Health services remain extremely busy! NHS services in West Essex remain under extreme pressure as they look after surging numbers of very unwell people, with winter viruses spreading fast.
How you can help? To prevent winter viruses spreading, protect vulnerable relatives and friends and ensure that vital NHS services are there for those who need them, local NHS leaders are calling on everyone in our area to follow this advice:
- Make sure that you and your family are up to date with flu, COVID, and RSV vaccinations.
- If you get the norovirus bug or flu that causes sickness and diarrhoea, treat this by staying at home, getting plenty of rest and drinking lots of fluids. Reduce the spread by washing your hands frequently. Stay away from care homes, hospitals and social occasions until you’ve been clear of symptoms for at least two days. You will still be very infectious until then.
- If you or a loved one are very unwell, get medical advice straight away. Early help can prevent someone needing to go into hospital and can save lives. Contact NHS 111 online or by phone.
- Pharmacists can help with minor symptoms. There is also a service that allows you to walk into a pharmacy and get advice and medicine, if needed, for these minor illnesses and health concerns.
- Your GP practice is open from 8am to 6.30pm every weekday, but you can help by using online consultations where possible and avoiding calling at the 8am rush.
- If you have a family member who has finished their hospital treatment and is due to be discharged home, help to get them there without delay by being available to collect them in your car.
Crime Prevention Advice from Essex Police Theft of vehicles and from vehicles remains a big problem in this area. See the attached advice sheets and feel free to pass them on to your friends and neighbours. Car Security Keyless Car Theft
Community Micro-Enterprise Project Directory for January 2025 Click here
What is a Community Micro-enterprise?
A Community Micro-enterprise is a small, local business, that offers a service to support:
• Older people
• People with a disability
• People that want to improve their mental health & wellbeing
A Community Micro-enterprise gives you more choice about your care as it offers something different to traditional support services. They can offer a wide variety of support to help meet your needs:
• Support at home – personal care, meals, cleaning, shopping, running errands
• Support you getting out and about in your community – activities, hobbies, therapies, learning new skills, day services, peer support.
Community Micro-enterprises are flexible and personalised to help fit around what you want and need.