Welcome

Welcome to our community update. This is NHS North West London's newsletter for local community and voluntary groups.

We would encourage you to help us by sharing the relevant content in your community newsletters and email updates aimed at your members and residents. You may also use this wording in social media posts. Images and some campaign materials in different languages are available on our resources page.

Draft Joint Forward Plan for 2024/25

North West London Integrated Care Board and our partner NHS trusts are developing our Joint Forward Plan for 2024/25 to 2028/29. We have now published an initial draft for discussion with residents, our local authority colleagues and other partners.

North West London Integrated Care System published its Health and Care Strategy in November 2023. We are required to publish a Joint Forward Plan (JFP) each year which covers the services we commission or those delivered by our NHS partners. The JFP builds on the strategy and sets out how the NHS will implement the parts of the strategy within its remit.

The Health and Wellbeing Boards in each of our boroughs is being asked whether the JFP is sufficient to meet the needs of the residents of their area. The ICB is arranging to attend Health and Wellbeing Boards to discuss the draft plan with them.

Residents are also welcome to comment on the initial draft, which will be discussed at a future Integrated Care Board meetings in public, including our meeting on 17 April. Comments on the document can be send to nhsnwl.nwlstrategy@nhs.net.

Spring COVID-19 vaccination programme launches this month

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 NW 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 people who are eligible and should have the vaccination this spring are:

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

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

The list of NW London sites offering vaccination is available here.

Are your children up to date with their vaccinations?

Childhood infections like measles and whopping cough can have a huge impact on your child’s life. They can miss out on school due to time spent unwell, be hospitalised, and even experience life-long complications and disability. 

If your child isn’t vaccinated, they’re not protected. 

It is important for parents to take up the offer of the NHS’ free childhood immunisation programme as soon as they are offered ensure your child has the best protection.

However, if you or your child have missed a vaccine, it is never too late to check if you can catch up. 

We are calling on all parents to check their child’s Red Book to see if the children have missed any vaccines or check with their GP if they are unsure.  

Please visit www.nhs.uk/childhoodvaccinations for the full immunisation timetable and information on how to book.

17 April is World Hemophilia Day - do you know when to seek help?

World Hemophilia Day raises awareness of people living with haemophilia.

Haemophilia is a rare condition that affects the blood's ability to clot. It's usually inherited. Most people who have it are male.

See a GP if:

• You or your child bruises easily and has bleeding that does not stop
• Your or your child has symptoms of joint bleeds – for example, tingling, pain, or stiffness in a joint, and the joint becoming hot, swollen, and tender
• You have a family history of haemophilia and you're pregnant or planning to have a baby.

There's a small risk that people with haemophilia may have a bleed inside their skull (a brain or subarachnoid haemorrhage).

Symptoms of a brain haemorrhage include:

• A severe headache
• A stiff neck
• Being sick (vomiting)
• A change in mental state, such as confusion
• Difficulty speaking, such as slurred speech
• Changes in vision, such as double vision
• Loss of co-ordination and balance
• Paralysis of some or all the facial muscles.

Call 999 and ask for an ambulance if you think someone's bleeding inside their skull.

Find out more here

NHS dentists accepting patients

Find out which dentists in Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham, as well as Kensington and Chelsea, who are accepting NHS patients by clicking here.

For other boroughs use this finder.

Kensington health hubs on 11 and 15 April 

The NHS are holding a series of pop up sessions in April which will be open during the day, with no appointment needed. Patients can walk-in on the day.
 
Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR):
 
If you or your children are not up to date with your MMR immunisation you will be able to get it at these pop-ups.

Measles spreads easily and anyone who is not vaccinated can catch it. There is currently an increase in measles cases across the country. Measles can have serious and sometimes fatal consequences. 

What else is available:

The pop-ups also offer the chance to have other health checks, you can find out:

• Your blood pressure
• Your blood sugar levels
• Your BMI
• About smoking and alcohol cessation advice
• Immunisations 
• General health and wellbeing information.  

Walk-in details:

Thursday 11 April - Chelsea Theatre, World’s End Place, SW10 0DR (10am - 4pm)

Monday 15 April - North Kensington Library, 108 Ladbroke Grove, W11 1PZ (11am - 5pm)