 2024/25. We will develop a robust plan to utilise the £6.6m that NW London ICB has allocated in 2024/25 for improving access to primary care. As with all public funds, the ICB is required to ensure there is clear accountability for this resource;

- The ICB will continue to work with PCNs to consider how access can be improved for patients. This will consider different ways of working, to collaborate with patient groups, be flexible to the different needs and populations in NW London and look in particular at access that addresses inequalities in access for vulnerable patients and those who are digitally excluded;

- The ICB is not approaching this with the presumption that there is a particular model PCNs across North West London should adopt, nor that all PCNs should adopt the same model;

- In particular, the ICB will support practices and PCNs to prioritise continuity of care for those residents that most value it and where this is essential for high quality clinical care;

- The ICB is keen to work in collaboration with practices and PCNs to maximise access by considering ways of working that take advantage of scale and are looking forward to taking forward this work in collaboration with the LMC;

- The aim will be to ensure that we embed new ways of working – once worked through - within the single offer contract in 2025/26.

We appreciate that some of our previous communications on the programme have spurred significant concerns. We trust that we will now be able to move forward collectively to address the pressure felt by many practices and the concerns about access our residents raise, by ensuring general practice remains at the heart of our residents’ experience of care.

ENDS

Everyone in the North Kensington Recovery team and across the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service wants to express our deep condolences to the individuals and families directly affected by the devastating fire in Valencia.

We know there has been loss of life so our thoughts and prayers are with these families, as well as those who have been injured.

We recognise that this terrible news from Spaim may have had a triggering impact for those in our Grenfell-affected community, bringing up memories and difficult feelings.

The Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service is here to help.  If you need emotional support please contact the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service by calling 020 8637 6279 everyday from 8am to 8pm. After 8pm and out of hours please call the CNWL Advice Support line on 0800 0234 650.

We stand with you during this difficult time.

We know many of our residents are still struggling with the cost of living. It’s important to remember there is support available. This can include schemes and discounts to help individuals and their families, and those who are disabled or are Severely Mentally Impaired (SMI).

Our cost of living pages act as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for information about these schemes, as well as local support and advice about the cost of living.

The pages now include information about the NHS Healthy Start Scheme. It is designed to help support parents with the costs of buying milk, fruit, vegetables and instant formula, along with other selected items. It is open to parents with children under the age of four who meet an eligibility criterion.

Access our pages here.

Pharmacies across North West London can now provide treatment for common health conditions, with no GP appointment or prescription needed.

Highly trained pharmacists can assess and treat patients for seven common health conditions: sinusitis; sore throat; earache; infected insect bite; impetigo; shingles; and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women, without the need for a GP appointment or prescription.

This major expansion of pharmacy services gives residents more choice when it comes to where and how they access care, while also freeing up millions of GP appointments each year. In NW London 95% of pharmacies will offer these additional services.

Community pharmacies already play a vital role in keeping local communities healthy, helping with minor health concerns such as coughs, colds and infections, offering blood pressure checks, providing support with medication management and administering certain vaccinations.

Seema Buckley, Chief Pharmacist and Director of Medicines Optimisation and Pharmacy at NHS NW London said:

“Expanding these services provided by the high street pharmacy is a vital step in making health services more accessible for our communities, giving people more choice of when and where they get the help they need. Community pharmacists play a major role in frontline healthcare, and this expansion will alleviate the pressure at your doctor’s surgery and reduce waiting times for patients.”

The expansion of services available via pharmacies is part of the NHS’ primary care access recovery plan, which is committed to making it quicker and easier for millions of people to access healthcare on their high street.

You can find your local pharmacy using Find a pharmacy - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

An ambitious plan to improve same day access to primary care for patients is being introduced by NHS North West London.

The plan involves the use of same day access hubs to triage patients who contact their general practice. These hubs will include senior GPs and a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians and non-clinical staff drawn from practices in the area. They will assess patients’ needs and refer them to the best service for them. This may be an urgent or routine appointment with their GP, an appointment with a community pharmacist or other clinician or guidance on how best to treat their condition.

Where appointments at a patient’s own practice are not available, they may be referred to another practice so that they can be seen the same day. Same day access hubs will be delivered by local primary care networks in each area. They may be physically co-located or virtual services.

Dr Genevieve Small, Harrow GP and Medical Director of Primary Care in North West London said:

“Patients consistently tell us that getting a GP appointment can be difficult. We have developed a plan that will increase same day access to GPs, community pharmacists and other primary care professionals for those patients who need it.

“This approach will be introduced gradually across North West London from April 2024. It will ensure that GPs have more time to proactively care for their patients who most need their expertise, including those with long term conditions.

“I want to be clear that clinical decisions and referrals will continue will continue to be made by clinical staff. Non-clinical staff such as care navigators and coordinators will support by signposting patients to the right service for them, based on clinical advice – in much the same way that practice reception teams work, but with closer clinical supervision.

“Same day access hubs have been successfully piloted in 10 primary care networks. We will be introducing them in all areas of North West London from 01 April 2024, though we expect the introduction of the new approach to be gradual and in line with local needs and developed flexibly with primary care networks who understand their populations best.”

Frequently asked questions

Why is NHS North West London introducing same day access hubs?

We want to increase access to primary care services for patients. The most consistent message we hear through talking to residents and patients is that access to primary care is difficult: they are struggling to get through to their GPs or to get a timely appointment, especially when they need one the same day.

Same day access hubs bring GP practices together in networks, making it easier to arrange appointments the same day and to support patients in finding the care that is best suited to their needs. Patients who need a GP appointment that day are more likely to get one and GPs will be able to focus on providing proactive care to patients who need it. Where appropriate, patients may be referred to other services best suited to their needs, such as community pharmacists, physiotherapists or nurses. GPs will continue to see patients who need to see them and will be able to offer proactive continuity of care to people with long term conditions and others who need it.

Will I still be able to see my GP?

Of course. The aim of this programme is to make access to GP appointments easier for those who need them.

Will non-clinical staff such as Care Navigators and Care Co-ordinators be making decisions about my care?

No. All clinical referrals and clinical decisions will be made by clinicians. Those in supporting roles like Care Navigators and Co-ordinators will signpost patients to the right care for them. They will work in an identical way to how they work in practices now, but with greater clinical oversight as the same day access hubs will all include senior GPs and multi-disciplinary teams and with a better understanding of the types of services that might support their population’s needs.

Will I have to travel further for care?

Where appointments are needed the same day and no slots are available at your local practice, it is possible that you might be referred to a different practice, in much the way patients sometimes see different GPs out of hours. You may also be referred to another service such as a community pharmacist if they could better meet your needs.

This might involve travel in some cases, but not all same day access hubs will be physically co-located: it is for local primary care networks to decide whether their hubs are physical or virtual. Patients can currently move to other local practices to access some services such as physiotherapy, ECG testing or particular services not available at their own practice location. This will work in a similar way.

What influence can patients have on the new system?

We are asking primary care networks to work with their patients to co-design the same day access hubs and how they will work in their area.

Are GPs being mandated to introduce same day access hubs?

Same day access hubs form part of our ‘single offer’ to general practice, which aims to introduce a consistent approach to enhanced care across North West London. If practices are not part of same day access hubs, their patients may not be able to access other parts of the single offer, such as specialist diabetes and mental health care. Same day access hubs are not mandated, but we are recommending them to practices and they are part of our single offer as this will help them deliver better access for all the PCNs patients.

The latest edition of our Insight bulletin has been published and is available here: February 2024

This issue provides an update on the North Kensington Recovery team's work and engagement activities.

It also features the work of Lancaster West, one of our Health Partners and provides information and support linked to managing diabetes during Ramadan.

Do you want help with managing your diabetes safely during Ramadan?

MyWay Digital Health has partnered with Diabetes and Ramadan International Alliance (DaR) to bring you two courses for managing diabetes during Ramadan. Containing helpful advice, information and tips, these free courses are aimed at both people living with diabetes and healthcare professionals.

Both courses are available in English, Arabic and Malay and diabetes experts will be on hand at regular intervals during Ramadan month (10 March to 9 April) to answer your queries via Q&A sessions.

The courses go live at midnight on Monday 19 February and will remain open throughout Ramadan, so that you can come back to revisit the content (you may also want to signpost other people living with diabetes to them). You can also access a Ramadan information page here: Ramadan | Know Diabetes, and join the 40,000 north west Londoners who have a KnowDiabetes account to help them manage their diabetes.

All the pages on the KnowDiabetes website are accessible in other languages using the Reach Deck accessibility tool, which can translate the website into over 100 different languages. The toolbar can be accessed by clicking on the orange icon on the bottom right corner of the site - there’s a helpful explainer video on the languages page here: Languages | Know Diabetes.

Registration for the courses is now open at https://ramadan.mydiabetes.com/ Ramadan | Know Diabetes and you can sign up for tailored advice, translated videos, recipe plans and more here.

Have your say in person on the future of services for people with acute mental health needs in Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea by attending a coffee morning.

This is being held this Friday 16 February at Millbank Academy, from 10am to 12pm.  

Your views will help make sure that we can provide the best possible care and support for residents in Westminster and Kensington with serious mental health needs. The proposals are:

·        Expand the mental health crisis assessment (MHCAS) service (previously piloted at St Charles) and move it to the Gordon Hospital. 

·        Keep 67 inpatient beds at St Charles (as now), supplemented by the MHCAS at the Gordon Hospital with room for 12 patients, including space for 4 patients to be admitted overnight alongside a full range of community-based services.

NHS North West London is considering these changes as we believe mental health care is changing – we know that supporting people to recover in the community brings better outcomes. Since opening the mental health crisis assessment service as St Charles Hospital it has seen 1,184 patients. Less than 15% of attendees were admitted to hospital and over 85% were referred on to community alternatives closer to home.

We also want to be able to provide the best possible care to our patients and at the moment facilities at the Gordon Hospital do not meet modern standards. 

Click here to find out more about the consultation.

Click here to share your views and feedback.

​​​​​​​

Enhanced Health Checks (EHC) are a great way to keep you and your family healthy in 2024 - and at community venues around North Kensington there is plenty of availability.

It's recommended that you have one of these free checks annually,  as they're a great way to keep a check on your family's physical and mental health. There's also time to discuss any health concerns you may have.

Just mention how many people you want to be checked at your time of booking, so family members can be checked in at the same time. ,

To book your slot choose your date, then send an email with your name, date of birth and contact number to: nhsnwl.grenfellenhancedhealth@nhs.net. The service will then make contact to arrange an appointment.

Alternatively, you can call 07768 271 733 to speak to Razna (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm). Enhanced health checks are also available at your local GP practice

Slots for February include:

The NHS in North West London is launching a targeted initiative to support communities with low MMR vaccination uptake among children.

Funding is available to support communities and information for people to make informed choices and provide better access around vaccinations.

We are seeking partnerships with community organisations to facilitate education sessions and promote vaccination within specific communities experiencing lower vaccination rates.

If your community organisation would like to work with us, you can apply for a grant of £5,000.

Please read more and submit your expression of interest here.

If you have any questions please email:  nhsnwl.communications.nwl@nhs.net

More information on measles can be found at: Measles - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

There has been widespread coverage of Grenfell Testimonial Week, where some Survivors, Bereaved and Residents have been describing the impact the fire has had on their lives directly to the many companies and local authority involved.

We appreciate that this week is proving to be a very difficult time for many members of the Grenfell-affected community. Our colleagues from Hestia and Al-Manaar are at the event offering wellbeing support and counselling, alongside NHS staff from the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service and Dedicated Service, who are supporting those attending the event on  personal request. 

We want to gently remind you that the NHS is here for you - and colleagues from CNWL's Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service are on hand to provide support to you and your family members, if needed.

You can contact the service by calling 020 8637 6279 (every day 8am to 8pm) or, if you require urgent advice, the CNWL Urgent Advice Line is available 24/7 on 0800 0234 650. More information can be found by visiting their website: grenfellwellbeing.cnwl.nhs.uk/ 

You may have read in the news that nationally there is an increase in measles cases.

Measles is highly infectious and parents and carers are asked to check that their children are up-to-date and have had two doses of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine.

The free MMR vaccine is a safe and effective way of protecting against measles, as well as mumps and rubella.

It’s important for parents to take up the offer of MMR vaccination for their children when offered at one year of age and as a pre-school booster at three years, four months of age. If children and young adults have missed these vaccinations in the past, it’s important to take up the vaccine now from GPs, particularly in light of the recent cases.

Check your child’s Red Book to see if they’ve received MMR vaccinations as scheduled or check with your GP surgery if you’re unsure. Most healthy adults will have developed some immunity to measles but can still receive two doses of the vaccine from their GP too.

Anyone with symptoms is also being advised to stay at home and phone their GP or NHS 111 for advice.

Measles symptoms to be aware of include:

• high fever
• sore, red, watery eyes
• coughing
• aching and feeling generally unwell
• blotchy red brown rash, which usually appears after the initial symptoms.

For more information about measles, see the nhs.uk website.

Other resources can be found belowL

• A video from Dr. Colin Campbell, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, explaining how infectious the measles virus is and providing information on the vaccine.
• A blog on immunisations in which Vanessa Saliba, UKHSA's Consultant Epidemiologist for Immunisations, explains the importance of protecting children through vaccination.

Enhanced Health Checks (EHC) are a great way to keep you and your family healthy in 2024. 

