Keep employees well in Wandsworth

Keep employees well in Wandsworth NHS Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group Winter 2017 - 2018

To help you keep your business running with healthy staff over the winter months, we’ve put together some tips on staying well this winter for you to share with your employees.

Contents • Introduction • Managing sickness absence • Winter health • WRAP • Video • Resources

Introduction NHS Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is responsible for planning, commissioning or ‘buying’ and monitoring health services for the people who live in the borough, including: • Primary care (GP practices) • Rehabilitation care • Non-emergency hospital care • Urgent and emergency care • Mental health and learning disability services • Most community health services Our group of 42 GP practices work together with our partners in the local NHS - pharmacists, dentists, hospitals and mental health providers, as well as Wandsworth Council and local community groups. We aim to offer the people of Wandsworth a wide range of accessible, high quality and easy to use services to help them stay healthy, and to care for them when they fall ill and need extra support.

Managing sickness absence Whether you work in a small or large organisation, or are a sole trader, managing sickness within the business is important. An estimated 137.3 million working days were lost to sickness absence or injury in the UK last year, according to latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This is equivalent to 4.3 days per worker per year. In the NHS we know that sickness increases in the winter months. Minor illnesses such as coughs and colds were the most common reason for absence in 2016, accounting for 24.8% of the total number of days lost.

Winter health – flu jab Flu is a highly contagious virus that anyone can catch. It can be a really serious illness for some people and can be easily spread and put others at risk. People who are eligible for a free flu vaccination include: Children aged 2-3 and those in reception class and school years one, two three and four (this is given using a nasal spray) • For children aged 2 and 3, contact your GP surgery to make an appointment. • School children in reception class through to year 4 will be offered it through their school. Pregnant women Carers Everyone aged 65 or over Everyone living in a residential or nursing home People with long term health conditions e.g. heart problem, diabetes, breathing conditions, kidney disease, liver disease, stroke, spleen problems, obesity (BMI of 40 and over) and neurological conditions People who have a suppressed immune system Frontline health and social care workers FLU JABS ARE AVAILABLE AT PHARMACIES AND GP PRACTICES

Winter health - medicines Self-care At the first sign of a cough or a cold, get immediate advice from your pharmacist before it gets more serious. Speak to your pharmacist about medicines you should have in stock over winter. Many conditions, including coughs, colds, flu, stomach upsets and norovirus, are best treated at home with medicines you can buy in advance from the pharmacy or supermarket. Prescription medicines Order and pick up prescription medications before the Christmas holidays start as many GPs and pharmacies will close over the holidays. PHARMACIES IN WANDSWORTH

Winter health – mental health Christmas and the new year can be a difficult time for many people. The NHS has numerous webpages with tips and advice, and there are other organisations who can provide immediate support, such as Samaritans (telephone 116 123) Moodzone Young people and mental health Mental health services in Wandsworth include: Recovery cafés Online support Talking Therapies Specialist care MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN WANDSWORTH

Winter health – GP appointments GP appointments are available 8am-8pm, 7 days a week (including Christmas and New Year), in locations across the borough. Contact your own GP practice to book an appointment. How to get an appointment during the evening or at weekends Appointments between Monday to Friday 6:30pm - 8pm and 8am - 8pm at weekends can be accessed by patients who are registered with their GP and who book through contacting their local practice. They are not walk-in appointments. Appointments take place at hubs located in local GP practices in Clapham Junction, Balham and Roehampton. Hubs offer pre-bookable appointments during 6.30pm until 8.00pm Monday to Friday. Saturday appointments are available at all hubs between 8am to 8pm. The Clapham Junction hub offers appointments 8am to 8pm on a Sunday. If your practice is closed, call NHS 111 for advice, they will also be able to direct you to the most appropriate service for your needs. FIND YOUR LOCAL GP IN WANDSWORTH

Winter health – urgent advice and care Pharmacy For advice on over-the-counter medicines for treating headaches, sore throats, coughs, colds and stomach updates, and help treating minor ailments, visit your pharmacist. NHS 111 NHS 111 is a free phone service that is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It offers a one-stop number for patients with urgent, but not life-threatening symptoms who want a fast and easy way to get help when they need it. Urgent care centre and walk-in If you have an urgent but non-life-threatening illness or condition, you can go to an urgent care or walk-in centre in the borough. They can treat things like: cuts, burns, sprains, strains, suspected breaks, minor head injuries, bite and stings. They are open 365 days a year. URGENT CARE INFORMATION

Winter health – emergencies Blacking out / bleeding you can't stop / severe chest pain / choking / loss of consciousness / stroke These are all emergencies and you need hospital care. Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments and 999 should only be used in a critical or life-threatening situation. A&E departments provide immediate emergency care for people with very serious or life-threatening illness. At A&E the most seriously ill patients will be seen before those with less urgent care conditions. This means that some people may have to wait for several hours or they may be signposted to their GP, pharmacist or other healthcare services who will be able to assist them. A&E or CALL 999

Winter health – dentists Wandsworth residents can call the Out of Hours Emergency Dental Service on 020 3402 1333. They will be able to assess your needs on the phone and direct you to an emergency dentist if needed.They are open from 5pm until 8 am Monday to Friday, 24 hours over the weekends and 8.30am to 10pm on bank holidays. DENTISTS IN WANDSWORTH

WRAP The Wandsworth and Richmond Assessment point (WRAP) can help with benefits, heating, energy efficiency and more. It offers free home visits to see how they can best help you. You could also get free devices to cut your water and energy use. The council also works with the charity Leonard Cheshire Disability to provide support such as advice and winter warmer packs in the case of a cold snap, and with Age UK to provide a handyperson service. If you need their help, you can request it from WRAP. Anyone can contact WRAP. For emergency support during a sudden cold snap Leonard Cheshire Disability can help by providing blankets, bedding, hot meals and even heaters. Call them on (020) 7223 0350 WRAP SERVICE 0800 1182327 or enquiries@thinkingworks.co.uk

Video YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rYYWbHYjbY

Resources What to do if your child is unwell https://www.healthylondon.org/resource/if-your-child-is-unwell-london-guide/

Resources Websites NHS Choices https://www.nhs.uk Wandsworth Council http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/ Wandsworth CCG http://www.wandsworthccg.nhs.uk Social media Wandsworth CCG @NHSWandsworth Wandsworth Council @wandbc

Keep employees well in Wandsworth