Search the LINk
LINk groups:
News
BEN Action Group meeting 11th April 2012
Agenda for BENAG Meeting 110412
Wednesday 11th April 2012
(11.00 – 1.00 pm)
ENTA CIC
Mill Wharf, 10 Mill Street
Birmingham
B6 4BS
Tel: 0121 380 4800
Minutes from the last Birmingham East and North Action Group
Please find below the minutes from the last Birmingham East and North Action Group (BENAG), held at ENTA CIC on Thursday May 5th 2011.
Details of the Pain Fatigue Support Group
On the first Thursday of every month, the Pain Fatigue Support Group meets to offer service users a chance to share experiences and tips/advice. Pain Fatigue Support Group Information
NHS helps people to take care of themselves during self care week
NHS Birmingham East and North is encouraging people to take control of their own health and wellbeing as national Self Care Week is launched.
Self Care Week, which runs from 15 – 21 November, aims to get people, especially those with a long term condition, to take control by learning about how they can better look after their own health. Self care is how you take medicines, treat minor ailments and seek help when you need it, as well as keeping fit and healthy. And if you have a long term condition, it is about understanding that condition and how to live with it on a day to day basis.
As part of Self Care Week 2010, NHS Birmingham East and North is directing people to its website, which has a wealth of information on self care, such as the Expert Patients Programme, which offers a course for people with long-term conditions to learn more about their condition and control their symptoms, and the Be active scheme, which gives people in Birmingham free access to leisure centres and swimming pools. There are also links to health resources such as NHS Choices, which has a dedicated page at www.nhs.uk/selfcare containing useful information on self care support and links to information on specific health conditions.
People can also talk to their GP, local pharmacist or practice nurse to find out more about health services and how they can help with self care.
Ruby Dillon, Health Improvement Specialist at NHS Birmingham East and North, said: “People say they want to look after their own health and most people with a long term condition tend to be experts in their own care, but some still do not understand their condition or are unsure when and why they take their medicines. On average, people spend just four hours a year with a healthcare professional – the rest of the time they look after themselves”.
“Learning to look after your health is a good thing – it puts you in control, improves quality of life and helps you live more healthily. NHS Birmingham East and North and your GP can support you with your self care, from giving you a free flu jab to supplying you with a Healthy Lifestyles brochure to helping you to become an Expert Patient.”
People in east and north Birmingham have their say on pharmacy services
NHS chiefs are asking residents across east and north Birmingham to share their views on pharmacy services in their area.
NHS Birmingham East and North commissions and looks after services that people get from their local pharmacy (or chemist). The NHS regularly reviews these services in a process known as a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA). The PNA is a document that assesses the need for pharmaceutical services in the area, used to help the NHS plan pharmacy provision for the population by identifying where efforts in commissioning services should focus.
As part of this work, NHS Birmingham East and North is asking patients, the public and community groups to have their say on the PNA document and its findings. The consultation, which is now underway, builds on the outcomes of a pre-consultation back in the summer, including the results of a questionnaire.
The PNA document will be available on the internet at http://benpct.nhs.uk/pharmacyneeds until the consultation closes on 31 December. People can also complete the online survey on the web page.
Nicola Benge, Director of Health Improvement at NHS Birmingham East and North, said: “We really want and value the input of residents in understanding how people use their local pharmacy and in helping to shape what we might provide in the future.
“When available, we will share the results of the consultation on the NHS Birmingham East and North website.”
If you would like more information about the consultation or would like a paper copy of the PNA document, call Phil Clark on 0121 380 9107 or email phil.clark@benpct.nhs.uk.
Free online trainer helps families in Birmingham to make a Change4Life
Families in the north and east of Birmingham can now work together to get fitter and healthier, thanks to a new online tool launched this week.
My Family Plan is a free website that helps families to make simple changes to their lifestyles to improve their health and wellbeing. Families complete an online questionnaire, with the answers generating a report tailored just for them. The report helps families to set health and lifestyle goals, and family members taking part get regular support from an online personal trainer to motivate them in reaching their goals.
When families sign up they are also able to download recipes, access information on healthy eating, find physical activity opportunities in their area and explore links to other sites to help them achieve their goals.
Linda Hindle, Dietician at NHS Birmingham East and North, said: “Recent statistics shows that one in 10 children in the Birmingham East and North area are obese by the time they start school, and by year six, that figure doubles to one in four in some areas. In today’s society, with easy access to fast food and less opportunity for activity, it is becoming harder for families to follow a healthy lifestyle.
“This new website gives families advice that is specific to them, showing what they are doing well already and giving advice on what small changes they make to their lifestyles, which can make a big difference to their health. Working together means that family members can motivate each other to improve their health, as well as getting support from the online trainer.”
To register for My Family Plan, go to https://myfamily.getfit.com.
