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NHS Hounslow is gearing up for the winter break by reminding residents

to be prepared during the festive period.

Hounslow’s Great West Commissioning Consortium (GWCC) has been successful in achieving pathfinder status as announced today by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.

Being among the initial 52 GP consortia from across England that have been selected means the GWCC will be one of the first to take on commissioning responsibilities. This forms part of the Government’s plans set out in the NHS White Paper Liberating the NHS: Equity and Excellence. As a pathfinder they will work to manage local budgets and commission services for patients direct with NHS Hounslow and the London Borough of Hounslow.

A new service to support GPs in their new role as commissioners was agreed by NHS Hounslow today. GPs in Hounslow are leading the way by shaping local services and the Referral Facilitation Service has been developed in partnership with them to handle all referrals, including those from one consultant to another, from February 2011.

NHS Hounslow has kicked off this year’s seasonal flu vaccination campaign. The annual campaign encourages people in Hounslow who are at risk of seasonal flu to protect themselves by getting a free flu jab through their GP. Pregnant women are being offered the flu jab because it will protect them against swine flu. The jab is quick and effective; those who get it will be protected for a year.

A new local service will be launched in February 2011 to improve patient access to care and treatment for routine skin conditions. The Community Dermatology Service will provide treatment faster and closer to patients’ homes. Most patients will no longer need to travel to hospital, and will be assessed and treated at the same appointment.

Its Breast Cancer awareness month (October) and NHS Hounslow is urging female residents to attend screening on invitation and be "breast aware".

In 2009 breast cancer took the lives of 59 women in Hounslow out of a GP registered female population of 129,371. Breast screening can pick up abnormalities that could lead to or be identified as cancer so it is a key element for treatment and saving lives. NHS Hounslow hope the new screening unit open at The Heart of Hounslow will support in up take of screening.

NHS Hounslow is urging residents to learn or refresh their knowledge on the risks of excessive alcohol consumption during Alcohol Awareness Week (18-24 October).

Let's beat the winter vomiting bug this year

Residents asked to stay home for mild cases of diarrhoea and vomiting

Hounslow residents are being asked to stay away from hospitals, nursing homes, schools and day centres if they have any symptoms of the winter vomiting bug, known as norovirus.

Successful programme to help children, young people and their families shed the pounds returns in Feltham

These days, 'modern life' can mean that we're a lot less active. We don't move about as much, or eat as well as we used to. This means many kids today could grow up with dangerous amounts of fat in their bodies. NHS Hounslow offers help for families who want to eat healthily and enjoy more active lifestyles in a free 12 week programme called Alive 'n' Kicking.

Don’t underestimate seasonal flu — get your annual flu jab

This year's annual seasonal flu vaccination campaign has been launched by the Department of Health.

The campaign will encourage people across Hounslow at risk of seasonal flu to protect themselves by getting their free flu jabs.

Annual Public Health Report published

NHS Hounslow has published its Annual Public Health Report for 2009-10 at a
launch event on 20 September 2010. This year’s report focuses on the health of children and young people in Hounslow aged 19 years old or younger, who make-up over a quarter of the population in the borough.

Have your say on our needs assessment of pharmacy services in Hounslow

NHS Hounslow recently asked residents about how they use their local pharmacy with an aim to understanding what pharmaceutical services will

be needed in the future. Pharmacists and GPs were also asked their opinion

on services in separate surveys.

Breast cancer screening now available at The Heart of Hounslow polyclinic

Women in Hounslow can now be screened for breast cancer at The Heart of Hounslow polyclinic as new breast screening facilities have opened on site.

Public invited to our board meeting and AGM,held on 9 September 2010

Members of the public are invited to attend this month’s NHS Hounslow board meeting, which includes our Annual General Meeting and the publishing of our annual report.

Get the right treatment this bank holiday

People are urged to plan ahead to care for their health and their family’s wellbeing this bank holiday.

To help people choose the most suitable services to get advice and treatment as quickly as possible, the NHS is continuing to run a campaign called Choose Well.

NHS White Paper consultation

Hounslow patients and residents are invited to take part in a consultation on the NHS White Paper, Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS, which was released on 12 July.

Preparing for Ramadan

As local Muslims prepare for Ramadan, NHS Hounslow is encouraging people planning to fast to see their GP before Ramadan starts if they have any health issues, or are taking medication. 

More places now open to support breast feeding mums

NHS Hounslow is encouraging new mums across the borough to breastfeed their babies for a healthier start in life. Breastfeeding groups are a great way for mums to support each other to give their babies the best start by breastfeeding.