Taking around 30 minutes, these free checks review both your physical and mental health - allowing time to discuss any health concerns you may have.

Although they can be booked through your GP practice they’re also available at various community venues around North Kensington (see below for venues and dates).

These warm and welcoming non-clinical environments are a safe space for individuals or even the whole family to get checked. Parents can relax, knowing that their children are close by, being looked after by one of the team or happily playing with other children.

So you can be checked in on the same day, at the same venue just mention to the person you book with how many people in your family you want to get checked at your time of booking.  

To book your preferred slot please choose your date, then send an email with your name, date of birth and contact number to: nhsnwl.grenfellenhancedhealth@nhs.net. The service will then make contact to arrange an appointment.

Alternatively, you can call 07768 271 733 to speak to Razna (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm). Enhanced Health Checks are also available at your local GP practice

Here are the community dates still available in January:

NHS North West London has decided to extend the consultation on acute mental health services in Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea until Friday 16 February 2024. Extending the consultation will help us to gain more insight and feedback to the proposals that have been made to mental health services for residents in Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea. It will also give residents, service users and carers additional time to respond to the proposals.

The consultation will help us to understand what your views are on the proposals to:

• Expand the mental health crisis assessment (MHCAS) service (previously piloted at St Charles) and move it to the Gordon Hospital. 
• Keep 67 inpatient beds at St Charles (as now), supplemented by the MHCAS at the Gordon Hospital with room for 12 patients, including space for 4 patients to be admitted overnight alongside a full range of community-based services.

We are considering these changes as we believe mental health care is changing – we know that supporting people to recover in the community brings better outcomes. Since opening the mental health crisis assessment service as St Charles Hospital it has seen 1,184 patients. Less than 15% of attendees were admitted to hospital and over 85% were referred on to community alternatives closer to home.

We also want to be able to provide the best possible care to our patients and at the moment facilities at the Gordon Hospital do not meet modern standards.

By providing feedback it will help us to understand how any changes made could affect you, your family, your loved ones, or someone who you are caring for. Your views will help make sure that we can provide the best possible care and support for residents in Westminster and Kensington with serious mental health needs.

As we have made clear previously, we will not be implementing any changes to mental health inpatient beds until we have an agreed mental health strategy for North West London. We have been talking to local residents in all our boroughs about the North West London strategy for several months and we expect to finalise a draft strategy soon. 

Click here to find out more about the consultation.

Click here to share your views and feedback.

Stay & Play, Messy Play and Music & Movement are the names of some of the timetabled sessions that are available to families with children aged under five.

For families with babies the 5 week baby massage course @Clare Gardens provides a special space for parents to bond with their baby. 

For the full timetable of sessions visit https://www.grenfell.nhs.uk/download_file/view/572/214

Our December issue of the NKR Insight bulletin is now published.

It contains information linked to North Kensington, specifically the work of the North Kensington Recovery team and its partners. It looks ahead into the New Year and provides detail linked to a community-led recovery.

Read the latest issue here: https://www.grenfell.nhs.uk/download_file/view/571/214

Enhanced Health Checks (EHC) are a great way to keep you and your family healthy in 2024.

These free checks review both your physical and mental health and take around half an hour, giving you time to discuss any health concerns you may have.

EHCs can be booked through your GP practice and they’re also available at various community venues around North Kensington.

These warm and welcoming non-clinical environments are a safe space for you and/or the whole family to get checked. Parents can relax, knowing that their children will be close by, happily playing with other children or being looked after by one of the team.

Just mention how many people you want to be checked at your time of booking, so they can also be checked in, if you have time.  

To book your slot choose your date, then send an email with your name, date of birth and contact number to: nhsnwl.grenfellenhancedhealth@nhs.net. The service will then make contact to arrange an appointment.

Alternatively, you can call 07768 271 733 to speak to Razna (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm). Enhanced health checks are also available at your local GP practice

Here are the community dates available in January:

As winter approaches we know that many people may not feel up to venturing outdoors in the cold, so may be feeling lonely and isolated. External factors such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza and the natural disasters elsewhere in the world may also be contributing to feelings of sadness, worry and uncertainty.

However, the strain of staying at home can be exacerbated by the rising cost of living and increased fuel bills. Thankfully there are lots of warm and safe spaces across the borough. For example, libraries across the borough will be available as warm spaces, with some other community groups opening their doors. To check the nearest location for these Warm and Welcome spaces, visit the map here.

Keeping in touch with friends, family and the people we trust is important if we’re feeling low, anxious or depressed and there are a broad range of services available to support people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health.

If you need support or someone to talk to you can also phone the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service.

They're open every day and staff can chat with you on the phone, on video or can arrange to meet you safely in person if that’s what you prefer. It’s up to you. Just give them a call and they'll get it sorted.

Phone 020 8637 6279 everyday 8am to 8pm or for out of hours support call the CNWL single point of access for telephone support on: 0800 0234 650.You can also email grenfell.wellbeingservice@nhs.net  

The council also runs services to support young people’s emotional health and wellbeing. Visit We Got U, U Got This for more information.

If you need advice over winter on a non-life-threatening medical need, then many pharmacies can give treatment advice for a range of minor illnesses and can tell you if you need to see a doctor. Please only attend A&E if you have a physical health emergency. 

NHS 111 is another easy way to get advice for your physical or mental health. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you can visit their website at 111.nhs.uk or call 111 free from a landline or mobile phone.  

 If you’re looking for work or career change, you can visit the Lancaster West Employment and Training Hub, which runs a series of courses and classes to help you build your skills and seek employment opportunities. This hub is available to all residents aged 16+.

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea also provides a range of programmes and finding packages to support families who might be struggling to pay their bills. These include local support payments and free school meals.

Hot meals are also available through the Holiday Activities and Food programme that runs over the Easter, Summer and Christmas holidays. This Government-funded initiative provides free activities and food for children aged four to 16 who are eligible for free school meals.

More information on the support that's available for families is available at https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/cost-living-support-hub/support-families and here.

Flu cases on the rise

All those eligible for the flu vaccine are being urged to come forward as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) published data showing a significant increase in the number of recorded flu cases.

Although flu vaccine uptake in eligible groups is similar to the last couple of years, there is a particular need for pre-schoolers, pregnant women and those in the health and social care workforces to take up the offer.

Those aged 2 and 3 years are eligible for nasal spray flu vaccines, so parents and guardians are urged to book appointments to ensure this younger cohort is protected.

As cases of flu are increasing, UKHSA has recommended that medications that fight against the virus can be prescribed by GPs if necessary.

Dr Mary Ramsay, Director for Immunisation and Programmes at UKHSA, said:

“Flu levels are on the rise, so get your vaccine now to make sure that you are Winter Strong, and before pharmacies and surgeries begin to close for the Christmas period. 

“The NHS national booking system is closed, but eligible persons can still continue to speak to their GP, or alternatively a local pharmacist about getting their vaccination.”

For more information about the vaccine and the eligibility criteria, visit https://www.nwlondonicb.nhs.uk/Winter/flu

We are developing our overall plan for mental health services in North West London. We would very much welcome views of the public on our draft strategy, published yesterday.

This draft strategy is very much a work in progress that has been developed through a series of discussions and public events across our eight boroughs. The document outlines a summary of the needs of our local population, what we've heard from our residents and service users on their own experiences of using services, and an understanding of current mental health services for adults. The draft also sets out four emerging themes and includes suggestions for future focus.

If you would like to get involved and input to our plan, two further events have been planned and these are taking place on:
 

You can also email nhsnwl.communications.nwl@nhs.net with any comments or queries.

We expect to publish a final version of the strategy early in 2024.

It is important to order and collect your prescriptions ahead of the Christmas and New Year breaks. This is because Bank Holidays can affect the opening hours of local pharmacies.

Below is a table of pharmacies in North West London which have been asked to open over the Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays.

There may be additional pharmacies opening which are not listed. If the pharmacy you would like to visit is not listed here, then you can check their opening hours by searching at www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-pharmacy or by calling NHS 111.

North West London

Children are offered vaccinations in school to reduce their risk of becoming seriously ill from common illnesses like flu, measles, polio, tetanus and more.#

However for children who missed the chance to have their school vaccination school, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) are running catch-up clinics across north west London, so your child can get the long-lasting protection they need ahead of the holiday season.

All vaccines given in the UK are rigorously tested to ensure they are safe and effective and are offered to children at an age when they are likely to be exposed to specific diseases.

The vaccines available are:

• Children's flu vaccine (flu) for children from reception-age to year 11)
• MMR vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella) for primary school children
• 4-in-1 pre-school booster vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and polio) for children aged 3 years and 4 months
• HPV vaccine (human papillomavirus – certain types can increase the risk of cancer) for children aged 12 – 13
• 3-in-1 teenage booster vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria and polio) for children aged 14
• MenACWY vaccine (meningitis and septicaemia) for children aged 14.    

A full breakdown of the North West London school age immunisation service is available on the main NHS North West London website.Clinics are running across multiple boroughs, including:

Kensington and Chelsea

• Barlby Primary School (Treverton Street, London, W10 6DW)
  • 15:00-17:00 on Wednesday 13 December 2023
  • Walk-in (no appointment required)
  • Click here for further information

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact your local borough team: Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Camden on: 0203 317 5076

CNWL has launched a new digital tool to help parents and carers find support for children and young people that have been diagnosed with autism, or who may be waiting for a formal diagnosis.

Autistic people may require support with things like communication, interaction with others, using their imagination, being flexible and feeling overwhelmed by activity in the world around them.

Autism is different for everyone, but this roadmap offers advice and guidance about some of the challenges autistic people may face and how CNWL’s services can help. Topics include behaviour, communication and language, sensory, eating habits, toileting, sleep, mental health and more.

Find out more about the Autism Roadmap here

Community venues are opening their doors to Grenfell-affected residents, so they can receive their Enhanced health check (EHC).

These free checks, which review both your physical and mental health, are a great way to keep you and your family healthy. They typically take around half an hour, which allows time to address any health concerns you may have.

Community venues provide a warm and welcoming environment for individuals, or the whole family, to get their health checked out by a qualified professional in a safe space. 

Parents can relax, knowing that while they are getting their check, their children will be close by, happily playing with other children, or being looked after by one of the team. If parents have time, they can request that their child receives an Enhanced health check the same day. Just mention this when booking your appointment, so they can also be checked in.

We’d like to express our appreciation to everyone who has opened their doors this year to host these Enhanced health check sessions, run by the GP Federation.

Whether you wish to book a slot just for yourself or other family members, the process is the same. Please choose your date, then please send an email with your name, date of birth and contact number to: nhsnwl.grenfellenhancedhealth@nhs.net.
The service will then make contact to arrange an appointment.

Alternatively, you can call 07768 271 733 to speak to Razna (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm). Enhanced health checks are also available at your local GP practice.

Here are the community dates available this December:

We are looking for insight from women who live in NW London about women’s health and well-being services and experiences. We want to better understand the unique challenges and experiences that women face in their healthcare journeys. Share your thoughts and experiences through our survey.

Responses are confidential and the information provided will be used for NHS research purposes only. Sharing experiences will help us to understand the challenges women face in their healthcare journeys and how we can improve the quality of services for them.

Click here to complete the survey.

Please share the survey link with those it may be relevant to.

The November edition of our Insight bulletin has been published and is available here: https://campaign.emailblaster.cloud/MTgyOTc/23.html

This issue provides an update on the North Kensington Recovery team's work and engagement activities.

It also features the work Al-Hasaniya, one of our Health Partners: a sewing group run for women who are Grenfell survivors and beareaved. This organisation provides great support to Arab-speaking women within the North Kensington community.

There is also information on ACAVA Maxilla Men's Shed, a community workshop and maker space.  

The Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission (GTMC) has published a new report titled: Remembering Grenfell: Recommendations and next steps to a memorial.

The recommendations contained within this report reflect the last four years of work undertaken by the Commission to understand the Grenfell community’s wishes for a fitting memorial to all those whose lives were tragically lost in the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017.  

GTMC’s recommendations are viewed as an important and necessary next step in taking the community’s vision for a future memorial, and then turning it into a reality.

The report is available here and translated summaries can also be accessed here: Remembering Grenfell: Recommendations and next steps to a memorial | Grenfell Tower Memorial. An audio version is also available, read by community representatives Hanan Wahabi and Susan Al-Safadi.

Mike Martin, assistant director of the North Kensington Recovery Team says:

“We welcome the publication of GTMC’s report. We hope the recommendations contained within the report will help realise a fitting and lasting memorial for the bereaved families, survivors, Lancaster West Estate residents and the immediate community.

“Whilst this is a welcome move, we recognise that there is a great deal left to do. As we move towards the final design for the Grenfell Tower memorial by spring 2026, we appreciate there may be emotional distress caused along the way.

“We recommend anyone affected by this update to seek support from the NHS Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service. You can contact the service by calling 020 8637 6279 (every day 8am to 8pm) or, if you require urgent advice, contact the CNWL Urgent Advice Line on 0800 0234 650 (available 24/7). More information can be found by visiting their website: grenfellwellbeing.cnwl.nhs.uk/ .”

