For details of the Sight North East exhibition at St James Park, Newcastle on Sept 7th, download the information leaflet below.

Sight North East.doc

If you have a Visual Impairment

Here is a list of the various events that take place in our Gateshead Centre. Our range of opportunities offer you the chance to try something new, develop a hobby and of course meet new people and make new friends.  

For more information call our Gateshead Centre on 01914785959 and ask to speak with Judith.

Monday: 10:00 to 12am: Knitting Group, join the knit and natter group with a cup of tea. Don't worry if your not a seasoned knitter; Gwen is on standby and willing to lend a hand.

Monday 10:30am to 12:00pm: Arm Chair Keep fit

Exercise the easy way, sitting down but still getting the heartrate working.

Monday: 1 to 3pm: Learn to turn on a computer and get used to typing, controlling the mouse, saving a document, then progress to emailing and shopping on line.

Tuesday: 10 to 12:30pm: Art Class. Enjoy tactile artwork and producing outstanding pieces of art and the company is not bad either.

Tuesday: 1:30 till 3:30pm: History Made Interesting: often with an amusing twist. New people welcome to join. The group restarts on the 10th May.

Wednesday: 10:00 to 12:30pm: My Sight My Future: This eight week course gives information, and advice about adjusting to sight loss. We focus on building confidence and increasing independence.

11:30 to 2:30pm: Lunch Club: Come and join us for a relaxing lunch at the canteen, then a cup of tea or coffee and a quick quiz to round the afternoon off.

2 to 4pm: Beverly Court: (every fortnight) social group. Occasional speakers and games, for bingo lovers.

Thursday afternoon: Reminiscence: Remember when ... look back on your life and discuss with others how their lives have similarities/differences to yours. (Currently not in progress. time and date to be arranged soon).

Friday: 10:30 to 12:30pm (fortnightly) Craft Group: Enjoy making bags, cards, Christmas decorations, presents etc.

1:30 to 3:30pm. Drop In Afternoon. To talk to staff to see equipment and to see what help we can offer.

For more information on how to find us visit our web site at www.sightservice.co.uk and click on the how to find us link.

Diabetes UK National Diabetes Week 2011

'Let's Talk Diabetes'

In the UK, diabetes affects approximately 2.8 million people. More than one million people in the UK are thought to have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes with 6000 of these individuals living across the NHS South of Tyne & Wear area. Daily, around 84 people are diagnosed with diabetes and 28 people die from this disease.

Diabetes UK's National Diabetes week 'Let's Talk Diabetes' is taking place from 12^th to 18^th June and is being supported by NHS South of Tyne & Wear's Wellbeing Team with a week of drop-in sessions for all the Trust's staff. Drop in Schedule.doc 

All members of staff can come along to this confidential drop-in to have their questions answered, learn more about the causes and how to lower the risk of developing diabetes for themselves or their family and friends.

Free blood glucose checks will also be available. Click on the link below to see how the check is carried out.

Diabetes Week.wmv

For more information please contact Simon Ayre on:

0191 5025050 or simon.ayre@sotw.nhs.uk

National Diabetes Week official Website:

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved/Diabetes-Week/

Congratulations to everyone who completed the Race for Life at Saltwell Park on the 15th of May.

Linda Wintersgill and her daughter Stephanie, Bridget Workman, Claire McNeill, Sarah Rushbrooke, Jane Beveridge, Joanne Bishop and Elaine Robinson from the North of England Cancer Network and Clare Richardson from the Gateshead Primary Care Mental Health Team have kindly shared their photos.

The North of England Cancer Network are calling for volunteers to spread the Be Clear on Cancer message at the Race for Life events over the summer. If you can help - please email the North of England Cancer Network on necn@sotw.nhs.uk

Race for Life Gateshead.wmv

Sector 3 are one of several partners in"Health Stop", a new unit in the Metro Centre, where shoppers can drop in and get advice and information on all sorts of health issues.

Sector 3 will be talking to people about Brief Intervention for Smoking on Saturday 8th May between 10am and 1pm.  If you are at the Metro, why not drop in and see what's going on - or even better, get some info for someone who's thinking of quitting smoking.  Help is here! 

National Primary Care Research and Development Centre
Current awareness bulletin for May-June 2009
This bulletin, produced by the Library & Information Services at NPCRDC, is an extensive collection of references, including abstracts, of recently published research articles on a wide range of primary care topics:

Annual Evidence Update on Schizophrenia (Mental Health Specialist Library)
http://www.library.nhs.uk/mentalhealth

The Mental Health Specialist Library has produced an Annual Evidence Update on Schizophrenia. The section on the Mental Health Specialist Library site brings together the latest evidence-based guidelines, systematic reviews, important primary research, service development literature and patient information.

