Here we are with our penultimate blog of 2024 – we have been so busy this year with PPG meetings and health events that we really don’t know where the time is going! Here is a summary of what we were up to in November.
Following information in last month’s blog about the Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) work, Jim helped to deliver a follow-up workshop for people working in INTs who will be using community conversations as part of their work. He was really pleased to see colleagues from NHS Dorset, BCP Council and Dorset Council, Public Health Dorset, CAN and BHCA at the workshop.
The PPGs in Weymouth and Portland have been working with their Primary Care Network (PCN) and the Friendly Food Club to create a six week cookery course aimed at people with pre-diabetes who didn’t have the skills or confidence to cook healthy meals from scratch. The PPGs secured a grant from Dorset Council to fund the course, which started in November. For mor information about the course please contact Jim: james.gammans@nhsdorset.nhs.uk
Across the month of November Gill was delighted to be invited to PPG meetings at the Grove Surgery in Sherborne, Barcellos Practice in Ferndown, Hadleigh Surgery in Corfe Mullen, Wellbridge Practice in Wool and Canford Heath Group Practice.
Jim went to central Bournemouth and Wyke Regis PPG meetings and is really excited to be working with Farmhouse PPG in Christchurch with their new face-to-face group.
Jim and Gill are always pleased to go along to PPG meetings as they can often help or advise with any queries, and it’s such a pleasure to see such well-engaged groups in action. Dorset really is flying the flag with its PPGs!
Gill and Jim went to several events this month to promote PPGs and share current health messaging in Dorset including a health information event in Dorchester, a pop-up health event at Slades Park Pavilion in Bournemouth, a carers information event in Dorchester and a type 2 diabetes information event in Weymouth. At the events people were encouraged to get their blood pressures checked and also take part in the NHS south-west’s regional survey on blood pressure. Local MP Edward Morello came to the Dorchester event, had his blood pressure taken and took part in the survey.
The survey is still open, if you haven’t already taken part we’d love to get your feedback.
Gill was invited to host an information stand at the University Hospitals Dorset public engagement event held at Wareham Town Hall. We had a fantastic presentation from the UHD Medical Director, Peter Wilson, on the developments at both UHD sites in Bournemouth and Poole. Peter’s presentation was so informative and resulted in lots of questions from the floor to which he responded with aplomb. It was a great event and so good to see so many members of the public coming along and asking questions.
Jim and Gill helped to support NHS Dorset’s Health Inequalities Conference, held at the Village Hotel in Bournemouth. Invited guests from across Dorset’s health, social care and the voluntary community sector took part in the conference to identify opportunities to make the county a healthier place for all to live in the future and featured keynote speaker, Cormac Russell.
Outside of work, Gill visited her son and his partner in London for the weekend and while there she and her husband had dinner at Marco Pierre White’s London steakhouse restaurant. This was a gift from her lovely colleagues for her big birthday earlier in the year and Gill highly recommends going if you get the chance!
Jim and Kelly went to Waddeston Manor’s Christmas market, which included a tour round the very impressive house! Jim also booked and went to LiveWell Dorset’s health check; he was really impressed that they were able to do a finger-prick blood test for diabetes and cholesterol and get the results during the consultation. He’d definitely recommend it if you’re eligible!
So that was November, December looks to be an equally busy time!
