Health and wellbeing
Health and wellbeing updates.
Update on Autism Pathway and opportunities to get involved - Vicky Towsend
The development of the Social Communication and Autism Assessment Team (SCAAT) is underway.
The Operational Lead for the Team having now been appointed. The interviews for this role took place in partnership with the Parent Carer Forum.
The role of the Operational Lead will be to review the current processes across the different pathways for children and young people aged under 18, begin implementing improvements to reduce wait times for assessments and make the assessment process easier to use for families.
Once the rest of the Team have been appointed and begin in their new roles, these changes will start to be seen in the assessment pathway. Whilst recruitment continues for the Team, autism assessment will carry on with the Owl Centre for many children who are placed on the age 5-11 pathway.
Covid vaccination information for children 12 yrs+ who are EHE - Sian Edwards
Drop-in clinics for 12-15-year olds during half term:
Wednesday 27 October
- 5.30pm-7.30pm - North Cotswold Hospital
Thursday 28 October
- 1.40pm– 5.30pm - Old Cinderford Health Centre
- 3pm-7pm - Rosebank surgery, Gloucester
- 5.30pm-7.30pm - North Cotswold Hospital
- 5.30pm-7.30pm - Cheltenham East Fire Station
Friday 29 October
- 8.45am-12.30pm and 1.40pm-5.30pm - Old Cinderford Health Centre
- 8.30am-12.30 and 1pm-4.30pm - Cirencester Hospital
- 8.30am-4pm – North Cotswold Hospital
Saturday 30 October
- 8.45am-12.30pm and 1.40pm-5.30pm - Old Cinderford Health Centre
- 9am-3pm – North Cotswold Hospital
Monday 1 November
- 6.30pm-8pm - Cheltenham East Fire Station
NHS leaders in Gloucestershire are encouraging parents to take their eligible 12 to 15 year old children to one of several GP-led Primary Care Network (PCN) sites who will be providing additional vaccination drop-in services for young people of that age during half term week (w/c 25 October).
Anyone aged 12 to 15, accompanied by a parent or guardian, will be able to drop-in and get a single dose of the Pfizer vaccination at Cirencester Hospital, North Cotswolds Hospital, the old Cinderford Health Centre or Rosebank surgery in Gloucester, without an appointment. Children can drop in at any of these clinics to get their vaccination, they do not need to be registered with one of the GP surgeries.
The move is an expansion of the existing school-based programme, providing parents with an extra option, as the biggest and fastest vaccination programme in NHS history continues to protect people against the virus.
Children attending vaccination sites must be accompanied by parents or guardians to be vaccinated outside of school hours and consent will be sought on the day. Parents and young people are being asked to read the patient information in advance of arriving for their appointment.
Children should not attend the drop-in service if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or have had a positive Lateral Flow or PCR test within the last 4 weeks.
Please contact the immunisation team can on 0300 421 8140 or email GHC immunisation. They will be able to confirm what you need to do regarding vaccinations and give advice. There is also a vaccination schedule so families can see what is due when.
Gloucestershire County Council’s public page also has some information about immunisations.
If you have any queries please contact the NHS directly on 03004217063 or email them at GHCCovidMassVaccine@ghc.nhs.uk.
Vision screening for electively home educated children in Gloucestershire - Bridget Davies
In Gloucestershire all children aged 4-5 years old are eligible for a free vision screening test.
The test is quick and simple and carried out to determine if your child has normal vision. If following the screening test a problem is suspected, your child will be referred to either an accredited local Optician or to the Orthoptic service at Cheltenham or Gloucester hospital.
We will be holding 3 clinics this year at The Rikenel Health Centre on the following dates:
- 15th November 2021
- 22nd February 2022
- 18th May 2022
If you would like to attend, please call 0300 421 8225 to book.
If you have any questions relating to vision screening please contact your local School Nursing team. You will find all of their contact details on the School Nursing website.