The symptoms and experience of schizophrenia are often distressing and the effects of the illness are pervasive, with a significant number of people continuing to experience long-term disability. Schizophrenia can have a major detrimental effect on people's personal, social and occupational lives, placing a heavy burden on individuals and their carers, as well as potentially large demands on the healthcare system.

Heart failure (Cardiovascular Diseases Specialist Library)
http://www.library.nhs.uk/cardiovascular

The Cardiovascular Diseases Specialist Library published the 2008 Annual Evidence Update on Heart Failure on 6 October. The CVDSL team have brought together a panel of experts (Professor David Thompson, Professor Jonathan Mant, Professor John Cleland and Dr Michael Davies) chaired by Professor Tom Quinn and co-ordinated by April Coombe, to review high quality evidence published since last year's successful update.

This publication brings together a range of indicators of health outcomes related to cancer in Gateshead. It also summarises trends in the uptake of screening programmes. The chapter is part of the 2005 Gateshead Compendium of Health Related Statistics.

Download Chapter 3 Cancer

PCC (NHS Primary Care Contracting) has published four Primary Care Service Frameworks:

Long term conditions
Support for self care
Sexual health
Obesity (NEW)

Each framework is a generic, comprehensive and enhanced service specification for PCT commissioners and practice based commissioners for 2007/08 - see the PCC website for much more information on what they are and how to use them:
http://www.pcc.nhs.uk/204.php
The frameworks, supportive statements, a blank framework for local adaptation, and a feedback questionnaire are all available for download.

SPOTLIGHT ON support for self care in the NHS
National Primary Care Research & Development Centre, April 2007

This issue of Spotlight examines the role of self care support for people with long-term conditions within the NHS. It has been written to inform debate about future service delivery and the ongoing research agenda about self care support. It is informed by research and reviews of the literature undertaken in the self-management programme at the NPCRDC, University of Manchester. [Includes references]
Available to download here:
Download summary (6 pages)
or from the NPCRDC web site at:
http://www.npcrdc.ac.uk/Publications/self_care_spotlight.pdf

Care planning in diabetes: report from the joint Department of Health and Diabetes UK Care Planning Working Group
Department of Health, December 2006
Download report

This report contains guidance on the care planning process for diabetes services, building on Standard 3 of the Diabetes National Service Framework (NSF). It explains the principles and processes of care planning, reviews the evidence base, and offers guidance on putting it into practice.
The report aims to be a useful point of reference for all involved in the care planning process.

Sexual Health Awareness Week (12th to 18th February)
No Smoking Day (14th March)
Breastfeeding Awareness Week (13th to 19th May)
Cancer Prevention - Fruity Friday (25th May)
Heart Health Week (2nd to 10th June)
Immunisation Awareness Week (10th to 16th September)
World Mental Health Day (10th October)
Alcohol Awareness Week (10th to 16th December)

These health promotion campaigns will be promoted across the borough of Gateshead in 2007. To register to receive an awareness pack of resources please complete the attached Campaign Resources form.

Download campaigns and dates (PDF 70KB)
Download campaign resources order form (Word 30KB)

Caring for people with long term conditions: an education framework for community matrons and case managers
Department of Health, 2006

Description: This document provides a framework for commissioners and providers of education and training for community matrons and case managers. It is designed to help ensure that education and training for practitioners enables them to provide more effective care for people with complex long term conditions.

Download Caring for people with long term conditions

How a Community Matron can help you with your long-term condition
Leaflet from Department of Health, March 2006
Leaflet in English

The leaflet can also be downloaded in 10 other languages from the DH web site at:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/
PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/
PublicationsPolicyAndGuidanceArticle/
fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4131689&chk=0udPcC

Summary:
This leaflet explains how people with a serious long-term condition are now being offered the chance of support from a community matron - a senior nurse who will not only provide nursing care but will also plan and co-ordinate ways of meeting patients' health and social care needs

Supporting people with long term conditions to self care: a guide to developing local strategies and good practice
Department of Health, February 2006
Supporting people with long term conditions

A rapid review of the current state of knowledge regarding lay-led self-management of chronic illness
Evidence review, December 2005
Authors: Michael Bury, Jennifer Newbould, David Taylor
NICE, 2005 [review commissioned by Health Development Agency]
Rapid review