Primary care latest updates

Children and young people can now benefit from a brand new service from Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) to support their learning, growth and wellbeing.

iDiscover is a new community of children, young people and those who support them across Northamptonshire.

It offers a wide range of free and fun activities, resources and information to inspire young people aged under 25 to explore who they are, grow as people and learn new things.

Activities can include workshops, courses, webinars and more, covering a range of themes including managing stress and anxiety, healthy lifestyles and self-care, staying well at school or work, and creative activities to support wellbeing. Some activities will be available online and some in person – but all are completely free to attend.

Jo Fletcher, Children and Young People’s Quality Assurance Lead at NHFT and iDiscover Service Manager, said: “iDiscover is a safe place for children and young people to connect with others as part of a friendly and supportive community where everyone is accepted.

“It is a place to learn new skills and develop the skills they already have – and to help young people feel more in control of their health, wellbeing and their lives.

“The service has been shaped through co-production and all iDiscover activities have been created with children, young people and those who care for them. That means they reflect real experiences of what life is like growing up in Northamptonshire.

“We’re really excited to launch this fantastic new service and we look forward to welcoming children and young people from every corner of our county to the iDiscover community.”

Sky K, a 19-year-old who co-produces iDiscover with other young people, added: “It's so important that co-production has been at the heart of iDiscover from the very start, and I feel that even more strongly after seeing the difference that lived experience can really have. I am so hopeful for the impact that iDiscover will have on the young people of Northamptonshire.”

How to join the iDiscover community

iDiscover is for all children and young people under the age of 25 in Northamptonshire, as well as for family members, carers and friends who support someone under the age of 25.

Everything you need to know can be found on the iDiscover website at www.nhft.nhs.uk/idiscover.

Here you can find a huge range of useful information and resources, including:

• Activities available and how to register
• The iDiscover toolkit for children and young people, featuring wellbeing tips and advice, inspiration and links to apps, games, podcasts, videos, influencers and more
• The iDiscover resource hub for parents and carers
• Support services available for mental health and wellbeing

For anyone wishing to sign up for an iDiscover activity, the first step is to register to become part of the iDiscover community. This gives the iDiscover team all the information they need about participants to keep them safe and give them all the support they need.

Read New iDiscover service launches to support children and young people’s wellbeing…

The Continence Advisory Service have had a number of queries from patient’s regarding the urine check they ask to be done as part of the referral process to the continence service. This is a vital screening tool for patient’s presenting with bladder and bowel symptoms and is recommended in national guidance.

The team would appreciate your support with this by accepting urine specimens from referred patients for screening. They do realise that ordinarily urinalysis in people non-symptomatic of UTI would not be screened but the rationale here is of bladder and bowel dysfunction being the symptom.

If a urine check is refused the referral to the service may be delayed.

Please contact the team via email with any queries at ncas.services@nhs.net.

Read Continence Advisory Service update for practices…

Bringing together local events, activities and offers of support happening in each of the Local Area Partnerships across West Northants, this new website aims to be a central point of information for all things local.

Currently in its ‘first phase’ of launch, the new ‘Live Your Best Life’ website explains the role of the nine Local Area Partnerships, also known as LAPs in West Northamptonshire and how by working together with partner organisations, as well as community and voluntary sector organisations we can ensure local services and activities are better coordinated and focused on the needs of each area they serve. By working in this way with local communities, we can design services that really make a difference, to help residents, their families and their neighbourhood, to live their best life.

Each of the LAPs has their own webpage that includes information about the neighbourhood, spotlights events and activities happening locally, partner organisations involved as well as what the priorities are and latest news / updates – bringing lots of local information together in one place.

As this website continues to develop with new features and additions, we will keep you updated. If we can please ask for your support in sharing news of the websites in your newsletter, mailing lists and on your social media pages that would be much appreciated. Information to support this activity is attached.

Visit the website here: West Northamptonshire Local Area Partnerships | Live your best life (westnorthantsliveyourbestlife.uk)

Read New West Northamptonshire Local Area Partnership website launches…

KGH Breast Unit are having an open day on Saturday 18^th May 2024 between 14:00-18:00. The open day will be held at the Treatment Centre, NN16 8UZ.

Join the team for a day of breast education and promotion. They will be offering:

• Bra fitting with Wacoal Desborough
• Check when your Mammogram is due
• Learn how to perform a breast examination
• Advice for LGBTQ+ community and men
• Speak to a breast expert
• Myth busting and health promotion
• Explore the unit and find out what happens at an appointment
• Refreshments and goody bags provided
• Mini family history risk assessments

No breast examinations, assessments or imaging will be completed on the day. If you have any breast symptoms, we would encourage you to speak to your GP.

The first hour between14:00-15:00, is aimed at people aged 35 and under.

Free parking will be available on site.

Read KGH Breast Unit Open Day…

Please find the Northamptonshire Primary Care Training Hub newsletter for March 2024:

Northamptonshire Primary Care Training Hub Newsletter March 2024

Please cascade this onto any of your colleagues that may find this of interest.

Read Northamptonshire Primary Care Training Hub Newsletter March 2024…