NHS Berkshire Health Network - June

Message from NHS Berkshire Health Network

Welcome to the June edition of BHN Update

We’ve had a busy past month with several health awareness campaigns - including World Blood Donor Day, a call for men who work outside to “Cover Up, Mate!” and a campaign encouraging women with learning difficulties urged to attend screening appointments (details below). The record breaking temperatures we saw earlier this month truly announced the start of summer, so there lots of information and tips on how to beat the heat in this edition. There’s also details on a campaign which is a aimed at helping prevent pressure ulcers and some details on new resources for patients asking about social care.

How to beat the heat 

Bright, long hot summer days are what many of us look forward to – especially during a cold, wet Berkshire winter. However, while we are enjoying the balmy days of summer, we should not forget that the temperature can get too high and it can become dangerously hot for some.

If a heatwave hits this summer, make sure the hot weather doesn't harm you or anyone you know. There is a wealth of information from the NHS online on how to cope in hot weather, including what symptoms to look out for to see if someone is being made ill by the heat and who is most at risk.

There are practical tips for coping in hot weather from the NHS, much of the advice on beating the heat is common sense and for most people there's nothing to really worry about. For some people, such as older people, those with underlying health conditions and those with young children, the summer heat can bring real health risks. That's why we're urging everyone to keep an eye on those you know who may be at risk this summer.

Sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer. Sunburn doesn't just happen on holiday – you can burn in the UK, even when it's cloudy. You can find expert advice for adults and children on sunscreen and sun safety from the NHS.

Babies and young children can become ill during very hot weather. Their health can be seriously affected by dehydration, sunburn, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. There is important information about how to best keep infants & young children cool during a heatwave available from the NHS. 

Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluid than you take in. When the normal water content of your body is reduced, it upsets the balance of minerals (salts and sugar) in your body, which affects the way it functions. Water makes up over two-thirds of the healthy human body. It lubricates the joints and eyes, aids digestion, flushes out waste and toxins, and keeps the skin healthy It is important to stay hydrated in the warm weather.  Information about how to best keep hydrated during a heatwave.

React to Red - prevent pressure ulcers

The React to Red skin campaign is aimed at helping prevent pressure ulcers. By reacting to red skin over bony areas and asking for help and advice from a healthcare professional you can stop red skin becoming a serious wound.

The campaign has developed as we see many patients admitted to hospital with pressure ulcers that they have not told anyone about. Often these are very painful, wet and sore and can become very serious if they become infected. 

Our message is React to Red Skin Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has produced this leaflet, providing advice on how to reduce the risk of pressure ulcers.
As a patient, family member or carer there are a few simple things you can do to prevent a pressure ulcer developing:

• Regularly check skin isn’t sore or discoloured in anyway. If it is let a healthcare professional know
• It’s really important you keep moving while in bed or on a chair. Change your position as much as possible when appropriate
• When you’re unwell or immobile going to the toilet can be difficult. Ensure that skin is clean and dry or ask for help
• Eat a well-balanced diet and drink plenty of fluids
• Special equipment is available for those at risk of developing pressure ulcers. Ask for help and your healthcare professional will advise you.

Change4Life with Disney returns with 10 Minute Shake Up activities

Kids need 60 minutes of activity every day. Any 10-minute-burts of activity counts, whether it’s a run in the park, a kick about with the football, or a 10 minute Shake Up in the living room - it all adds up.

Change 4 Life have developed a range of resources including Disney-inspired wall charts, event kits, downloadable resources and teaching materials for schools that are all available now.

There's plenty to choose from to get them started now, with more Shake Ups arriving each week from July 17. 
Every 10 minutes counts!

Outdoor workers to “Cover Up, Mate” to reduce risk of skin cancer

The local NHS is urging men who spend a lot of time outdoors to protect themselves against the sun, to reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Skin cancer rates are higher than average and rising, and the NHS “Cover Up, Mate” campaign is targeting male agricultural and construction workers, gardeners and sports-players – who often don’t use suncream.