Innovative project aims to give kids’ teeth the best start in life

Give your views on Hounslow’s Pharmacy services

Enjoy safe sex this summer

The last thing anyone wants to bring back from a holiday as a souvenir is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or end up with an unplanned pregnancy, which is why NHS Hounslow is advising young people to be prepared.

Public invited to our board meeting, held on 8 July 2010

Members of the public are invited to attend this month’s NHS Hounslow board meeting.

It takes place at 2pm on Thursday 8 July 2010.The address is NHS Hounslow Sovereign Court, 15-21 Staines Road, Hounslow, Middlesex TW3 3HR

Be smart in the sun

As we move into summer and the weather is getting warmer, NHS Hounslow is reminding people of the dangers of too much sun exposure.

Marking Deaf Awareness Week in Hounslow

Hounslow residents will be able to get expert advice on services for deaf children during Deaf Awareness Week (28 June – 4 July). Staff from the audiology team will be setting up shop in the atrium of The Heart of Hounslow between the 28 and 30 June offering advice and support to parents and carers.

People living in Hounslow are being asked to carry out a lifestyle
check during Diabetes Week (13-19 June 2010) to see if they are
at risk of developing the disease.

Have your say about sexual health services

Would you like more of a say about your local health services? Would you

like your viewpoint taken into account when key decisions are being made about sexual health services? Are you keen to make a real contribution to

the continuing development of NHS services?

People across Hounslow are being invited to provide advice, comments

and opinions on our proposals for sexual health services.

NHS Hounslow monthly board meeting is on 10 June 2010 — you're welcome to join us

NHS Hounslow is holding is board meeting on 10 June 2010, it is open to members of the public. In the final item, anyone can raise issues from the agenda direct with the Board, in the ‘Public Forum’.

NHS Hounslow reappoint Charanjit Ajitsingh and Kathy-Ann

Sienko as Non Executive Directors

NHS Hounslow is delighted to announce the reappointment of Charanjit Ajitsingh and Kathy-Ann Sienko as a Non Executive Director.

NHS Hounslow appoint Andreas Lambrianou as chair

NHS Hounslow is delighted to announce the appointment of Andreas Lambrianou as interim chair. Andreas will take up this post from 15 April

2010 until December 2010. He takes over from Sarah Cuthburt, who has been interim Chair since January 2009.

Have your say about community dermatology services

Would you like more of a say about your local health services? Would you

like your viewpoint taken into account when key decisions are being made about community dermatology services? Are you keen to make a real contribution to the continuing development of NHS services?

People across Hounslow are being invited to provide advice, comments

and opinions on our proposals for dermatology services.

Health information screens in Hounslow GP surgeries — with the help of an Apprentice winner

NHS Hounslow highlights where to go and what to do if you get sick over the Easter holidays

GP practices in Hounslow will be open normal practice hours in the run up to Easter and will close on the bank holidays - Friday 2 April and Monday 5 April. Some practices will open as normal on Saturday 3 April. Individual practices will inform patients if special arrangements need to be made to pick up prescriptions early on Thursday 1 April.

NHS Hounslow marks World TB day

TB (short for Tubercles Bacillus) is a preventable infection and is spread from person to person when someone coughs or sneezes. Close and prolonged contact with someone with active lung TB is needed to be at risk of being infected.

NHS Hounslow would like local people to be aware of the Department of Health’s consultation on registering with a GP practice of their choice.

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month - know the signs

Minister officially opens polyclinic

The Heart of Hounslow is officially opened as a polyclinic

The highly successful The Heart of Hounslow polyclinic will be opened officially on 25 February 2010 by Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health Services and MP for Brentford and Isleworth, Ann Keen.

NHS Hounslow urges patients to have their say

Around 20,000 patients in Hounslow will soon receive the national GP Patient Survey to gather their opinions on various aspects of visiting the doctor, including the opening hours, how easy it is to make an appointment, the cleanliness of their GP surgery, helpfulness of receptionists and the service given by the doctor.

It’s your choice. What ever your reasons

Did you know that for the past couple of years, if your GP refers you to hospital, you are able to choose to go anywhere in England where your care is funded by the NHS? This includes NHS hospitals and some independent (private) hospitals. This allows you to make a choice that suits your personal circumstances – giving you greater convenience and peace of mind

NHS Hounslow starts vaccination programmes in all Hounslow comprehensive schools for those in Year 10

Young people at all comprehensive schools across Hounslow are being vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and polio starting from the 2 February, 2010.

New café style drop in for breast feeding mums

NHS Hounslow launched a new breast feeding drop in clinic

at the South Isleworth Children’s centre on 14 January 2010.

The clinic offers new mums advice andsupport in breast feeding in a more

relaxed and informal environment. It is being run in partnership with

the National Childbirth Trust (NCT).

