NHS 111 SERVICE
Click the link to view the NHS 111 advice NHS 111 Service
Healthwatch Thurrock
Healthwatch Thurrock are the independent champion for people who use Health and Social Care services in Thurrock. Our sole purpose is to understand the needs, experiences and concerns of people who use Health and Social Care services and to speak out on their behalf. We work to get services right for the future. We are here to listen to what you like about services and what you think could be improved. You can also speak to us to find information about health and social care services available locally.
Their website can be found by clicking here: Thurrock Healthwatch website
Telephone: 01375 389 883
Do take advantage of the link above.
Advice from NHS ENGLAND"FLU VACCINATIONS"
Each year, the flu kills on average 11,000 people and hospitalises thousands more. The flu virus spreads from person to person. Even amongst those not showing symptoms. The flu vaccine is the best protection for you and those around you. It’s available for free to those most at risk. Ask your GP or pharmacist.
This year, it’s more important than ever that eligible groups are vaccinated to protect them from flu, COVID-19 booster vaccines are also available.
Flu can affect people differently; even if you are healthy and think you can cope with it, you may pass it onto someone close to you who may be at a greater risk of complications due to medical conditions such as heart disease or diabetes etc.
The best way to reduce your risk of getting sick with seasonal flu and passing it to other people is to have the flu vaccination, which is free to many.
If you are unsure of your eligibility for the free NHS flu vaccine, contact your GP or pharmacy.
OR
Follow this link to check eligibility nhs.uk/wintervaccinations
The more people who have the vaccination this winter, the less the flu virus can spread, helping to protect yourself and those vulnerable children and adults within our community.
Also available is advice from the NHS. Click Stay Well This Winter
How to get free food with OLIO.
To help stop Food Waste. People will collect surplus food from the stores and distribute it via the Olio app, to anyone that can download the app, request and collect. It’s yellow sticker food and it is to Help Stop Food Waste.
It’s Free: no money in Olio. Just download the app and join us to Help Stop Food Waste. Click OLIOEX for more information.
Audiology Hearing Aids
The Adult Hearing Centre at the local hospitals has a team to help patients manage hearing or balance difficulties, with or without the use of assistive listening devices such as hearing aids.
We also investigate the causes of hearing loss and balance problems in support of the ENT department. Our audiologists provide hearing rehabilitation, along with the fitting and maintenance of hearing aids where appropriate.
You can contact them by phone, email or by post. Click, Audiology Services for details.
Scroll down the page to the heading Adult hearing and click. Displayed are the ways to contact your local centre.
Scrolling further down the page to the heading Hearing aid service and batteries and click Displayed are details of the service available and locations locally where you can obtain replacement batteries.
In addition to the NHS facility above, Hearing Help Essex is a charity that offers a similar service.
Those of you with hearing aids will know that you need to have them re-tubed every 4 to 6 months. Usually this means a trip to the audiology department at either Orsett or Basildon Hospitals. If your hearing aids have been issued by a Mid and South Essex NHS audiology service, friendly trained volunteers are able to provide this service in over 25 locations. One of those locations is Corringham Library where the team are there to help once a month. They also offer this service to the housebound via home visits.
To use the service you do have to register (Once) and book an appointment via the Hearing Help Essex website.
Click Hearing Help Essex
At the very top of every page are RED buttons to Donate Now, Register and Book Appointment. As you scroll down they roll off the top of the page.
Click the Register button to fill out the form with your details. Quite detailed but you only do this once. You will receive confirmation of your registration.
Click the Book Appointment button and scroll down the page to the Session Calendar to select your choice.
If you don't see the RED buttons at the very top of the page there are other buttons that are visible at all times. Click the SERVICES button
From the drop down menu select NHS Hearing Aid Support Service and then either Service Registration or Book Appointment option.
Please do look at the other information on the Hearing Help Essex Website, Lots more information and facilities.
You can also email for more information: info@hearinghelpessex.org.uk
You can phone 01245 496347 OR text 07950 406 173.
It's free to attend and you can find the full list of locations and book an appointment in advance by contacting the Hearing Help Essex team.
Many thanks to Jenny Radford for the information.
SHINGLES
Public Health England have asked us to inform our members of the following:-
There is a vaccine that helps reduce your risk of getting shingles and reduces the severity of symptoms if you develop the disease.
Please see Shingles Vaccine to check you are eligibility.
Shingles can be very painful and may sometimes lead to complications, such as postherpetic neuralgia. This severe nerve pain can last for years even after the rash has gone.
Complications like this are more common in older people and those with a weakened immune system.
Please contact your GP surgery to enquire and to book your vaccination.
For more information please see Shingles
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
This is a page of links to all the latest information and advice relating to the Coronavirus pandemic. Click CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION
PROBLEMS WITH YOUR HEARING
Do you use a hearing aid or are you officially recognised as hard of hearing?
If so, are you aware that you might be eligible to buy a Disabled Persons Railcard (which is cheaper than a senior rail card)?
| This disabled rail card allows you to get a third off the cost of most rail fares throughout Great Britain, including all Standard and First Class Anytime, Off-Peak and Advance fares across the National Rail network. You also get 1/3 off London Zones 1-6 Off-Peak Day Travelcards and 1/3 off Anytime Day Travelcards, when bought as part of your ticket to London from outside London Zones 1-9. Not only do you get cheaper tickets but if you travel with another person/companion, they also get the same reduction. |
Minimum fares apply to Anytime Day and Off-Peak Day Travelcards. 1/3 off Oyster pay as you go single fares and daily caps (available to the Railcard holder only.)
The proof of your hearing loss which is required is a copy of the front page of your NHS battery book, or a copy of your dispensing prescription or other evidence that you are deaf/use a hearing aid from an official health provider or local authority. You can apply on line (if you are able to send scanned evidence) or by post using the Disabled Person Railcard forms found at railway stations. (They have a green border compared to the blue ones for Senior Railcards.) These forms also provide you with more information than is mentioned here as does disabled persons railcard
This information is not publicised at hearing aid clinics and a lot of people who are hard of hearing who I have spoken to are not aware of it. I wish to thank Jean Baker who mentioned it in an Interest Group meeting.
The Disabled Persons Railcard is obviously also for people with other disabilities including various types of epilepsy – if you think it might apply to a disability you have, check it out.
Diane Wallace.