Hard copies of the report can also be picked up in the following locations:

• Al Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre
• Argan Tree Cafe
• Baseline Studios
• Bay20
• ClementJames Centre
• Hope Gardens
• Kensington Aldridge Academy
• Kensington Leisure Centre 
• Kids on the Green
• Notting Hill Methodist Church
• North Kensington Library
• The Foreland Medical Centre
• The Harrow Club
• The Space
• The Tabernacle
• Westway Trust

If you have any thoughts or questions on the report itself you can contact the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission here: Contact | Grenfell Tower Memorial

The Council is leading a consultation on the Future Grenfell Support that will be in place for the immediate local community near Grenfell Tower from 2024 to 2028. This support is for local residents, who can help to shape what it will look like, where it is delivered and how people can access it. It could look very different from what is available now, and it will be in addition to the support put in place by the NHS in the future.

Local residents can go to www.linktr.ee/grenfellcommunitysupport, where they can find more information, including details of upcoming events, FAQs, and surveys in other languages. The English version of the survey can be accessed directly here: www.bit.ly/grenfellfuturesupport.

They can also email futuregrenfellsupport@rbkc.gov.uk, or call or WhatsApp 07714 846092 to find out more.

Give your thoughts on potential service options for delivery of the new model of care for adult (18+) community-based specialist palliative care.

North West London residents are being asked to register their interest in attending an online webinar where we will be looking at future potential service options for delivery of the new model of care for adult (18+) community-based specialist palliative care. 

The proposed new model of care has been co-designed over the last year by a working group of NW London residents, along with clinicians, NHS providers and charitable hospices with the ultimate goal of making sure there is improved access to high quality services. 

We are now ready to look at what that means in practice and during the webinar we will share the various potential service options that have been developed and ask for people’s feedback and answer questions. Attendees will also have the opportunity to put forward their own suggestions of potential options to be considered if they think we have missed or not thought of something. 

Details of the potential service options will be published before the webinars so that attendees have the chance to look at and consider them before the meeting commences. 

The webinars are being held at a borough or North West London level so there is plenty of choice as to the event you can attend. The only exception is Harrow which will be delivered in partnership with Harrow Carers and is face-to-face.

If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at nhsnwl.endoflife@nhs.net.   

This weekend will see Guy Fawkes Day [Sunday 5 November] and there may be fireworks and bonfires on display during the lead up to the day and over the weekend.

This is a day that not everyone will want to participate in and for some, the sights and sounds may cause people to relive frightening feelings and memories, triggering their bodies’ fight or flight response, causing increased heart rate and heightened awareness.

It is important to be prepared for these feelings.

Learning from conversations we have had with people who have been affected in this way is that people should be aware of any local events going on in their area and decide on what they want to do. Some may want to participate, others may not and decide to take themselves away from the situation.

If you experience feelings like these please remember:

Although panic attacks are frightening, they’re not dangerous. An attack won’t cause you any physical harm and it’s unlikely that you’ll be admitted to hospital if it happens.

·        Stay where you are, if possible

·        Breathe slowly and deeply

·        Remind yourself that the attack will pass

·        Focus on positive, peaceful and relaxing images

·        Remember it isn’t life threatening.

If you find it particularly difficult, please get in touch with the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service. We can help.

You can:

Call CNWL direct on 020 863 76279 every day from 8am to 8pm

Refer yourself to CNWL service on CNWL's website www.grenfellwellbeing.com

Speak to your NHS therapist (if you are seeing or have seen someone)

If you are struggling to cope and need to talk to someone urgently call Overnight (after 8pm) please call the CNWL Urgent Advice Line on 0800 0234650

Other non-NHS support available

SHOUT – Anyone going through a crisis and needing support can text Shout to 85258

Samaritans – Call 116 123 (free, 24/7 confidential support)

CALM – If you are struggling and need to talk, call 0800 585858 (5pm to midnight every day) or if you prefer not to speak on the phone, you can try the CALM Webchat service

Grenfell My Care My Way is an NHS service specifically for Grenfell-affected patients living in North Kensington aged 18-64.

A mix of health and non-health professionals, including GPs, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, and local authorities, provide a wide range of holistic healthcare support with the aim of improving the health of the community and reducing health inequalities.

Services include:

• Better Gym & Everyone Active referrals
• Community Living Well
• Continence Service
• Drug & Alcohol Support
• Employment Assistance
• Grenfell Health & Wellbeing Service
• Healthy Lifestyles
• Massage Therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Stop Smoking

Further information can be found in this leaflet. Contact your GP practice to be referred or email a member of the team: clcht.grenfellcasemanagers@nhs.net

If you know an organisation, project or individual that has benefited the lives of children and young people, Young K&C are inviting you to submit a nomination for the first ever Young K&C Achievement Award, so their work can be celebrated and showcased.

These inaugural awards are a great opportunity to recognise and celebrate the incredible achievements made by voluntary and community organisations working with children and young people across Kensington and Chelsea.

Young K&C members can be nominated for a variety of awards that cover the range of services and opportunities available to children and young people.

Nominations are open until 11:59pm on Sunday 17 December 2023: bit.ly/YKCAward

If you’re a parent or carer in Kensington & Chelsea with children aged up to 19 (or 25 with special educational needs), you are invited to join the Parent and Carer Shadow Board.

This will put you at the forefront of designing and continuously improving family services in the borough.

One of your roles will entail designing Family Hubs to ensure they are inclusive and cater to the requirements of all our families.

Email familyhubs@rbkc.gov.uk with your name and preferred contact details for more information. A crèche is available.

All Grenfell-affected residents can receive their Enhanced Health Check at a community venue, or their local GP practice.

Enhanced Health Checks are a great way for you and your family members to receive a free annual health M.O.T. They take just half an hour and can help to keep you and your family healthy as well as address any health concerns you may have. 

To book your slot simply choose your date below, then email nhsnwl.grenfellenhancedhealth@nhs.net 
with your name, date of birth and contact number. The service will then make contact to arrange an appointment. Alternatively, you can call 07768 271 733 to speak to Razna (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).

Here are the community dates available this November:

Residents of Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea are being asked for their views on the future shape of services in their boroughs for adults aged 18 to 65 with acute mental health needs.

A public consultation launched yesterday [24 October 2023] and will run for 14 weeks, concluding at the end of January 2024. Feedback from local people and the context of the wider mental health strategy for North West London will then inform decisions on how services will operate in future.

Full details of all events and engagement activities are available on the NHS North West London website – www.nwlondonicb.nhs.uk/acuteMHconsultation

It’s that time of year to get your Covid-19 and flu vaccinations. The national booking system is now open for those eligible and walk-in vaccination sites have opened up across North West London.

West London GP and vaccine lead Andrew Steeden explains:

“During the colder months, flu and Covid-19 spread more easily as we spend more time indoors. These viruses are unpleasant, but for some, particularly those with certain health conditions, older people and pregnant women, they can be very dangerous and even life-threatening, which is why it is so important to have these vaccinations.”

The NHS will invite people to book-in, but if you are eligible and you have not been contacted yet for the free vaccinations (see table) there are several ways you can get both vaccinations.

To book both your Covid-19 and flu vaccination:

• Access the online booking system 
• Use the NHS app
• If you can’t get online, call 119.

To get vaccinated without an appointment:

• Find a North West London drop-in centre for COVID-19 vaccinations here
• For flu, find a pharmacy near you offering the service. 

Check your eligibility:

If you are contacted by the NHS to have your vaccinations please come forward, even if you have had a vaccine or been ill with flu or COVID-19 before, as immunity fades over time and these viruses change each year. Those who are eligible for both may be able to have them in the same visit.

Both vaccines have a good safety record and are our best protection against flu and COVID-19. Over the last few years, they have kept tens of thousands of people out of hospital and helped to save countless lives. If you’re eligible, getting your vaccine will help protect you, as well as those close to you, over the winter months.

For more details, FAQs and eligibility information visit: www.nwlondonicb.nhs.uk/Winter
 

Every year we celebrate World Mental Health Day on 10 October.

The theme for 2023, set by the World Foundation of Mental Health, is ‘Mental health is a universal human right’.  

Achieving mental health for all doesn’t start and stop with NHS services; mental health encompasses every part of our lives; how we feel in our families, at school, work or college. That’s why, we, the NHS can’t do this alone. We need everyone to be with us.

I’m delighted to see the NHS's contribution to the nation’s mental health be heightened with the extra £2.3 billion pounds in vital funding.

I often say for mental health, a person needs: somewhere to live, something to do and someone to love. Without these three things, the impact on someone’s life can lead to a loss of purpose, feeling unsettled and feeling no one cares for them. 

When we look at supporting a person’s mental health, we need to incorporate and look at all areas of their life. Working with our partners in local authorities and the voluntary sector is imperative for this.

As Chief Executive, I’ve never felt I left the role I had as a mental health nurse, every day while you take care of our patients; a large part of my day is making sure we are taking care of you – and working in the NHS is the best job, helping many others, but also thinking about your own wellbeing.

Mental health affects us all, directly and indirectly. On World Mental Health Day, let's focus on those three qualities: somewhere to live, something to do and someone to love.

Think about your role in the NHS, how mental health effects it; are you directly looking after mental health patients or supporting patients with mental health complications from a physical health issue, and think about your own mental health.

Working together  - all staff at CNWL, in all services, with partners and in wider society, so good mental health really can be a universal human right.

Happy World Mental Health Day

Best wishes

Claire Murdoch CBE

Chief Executive, CNWL

The NHS is offering a number of sessions this month for Grenfell-affected residents to easily access a Community Enhanced Health Check, at a venue that's convenient to them and close to home.

Community Enhanced Health Checks are great if you have any concerns about your health. They can support you and your family to lead a healthier life and you should ideally have one every year - they take just half an hour of your time. They can spot early signs of health problems or any underlying health conditions, to ensure you get the help you may need at an early stage.

Simply choose your date then email nhsnwl.grenfellenhancedhealth@nhs.net 
with your name, date of birth and contact number. The service will make contact to arrange an appointment or you can call 07768 271 733 to speak to Razna (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).

More information on the Community EHCs is available here: Enhanced Health Check.

There are several additions to the parenting offer that's available to parents and families this term, including: 

• A new ante-natal workshop
• Westway’s Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities programme (run in the South of the borough)
• Reducing Parental Conflict Course
• The Doula Community.

All the courses are free. Booking details on these and the full parenting offer can be found here: 

Date and time: Monday, 2 October 2023, from 1.30pm to 3pm

Location: Online via Microsoft teams

About this event

Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster residents are invited to join this online event and respond to the proposed new model of care for community-based specialist palliative care for adults in North West London.

The new model of care builds on previous engagement, and has been co-designed over the last year by a working group of NW London residents, along with clinicians, NHS providers and charitable hospices with the ultimate goal of making sure there is improved access to high quality services.

The model covers a wide range of community-based specialist palliative care services that will help patients to stay in their own home or usual place of residence, whilst allowing them the flexibility to move to a different care setting if needed. It increases the range and number of inpatient bed care options available by introducing enhanced end-of-life care beds, for people with less complex specialist palliative care needs who still require inpatient care, on top of the existing hospice inpatient beds currently in place and projected to be required over the next five and beyond.

The model also includes an extension of a number of existing services to level-up provision and availability across all eight NW London boroughs, including:

• Extended provision of 24/7 telephone advice lines for existing and new patients
• Extended days and hours of care provision by specialist teams
• Increased support to care homes
• Expansion of Hospice at Home services to all boroughs, supporting up to 24-hour care in patients’ homes
• The introduction of new common standards for psychological and bereavement support services
• Expansion of lymphoedema services

The proposed NW London new model of care for community-based specialist palliative care can be viewed here. 

Pages 117-120 include a summary of the service improvements for Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster residents.

A summary document is available here.

A one-page summary is available here.

We are pleased that the model of care is supported by the NW London community-based specialist palliative care steering group, which includes all hospice and NHS providers of community-based specialist palliative care services in NW London.

We now want to get your views on our recommended model of care so please join our online event on Monday 2 October 2023, from 1.30pm to 3pm and have your say.

If you are not able to attend you can share your views via our survey here or you can email the team directly at nhsnwl.endoflife@nhs.net

You can find out more about the model of care and the development work completed so far on our webpage here: www.nwlondonics.nhs.uk/cspc

Click here to register by 5pm on Friday 29 September 2023 and we will share an email link to the meeting ahead of the event.

Back to News

The September issue of the North Kensington Recovery e-newsletter is now available. Insight contains lots of useful updates on health services and the support being provided in North Kensington.

In this month's issue we hear from Mike Martin, the new lead for the North Kensington Recovery Team, as well as providing updates on a range of other topics, including:

• Supporting a community-led recovery
• Primary care and health information
• Updates from our partners:
  - Al-Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre
  - FAWA
• NEW Cultural Competency film

See September's issue of Insight.

If you have any questions about the information in Insight or any other subject please email nhsnwl.nkrt@nhs.net. 

This annual campaign, run by NHS England and timed for the Autumn term return to school, encourages simple changes to children and young people’s care that will make a big difference to how they experience their asthma.

The four main steps include having getting an asthma action plan in place, learning how to use asthma inhalers correctly, having an annual review and considering the impact of air pollution on health. More resources can be found on the #AskAboutAsthma 2023 campaign webpage.

Tate Britain has commissioned British artist Chris Ofili to create artwork for the very large walled area around one of the main stairwells in the building. 

The piece is called Requiem and is a dream-like mural painted directly onto the walls, so is likely be there for some time. 