NHS asks people to choose the right service

With more cold weather forecasted, people with minor illnesses and

injuries are being asked to ‘choose well’ if they need treatment, to allow

accident and emergency staff to deal with serious and life-threatening

cases.

Hounslow residents urged to do 30 minutes of moderate

physical activity five times a week

Over 3.5 million adults in London are not doing the recommended 30

minutes of moderate physical activity five times a week. Being physically

active can help reduce the risk of premature death, cardiovascular disease, developing type II diabetes and some cancers. It can also help in

preventing obesity and improves your mental health and well being.

Being ill over the winter break is never fun, so patients across Hounslow are being reminded by your local NHS to get prepared.

London Ambulance Service crews from today, 21 December 2009, will now take calls are considered non-life threatening or serious, known as Category C patients, to the walk-in centre at The Heart of Hounslow polyclinic instead of local hospital A&E departments. It is a two month pilot and will be made permanent if successful.

Latest figures on childhood obesity in Hounslow

NHS Hounslow gets good rating for how they protect and look after children and young people

NHS Hounslow and London Borough of Hounslow have been praised by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Ofsted in a wide-ranging report into how they protect and look after children and young people.

New free NHS Health MOTs for Hounslow patients: we’ll call you

NHS Hounslow launches free health MOTs to check for vascular diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.

New healthy café opens its doors at polyclinic

Patients, relatives, visitors and staff can now buy healthy food at The Heart of Hounslow polyclinic. The new café specialises in freshly-pressed juices, smoothies, wraps and a wide range of salads.

Get fired up for winter

New programme to help children, young people and their families shed the pounds launches in Hounslow

Wlthily and enjoy more active lifestyles.

Local residents give polyclinic the thumbs up

At-risk residents urged to be vaccinated against swine flu

NHS Hounslow improves its NHS performance rating

.NHS Hounslow has today received a major boost after a key national report revealed it is continuing to improve.  The NHS watchdog has today (Thursday 15 October 2009) published the results of the 2009 Annual Health Check for all NHS organisations. This year, NHS Hounslow has been rated FAIR for quality of commissioning and FAIR for financial management, up on last year’s performance

Don’t underestimate the threat of seasonal flu

We have kicked off this year’s annual national seasonal flu vaccination campaign. The campaign encourages people in Hounslow who are at risk of seasonal flu to protect themselves by getting their free flu jabs through their GP. The jabs are quick, simple and effective; the flu jab will protect them for a year.

New Cardiology Clinic at The Heart of Hounslow

Hounslow patients are now able to access comprehensive cardiology services without a visit to hospital, thanks to a new weekly clinic set up by NHS Hounslow at The Heart of Hounslow polyclinic, provided by Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust.

Hounslow convenience store given fruit and veg makeover

NHS Hounslow is delighted to announce the reappointment of David Cahill as a Non Executive Director. David is chair of the Diabetes UK Hounslow voluntary group and was educated locally. He brings excellent financial and treasury skills learnt working at a senior level for international banks in the City of London. He will have an annual remuneration of £7,765 and has no declared political activity in the last five years or other ministerial appointments.

NHS Hounslow is delighted to announce the reappointment of David Cahill as a Non Executive Director. David is chair of the Diabetes UK Hounslow voluntary group and was educated locally. He brings excellent financial and treasury skills learnt working at a senior level for international banks in the City of London. He will have an annual remuneration of £7,765 and has no declared political activity in the last five years or other ministerial appointments.

This week, NHS Hounslow launched an awareness campaign about Chlamydia and invites young people between the ages of 16 to 24 to for a test for Chlamydia or screen at a local high street chemist.

NHS Hounslow launches a groundbreaking Healthy Smiles’ scheme to improve the oral health of children aged 3 years and over. This scheme is the first of its kind in England and aims to improve awareness and access to NHS dental services where there is most need.

NHS Hounslow helps Muslim smokers quit for Ramadan

NHS Hounslow kick starts its annual Stop Smoking campaign for Ramadan; this year is from 21 August to 19 September. Ramadan is a time when Muslims abstain from food, drink and for those who smoke, cigarettes, during daylight hours.

Hounslow gears up for first round of swine flu vaccinations

28 July 2009

Find your ‘flu friends’ now

21 July 2009

New stroke and major trauma centres to “radically improve” care for Hounslow residents

15 July 2009

Dementia Awareness Week a success in Hounslow

1 July 2009

NHS Hounslow on Radio Jackie:

Dental services in Hounslow - click to play mp3.

Communications Team
For media and press related enquiries contact the communications team.
Tel : 020 8630 3318 / 3957 / 3036
Email : Communications.Team@hounslowpct.nhs.uk