NHS Kent and Medway CCG - Community Bulletin

Coronavirus testing

There has been a lot about Coronavirus testing in the media recently. Testing is still available, but you should only book if you have Coronavirus symptoms.

That’s any one of:

A high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. The symptoms apply to adults and children.

If you have other symptoms - such as a runny nose or a sore throat - please treat these as you would have before the pandemic.

If you have Coronavirus symptoms, tests can be booked at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119. If you are only offered options outside Kent and Medway it is best to wait and try again later. New slots get released throughout the day.

Please do not call 111 to book a test and do not go to a hospital or other health service to try to get tested. If you have Coronavirus symptoms it is very important that you and other members of your household stay at home.

If you are attending hospital for a planned operation, your hospital will be in touch to arrange a test shortly before your procedure.

Kent County Council Coronavirus service update

Kent County Council is able to provide short term assistance to households facing financial hardship as a direct result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

If you or someone you know has suffered financially from Coronavirus, then Kent County Council may be eligible to apply for support with:

• Supermarket vouchers

• Pre-paid energy and clothing vouchers for school uniform (non-branded)

• Household items required to meet a basic need if there are no other means of assistance available

For details on how to apply, visit the KCC website

How to get your Flu vaccine

With Autumn approaching, it is important to get vaccinated against Flu. 

The flu vaccine is given to people who:

• Are 65 and over (born on or before 31st March 1956)

• Have certain health conditions

• Are pregnant

• Are in a long-stay residential care

• Receive a carer's allowance or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick

• Live with someone who's at high risk from coronavirus (on the NHS shielded patient list)

• Frontline health or social care workers

New guidance says that if you're aged 50 to 64 and have a health condition that means you're more at risk from Flu, you should get your flu vaccine as soon as possible.

Other 50 to 64-year-olds should be contacted about a flu vaccine later in the year.

For more information visit the NHS website

Read the full bulletin at https://bit.ly/3cvvh92

NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group

Poolside Bar Opening Times at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf Course
Telephone: 01634 360626

Gill Gay Will Be Collecting For Swale Foodbank Again

Hi everyone,

I would like to thank you all for the wonderful support we have received on behalf of Swale Foodbank so far.

My husband Ron and I will be collecting again in the bus stop lay-by opposite the Church in Horsham Lane on Wednesday 30th September between 10:30am and 11.30am.

Please come along with your donations (in carrier bags would be helpful) and put them into our open car boot while we remain at a safe distance.

We will then deliver your donations to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.

All donations are most welcome, Swale Foodbank has given me the list of items below they are asking for:

Tinned Potatoes

Instant Mash

Biscuits

Rice Pudding

Custard

Bottles of Squash

They are also low on all toiletries if anyone would like to donate some:

Hand Soaps

Shower Gel

Bubble Bath

Toothpaste

Shaving Products

Deodorants

Laundry Detergents

Please tell your friends and family.

This need won't be going away soon, unfortunately, if ever.

Thank you

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator
Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

Breach Lane, Upchurch Gets a September Clean Up

The photo only shows 5 sacks as we’d already

recycled the contents of another 3 before it was taken.

Breach folk Sue, Richard, Mel and Steve have been out as part of the Great British September Clean.

We cleared 8 large sacks of litter from just the top 300 metres of Breach Lane.

We found the usual cans/bottles and takeaway cartons but also, almost unbelievably, sanitary towels, a pair of Wellington boots, several bags of dog poo and a bag of nicely seasoned wood.

Upchurch Parish Council is encouraging residents to take part in private litter picking initiatives at some point this month - because we live a long way out, we thought we’d just get on with it!

#GBSeptemberClean  #LitterHeroes  #KeepKentClean

Sue Flipping

M&S Little Shop 2 - Swop Shop

For collectors of M&S Little Shop 2, how frustrating is it not being able to swop the items in the shop this year due to COVID restrictions?

Last year, I managed to complete sets for several happy children to play with. However, this year, despite collecting over 130 of them I have only managed to complete one set of 25. All the others being duplicates but not making up a set. 

Looking on the internet, it is extraordinary that people are selling these singularly at very high prices. What fun is there in that and disappointing for the children and costly for grandparents!

I would like to set up a swop shop ‘free of charge’ the only cost being the postage.

I have a large number of duplicates and I am happy to coordinate all this if anyone is interested.

Just drop me an Email letting me know what you have and what you want to swop it for and let’s see if we can get it going.

Looking forward to hearing from other frustrated parents/grandparents.

Bye for now.

Jan Bunting
Email: janannbunting@outlook.com

Medway Council - Residents Encouraged to Book Their Free NHS Health Check

Medway Council is encouraging residents aged 40 to 74 to book their free NHS Health Check.

Residents can now book a health check at a number of GP surgeries across Medway and at the Smokefree Advice Centre in Chatham.

As people get older they have a higher risk of developing conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease or type 2 diabetes. A free NHS Health Check can spot the early signs of these conditions and trained staff can offer tailored advice and ongoing support to help residents make small changes to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Residents aged between 40 and 74, who do not have a pre-existing condition will be invited for a health check every 5 years, either at their GP surgery or the Smokefree Advice Centre. Those who receive their invitation should book their appointment as soon as possible to avoid delay. Queries about eligibility can be made with Medway Council’s Public Health team by phoning 01634 335830, Emailing: medwayhealthchecks@medway.gov.uk or texting the word ‘CHECK’ to 81066.

A number of new social distancing measures have been put in place at the Smokefree Advice Centre in Chatham to keep both visitors and staff safe. This includes Health Checks being by appointment only, a limited number of people being allowed in the centre at any one-time, staggered arrival times and enhanced cleaning. Patients will also be asked to wear a face covering whilst inside the centre.

Cllr David Brake, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder covering Public Health, said:

“I am pleased that eligible residents aged 40 to 74 can now book a free NHS Health Check at our Smokefree Advice Centre in Chatham once again. It is incredibly important that residents continue to look after their health and our specialist staff have been trained to identify early indications of conditions, like high blood pressure, which often have no symptoms. They will also provide tailored advice to help our residents live healthier lives. If you book a health check and can no longer attend the appointment, please let our staff know.”

For more information about NHS Health Checks, visit: medway.gov.uk/healthchecks

Medway Council