Chris Ofili wanted to pay tribute to fellow artist Khadija Saye – one of the 72 people who died in the Tower Fire.  They met while they were both exhibiting in Venice in May 2017, shortly before the fire. In remembering Khadija he creates a powerful visual which holds an image of her front and centre as a “powerful creative force of transformation”.

The work has been developed following conversations over a number of years with Khadija’s family, as well as other survivors and bereaved. Khadija’s family have already had a private viewing to see the piece and other survivors and  bereaved visited last weekend. They have all been supported by specialist teams from CNWL, who provide the Grenfell Health & Wellbeing service to the Grenfell-affected community.

Mike Martin, Associate Director for the North Kensington Recovery (NKR) team says: “We recognise the response to the work might be triggering and stir powerful emotions in some people, especially those directly affected by the Grenfell Tower Fire tragedy.

“We want to remind the Grenfell-affected community that the NHS is here for you and you can contact the Grenfell Health & Wellbeing Service on 020 8637 6279 (everyday 8am to 8pm) if you need specialist support.^.”

NHS North West London ICS and the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service are united in sending their thoughts and prayers to the people of Morocco and all those affected by the devastating earthquake.

North Kensington has one of the largest Moroccan communities in the U.K, and we know many people will be worried for loved ones and deeply affected by the unfolding events.

The Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service remains here for those impacted by the fire and if you have been affected by the earthquake in Morocco and need emotional support please call the number below:

Tel: 020 8637 6279 (Everyday 8am to 8pm)

There are a range of activities available for parents and their children across all age groups being held throughout the North Kensington area between September and November.

These range from baby & toddler groups to groups supporting teens and children whose siblings have autism. There are also specific groups supporting parents with behaviour and diet (Change4Life), a Dads Matter programme, as well as mindfulness sessions and groups for parents with autistic children.https://www.grenfell.nhs.uk/download_file/view/555/214

.

Healthwatch RBKC and Healthwatch Westminster want to understand the mental health needs and the gaps in mental health services for young people aged 18-25 and are asking for their views.

This includes young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).

Young people who respond to this survey have a chance to be selected to receive a £50 Love2Shop voucher: https://www.healthwatchrbkc.org.uk/form/young-people-s-mental-health

Healthwatch RBKC and Healthwatch Westminster are also recruiting young people for a paid opportunity to participate in a mental health focus group discussion in September/October.

The findings will be presented in a report, which will be shared with local authorities, NHS, the NKR community and other key stakeholders.

Mike Martin has been appointed as the new Assistant Director for the North Kensington Recovery programme.

Mike has been part of the North Kensington Recovery team for the past three years, helping Mary Mullix to lead the team.

He has written to the community to say he is committed to building on the vital ‘Supporting a community-led recovery’ work that the team started before Mary’s retirement.

He set out the key goals as being:

1.      Strengthening our communication;

2.      Making sure we are guided by the community's voice;

3.      Delivering the North Kensington health programme for 2024-2029.

He says: "Your feedback is a crucial part of shaping the next steps of our health recovery programme. We recently invited you to share your thoughts through a brief survey and we hope you will all take this opportunity to share your views.

"In the upcoming weeks, I want to meet with community groups and individuals in North Kensington. It will be a chance for me to introduce myself and - more importantly - to understand your perspectives and aspirations, so we can build our health future together."

If you live or work in the North Kensington area and are affected by the Grenfell Tower fire we want to hear from you, to help us shape the services you want.

You are invited to click here to complete this short survey.

In the coming weeks we will also be out and about in the community, actively engaging with you, so we can hear your views in person.

Here are the answers to some of your frequently asked questions. We will keep adding to this page as we hear more of your views.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Bank holidays can affect the opening hours of local pharmacies and the next one is Monday 28 August 2023.

We have published a table of pharmacies that will be open over the bank holiday on our ICB website. Click here for details 

Face to face advice and guidance drop in sessions are being held at Lancaster West session for young people receiving their GCSE results today.

These free sessions have been set up by TPT for young people who may need some extra advice on exploring their future study or career options.

The drop in sessions are available from 10am until 5pm (24 August 2023).

The GCSE support services includes:

•   Face to face drop in service between 10am – 5pm.
•   Advice and guidance around post 16 pathways, Education and Training opportunities.
•   Up to date information regarding college late enrolments.
•   Support around GCSE results appeal process.
•   Telephone helpline 07714 563247 direct to Senior TPT Practitioner.
•   Ongoing helpline service on Friday 24^th August via telephone.

There is also a wealth of information on apprenticeship and job opportunities available here

As we head towards the end of the summer and the usual busy September period, we wanted to take this opportunity to update on some significant changes in the North Kensington Team that is providing support to those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.

We will sadly be saying farewell to Dr Meena Nathan and Dr Oisin Brannick from their North Kensington Recovery clinical lead roles. Both of them have been an integral part of the recovery programme work since the fire over six years ago and have supported the community in their practices both before and since the night of the tragedy. They have provided expertise, guidance and insights into how we best support the Grenfell impacted community recovery.

They have always made themselves available to both team members and the community and have consistently gone above and beyond in their personal commitment. Fortunately, they will both be continuing as GPs in their practices and will therefore continue to work with the community in that capacity. We would like thank them both for their contributions and positive impact.

We are delighted to have recently appointed Dr Amy Wheelwright, who will focus on the links between physical and respiratory health. We are also planning to appoint another GP clinical lead in the near future.

 Mary Mullix, who has been the Director of North Kensington Recovery since 2019, will be retiring from September 2023.  Mary’s leadership and clinical insights has been invaluable over these last four years that have necessitated navigation through to yet more unprecedented events. This included steering the programme successfully through the Covid-19 pandemic and the recovery response, public inquiry, CCG changes and challenging media stories and fallout. We have been very fortunate to have Mary at the helm, bringing with her not only her calm, proficient, inclusive and compassionate management but also her years of experience as an effective clinical leader working with communities.

Mary has worked in the NHS for nearly forty years – starting out as student nurse in 1984 at Great Ormond Street Hospital and since then has held a variety of clinical and managerial roles returning to NW London in 2014, as the Deputy Director for Quality and Patient Safety for the then CWHHE Collaboration of CCGs.

Mary has always been someone the system and residents can rely on; this is clearly evident in her many roles over the years. We want to thank Mary for her many years of service within and for the NHS and most recently the work she has been doing in North Kensington where she will be very sorely missed by the team, partners and the community. We wish her every success and happiness in this next phase of life.   Michael Martin has been appointed as the interim Assistant Director for the North Kensington Recovery programme.

Changes to the Executive and leadership team with the ICB also mean that Janet Cree will be moving into a new role as Director of Clinical Programmes in October. This necessitates her place based role, including the oversight for North Kensington Recovery Programme, transferring to other directors ahead of an Executive Director of Place being appointed.  Rob Hurd will retain overall leadership and personal oversight for the North Kensington Recovery Programme and this will be supported by his executive team. We would like to thank Janet for her leadership and direction over the last two and a half years.

As we plan for the next phase of the programme, working closely with NHS England and our partners, we will ensure that we continue to meet the needs of the community both in terms of health, wellbeing and monitoring. It is therefore timely that we also review the programme team functions and form as part of the NHS North West London organisational design work that is currently underway. 

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch with us by emailing nhsnwl.nkrt@nhs.net.

The NHS is keen to work with the North Kensington community to decide how best to support their future long-term health and wellbeing needs as we seek to move to a community-led recovery.

This follows the NHS’s recent statement confirming its ongoing commitment to supporting the survivors, bereaved and the wider Grenfell impacted community now and into the future.

Krishna Sarda, Head of Engagement at North Kensington said: “We have been listening to what the local community have said and the feedback has been clear. They want to have a more of a say in what health and wellbeing support is provided and they want to play a leading role as the community builds for the future.”

In the coming weeks we will be actively engaging with the community, so we can hear from people in person. People who prefer to share there views online are invited to fill in an online survey to help inform their needs.

Click here to find out further information and complete the survey.

Future health service provision will also be informed by a wider piece of work jointly being carried out with the Kensington and Chelsea Council to assess the wider issues that impact on residents’ health within North Kensington for example housing and employment.

We will also be seeking independent external advice on what best practice looks like and looking at existing provision to see if it providing the care and support that is needed or if changes are needed.

Community engagement on needs has been ongoing, with the recent publication of the Health & Wellbeing Strategy review, which updated the original Health & Wellbeing Strategy (September 2020), the result of engaging with the views of 1,300 members of the community. 

A range of supportive health and wellbeing services were set up in addition to this Continuing Professional Development (CDP)-accredited Cultural Competency training was developed, endorsed by the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) and co-produced with the community. This training is being delivered to GP practices throughout the North Kensington area and is increasingly being recognised as ground-breaking, trauma-informed work.

If you have any questions, please email nhsnwl.nkrt@nhs.net

Online personal support is now available for people who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, thanks to the new ‘Preventing Diabetes’ website.

The NHS in North West London has launched the website to help the 200,000 people who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the area.

GP and diabetes lead Dr Tony Willis explains: “We know that patients may feel overwhelmed when they are told they are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. They are often given a blood glucose reading or a high blood pressure reading from their GP and advised to make some lifestyle changes. For many they leave this conversation not really knowing what to do next and how to make real changes to improve their health. This is where the new www.preventingdiabetes.org.uk website can help.”

Across NW London patients who have had a recent blood test result that shows they could be at risk of developing type 2 diabetes (called non-diabetic hyperglycaemia) will be invited to use the new website. (Anyone who would like support or is worried about developing type 2 diabetes is also welcome to go directly to the website and join.

After registering, patients will be able to see a personalised healthcare dashboard, displaying their latest blood results, including blood pressure, blood cholesterol and blood glucose.

The dashboard will offer advice what is good, improving or getting worse in terms of health and prevention of type 2 diabetes.

Support is then available on the site including: educational courses, meal plans and day-to-day advice to help patients understand how to go about making positive long-term changes.

Dr Willis continues: “It is much better for patients and their overall health to make changes before developing diabetes, which is why we want to support as many people as possible.”

NW London residents will be able to access two eLearning courses to start their journey.

1. The first course is called ‘Introduction to type 2 prevention.’ An introduction to type 2 diabetes prevention. It provides people at risk and their carers the information they need to understand their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, explaining what a diagnosis means, and the steps they can take to prevent it from developing into type 2 diabetes.
2. The follow-on course, ‘Understanding high risk of type 2,’ covers the diet and lifestyle factors that increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, along with advice and support on how to make changes.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Type 2 risk factors:

• Age and ethnicity: If you're over 40 and white, or over 25 and African-Caribbean, Black-African, Arab, Chinese, or South Asian.
• Family history of diabetes: You're two to six times more likely to get type 2 diabetes if you have a parent, brother, sister, or child with diabetes.
• Weight: You're more at risk of type 2 diabetes if you're living with obesity or overweight.
• Waist measurement: Your risk is also increased if you have a high waist measurement.
• Blood pressure: If you've ever had high blood pressure, this increases your risk.
• Ethnicity: Type 2 diabetes is two to four times more likely in people of South Asian descent and African-Caribbean or Black African descent.
• Sex: Type 2 diabetes is slightly more common in men than in women

For people who are already living with diabetes you can find support on our ‘Know Diabetes’ website, which is already helping thousands of residents across NW London.

North Kensington teenagers aged 16-19* who are not in education, employment or education and need guidance on their future options are invited to go along to informal advice and guidance drop in sessions, to see what courses, jobs and training are available.

These sessions are offered as bespoke one to one careers advice and training, with interactive workshops and training also available.

The twice weekly sessions are currently being held at:

Monday 10am to 4pm Lancaster Youth Hub – 128A Lancaster road, W11 1QS

Thursday 10am to 4pm Chelsea Youth Hub – Blantyre Street, SW10 0EQ

These courses are also available to young people aged up to age 25 years old with SEND or an active EHCP. 

Young people can also attend confidence building workshops, which will run on Tuesday 8th and Thursday 10th August.

If you'd like to attend these sessions the team is contactable via email: targetedprevention@rbkc.gov.uk

The NHS in North West London has launched a new campaign to explain how general practice is changing and why you may see a different clinical expert in future – depending on your need.

Dr Genevieve Small, Medical Director for Primary Care at NHS North West London said: “General Practices are busier than ever. It is important that we use all the team to help support our patients and communities with their care. By providing you with the right care at the right time we can ensure that your local General Practice is there to meet your need.

“To do this, practices are working as a team of medical experts and support staff, led and supervised by the GP. There are new members of staff and systems in place to support GPs to look after your needs.”

A short film introduces you to some of the medical experts, such as a GP, nurse, pharmacist and social prescriber, that you may be given an appointment to see.

Dr Small, added: “These are very exciting times for general practice. We are increasingly seeing a wider range of knowledgeable clinical experts with specialist training who can provide bespoke care to our patients in the same building as their GP.

“For example, if you have diabetes, you may see a specialist diabetes nurse or if you have a problem with your bones and joints, you may see a physiotherapist.”

You can find out more about ‘We are General Practice’ by visiting www.nwlondonics.nhs.uk/wearegeneralpractice

The August edition of Grenfell Insight, our e-newsletter for the North Kensington community and voluntary sector and other stakeholders has been published.

