Community Update - 27 September 2024

Friday 27 September 2024

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.

Children and pregnant people invited for their free NHS flu vaccine

Stage one of this year’s seasonal flu vaccine programme is underway and those who are eligible are urged to get their vaccination for vital protection of the colder months.

The autumn/winter 2024 flu vaccination programme started its first stage on 1 September, inviting the following groups for a free NHS vaccination:

Pregnant people
Children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024
Primary school aged children
Secondary school aged children
Children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months - 17 years.

Flu spreads more easily in winter because we spend more time indoors with others – that’s why it’s vital for these cohorts who are most at risk of becoming seriously ill from the virus to get vaccinated early on.

Find out more here.

Vaccinations in Hillingdon

Hillingdon has 27 community pharmacy sites offering COVID-19 vaccinations to residents from Thursday 3 October - 20 December 2024.

The NW London website has been updated with the locations of all participating community pharmacy sites within each of the boroughs.

Please click on this link to review the most accurate information.

The national booking system (NBS) has opened for eligible people to book an appointment.

Residents can also visit a walk-in site listed below from Thursday 3 October 2024. No appointment is required to use the walk-in service, but we advise that they contact the site in advance to confirm opening hours. They do not have to be registered with a GP to use a walk-in service and you do not need to bring any identification. To find the nearest walk-in site, select borough from the list by clicking on this link to check our map.

Please note that not all sites offer vaccination to children. Residents will need to contact the site in advance if a child vaccination is required to check they are able to provide one.

Vaccinations in Brent

These events in Brent will offer vaccinations for vulnerable residents and those eligible for immunisation. They will also offer general health advice.

Covid-19 autumn booster, flu campaign & MMR

Wednesday 9 October 2024, 10.30am - 4pm

Harlesden Library, Craven Park Road, London, NW10 8SE

Thursday 10 October 2024, 10.30am - 4pm

Cricklewood Square, Oaklands Road, Cricklewood, NW2 3HT

Note: Vaccinations are available for those who meet the eligibility criteria.

Ealing Health and Care Residents' Forum

The forum will take place on Tuesday 1 October 2024, 4 - 6pm.

It will take place in person in the Elizabeth Cantell room, Ground Floor, Perceval House. 14-16 Uxbridge Rd, London W5 2HL, but those you cannot attend in person can join via Teams (joining link here).

It is an opportunity for residents to engage with health and care services and share their concerns and ideas.

Agenda and further information attached.

Update on our plans to improve primary care access

NHS North West London is working with local GPs and primary care networks* to improve access to primary care** services.

Plans developed earlier in the year with a focus on ‘same day access’ to services have been reconsidered following concerns expressed by some patients and GPs. We recognise, however, that access to primary care – including getting GP appointments - is often a challenge for residents and patients – indeed, it is the issue people raise with us most consistently when we talk to local communities.

Under the new plans, each of our 45 primary care networks will be invited to hold at least two events to discuss access to services with their patients and local communities. Our expectation is that one event would be face to face and one would be virtual. These events will be preceded by a survey sent out by practices to their patients, with the aim of getting a clear picture of patient experience in each area. The surveys will be supplemented by feedback from our community outreach work and input from other bodies who talk regularly to the public, including Healthwatch and voluntary sector organisations.

Dr Genevieve Small, Harrow GP and Medical Director of Primary Care for North West London, said:

“We’d really encourage people to complete the survey so we can get as full a picture as possible of what patients are experiencing. We’d also encourage patients to go along to any events they are invited to and have their say."

Further information

The attached slide deck sets out the plan in more detail, including the survey questions.

This paper sets out the thinking behind the survey and our target response rate

Read our report on patient feedback on primary care

*A primary care network (PCN) is a group of practices working closely together, aligned to other health and social care staff and organisations, providing joined up services to their local population.

** Primary care services are those which provide the first point of contact in the NHS. Primary care includes GPs, community pharmacy, dental and eye health services.
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