Care group update

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have had to think creatively on how to hold carer engagement forums. While we are not able to carry out engagement events in the ways we traditionally have, we are trying to make sure that we continue to offer carers the opportunity to engage with us.

One way is ‘virtually’, which will involve the use of your mobile phone, tablet or computer. Join us during Carers Week for our first virtual carers forum- May 2020 at 2pm (please see invitation on the page with login details). You can dial in at any time between 2-3pm, you don’t have to stay for the full hour, we appreciate how busy life can be. If you do not have the facility to join in virtually, I am always happy to talk to you over the phone with a cuppa!

Care Group Update

Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust would like to offer you some reassurance. We (the Trust) are continually reviewing how we deliver care and support to you and the person being cared for during this difficult time.

Following the Government guidance and taking into account the restrictions in place, we will need to look at more creative ways to deliver that care while ensuring we help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

We have made the difficult decision to stop visitors to our inpatient wards. We are following Government guidance on when we can start reintroducing visits with family and friends. We know family and loves ones are important and we will do all we can to help you stay in touch. Please contact the ward manager, family engagement & liaison lead, social worker or nominated carer champions to discuss the best way of doing this.

We have recently had the patients laptop software updated, which will allow the patients to use Skype or Lifesize as a virtual visit. This will
need to be book at least 24 hours in advanced with a member of ward staff.

We know the restrictions caused by COVID-19 may be causing additional stress. We understand that this may be a worrying time and you may find staying at home and having limited contact frustrating. Stay safe and thank you for your cooperation during this difficult time.

Carer champions

Earlier in this newsletter I mentioned ‘carer champions’, you might be thinking what or who are carer champions. There are carer champions in every team in KMPT. The role of the carer champion is to support their teams to support carers. They undertake this role in addition to their usual responsibilities as they have expressed a particular empathy with and recognition of the
value of carers.

This includes promoting carer awareness to their colleagues as well as being a designated point of contact for carers. They will try to keep carers in mind and champion the carers' voice.

Carers involvement strategy

We are developing a Carers involvement strategy for the Forensic Services. The strategy aims to ensure that the Carer Involvement initiatives developed are embedded into everyday practice within the secure and community forensic services in KMPT. If you would like to be involved in putting the strategy together or giving feedback on the strategy please contact Karen Tweedie.

From 20 May 2020 the law around organ donation in England changed

Every day, someone in the UK dies in need of an organ, because not enough organs are available for transplant. But only 1% of people die in circumstances that would allow them to donate. Organ donation in England has moved to an 'opt out' system. This means that all adults in England will be considered to have agreed to be an organ donor when they die unless they have recorded a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups.

What do I have to do?

As the law around organ donation has changed in England from 20 May 2020. If you do want to be an organ donor, you can register to be a donor on the NHS Organ Donor Register. If you do not want to be an organ donor, you can opt out by registering a ‘refuse to donate’ decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

www.organdonation.nhs.uk 

Help the environment

As a Trust we are always looking for ideas on how we can support the changes with the environment. Do you use email? If the answer is yes, would you be happy to share your email address with me? I can get information sent out to you elctronically, which will be a quicker process & better for the environment.

Can you please send me an email karen.tweedie@nhs.net with your details on. If you do not use email, we can still send any information out to through the post.