Click here to view the e-newletter

If you have any questions please email nhsnwl.nkrt@nhs.net

Data published by the UKHSA on 14 July shows there has been a steady rise in measles cases this year. A new risk assessment also reveals the potential for a measles resurgence, particularly in London.

Between 1 January and 30 June this year there have been 128 cases of measles, compared to 54 cases in the whole of 2022, with 66 per cent of the cases detected in London although cases have been seen in all regions.

The UKHSA assessment finds the risk of a measles epidemic across the UK is considered low. However, with lower current levels of coverage in London, a measles outbreak of between 40,000 and 160,000 cases could occur in the capital.

The assessment also concludes that there is a high risk of cases linked to overseas travel leading to outbreaks in specific population groups such as young people and under-vaccinated communities.

The risk in London is primarily due to low vaccination rates over several years, further impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in some areas and groups where coverage is as low as 65.4%.

Parents should check their children are fully vaccinated with 2 MMR doses, which gives 99% life-long protection, by checking their red book or with their GP practice, which younger and older adults can also do; and if necessary make an appointment as soon as possible.

Achieving high vaccination coverage across the population, “herd immunity”, is important as it indirectly helps protect very young infants (under one) and other vulnerable groups.

It’s vital all children and adults catch up on any missed vaccinations and this is especially important if travelling overseas this summer.

Dr Vanessa Saliba, UKHSA Consultant Epidemiologist said:

“Measles can be a serious infection that can lead to complications especially in young children and those with weakened immune systems. Due to longstanding sub-optimal vaccine uptake there is now a very real risk of seeing big outbreaks in London.

“Measles spreads very easily but is preventable. To help protect ourselves, our families and those around us it is vital we all ensure we are vaccinated with 2 doses of the MMR vaccine, free on the NHS whatever your age. Parents can check their children’s red book to see if they are up to date or if you’re not sure anyone can call their GP practice. It’s important everyone is fully vaccinated before travelling overseas this summer.

“Nobody wants to see their child or loved ones sick with measles, or put others who are more vulnerable, like babies, at risk. I urge those who have missed their MMR vaccines to catch-up now.”

NHS England has launched a targeted national campaign to encourage uptake of the MMR vaccine, including targeted outreach work in London for those identified as at high risk and communities with the lowest uptake of vaccination.

In London, a polio and MMR catch-up campaign targeting un-or-partially-vaccinated children aged 1 to 11 years was rolled out at the end of March through GP practices, primary schools and community vaccination clinics.

All children at primary school who have missed one or both doses of the MMR vaccine are being offered the opportunity to get up to date at school. Parents of those children will be contacted by the NHS school immunisation service. For those children who are home schooled, are not yet old enough for school or have another reason not to get up to date in school, parents can make an appointment with their GP practice or visit a community clinic.

Jane Clegg, Regional Chief Nurse for the NHS in London said: 

“Measles can easily spread between unvaccinated people and can be serious, but it is preventable, which is why we continue to encourage Londoners to take up the vaccine – with GPs calling over 10,000 parents of unvaccinated children, and hundreds booking appointments to get vaccinated as a result.

“Cases of measles in the capital remain low but it’s really important that people check that they, and their children, are up to date with their jabs and protected against MMR – and if you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch with your GP practice or local pharmacist for advice. Now’s the time to act to protect yourself and loved ones from measles.”  

Current MMR vaccine coverage in the NHS routine childhood programme is the lowest it has been in a decade. The WHO 95% vaccine coverage target is set to prevent outbreaks among populations. In England coverage of 2 MMR doses at age 5 years is around 85%, with about 10% of children in the country left unprotected from measles by the time they are ready to start school, with the rate in London at about 20%.

England’s top NHS doctor Professor Sir Stephen Powis has called on people eligible for a covid jab to book an appointment before the end of the month.

The NHS Covid-19 Vaccination Programme's spring campaign will end on Friday 30 June and it will be the last day anyone due a spring booster or yet to have a first or second dose will be able to get one.

The fastest and largest vaccine drive in NHS history has vaccinated more than 4.2 million people with a spring booster – around two thirds of all those eligible – since the campaign began two months ago.

A total of 149 million covid vaccines have now been delivered across England, including more than 50 million first doses.

Anyone due a jab should book an appointment online as soon as possible – there are more than 250,000 appointment slots available next week.

Around 6.6 million are eligible in line with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which includes people aged 75 and over, people aged five and over with weakened immune systems and older adult care home residents.

With the vaccination offer set to end until any future campaign is announced by the JCVI and Government, the NHS' top doctor has urged those yet to come forward to do so this week and ensure they have the maximum protection from covid over the coming weeks and months.

NHS Medical Director Professor Sir Stephen Powis said: "With the NHS’ life-saving vaccination campaign winding down for spring, now is the last chance for those eligible to come forward for a booster, or get a first or second dose, as we move to a targeted, seasonal campaign.

"If you are due a jab, please book an appointment within the next week - it will give you protection for the coming months and peace of mind through until winter."

Spring vaccinations are being offered to those at greatest risk, in line with JCVI advice.

Those invited should make sure their appointment takes place at least three months since their last dose.

Bookings for spring vaccinations and for first and second doses can be made online at www.nhs.uk/COVIDvaccine, by downloading the NHS App or by calling 119 for free. The last bookings can be made until Thursday 29th June, although some sites are offering walk-in options on Friday 30th June.

Anyone who believes they should be eligible for a vaccine but does not get invited can check online. Alternatively, they can self-declare via the National Booking Service and then speak to a clinician on site.

The offer of two Covid-19 vaccinations for everyone who was aged 5 on or before 31 August 2022 will also end after 30th June, following advice from the JCVI.

After 30 June, the NHS offer will become more targeted to those at increased risk and most will have to wait until a future seasonal campaign. For those who develop a new health condition or start treatment that severely weakens their immune system, an exception may be made if a clinician advises them to get vaccinated sooner.

It’s important to register with a dentist to help keep your mouth, teeth and gums in a healthy condition. Looking after your oral health also helps your general health.

We have created a list of dentists accepting NHS registrations in Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, as well as Westminster.  You can find an updated list here.

For other boroughs please use the ‘find a dentist tool’.

You can also find about NHS dentistry costs and bandings. You might be entitled to support towards these changes depending on your personal circumstances.

A review of the Health & Wellbeing Strategy for North Kensington is now available.

 This follows a period of extensive engagement with survivors, bereaved, the wider community and our Health Partners, building on the original Health & Wellbeing Strategy (2020). Although much has happened there is still much to do.

Cultural Competency is one area where the community’s valuable insight has resulted in additional training to support general practice staff, this has been recognised as good practice.

Following the latest engagement, we want to make sure that future service delivery is community driven and evidence-led, so plan to:

• Provide additional primary care services to support the Grenfell affected community; these include Enhanced Health Checks & Grenfell-related appointment
• Consult with children and young people directly with regard to their health and wellbeing, to gain additional valuable insight into their health needs and how they can be addressed. A peer to peer support group is in the process of being set up.
• Continue to support Healthier Futures ‘Self-care’ services*, to support individuals and families. These services are regularly reviewed to make sure they are well used and meet the health and wellbeing needs of the community.

Mary Mullix, NKR’s director says: “The NHS is committed to the development of community resilience and recovery.

“This latest review reaffirms the NHS’s commitment to listening to, hearing from and acting to meeting the needs of survivors, bereaved and the wider community now and in the future.

“We have listened to people’s concerns and the points they have made and would like to express our thanks to the community, as well as our Health Partners, for their valuable insight.

“Looking ahead, we plan to ensure cultural competency is placed at the heart of service planning and delivery.”

Future health service provision will also be informed by engaging with and listening to community groups, as well as using information from the Grenfell Joint Strategic Needs Assessment. It will take into consideration:

• The expressed views of the North Kensington communities including survivors and bereaved
• The wider issues that impact on residents’ health within North Kensington, for example housing and economic factors
• Consider best practice from disaster recovery literature
• Critique and challenge existing provision and guidance on future services.

NHS North West London would like to express our continuing and deepest condolences - both personally and on behalf of the NHS - to everyone in the community affected by the terrible events at Grenfell Tower on 14 June 2017. 

The NHS acknowledges the ongoing impact of the disaster on the community, our thoughts are with you all today on this sad anniversary.

NHS North West London

Health issues related to the current warm weather are causing our A&Es to be busier than usual, with waits of up to 11 hours in A&Es at the moment.

A&E is for life threatening emergencies.  There are lots of NHS services that can help you. Knowing where to go, and when, will help you get the right care when you need it.

Your local high street pharmacy can provide advice and over the counter medication to help with hayfever.  You can also contact your GP surgery or call 111 when your GP is closed.

[Read more here]

Health issues related to the current warm weather are causing our A&Es to be busier than usual, with waits of up to 11 hours in A&Es at the moment.

A&E is for life threatening emergencies.  There are lots of NHS services that can help you. Knowing where to go, and when, will help you get the right care when you need it.

Your local high street pharmacy can provide advice and over the counter medication to help with hayfever.  You can also contact your GP surgery or call 111 when your GP is closed.

[Read more here]

In this warm weather, when we also have a very high pollen count at the moment, make sure you follow our top tips to prevent yourself becoming unwell.

Tips for coping in hot weather

• Keep out of the heat if you can.
• If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter.
• Cool yourself down. Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes.
• Keep your living space cool. Close windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside has gone down.

Tips if hot weather sets off your asthma

• Keep taking your regular preventer inhaler so you’re less likely to get symptoms. And carry your reliever inhaler with you at all times so you’re ready if symptoms do come on.
• Go for regular asthma reviews to check you’re on the right meds for you, and you’re taking your inhalers in the best way to get the benefits through the summer months.
• Use your written asthma action plan so you know what to do if hot weather triggers symptoms.
• If you’re using your reliever inhaler three or more times a week, or you’ve noticed the hot weather’s made your symptoms worse, book an extra catch-up with your doctor or asthma nurse.
• Keep inhalers in a cool place out of direct sunlight so they continue to work well. Try keeping your reliever in a cool bag when you’re out and about on a hot day. Don't add any ice to the bag though, because your inhaler needs to be kept dry.
• Keep an eye on pollen forecasts and find out more about why staying on top of your hay fever symptoms with antihistamines is good for your asthma too.
• Plan any outdoor activities for earlier in the day when the air quality tends to be better, including exercise.

Tips if you have hayfever

• Your local high street pharmacy can help with advice and over the counter medicine around hayfever.
• Wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes
• Shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to wash pollen off
• Stay indoors whenever possible and keep windows and doors shut as much as possible
• Vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth

• do not cut grass or walk on grass or keep fresh flowers in the house
• do not smoke or be around smoke – it makes your symptoms worse
• do not dry clothes outside – they can catch pollen

  [Read more here]

  In this warm weather, when we also have a very high pollen count at the moment, make sure you follow our top tips to prevent yourself becoming unwell.

  Tips for coping in hot weather

• Keep out of the heat if you can.
• If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter.
• Cool yourself down. Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes.
• Keep your living space cool. Close windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside has gone down.

• Tips if hot weather sets off your asthma

• Keep taking your regular preventer inhaler so you’re less likely to get symptoms. And carry your reliever inhaler with you at all times so you’re ready if symptoms do come on.
• Go for regular asthma reviews to check you’re on the right meds for you, and you’re taking your inhalers in the best way to get the benefits through the summer months.
• Use your written asthma action plan so you know what to do if hot weather triggers symptoms.
• If you’re using your reliever inhaler three or more times a week, or you’ve noticed the hot weather’s made your symptoms worse, book an extra catch-up with your doctor or asthma nurse.
• Keep inhalers in a cool place out of direct sunlight so they continue to work well. Try keeping your reliever in a cool bag when you’re out and about on a hot day. Don't add any ice to the bag though, because your inhaler needs to be kept dry.
• Keep an eye on pollen forecasts and find out more about why staying on top of your hay fever symptoms with antihistamines is good for your asthma too.
• Plan any outdoor activities for earlier in the day when the air quality tends to be better, including exercise.

• Tips if you have hayfever

• Your local high street pharmacy can help with advice and over the counter medicine around hayfever.
• Wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes
• Shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to wash pollen off
• Stay indoors whenever possible and keep windows and doors shut as much as possible
• Vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth
• do not cut grass or walk on grass or keep fresh flowers in the house
• do not smoke or be around smoke – it makes your symptoms worse
• do not dry clothes outside – they can catch pollen

You have the right to make a complaint about any aspect of NHS care, treatment or service, and this is written into the NHS Constitution on GOV.UK. 

From 1 July 2023 the way members of the public make a complaint about primary care services to the commissioner is changing.  

By primary care services we mean GPs, dentists, opticians or pharmacy services. 

There are two ways you can make a complaint: 

• You can complain to the healthcare provider: this is the organisation where you received the NHS service, for example a GP surgery or dental surgery.   
• You can complain to the commissioner of the service: this is the organisation that paid for the service or care you received. 

After 1 July 2023 if you want to make a complaint about primary care services to the commissioner you will now contact NHS North West London instead of NHS England.  

You can do this by:

Telephone: 020 3350 4567 (This is an automated service. Please leave a message requesting a call back).

E-mail: nhsnwl.complaints@nhs.net

Writing to us at: Complaints Manager, NHS North West London, 15 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JD

If you want to make a complaint directly to the provider of the primary care service, you still can – that does not change on the 1 July 2023. 

