News From Merton and Beyond
People with lived experience of mental health struggles related to birth and new parenthood needed
Did you struggle with difficult emotions through pregnancy, birth and becoming a parent? Did you feel low and tearful? Poor mental wellbeing? Were...
Improving Healthcare Together (IHT) 2020-2030 - Discussion Events
In 2018 Healthwatch Merton, Healthwatch Sutton and Healthwatch Surrey were approached by Improving Healthcare Together to conduct discussion events...
Discussion events from 'Improving Healthcare Together 2020-2030'
Improving Healthcare Together 2020-2030 have put together an Issues Paper which sets out their emerging ideas to date and is the starting point for...
St George's Hospital CQC report released
St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been rated as Requires Improvement overall by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The improved rating means the Trust is no longer rated Inadequate, and follows an unannounced inspection of services by the CQC between March and April this...
Work and wellbeing at the heart of South London’s Skills Strategy
The South London Partnership is launching its skills strategy Skills for South Londoners at a conference with employers and skills providers today. High levels of skills, employment and entrepreneurship are characteristic of this part of London – comprising the boroughs of Croydon, Kingston upon...
Fuel Poverty Awareness Day
Merton Council has backed Fuel Poverty Awareness Day by offering advice to vulnerable residents on how to keep warm for less by carrying out free home visits. Fuel Poverty Awareness Day is a national campaign to highlight the problem of fuel poverty, which currently sees over four million...
Problem-solving Family Drug and Alcohol Courts for Merton
Merton are one of nine London boroughs that can now access Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDAC), improving the lives of London children who face removal from their families because of the risk posed by a parent’s substance misuse and other complex needs. The new pan-London service was launched...
A call for volunteers
Cancer – Macmillan Primary Care follow up Steering Group We know from the National Cancer Patient Experience survey that a patient’s experience of cancer care outside of the Hospital is not always as good as they rate their hospital care. General Practice Nurses and Community Nurses have developed...
Merton supports European campaign to eat healthily and cut food waste
Merton Council was chosen by Resource London as one of nine London councils to be part of their EU-funded pilot initiative, encouraging people to eat more healthily, reduce the amount of food they throw away and recycle the inedible parts to the food using the council’s free, weekly food waste...
State of health and care in England
The annual assessment of health and social care by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) provides a treasure trove of information about the state of services in England. Based on inspections of 21,256 adult social care services, 152 NHS acute trusts, 197 independent acute hospitals, 18 NHS community...
NHS leaders unveil action to boost flu vaccination and manage winter pressures
NHS England, Public Health England, the Department of Health and NHS Improvement have unveiled measures to boost the uptake of flu vaccinations along with a package of new contingency actions to respond to pressures on frontline services this winter. These include free vaccinations for care home...
Merton Autism Strategy Public Engagement
Autism touches the lives of many people in Merton. It is a life-long condition affecting about 1 in every 100 people. It affects how people see, hear and feel the world. Everyone with autism will experience it differently. Merton Council wants Merton to be an autism-friendly borough in which people...
Campaign to make pharmacies a first port of call
NHS England’s Stay Well Pharmacy campaign, which encourages the public to ask community pharmacy teams for advice on minor health concerns, has launched this month. Community pharmacies should receive a briefing pack and resources including posters from NHS England this week. The campaign uses...
A public health approach to promoting young people’s resilience
The Association for Young People's Health (AYPH) has released ' A public health approach to promoting young people’s resilience ' - a guide to resources for policy makers, commissioners, and service planners and providers. AYPH bridges the worlds of policy, practice and evidence to promote better...
No More domestic violence or abuse
Joining forces with Merton police, the London Fire Brigade and partners, the council hosted a flag raising ceremony today (Monday 27 November). The special Merton says No More flag will be flying from outside the civic centre for the 16 days of the campaign. 2016 saw the council team up with London...
How is the NHS preparing your community for winter?
With winter approaching, the NHS is launching the next phase of its Stay Well This Winter campaign. Download and share resources to help enable people to plan for cold temperatures. Download it here
Share your views to help shape the future of Healthwatch England
Earlier this year, we asked people to help shape the future strategy of Healthwatch England. Thank you to everyone who shared their views. We've now launched the next phase of our consultation. Download Shaping our future to find out more and have your say. Have your say Download Shaping our future
NHS needs £24bn more by 2022
The NHS will need up to £24bn more by 2022 than Theresa May plans to give it or patient care will worsen and treatment waiting times grow even longer, experts have said. Rising demand for care means the NHS budget in England will have to jump to £152.6bn by the end of this parliament, which could...
New mental health ‘first aid’ programme
A new £15 million programme will see up to 1 million people trained in basic mental health 'first aid' skills. The programme will improve personal resilience and help people recognise and respond effectively to signs of mental illness in others. The campaign, designed and delivered by Public Health...
State of health and care in England
The annual assessment of health and social care by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) provides a treasure trove of information about the state of services in England. Based on inspections of 21,256 adult social care services, 152 NHS acute trusts, 197 independent acute hospitals, 18 NHS community...
Protect your family from flu this winter
Parents of children aged two and three are being reminded that they can help protect their little ones from flu this winter with one simple free nasal spray available from their GP. Anyone aged over 65 or with an existing long term serious health problem is also eligible for a free flu jab. Merton...
Sexual health clinics for young people
New clinic locations in Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth. These sexual health and contraception services are free and confidential. Book an appointment at any clinic by calling 0333 300 2100.
Shared Lives scheme rated Good by Care Quality Commission
Merton Shared Lives Scheme, which supports vulnerable adults to live independently, has been rated Good by the Care Quality Commission, following a recent inspection. The council-run service enables adults who have learning disabilities or mental health issues to lead fuller everyday lives. Support...
NHS volunteering consultation
Health Education England (HEE) has launched a consultation document to inform the NHS's volunteering strategy. The consultation document sets out what volunteering takes place within the NHS currently and brings together for the first time many pieces of guidance and information to inform...
NHS hospitals to be assessed on how they use their resources from the autumn
Earlier this year and together with NHS Improvement, the CQC sought your views on their joint plans to assess how NHS hospital (non-specialist acute) trusts use their resources. Following your feedback, as well as testing in seven non-specialist acute trusts, NHS Improvement has published the...
Free cycle training for adults
Merton Council is encouraging more people to consider cycling into work and is offering free adult cycle training for anyone living or working in Merton. The free six week course is available to complete beginners and people who would like to brush up on their road skills. To book a place, please...
Healthcare charging
The Government recently proposed to amend a set of rules, known as the ‘NHS Charging Regulations’, which govern how people access healthcare in England, and when they have to pay for it. New regulations were laid before Parliament on 19 July 2017. The briefing attached below explains...
Peer Support Group
We're pleased to hear about a new support group in Merton for anyone aged 14 to 25, with mental health issues. It's run by volunteers with lived experience of mental illness themselves...
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Merton-i
Merton-i is a portal of information for guidance on where to go to get help. You can find services local to you, discover what’s on in Merton and find out what council-led help and benefits you are entitled to.
MVSC
MVSC is delighted to have been awarded this contract and we are pleased we will continue our work with health and social care services within the borough. We work successfully in partnership across all sectors and are looking forward to delivering the best possible service we can for local people.
