This information is mainly culled from the papers for the meeting of the Lambeth Clinical Commissioning Governing Body (11 November, Lambeth Town Hall) and the new Lambeth Together newsletter.
Act now to protect yourself and your children from a South London Measles outbreak
There have been 200 cases of measles in South London in the past six months, 2/3rd among those over 15, with all the known consequences. The UK has lost its WHO measles elimination status. Ongoing transmission and low vaccination rates have caused a risk of serious outbreaks. Plans are being made to address the problem but why wait. Contact your GP if in doubt.
First Lambeth Together single point of contact goes live
Lambeth Living has launched a Single Point of Access for those who need more mental health support than their GP can provide. See here for details. This is part of a linked portfolio of recently launched services. Discussions are also under way with the new primary care networks regarding the location of three “Living Well” centres to cover the whole of Lambeth.
Action to promote take-up of NHS Healthy Start Vouchers
The Lambeth Public Health Director estimates that over a thousand pregnant teenagers and mothers on benefits have not claimed the NHS Healthy Start vouchers to which they are entitled. The vouchers can be used in Superdrug and Iceland on the Norwood Road, Tesco on Croxted Road and Budgens on Gipsy Road to get milk, vitamins and fresh vegetables. You can download the form from the NHS website but need to get it signed by your midwife or health visitor.
Other news and developments
The Local Government Association (LGA) report on Sexual Health Commissioning in Local Government reports the tri-borough (Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham) exercise, which also covers abortion services, as an example of good practice. Lambeth has exclusion zones to prevent demonstrations near the relevant centres.
The Northwood Group Practice has been awarded an initial two-year contract with an option to extend by a further year for the provision of a community diabetes service commencing in July 2020.
Tulse Hill, Herne Hill and Thurlow Park Wards have been chosen for a “Test and Learn” pilot to co-ordinate the care of those with multiple long-term conditions or coming to the end of their lives.
Kings Health Partners is looking to open up NHS jobs and careers to local school leavers and returners as part of the NHS skills plan to address the widely publicised staff shortages.
Making Lambeth Voices Count - consultation meeting with Kings Health Partners on making community engagement work: Wednesday 20 November 2019 (2:30-7pm).