Washwood Heath families reap the rewards of food growing course
Residents in Washwood Heath have been harvesting the fruits of their labours, thanks to FoodNet4 Life, an innovative food programme.
FoodNet4 Life works in priority areas of Birmingham to promote healthy eating by building knowledge and skills round food, with the ultimate aim of reducing risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and obesity.
Among the activities it provides are food growing courses, in partnership with organisations such as Highfield Children’s Centre in Washwood Heath. Earlier this year, local families who use the centre joined the FoodNet4 Life programme to take part in a food growing course. Over the course of five weeks, families gained the knowledge of how to grow their own fruit and vegetables both at home and in a community allotment site, secured by the Children’s Centre, in the Ward End Park area.
Each week the families took part in a practical session, covering which varieties of fruit and vegetables to grow, regardless of what growing area was available to them. This included expert guidance in what tasty produce could be grown in containers and pots.
Now that the course has finished, the families have continued to tend the allotment plot, and later this month will be reaping the rewards by gathering in the produce that they have grown and enjoying it at a cooking session.
Rehana Begum, who took part on the course, said: “By attending the gardening sessions at Ward End Park Allotment I learned how to grow different vegetable and fruit. I have even grown some peppers in my garden as a result of the course .
“I have made healthy food for my family, such as pakoras and lamb and rice, using vegetables from the allotment such as runner beans, courgettes, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots and lettuce. I will now attend the community cooking training with a view to becoming a cooking mentor.“
Christopher Walker, food health advisor for FoodNet4 Life, said: “Even though the course has finished, it was great to see that the families had carried on tending the plot. They are going to attend a ‘cook what you’ve grown session’ later on this month, so we complete the ‘plot to pot’ ethos. We have been able to show local families that growing your own is not only cheap but healthy and enjoyable too.”
To learn more about FoodNet4 Life, call Christopher on 0121 607 1791 or email christopher.walker@benpct.nhs.uk.
Patient input sought for Stroke and Heart Attack Groups
People across Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell who have experienced a stroke or heart attack, and their carers, are being asked to share their views to help shape health services.
The Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull Cardiac and Stroke Network has two expert groups, the stroke steering group, and the cardiac clinical advisory group which advises commissioners. They are now looking for the involvement of patients and carers to inform and develop cardiac and stroke services.
Involvement will take the form of attending meetings, and all travel expenses will be paid.
The Network is currently undertaking a campaign to encourage the involvement of patients and carers, with eye-catching posters sent out to GP practices across the city, Solihull and Sandwell. The campaign has the support of the leading cardiac charities, the British Heart Foundation and the Stroke Association.
Hardeep Kaur, Patient and Public Involvement Manager at the Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull Cardiac and Stroke Network, said: “The engagement of service users and their carers in the planning of new services is pivotal to the work of the network, and is essential in helping us to learn from their experience.
“We are looking for people from all walks of life who have had experience of stroke or heart attack, whether as a patient or a carer, to come along to our meetings and share their thoughts and ideas on the care they received and how it could be improved.”
For more information, contact Hardeep on 0121 465 2970 or email hardeep.kaur@bsscsn.nhs.uk.
Birmingham parents offered sessions to improve children’s eating habits
The NHS is helping parents in east and north Birmingham to take better control over their children’s eating habits with a series of group sessions.
From 13 September, NHS Birmingham East and North is running the sessions at children’s centres around the area to offer practical help to parents. The sessions will give advice on portion size and how to manage snacking, as well as tips on how to make changes at home and encouraging the family to do more exercise. Mums and dads coming along to the groups will be given free plates and bowls for their kids, which show the best portion sizes to use at home, as well as leaflets with information to share with family and friends.
While their parents take part in the group, the children will be read a short story, called “I’ve Had Enough”, teaching them about eating the right amount of food for their size. Those coming along to the sessions will be given a copy of this book for free.
People who take part will also be invited to a follow-up session a couple of weeks later, to talk about how they are getting on and to ask questions about any problems or challenges they are facing. The parents will also be supported by a new website, www.kidsontrack.co.uk, which contains what?
Over the next four weeks people will see posters in the local area, showing pictures of young children with captions highlighting potential consequences of childhood obesity later in life and bring home just how serious the long-term effects of childhood obesity are.
Nicola Benge, Director of Health Improvement at NHS Birmingham East and North, said: “Recent research shows that one in 10 children in the Birmingham East and North area are obese by the time they start school, and by year six, that figure doubles to one in four in some areas. In today’s society, with easy access to fast food and less opportunity for activity, it is becoming harder to help children to follow a healthy lifestyle.
“Parents have told us that they want to do the best for their child and would like the tools to help them achieve the right balance, so these sessions and website offer practical tips for parents on how to make healthy eating and sensible portion sizes a part of everyday family life.”
To find out more, and to register for a place in the groups go to www.kidsontrack.co.uk, or call 0121 380 0688. Places are limited, so hurry to secure your place.