Public Health England figures show that between 2005 and 2014, incidence of malignant melanoma rose by 44.4% in men in West Berkshire, by 65.6% in men in Reading and by 12.4% overall in Wokingham.

The campaign urges men who spend long periods of time outdoors to protect themselves against the sun. Going into shade, wearing clothing and sunglasses, and using at least factor 15 sunscreen on all exposed skin will all help reduce the risks outdoor workers face.
Anyone who notices a change to a mole, freckle or normal patch of skin, should tell their doctor. The earlier skin cancer is caught, the easier it is to treat. More information on spotting the symptoms of skin cancer is available online from the NHS.

Numbers of young smokers at record low as indoor smoking ban celebrates 10th anniversary

1st July 2017 marks the 10th anniversary of the ending of smoking in enclosed public places in England. The smoking ban in England has helped cut smoking rates as more people have been encouraged to kick the habit in the last ten years.

In 2007 the government passed a new law which made it illegal for anyone to smoke in an enclosed public place and within the workplace.

The most recent figures also show a significant drop in smoking among younger adults with smoking at an all-time low in those aged 18-24 years – this is a huge step toward establishing the first tobacco-free generation.

Despite the fall in the number of smokers, many people find it hard to quit and tobacco remains the number one killer in England and a chief cause of long-term poor health with one in four hospital beds occupied by a smoker.

The NHS Smokefree app can help you stop smoking by providing daily support and motivation. If you stay smokefree for the 4-week programme you're up to five times more likely to quit for good. 

Many people relapse when quitting smoking, if you're tempted to start smoking again, call the free NHS Smokefree helpline on 0300 123 1044 to get support from a trained adviser or get support online.

Women with learning difficulties urged to attend screening appointments in Cervical Cancer Awareness Week

Local Clinical Commissioning Groups supported European Cervical Cancer Awareness Week in June. The week aimed to raise awareness of the importance of cervical screening and its role in preventing cancer, as well as encouraging local women with Learning Difficulties to go for their screening test when invited.

It is really important for all women to attend cervical screening as it can detect pre-cancer abnormalities, which, if left untreated, may develop into cancer. Every day nine women in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer and three women will lose their lives to the disease.

Locally in Berkshire West, far fewer women with learning disabilities have been going for their screening test when invited, compared to women without a learning disability.

An Easy Read leaflet for people with Learning Difficulties on the screening test is available, please share with anyone you may feel may benefit from reading it.

New resources for patients asking about social care

A new website providing resources to support older people and their relatives find information about social care in later life has been launched. The website contains a leaflet and short film and covers basic information about social care including what information different organisations can and cannot provide. The resources are based on research carried out by the Social Policy Research Unit at the University of York and funded by the National Institute for Health Research School for Social Care Research.

World Blood Donor Day
June 14th was World Blood Donor Day - a global event organised by the World Health Organisation to raise awareness of the importance of blood donation.

In England, every time someone gives blood they save or improve the lives of up to three people. NHS Blood and Transplant needs just under 200,000 new donors to attend a session to give blood this year. They will replace those are no longer able to donate, those who can’t donate temporarily due to travel or other short term restrictions.

There is a particular need to attract more younger donors (from 17 years old) and people from South Asian and black communities. People from South Asian and black communities are more likely to have rarer blood types and conditions, such as Thalassaemia or Sickle Cell Disease respectively, which require regular blood transfusions.

In general, as long as you are fit and healthy, weigh over 7 stone 12 lbs (50kg) and are aged between 17 and 66 (up to 70 if you have given blood before) you should be able to give blood. If you are over 70, you need to have given blood in the last two years to continue donating. To find out more or book an appointment visit www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.

Thank you for taking the time to read this month’s newsletter. There are other ways to keep in touch with developments in your local NHS. One way is to go to your local CCG’s website for news as all the opportunities to give your views or get involved will be there. Another is these monthly updates you’re already receiving from the Berkshire Health Network. If you find these BHN updates useful, please encourage friends, family and patients at your practice to register too.