Members of the public with ongoing complaints received on/after 1 July 2022 will receive a letter from NHS England informing them that NHS North West London is now handling their complaint with confirmation of their case handler. 

Members of the public with any ongoing complaints received before 1 July 2022 will receive a letter from NHS England informing them that their complaint is being retained by NHS England with confirmation of their case handler. 

If you have any queries, please contact email nhsnwl.complaints@nhs.net

Find out more about how to feedback or make a complaint about an NHS service 

The NHS is delivering a service leaflet to 33,000 homes and businesses across North Kensington to advertise the full range of NHS health and wellbeing services that are available to the community.

Many of you are aware that the NHS has been providing services to the Grenfell-affected community for nearly six years. As we approach the six year anniversary, this is a timely reminder to everyone living or working in North Kensington who has been affected by the Grenfell Tower fire that “the NHS is here for you”.

The community may see posters with a large green heart popping up around the local area advertising this message, which lists contact numbers for the following services:

·        Community Enhanced Health Checks

·        Dedicated Service helpline

·        Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Services.

The latter is provided by Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust through the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service.

A separate specific poster advertises Enhanced Health Checks to everyone. EHCs are regularly reviewed and this one is the first update following the appointment of a new respiratory lead called Dr Laura Martin.

Mary Mullix, Director of the North Kensington Recovery team says: “The NHS is committed to supporting all your health needs.

“As we approach the six year anniversary we want to remind the community through our service leaflets and posters that the ‘NHS is here for you’. We are door dropping the leaflet to make sure everyone has the details close to hand.

“We also want the community to have quick access to the numbers available in case they’re in need of support when they’re out and about and want to talk to someone – look out for the large green heart posters to signpost you to these important numbers.

“The other poster you may see promotes awareness of Enhanced Health Checks (EHCs), which everyone is entitled to. Appointments can be booked in a location near to you and they’re a great way to get a ‘health M.O.T’ as well as being the ideal opportunity to discuss with a health professional any health concerns you may have.”

Youth Action Alliance (YAA) is inviting families and people of all ages to their fun, free 'One Heart' annual festival on 17 June 2023, being held at the Westway Sports Centre on Crowthorne Road.  

The One Heart festival (formerly known as the North Kensington Youth & Community Festival) was set up in 2017 following the tragic loss of two of YAA’s young members in the Grenfell fire.

Last year over 4,000 people attended this special event, which aims to upift and unite everyone in the Grenfell community, as well as pay tribute to the victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. 

The festival trail is divided into 9 zones, with a range of activities to suit all ages including: 

• sports tournaments including football and basketball

• a talent show featuring special guest performances 

• play area for children including funfair rides and bouncy castle

• arts and crafts for all

• youth zone including gaming bus

• elder zone, including Bingo and afternoon tea.

The NHS's Grenfell Health & Wellbeing service is represented in the Pamper Pit and more details on all the health services on offer will be available soon.

For more details on this festival visit: www.youthactionalliance.org/oneheart

The Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service is holding an Open Day at St Charlies Hospital on Tuesday 23 May, from 1pm to 7pm. Everyone in the community is welcome to attend.

A variety of health and wellbeing taster sessions are available from 4pm-7pm - residents are welcome to pop in to sample these to see what might work for them.

The CNWL Recruitment Team is also on hand from 1pm to 4pm to provide advice and help on job opportunities, career pathways, improving your CV and preparing for job interviews. 

Refreshments are available throughout the day and a raffle will be called at 6pm.

For more information visit www.grenfellwellbeing.com

The Dalgrano Trust is looking for individuals who are confident with their digital skills to volunteer their time to help others and become a Digital Champion. Training will be provided.

To get involved please call 02008 9696300 or send an email to Rosana (rosana@dalgarnotrust.org.uk) or Samir (samir@dalgarnotrust.org.uk). 

For more information on this and all the other volunteering opportunities available through the Kensington & Chelsea Social Council visit: https://www.kcsc.org.uk

Community eye services allow patients to be seen away from the hospital, and can help people manage their conditions. We want to improve the service we provide for patients across north west London, and we need your input.

Please take 5-10 minutes to complete the survey and tell us how the current service is working for you and what might make it work better: https://form.jotform.com/230304388075353

Bank Holidays can affect the opening hours of local pharmacies. The attached table provides the opening hours for pharmacies in North West London which have been asked to open over the May 2023 bank holidays of Monday 1, Monday 8 and Monday 29 May 2023.

There may be additional pharmacies opening which are not listed. If the pharmacy you would like to visit is not listed here, then you can check their opening hours by searching at www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-pharmacy or by calling NHS 111.

In addition, there will be some pharmacies who normally open who may be closed or closing early on Saturday 29 April, Saturday 6 May and Saturday 27 May 2023. 

If you are unsure please visit 'find a pharmacy' or call NHS 111.

Martin Machray, Executive Director of Performance, NHS England (London region) and Rob Hurd, Chief Executive Officer, NHS North West London, provide a statement outlining the NHS's commitment to supporting the survivors, bereaved and the wider Grenfell impacted community now and into the future.  

Webinar: Preparing for Healthy Eating Week
Wednesday 24 May, 4.00pm to 5.00pm
Also available ‘on demand’. Please register to access the video recording. 
Book here: https://healtheducationpartnership.com/all-events/change4life-682/

Introduction to key messages around healthy eating and oral health
Thursday 8 June, 3.30pm to 5.30 pm
Book here: https://healtheducationpartnership.com/all-events/753/

We also have a NEW course for health practitioners… 

Talking about health and weight (for health practitioners)
Thursday 22 June, 9.30am to 4.30pm
Book here: https://healtheducationpartnership.com/all-events/change4life-634/

For the full list please see the training calendar attached or visit our website at https://healtheducationpartnership.com/change4life-training/

Steve McQueen’s Grenfell exhibition, which was filmed in the months following the fire that broke out in Grenfell Tower on 14 July 2017, is now open to the public.

This night resulted in tragic loss of life and as we approach the six-year anniversary, we are aware that this community remains bereft by their loss.    

We know that many survivors and bereaved living in this community have been attending preview screenings and for some this has been really challenging. However we also acknowledge that the exhibition will have different meanings for different people and people may experience a range of different emotions and thoughts in response to it.  

If you are affected by Grenfell and would like support the NHS is here for you.

If you or someone you know needs support this bank holiday weekend, please call the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing service on 020 8637 6729 (8am-8pm Friday and Monday & 9am-8pm Saturday and Sunday) or email us at Grenfell.wellbeingservice@nhs.net.

Please note that in an emergency scenario, when someone’s life is at risk, the NHS advice remains to call 999 immediately.

From 7am on Tuesday 11 April to 6:59am on Saturday 15 April there is strike action taking place by junior doctors at most NHS Trusts, including hospitals in North West London.

Junior doctors are fully trained doctors with up to eight years of experience – they account for around 50% of doctors working in the NHS. This means that NHS services will be under a huge amount of pressure leading up to, and during the strike. Hospitals will be doing everything they can to keep disruption to a minimum and ensure the safety of patients.

Planned tests and hospital appointments may need to be changed or rearranged so that patients who need urgent or emergency care can be treated as soon as possible. If you have not been contacted, please still attend your appointment as planned.

It is important that patients who do need urgent medical care continue to come forward. If you are experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, you should still attend A&E or call 999.

For non-emergency health needs, you should access the alternative NHS services available to you:

• NHS 111: Fully trained health professionals are available, 24/7, to help if you need medical help or advice, or you are unsure about whether you should go to hospital. You can contact NHS 111 online, or by calling 111.
• Your GP: The majority of practices in north west London will remain open during the strike, though many will be under increased pressure. Do continue to attend your GP and dental appointments unless you have been contacted and told otherwise.
• Pharmacy: Pharmacists are trained health professionals who can help with your medication questions and minor health concerns. Many offer private consultations without an appointment, and can advise where to get further help if you need it.

In this video, hear from Charlotte Benjamin, NHS North West London Chief Medical Officer, on how these strikes will impact NHS services in north west London, and what you can do to access the help you need.

By considering which service to go to, you’re helping NHS staff make sure that you, and so many others, can get the right support as soon as possible.

During the Easter Bank Holiday, from Friday 7^th – Monday 10^th April, your local pharmacy may be closed or have different opening hours. The list below provides the opening hours for pharmacies in North West London which have been asked to open over this period.

There may be additional pharmacies opening which are not listed. If the pharmacy you usually go to is not listed here, you can check their opening hours by contacting NHS 111 or visiting: www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-pharmacy 

In addition, there will be some pharmacies who normally open who may be closed or closing early on Saturday 8th April 2023. If you are unsure please contact NHS 111 online or oer the phone, or visit www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-pharmacy.

Easter Bank Holiday opening hours:

A video on family therapy, which is offered by the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service.

In the video, a service user from the Grenfell community says that family therapy has been “invaluable” in helping him and his partner to overcome challenges they faced.

It’s immensely helped us to understand each other, both as individuals and as a couple,” says the service user.

The video explores how family therapy may be beneficial for the Grenfell community, and its families, as well as how to get in touch.

Family therapy offers a chance to come together, to understand one another and find different ways to communicate and help each other to overcome and cope with difficulties.

We understand that family means different things to different people. So whether that means you and your partner, you and your siblings, you and your parents or you and your extended family, we can help.

For more information you can download and read our leaflet. Speak to your GP or school, phone: 020 8637 6279 or email: grenfell.wellbeingservice@nhs.net

Other available support

The Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service offers a range of holistic and practical support to people affected by the Grenfell Tower fire, including talking and creative therapies for individuals and families, groups for children and young people, older people and Arabic-speaking women, and community-based workshops and events, led by the community or hosted in partnership with it.

Please see our website for more information or get in touch.

Most NHS treatment is free at the point of use. This means you don’t need to worry about paying when using many our services. However, there are some treatment areas where most residents might need to make a payment.

These NHS areas are: prescriptions; the dentist; sight tests; glasses or contact lenses; wigs;  fabric supports – things like surgical bras, support tights and spinal supports; and travel for treatment.

However, it is important to know that you might be able to get help and pay less, or nothing at all, depending on your circumstances.

Complete this health checker to see if you could get help with NHS costs. It takes less than three minutes!

A new NHS campaign is encouraging more men to be more aware of their risk of developing prostate cancer. This is a cancer that affects one in eight men, with black men at greater risk.

Symptoms of the cancer may include a difficulty in starting to urinate or emptying the bladder, needing to urinate more (especially at night), or a sudden need to urinate.

This is a type of cancer that is more common in older men aged 50+ and is easily treatable if caught early. However, symptoms aren’t always noticeable, which is why it’s important to be mindful of your risk.

Certain ethnic groups are at higher risk, with black men specifically more prone to the cancer than Asian men, especially if a close relative (their father or brother) has experienced it.

Dr Meena Nathan, GP and lead, says: “I encourage all men living in the North Kensington community to be aware of their risk for prostate cancer, especially if you’re aged over 50 and your family history and ethnicity heightens your risk.

“This is a very treatable cancer if caught early, so it’s worth bearing in mind your risk factor and if you have any concerns when passing urine, please don’t delay a visit to your GP.”

Find out more:

Prostate Cancer Risk Factors | Prostate Cancer UK | Prostate Cancer UK

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/

From 7am Monday 13 March – 6.59am Thursday 16 March there is strike action taking place by junior doctors at most NHS Trusts. This will have a significant impact on NHS services and we ask the public to be aware of how to ensure they get the help they need during this time.

• Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
• There are likely to be a high number of hospital appointments cancelled. If your hospital has not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned. The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.
• GP services may be busier than usual.  Consider using your GP surgeries online consultation form if you have internet access.This will allow the surgery to find the right place for your needs and frees up the phone lines for those unable to go online.
• The NHS is asking patients to use services wisely during industrial action and take simple steps to help ensure care is available to patients who need it most. This includes using 111 online as the first port of call for health needs and continuing to only use 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency.

People who live or work in North Kensington and have been affected by the Grenfell Tower fire are being offered free access to Healthier Futures self-care activities.

Self-care is important for an individual’s health as it helps them to manage their life and look after their family better. The NHS has evidence to demonstrate self-care can boost an individual’s health and wellbeing*.

There are lots of free self-care activities on offer, all easily accessible to both individuals and families. These include exercise & wellbeing classes (boxing, women’s only boxing and yoga are popular choices), as well as cookery classes, health workshops and the Men’s Shed group. Sessions available for families include gardening and family coaching. 

Two women in their 60s*, who experienced huge loss and loneliness, found joining one of the self-care classes (fitness and cookery, in their cases) transformative. Not only have their feelings of social isolation been reduced by meeting new people, their confidence levels have been boosted by the effects of exercise and learning a new skill. 

Dr Meena Nathan, GP and NKR Clinical Lead says: 

“Sometimes it’s easier to prioritise others rather than ourselves. 
 
“One of the best things I can offer my patients is these free self-care activities. Not everything can be solved by medication alone. Healthier Futures gives people the chance to look after themselves for a change, by trying a new exercise or group activities. The opportunity to meet new people in a warm and welcoming environment is really beneficial – we have evidence to show these groups can really boost health, wellbeing and self-esteem.”

Hayley Turner, Primary Care & Social Prescribing Lead says:

“It can be a real challenge to put yourself first if you’re always worried about others, or paying the monthly bills.
 
