October 2020 |
Dear [firstname]
Welcome to the eighth edition of Oxleas Engage.
In this edition, you'll find your invitation to this year's virtual Annual Members' Meeting (AMM). If you are planning to join us, please make sure you register as we will need to send you a link to join the meeting before the event. You can find out about “Oxcare” - our online health record for patients and service users and our Building a Fairer Oxleas programme.
We're also introducing a new section especially for our members called 'Express yourself'. This is an opportunity for you to share your story, poems, etc. To kick this off, Lesley Smith, one of our Service User/Carer Governors representing Bexley Adult Services has very kindly shared a poem she's written.
There are also some important messages from South East London Clinical Commissioning Group (SEL CCG) which we've been asked to share with you.
I hope you keep safe and well.
Jo Mant Head of Stakeholder Engagement email: [email protected] / t: 02038 715617 Twitter: @JoMant2
General membership enquiries: [email protected] / t: 0300 123 1541 |
Latest news |
Join us for our virtual Annual Members' Meeting Thursday, 19 November 2020, 2pm Due to the current risk of transmission of the Covid-19 infection and the restrictions on running public meetings, we are holding our AMM as a virtual meeting this year. This means you can watch the AMM online from the comfort of your own home or somewhere more local to where you live.
The AMM is your opportunity to hear what we have been doing during the past year and find out about our plans for the year ahead.
Our directors will be on hand to answer your questions. If you would like to ask a question, please send this in advance of the meeting to [email protected] or call 0300 123 1541. The deadline for submitting questions is Monday, 16 November 2020. We will aim to answer all questions received. If you raise a question during the AMM we may need to respond to you after the meeting.
If you are planning to attend our virtual AMM, please email [email protected] to register. We will send you a web link in advance of the meeting so that you can join the AMM on 19 November.
If you need support to join our meeting virtually please do let us know. We want to be as inclusive as possible and will look at options available to you locally to try to help you. Please contact us on 0300 123 1541 or email [email protected]
Our Membership Line is open 8.30am - 4.30pm, Monday-Friday. Outside of these working hours, please leave a message. |
Covid-19 your experiences of our services during the pandemic
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our staff have been delivering much of our usual care and treatment through remote consultations. These consultations have been held over the telephone, via text messaging and/or via video calling in order to minimise the risk of infection for both staff and patients. To assess how our patients experienced the introduction of remote appointments, our Patient Experience team developed a survey to hear about their experiences.
The survey was completed by patients seen remotely between 15th March - 31st July 2020. A total of 5,028 patient responses were received from patients seen in adult mental health, adult community health, children and young people and older people’s mental health services.
Analysis is still underway and we’ll let you know the findings from the survey later in the year and how these will influence how we provide services in future. |
We're pleased to announce that Mindwave Ventures have been selected to help us develop “Oxcare” - our online health record for patients and service users. Mindwave have proven credentials in the field, having worked with several other Trusts around the country to develop their patient-held records.
The Oxcare platform is currently in the first stages of development and testing, with a phased rollout starting in early 2021. The platform will be available to all Oxleas’ patients and service users by July 2021. Oxcare will allow our patients and service users to view their outpatient letters and discharge summaries, care plans, medications, signposting information and guidance leaflets and videos.
They will also be able to use the platform interactively to comment on their care plans, complete forms and questionnaires, undertake goal setting, receive alerts and reminders and complete diaries and trackers. They can also include their GP and other health professionals outside of Oxleas in their ‘community’ if they wish, allowing them to be able to view any sections of their online health record that the patient chooses.
Oxcare is being designed and developed collaboratively with service users, carers, clinicians and administrative staff from across the trust sitting on the project board. There are also workstreams that look specifically at the design and development of each section of the platform and how best to communicate information about the platform.
Further information regarding how to sign up will be published in the coming months. If you would like to become involved in the project during this exciting development phase, please contact the project team at [email protected] |
Building a Fairer Oxleas Oxleas has recently launched a comprehensive programme of work to deliver lasting improvements to the experience of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and other Oxleas staff with protected characteristics – our Building a Fairer Oxleas programme.
The need for change has been driven by a number of factors, including the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on certain groups, particularly BAME groups in the NHS, together with the heightened awareness of structural inequalities as a result of the Black Lives Matter movement. Matthew Trainer, Chief Executive, wrote to all staff in May to set out his clear support for Black Lives Matter and to delivering tangible improvements in Oxleas.
Oxleas has long tracked the experience of BAME staff as part of the Workforce Race Equality Standard work and has demonstrated that improvements are possible with consistent effort and commitment. Our aim is to focus on a small number of important areas where we can drive improvements, initially over the next 6–9 months.
