Update letter from the North Yorkshire Health Task Group - March 2021

This is a letter from the North Yorkshire Health Task Group.

My name is Christopher Porter, and I am the self-advocate co-chair of the North Yorkshire Health Task Group    

It is sad that we can’t meet but this letter is to help us stay in touch and to let you know what we have been doing

Health Champions

Christopher and Natasha are Health Champions with Bradford Talking Media.

They are working to make health services in the Bradford District and Craven area better for everyone with a learning disability and autism. They has been busy attending on line meetings and sharing lots of ideas.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

 

We know lockdown has been hard for lots of people.

KeyRing have made some activity packs to help you stay mentally well. They have lots of ideas to keep busy, relax and feel happier. We will send them out to all self-advocates soon.

If you are feeling lonely or bored, there are lots of activities happening online. Talk to KeyRing if you want to find out more about these.

Annual Health Checks

 

Christopher wants to remind all North Yorkshire self-advocates to get their Annual Health check as soon as possible. The Annual Health check makes sure that you are healthy. He had his health check recently. Make sure that your Health Passport is up to date too.  

Flu Jabs

We are working with Public Health to remind people how important it is to have a flu jab this year. If you have not had your flu jab you should contact your GP surgery as soon as possible.   

Coronavirus Vaccine

Many people have questions about the coronavirus vaccine.  

 Your NHS will contact you when it is your turn to have the vaccine. All the vaccines in the UK have been tested to make sure they are safe.

 

There is lots of useful information about the vaccine on the Keep Safe website https://www.keepsafe.org.uk/ and the NYHTG website https://www.nypartnerships.org.uk/nyhtg

If you do not have the internet, you can ask Keyring for information.

Mark’s COVID vaccination story

Mark had a phone call telling him to go to his GP surgery in Scarborough on a Friday afternoon for his COVID jab. He went to his GP surgery and had to wait in the waiting room for a few minutes.  Then two nurses came and spoke to Mark and asked him if he had a temperature or a sore throat

 

Mark then went to another room where he sat on a chair and pulled up his sleeve. He had the injection in his arm and was told this was the Oxford vaccine.  Mark said it didn’t hurt and was just like having the flu jab.

Mark said he would recommend that everyone has the COVID vaccination because it will save lives and stop people with a learning disability dying younger than other people.

 

Hospital website

We have been working with staff from Airedale Hospital and The University of Bradford. They are making an interactive website for Airedale Hospital near Skipton.

The website will help people know what to expect if they to go into hospital for surgery. We have checked how accessible the website is and given feedback.

LeDer

LeDeR are working hard to complete all Reviews. 

LeDer have been working with NHS England to look at anyone with a learning disability who has died from COVID 19. When LeDer set up a steering group, they will invite a Self-Advocate to be part of it.  


Learning Disability Strategy

Julie Butterworth from North Yorkshire CCG is interested in finding out if anyone has had problems getting an annual health check.

If you or someone you know has had problems please tell Keyring and they will pass this information onto Julie. Julie is training GPs so that they can help people with Learning Disability get an Annual Health check.

Future meetings

 

Sadly, we still do not know when we will be able to meet together again in 2021. We will listen to the Government and follow advice so that everyone can stay safe.

 

To find out more about the Health Task Group visit our website: www.nypartnerships.org.uk/nyhtg

 

If you have any questions or ideas about the North Yorkshire Health Task Group please email

Shanna from North Yorkshire County Council at:

 

Shanna.carrell@northyorks.gov.uk

Take care and stay safe.

Best wishes

 

Christopher Porter
Co-Chair of the North Yorkshire Health Task Group