“The beauty of the self-care activities that are a part of the Healthier Futures Programme is that they are easy to access and delivered by the local Voluntary and Community Sector. There are a wide range of activities available, so you could join an exercise class in the morning and then receive free debt and legal advice – all on the same day and on your doorstep!”

Residents can access the full range of Healthier Futures self-care activities by visiting www.grenfell.nhs.uk/selfcare, or speaking to their GP practice (who will signpost them to their service of choice).

Following the statement we issued on Friday 13 January, the NHS in NW London and the local authority want to share with the North Kensington Community the next steps that we plan to take.

Since Friday’s coverage about the health of firefighters in the national media, we have heard clearly from survivors, bereaved family member and local residents that many people are still worried and anxious about their health.

To provide more information to those concerned we are working with local and national partners to:  

• review the approach we have taken to monitoring the health of bereaved, survivors and local people, making changes where potential improvements are identified;
• ensure that the authors are contacted about this to understand the research in more detail;
• agree how we will work together to ensure we are taking the right approach to supporting the health of bereaved, survivors and local people, providing reassurance wherever we can.

What we know about the study referenced in the media

In terms of the specific study referenced in the article last week, the study findings reported are not related to firefighters who attended the Grenfell Tower Fire. They are based on an analysis of mortality records among a sample of male Scottish firefighters.

Some of the wider findings reported in the University of Central Lancashire’s press release (available here) are from a survey of all UK firefighters, which firefighters could choose to complete (or not).

The study referenced in the media is about occupational (work-related) risks faced by firefighters every day, and in general the higher occurrence of certain health conditions seen in this profession. None of the findings are specific to firefighters who attended the Grenfell Tower fire and the research is not based on a programme of enhanced health checks or monitoring of firefighters (in fact, this is what is being called for by the authors of the study).

We have recently been made aware that there is an entirely separate study planned on the Grenfell firefighter cohort, which involves monitoring their health over the long term in a similar way that we are doing for survivors, bereaved family members and local residents (see below). As yet, we are not aware of any published findings from this research but we will contact the researchers about this work to understand the approach in more detail.

What we are currently doing to monitor the health of survivors, the bereaved and local population

The current programme was instigated following the Coroner’s Prevention of Future Deaths Notice in September 2018 with support and guidance from national public health experts; the programme aims to provide early detection, identification and appropriate onward referral for any emerging conditions, alongside a wider population health monitoring programme reviewing the available health data to identify any trends. This goes beyond the survey or sample-based approaches reported in last week’s article.

The current programme includes:

• GP led enhanced health checks for the wider community – referral for spirometry (test for lung conditions) as required
•  Community enhanced health checks in non-medical locations for the wider community – referral to spirometry as required
• Annual adult respiratory health checks for survivors – including lung function tests
• Annual health checks for children and young people who are survivors and bereaved

Alongside this, there is a comprehensive population health monitoring programme in place to analyse the incidence of disease among survivors, bereaved family members and residents of North Kensington. The programme tracks overall activity across all disease groups and considers in detail specific conditions such as respiratory conditions, cancers and mental health conditions. This data is reviewed to identify any trends and variations and there is a robust process of clinical review to understand any observed changes.

To date, we have not identified any evidence of increases in cancers, including the specific type of cancers referenced in the article last week. We will continue this monitoring.

If you are a survivor or local resident and you are worried or want to know more about the checks and how to access them, please contact our enhanced health check service (see below)

Further actions

To ensure we are looking at all evidence and research available to us about health we are speaking to national expert bodies to:

• ·understand what, if any, implications the research may have, given that it doesn’t relate specifically to the Grenfell tragedy
• advise us on any further steps that we should take to check the health of the population and monitor health conditions, including any learning from other places

We want to ensure that survivors, bereaved family members and local people are involved so that they can have confidence that the right arrangements are in place and they can access the checks and support they need.

We will issue a further statement when we have more information on what people can expect next. In the meantime, if you have a question that you would like to ask about this work, please email nhsnwl.grenfellenquiries@nhs.net.

What to do if you’re worried

If you are a survivor from the Tower or a bereaved relative and you are worried about your health, you should contact the NHS Dedicated Service or your GP. More information on the NHS dedicated service is available here.

If you are a local resident or were present on the night of the fire and are worried, you should contact your GP or refer yourself to the Community Enhanced Health Check Service by emailing nhsnwlccg.grenfellenhancedhealth@nhs.net with your name, date of birth and contact number. The service will make contact to arrange an appointment.

Grenfell survivors, bereaved family members and local residents may have seen the article in the Mirror reporting high rates of cancer among firefighters.

This will be very worrying for firefighters who helped to rescue people from the Tower and our thoughts are with them. Many people, including bereaved and survivors and those who live in the local area, may also be worried for their own health and the health of their families, particularly given the longstanding concerns in the community about the health impacts of the tragedy.

The NHS and Council want to work together with residents to provide as much assurance to the community, as we can, about the support that is in place and the steps we have taken to date to monitor the health of local people, and to listen to any further concerns and ideas they might have in terms of monitoring going forward.

We had no prior knowledge of the article, nor any research on which it may be based. We are aware that there was an academic article published by the University of Central Lancashire earlier this week about rates of disease among firefighters. The article concerned firefighters in Scotland, and did not include firefighters who attended the Grenfell tragedy.

In relation to any findings relating to firefighters who attended the Grenfell tragedy, we urge researchers to publish these in full as soon as possible so that we can consider any implications they could have for survivors and people in the local area. Levels of exposure faced by fire fighters, given the longer-term occupational risks they face, are likely to be very different from any risks faced by survivors or from those faced by people in the local community. However, we need to see the full findings from the research to provide additional advice and reassurance to survivors, bereaved family members and local people.

In the meantime, we have been working together since the fire to ensure that the right arrangements are in place to support the health of local people and to monitor key health trends. We have constantly reviewed these arrangements and will continue to do so.

The NHS already has a programme of enhanced respiratory and paediatric checks in place for survivors who left the Tower on the night and is monitoring all health conditions (including cancers) among this group. Alongside this, Public Health is working with the NHS to monitor the health of the wider population, looking at key trends and monitoring changes in health conditions (again, including cancers). This monitoring programme has been informed by the coroner’s recommendations and experts from public health, clinicians and academia.

So far this monitoring has not identified any increases in cancers. The health of these groups will continue to be closely monitored to help us understand any longer-term impacts of the tragedy.

We have sought further assurances from expert bodies to ensure we are all taking appropriate steps to help to support and monitor the health of the local population. We will continue to keep bereaved, survivors and residents informed about what we hear. If there is new evidence or findings which show additional risks, or suggestions from expert bodies about other monitoring we can introduce, we stand ready to change the approach we are taking.

What to do if you’re worried

If you are a survivor from the Tower or a bereaved relative and you are worried about your health, you should contact the NHS Dedicated Service or your GP. More information on the NHS dedicated service is available here:

If you are a local resident or were present on the night of the fire and are worried, you should contact your GP or refer yourself to the Community Enhanced Health Check Service by emailing nhsnwlccg.grenfellenhancedhealth@nhs.net with your name, date of birth and contact number. The service will make contact to arrange an appointment.

As the end of the year approaches, the NHS wants to remind the Grenfell community (specifically survivors and the bereaved) that the Dedicated Service is available to support pre-existing and new health issues, such as diabetes, asthma, anxiety or low mood.

Although many people prefer to access these services through their GP, other referral routes are readily available through our Health Partners, or you can even self refer.

A booklet detailing all the services available as well as the referral routes is available in an easily accessible Dedicated Service booklet, which is available online in eight different languages, including English, Arabic, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Mary Mullix, North Kensington Recovery’s Director says: “The end of a year can be a hectic time for North Kensington and Grenfell-affected residents, but may be a time of quiet reflection for others. Wherever you are, it may provide an ideal opportunity to revisit what NHS services can be accessed in the New Year to support your health and wellbeing.

“The Dedicated Service booklet provides a useful reference point for the full range of services available and we encourage you to access this as a starting point to see whether an Enhanced Health Check, or an Extended GP appointment best meets your needs. Self Care is an alternative option for everyone. The booklet contains a useful infographic as a visual guide.

“Many people find the New Year brings a renewed desire to be active, so local community groups and activities are an ideal way to support your emotional health as well as keep fit. You can access these activities via one of our Health Partners or by accessing a range of services running from the St Charles Centre for Health and Wellbeing on Exmoor Street (call: 020 8969 2488).”

Recent demands for urgent, same day appointments are being linked to parental concerns over their child becoming unwell and contracting a Group A streptococcus (Strep A) infection.

Strep A is responsible for infections such as tonsillitis, pharyngitis, scarlet fever, impetigo and cellulitis. Strep A is usually a mild infection and can initially present with similar symptoms to the common cold or flu (such as a sore throat, headache, fever and chills).

Strep A-specific symptoms may include a fine, pinkish or red body rash and on darker skins the rash can be more difficult to detect visually, but will have a sandpapery feel.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has recently advised that a nasal spray vaccine that protects children against flu may also help protect against Strep A infections. It found that rates of strep A were lower in areas where the vaccine was offered to all primary-age children when it was first being used.

Dr Meena Nathan, GP Clinical lead for Grenfell, says: “In the North Kensington area we have seen increased parental concern that their child’s illness might be Strep A-related.

“The majority of Strep A infections are mild and can be treated with antibiotics. However if your child has a raised temperature and isn’t eating or drinking as usual, or your baby has a dry nappy for over 12 hours, then there is a risk of dehydration and you should call NHS 111 immediately, or contact your GP surgery for advice.”

UKHSA provides more information in a video HERE.

Cultural Competency courses that have been co-produced by the North Kensington (Grenfell) Recovery (NKR) engagement team and the Grenfell community have received prestigious accreditation from the Royal College of GPs (RCGP).

Cultural Competency is a process that describes a set of aligned and transparent skills, attitudes and principles that acknowledge, respect and work together as a system towards optimal interactions between individuals and the various cultural and ethnic groups within a community.

For patients this means professionals having an enhanced awareness and understanding of their health and social needs, with the aim of improving their health outcomes.

The training is the result of a two-year process of whole system partnership with local communities and those impacted by the Grenfell Tower fire, who shared their experiences, concerns and views on how services could be made more culturally relevant.

This learning from Grenfell has resulted in an innovative approach overseen by Head of Engagement for NKR Krishna Sarda, Engagement and Equalities Manager Radhika Howarth and the GP Clinical lead for Grenfell Dr Meena Nathan, who have worked with the community to adapt the training to ensure it is responsive and robust. The courses are tailored to the specific roles of different health professionals.

The bespoke training courses have now been successfully piloted in North Kensington, with GPs taking the course titled Developing a Culturally Competence General Practice to receive their accreditation. Once all staff in their practice are trained in cultural competency the Practice can be certified as being a culturally competent General Practice. Culturally competent Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) are being piloted to create sustainability at the local level. This is one of the dimensions of NKR’s approach to dealing with health inequalities.

Mary Mullix, Director of the North Kensington (Grenfell) Recovery Programme, says: “I first want to thank the community who have worked closely with the NKR Engagement team to develop this Cultural Competency training, which has resulted in receiving prestigious RCGP accreditation.

“This is the result of diligently engaging with the community and Health Partners over a number of years to build their trust, and to gain a vital understanding of what the community needs to improve their health and wellbeing. We hope the Cultural Competency training will be viewed as an example of what can be achieved when working with communities as equal partners to co-produce work that will benefit so many people.”

Training is now being scheduled for all Primary Care staff in North Kensington, with the intent to roll this out to other locations across NHS North West London ICS in the next few months.

The NHS has services local to you that make it easy to access support during the cold winter months.

Flu jabs and Covid boosters can be booked online through the National Booking Service or by calling 119. You can also visit a vaccine centre or the pop up bus located at Kensington Town Hall. Details of local sites can be found here. These vaccines are also available from the local pharmacy as an alternative to contacting GP practices.

Extra length, Grenfell-specific GP extended appointments and annual enhanced health checks continue being offered by GPs to support Grenfell-affected residents, but those feeling especially worried and anxious are advised to call the dedicated Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service helpline on 020 8637 6279 (open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm).

Additionally if you need urgent help, the St Charles Urgent Care Centre, has a walk-in service which is nurse-led. It can help with minor injuries and illnesses and provides same day access and care. The service runs seven days a week, 8am-6pm and is open on bank holidays (excluding Christmas Day).

Residents who need practical financial advice and support can access more help here.

More information about all the services available can be found at www.grenfell.nhs.uk.

The walk-in service at St Charles Urgent Care Centre (UCC) (provided by Central London Healthcare NHS Trust (CLCH) has re-opened.

Dring Covid-19 pandemic the NHS in North West London had to temporarily close a number of services.  However, the success of the Covid-19 vaccination programme meant that we were able to temporarily reopen as a booked in service only and following this we worked with our NHS partners to fully reopen the walk-in-service.

The Walk-in service at St Charles Urgent Care Centre is a nurse led service for minor injuries and illnesses and will provide access for same day care without an appointment.

The service runs seven days a week, 8am-6pm, open on bank holidays but excluding Christmas Day.

An appointment booked service will be retained to allow NHS 111 and GPs to book North West London patients for remote/virtual triage at the centre. Patients registered with a GP practice outside NW London will not be able to access the service via NHS 111 or via GP booked appointment.