Our Building a Fairer Oxleas Action Plan Group have agreed two key priorities for delivery: 1. Fairer Recruitment and Progression processes and 2. Improving Cultural Competence in Oxleas.
We are now consulting staff on a possible action plan and associated workstreams to deliver these priorities and track progress. |
Important messages from South East London Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)
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Are you interested in local health services? Do you think it’s important that local people are involved in services? NHS South East London Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is looking for local people from Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark to join its Engagement Assurance Committee to help us plan how we involve local people in health services.
We are looking for two people from each of the south east London boroughs (Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark) who have some links into and knowledge of their local community to join our committee. Members of the committee will need to read, consider and comment on involvement and engagement plans and reports, ensuring that there has been engagement with people from different communities across south east London.
Membership offers an opportunity to understand how the CCG and the wider NHS work, develop skills and knowledge in patient and public involvement and understanding and experience of working on a committee. We don’t expect everyone to have all the skills, knowledge and experience required for this role and we will offer training, support and development to members to help people fulfil these roles.
Further background information and the role outline, the application form, the monitoring form, and the full terms of reference are all available on the CCG website here.
We will hold an on-line meeting for all interested people to ask questions, find out more and meet key people before the closing date. If you would like to find out more or have any questions please contact Rosemary Watts at the CCG by email at [email protected] or by phone 07770 990 353. The closing date is 23 October 2020. |
General practice is open To keep patients and staff safe it is best to speak to a clinician before attending your practice, it may be that you can be treated effectively without seeing a health professional, or directed to your local pharmacy for treatment, however if you need a physical assessment your GP will arrange for you to be safely seen for a consultation in the practice. All practices in south east London should be offering advice and guidance over the telephone or using video, as well as face to face appointments where necessary.
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External opportunity The Royal College of Psychiatrists is seeking patient and carer representatives to join ECTAS as Workers. The successful applicants will have recent lived experience of electroconvulsive therapy services (ECT) or caring for someone who has accessed electroconvulsive therapy services.
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Express yourself
The Mind is a Very Strange Thing
The mind it is a very strange thing, it can be full of light or darkness. When we miss our way and the light dims, our thoughts become more thankless. Our feelings are heightened, our emotions suppressed We feel flat, depressed and joylessness. Our decisions are slow sometimes chaotic. We go through the motions feeling robotic, Unmotivated, disinterested and bored Feeling lifeless and exercise ignored. Fear, anxiety, trauma and pain, We lose weight or sometimes gain. Cannot look at ourselves in the mirror, As we can’t see who we are, not even a sliver. Hopelessness, helplessness, powerlessness ensues Can’t be bothered to talk or think of good news. Stop going out, stay longer in bed Don’t want to live with these thoughts in our head. Suicidal thoughts, along with uncertainty and doubt, Choose to survive, make health and recovery your shout. There is a way that brings Hope for all, We need to choose Life and start to stand tall.
By Lesley Smith, Service User/Carer Governor - Bexley Adult Services
If you would like to send in a contribution for this section, please email [email protected]
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COVID-19 local responses |
How to volunteer or request help if you're having to self-isolate Click on the links below if you would like to volunteer or you need help from a volunteer due to self-isolating
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Update from Mind
Bromley, Lewisham & Greenwich Mind For the lastest news about the affect of COVID-19 on Mind services in Bromley, Lewisham and Greenwich, please click here.
Mind in Bexley For the latest news about the affect of COVID-19 on Mind services in Bexley, please click here. |
Samaritans Lewisham, Greenwich and Southwark
Call 116 123 free from any phone |
Our websites and social media
To find out more about us and what we do, please visit our websites, follow us on Twitter @OxleasNHS and Facebook and check out our YouTube channel.
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Don't miss out on Oxleas' news!
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Oxleas Engage - view past editions here . |
Oxleas' Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
Got a problem or need advice about our services? Call PALS on 0800 917 7159 (freephone) or email [email protected]
PALS can give you information about our services and the choices available to you, your family, visitors and carers. PALS will listen to your comments, compliments or concerns about our services and help you to resolve any problems you have as quickly as possible. PALS can give you information about our formal complaints process and independent advocacy services |
Contact us
Anne Marie Hudson (governors) , Jo Mant, Nikki Sandhu (membership)
We look after our members and Council of Governors.
You can contact us or call 0300 123 1541 about membership issues.
Want to contact a governor? Email [email protected]
If you want to find out more about becoming a governor please contact Jo. |