All walk-in patients, irrespective of where they live who attend the UCC will receive or be directed to appropriate care. 

Our thoughts are with those affected by the fire in a high-rise residential building in Shepherd's Bush today, which is close to Grenfell Tower.

The fire broke out on the 12^th floor of the high rise tower in Queensdale Crescent at 9.20am this morning. 

Although the London Fire Brigade has confirmed the fire is now under control and the majority of residents were safely evacuated (although one person is in hospital), we are aware that survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire, the bereaved, and the wider community will be upset and unsettled by today’s events.

 The NHS is here to support everyone affected by Grenfell, so please don’t hesitate to reach out for the emotional, physical and wellbeing support that’s available.

On Tuesday morning the names of the 72 people who lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire were individually and poignantly read out in a multi-faith service at Westminster Abbey.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the afternoon service held at the foot of the Grenfell Tower, where the community gathered to pay tribute to their loved ones with speeches and songs. There were many moving tributes, particularly the poem by an eight-year-old girl who survived the fire. Green banners, flowers and messages of tribute on the memorial wall provided the backdrop. During the ceremony 18 green balloons were released to represent the lives of the 18 children who died.

Mary Mullix, Director of the North Kensington Recovery Team, said:
 “The five year anniversary has been a sad milestone for this community.

As the health service serving this community we’d like everyone affected by the Grenfell fire to know that the NHS has been listening to them and is still here for them. We will continue building health services around survivors, the bereaved and wider communities that responds to what is needed to help emotional well-being alongside physical health.

I’d like to encourage everyone who needs support to come forward when they are ready – the services are there for you and we are here to help.”

The NHS is here to support all the North Kensington communities today, on the fifth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire – as well as afterwards.

As in previous years, we will be present at various venues across the community and supporting community events. Please come and talk to us if you feel you need our support.

Additionally, there are additional health services that have been put in place by the NHS to specifically support the individuals bereaved by Grenfell (children and adults), their families and the wider communities impacted by the fire in North Kensington.

We know anniversaries are difficult, so please don’t hesitate to reach out for support if you need it.

The NHS Dedicated Service

This service is set up specifically to support and coordinate bereaved and survivor access to a range of emotional and wellbeing health services.

Call 020 8637 6279 (open Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm)

Visit https://grenfellwellbeing.cnwl.nhs.uk/dedicated-service, or visit them at Grenfell  Health and Wellbeing Service, St. Charles’ Centre for Health & Wellbeing, Exmoor Street, London, W10 6DZ (open Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm)

The NHS Dedicated Service is not an emergency service; so in an emergency or where someone’s life is at risk please phone 999. 

Extended length GP appointments and Annual Enhanced Health Checks

You can request these extra length, Grenfell-specific GP Extended Appointments and Annual Enhanced Health Checks from your GP.

Find your nearest GP practice here: Find a GP - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

The Community Enhanced Health Check service, delivered by the West London GP Federation is also available to you. To access an Enhanced Health Check in the community closer to you email: nhsnwlccg.grenfellenhancedhealth@nhs.net or call  020 8102 5109 (open Monday to Friday 9.00am – 6.30pm)

The Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service

The service works alongside you in a way that is tailored to you, your family and community. Contact the service via email grenfell.wellbeingservice@nhs.net  or phone 020 8637 6279 (open everyday 8.00am to 8.00pm)

For urgent mental health support overnight the mental health Single Point of Access (SPA) is available over the phone. Call 0800 0234 650 (from 8.00pm to 8.00am).

Self Care

You can also refer to all the wellbeing services on the Roadmap for Wellbeing. This contains lots of very useful information and resources when you click on each service listed under the different headings: Roadmap to Wellbeing Services 

A range of self care services is also available through the Kensington and Chelsea Social Council. Call 020 7243 9800/ Email: info@kcsc.org.uk/

Directory search for local services: https://www.kcsc.org.uk/kcsc-directory

Everyone remembers where they were when they heard about the Grenfell Tower fire – a night when 72 individuals tragically lost their lives. Every single one of these deaths was – and remains - a heart-breaking loss for the loved ones left behind.

All of us in the National Health Service express our deepest condolences to all those impacted by this disaster.  Although nothing we can say or do will bring back your loved ones, we would like you to know that the NHS is here to support you and your family.

The additional services put in place to support Grenfell families, and those in the wider community, are available for you today, over the next year and beyond.  Our thoughts are with you all on this sad anniversary and I will be joining in the 72 second silence on Tuesday 14 June at 11am. 

As the new Chief Executive of the North West London Integrated Care System, the new body responsible for the overall NHS partnership in North West London, I very much look forward to getting to know you, hearing and learning from you all.

Rob

Rob Hurd

Chief Executive

NHS North West London Integrated Care System

Grenfell anniversary – taking care of yourself and loved ones

We are approaching the fifth anniversary of the Grenfell tragedy and our thoughts are with the whole community of North Kensington, as we remember the 72 lives lost.

The anniversary period is a difficult time for many residents in North Kensington, and everyone will react and respond in different ways to this significant event. The NHS is here throughout this period and beyond, to support you and your family.

Marking the anniversary

Marking the fifth anniversary has presented many additional challenges. The past few years have been very difficult for all of us with the continued impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, war in Ukraine, ongoing increases in the cost of living and other life events. Many residents are feeling additional stress and anxiety as current events remind them of things that happened before, during and after Grenfell, making it harder for them to cope leading up to the anniversary.

Some residents have also expressed worry about the ongoing Grenfell Inquiry and concerns about justice and the future of the tower. All of these things might make the upcoming anniversary even harder.

The NHS continues to firmly stand together with all the North Kensington communities, and there are many health services in place for the North Kensington communities to utilise for their physical and psychological health needs. If you have any worries or concerns, we do recommend that you seek support.

Advice & support

It is more important than ever that you look after your mental and emotional health and wellbeing at this time.

The Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service has published guides with some suggestions and advice that might help. Click on the links below to download the information and share with others:

https://grenfellwellbeing.cnwl.nhs.uk/news/grenfell-news/updated-grenfell-anniversary-leaflets

Further information and a leaflet focused on a programme of wellbeing activities during the anniversary period, is available here:

https://grenfellwellbeing.cnwl.nhs.uk/news/grenfell-news/grenfell-anniversary-wellbeing-activities-2022

I need to speak to someone, or know someone else who needs help

If you or someone you know has been affected by Grenfell, and need support, or you would just like to have a chat, you can call the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service on 020 8637 6279, phone line is open every day 8.00am to 8.00pm, or email at grenfell.wellbeingservice@nhs.net.

You can also contact the NHS ‘Single Point of Access’ overnight from 8.00pm for telephone support on 0800 0234 650. The service is confidential and you are not required to give any personal details.

You can find out more here: grenfellwellbeing.com/contact-us

I have another health worry

If you are worried about any aspect of your health then speak to your GP in the first instance, you can request a Grenfell specific GP Extended Appointment with your practice reception if you need more time with your GP. These appointments can take place either face or face or over the phone, based on your health needs.

Your GP can also book you in for an Enhanced Health Check, to provide a comprehensive 30-minute health check by clinical staff members at the GP Practices.

Additional health services to support the community, are delivered by different parts of the NHS such as GP practices, hospital or community services and local voluntary and community organisations. A guide to those services can be found here:

https://www.grenfell.nhs.uk/nhs-services

If you need healthcare or treatment, it is important that you contact the NHS which is here for you and is actively encouraging people not to hesitate in speaking to their GP or, in an emergency, calling 999.

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and we are encouraging 56 and over 60 year olds to participate in bowel screening as part of the National Age Extension Campaign for bowel screening.

Previously bowel screening kits have been available for anyone over the age of 60 years with 60-74-year-olds automatically sent a home test every two years. Last year in April 2021, 56 year olds were invited to take part in screening and eventually everyone between the ages of 50 and 74 will be invited to take part.

Every 15 minutes somebody is diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK and it is one of the most common types of cancers diagnosed in the UK.

The campaign is being promoted across our social media channels and outdoor advertising is taking place in Brent, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and Hammersmith and Fulham. These are boroughs that RM Partners, who we are working with on this campaign, have identified as needing encouragement to participate in bowel cancer screening.

Bowel cancer screening is done at home which could ease worry for those that may be nervous about going to hospital since the pandemic. The kit, which includes simple instructions, is sent in the post and test results arrive back in the post within 2 weeks.

Dr Abhijit Singh Gill, Hammersmith and Fulham GP, Cancer Lead for NHS NW London Clinical Commissioning Group and Primary Care Clinical Director for RM Partners West London Cancer Alliance, which provided support for this campaign said:

“Bowel cancer is highly treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early. However, the outcomes drop significantly when the disease is diagnosed at a later stage. Screening is a way of finding out if there are any signs of cancer so that early treatment can be offered or information given to help make informed decisions.

People may have put off routine checks due to the pandemic but it’s important screening doesn’t slip – and the great thing about bowel screening is it can be done easily at home with a few simple steps”

Everybody who is registered with a GP and in the age criteria will automatically be sent a Bowel Cancer Screening kit every 2 years. The kit includes simple instructions and test results arrive back in the post within 2 weeks. If you would like the NHS to send you a testing kit call the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60.

If you are worried about a family history of bowel cancer or have any symptoms, please contact your GP practice for advice.  

Cancer won’t wait. Screening saves lives, are you up to date?

The NHS is offering Enhanced health checks once again at community sites in North Kensington, initially starting with the St Charles Health and Wellbeing centre.

The Enhanced Health Check offers a longer appointment with a dedicated clinician to check your health and well-being. The checks are designed to identify any areas where further treatment, self-care or support may be needed. You can also discuss any physical health concerns which you haven't had the opportunity to do so throughout the pandemic.  

Dr Meena Nathan,

 “We want to offer as much convenience as possible for people to take up this opportunity to have a thorough check of their health and there is no better time than the start of the year.

“Some people will want to see their usual GP for this service whereas others may want more flexibility in terms of where and when they go for the check. We’re now delighted to be able to offer both options and make this service more accessible to more people”.

The checks were introduced as a response to health concerns in the community following Grenfell and number of specialist services are available for referral should any health matter need further investigation following the check.

Appointments can be booked by calling 0208 102 5109, or you can email for a call back nhsnwlccg.grenfellenhancedhealth@nhs.net, offices are open 9-6pm Monday to Friday You can also call your GP practice and they can book you in at the practice or a community site.

More community sites will be announced very soon on our website.

Dr Ernie Wong, Consultant Respiratory Physician, and clinical lead for asthma at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust will be leading the workshop with practical examples on the use of inhalers.

This workshop is free and open to anyone living in North Kensington

Wednesday 23^rd February 2022

2pm – 3pm

Dalgarno Community Centre, 1 Webb Close, Dalgarno Way, London, W10 5QB

The workshop will cover the following -

• Understanding Asthma and its diagnosis
• Triggers- what sets it off or makes it worse?
• Treatments – how to use inhalers correctly
• Managing asthma for good outcomes

You can attend in person or join the workshop using the zoom link by clicking here

Or book a place by emailing - nhswlccg.nkrt@nhs.net or call 07951940535

There will be an opportunity to ask questions.

If you wish to attend in person then please book a place using Eventbrite link below

• What is it about the unvaccinated that makes them more at risk of passing on the virus?

For people that are vaccinated, their bodies can process the virus without becoming infected or developing symptoms. This reduces the likelihood of passing it onto others. This video explains the science behind this.

Covid-19 and booster vaccine

• I'm eligible for the booster vaccine but haven't heard anything from my GP, how can I get this?

You don't need to wait for an invitation from the NHS to get your booster vaccine. We encourage everyone to call 119 or go to www.nhs.uk five months after there second jab to book their appointment. Currently, you can have the booster vaccine from six months after your second jab, this will soon change to three months.

• Is it safe to take a booster jab if you have had the flu vaccine?

Yes it is safe. If you are offered both vaccines, it is also safe to have them at the same time.

• How long will the booster jab offer protection?

We don’t fully know, but we do know that the protection from the first two vaccinations is not as good after six months, so you need to have a booster.

• Can I still take a booster jab if I haven’t taken my flu jab?

Yes, you can have the booster jab without taking the flu jab but we don't recommend this. The flu vaccination is important because more people are likely to get flu this winter as fewer people will have built up natural immunity to it during the Covid-19 pandemic.

If you get flu and Covid-19 at the same time, research shows you're more likely to be seriously ill. Flu kills 11,000 people a year.

• Will the booster jab protect me from flu and vice versa? Or are these two separate jabs?

No, you need both jabs.

• Can I still take the booster jab if I haven’t got my second vaccine?

No. You should have your second vaccine and then the booster jab six (soon three) months after that.

• I still haven't had my second jab of the Covid-19 vaccine, what should I do?

If you have not had a second vaccine please book an appointment eight weeks after your first. For ages 12-17, they should have the second jab 12 weeks after the first vaccine.

Flu vaccine

• People who get the flu jab still get the flu why?

The flu jab protects against the most common strains of flu but there are other strains. So, whilst you are protected against the most common strains, there is a small chance you may come into contact with another strain. Having the flu jab significantly reduces your risk of getting flu.

• Will the flu vaccine also protect me against Covid-19?

No. Both flu and Covid-19 are very serious illnesses, you need both jabs.