Dealing with hay fever doesn’t need to be a headache 

Around 1-in-5 of us will be affected by hay fever in our lives, so it’s important to know how to lessen symptoms such as runny nose, sore and itchy eyes, coughs and sneezes, headaches and tiredness.

But did you know that you don’t need a prescription from your GP to get hay fever and allergy medicines? Instead, your local pharmacy should be the first place you go to get advice on how to deal with hay fever. If your symptoms suggest something more serious, your pharmacist will ensure you get the care you need.

There are lots of self-care remedies to help manage hay fever and allergy symptoms at home, including:

  • Taking over-the-counter antihistamines
  • Putting Vaseline around your nostrils to trap any pollen
  • Wearing wraparound sunglasses
  • Avoiding triggers where possible, such as grassy areas and flowers
  • Keeping your clothes and house clean to remove any pollen
  • Buying a pollen filter for the air vents in your car and a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter

If you are affected by hay fever, you should stay aware of the pollen count and when high pollen count days (often warmer days) are due, so you can plan steps to minimise exposure such as keeping windows closed in your house, office or car.

One way to do that is by visiting the Met Office website to get a five-day pollen forecast.

However, if you’re experiencing wheezing, breathlessness, or tightness in the chest, if pregnant or breastfeeding and symptoms don’t improve after avoiding triggers, or if symptoms don’t improve after taking over-the-counter medicines, you should call NHS111.

Robopets bringing joy and comfort to people with dementia

A dementia diagnosis can come as a shock to the person with the condition and those around them. But with almost half of the people living in East Sussex aged 50 or older, understanding the signs and diagnosing the condition as soon as possible is key to managing your, or a loved ones, health and wellbeing.

Last year, 5,992 people were living with dementia in East Sussex, but diagnosis rates across the UK have slowed down.

That’s why the theme of Dementia Action Week (15-21 May) this year was ‘Diagnosis’ , with organisations aiming to raise awareness and encourage people and their families to seek a timely diagnosis.

Although it can affect people as young as 30, older people are more likely to be diagnosed with a form of dementia – but identifying the disease can be tricky. Services such as The Memory Assessment Service (MAS) are there to offer an early assessment, diagnosis and treatment of people suspected of developing a dementia.

Symptoms of dementia can include confusion and needing help with daily tasks, problems with language and understanding, or changes in behaviour such as becoming unusually anxious or irritable.

Following a diagnosis, it’s natural to worry about the future, but it’s important to remember you’re not alone. There are sources of help and support for everyone involved on our East Sussex 1 Space web page.

Making a positive impact

To help people cope with the symptoms of dementia, East Sussex County Council has launched a pilot project giving people with early-stage dementia a robopet, which is a mechanical pet that looks just like a cat or dog.

The one-year pilot project started in April and is only the third pilot project of its kind in England.

The Council has homed 50 ‘pets’, with carers reporting the immediate health and wellbeing benefits on the people they care for, including aiding independence and providing companionship to those diagnosed with the condition.

One resident, Shirley, was ‘overwhelmed’ and ‘really happy’ to receive her pet dog. Shirley was given a dog because she had Labradors prior to being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

Shirley’s daughter-in-law said: “Having the pet made a really positive impact on Shirley and they were inseparable. She got a lot of comfort from being with the pet and took it everywhere, whichever room she was in at home.”

For Shirley, and many of the residents receiving a robopet, it gives them a distraction when they become agitated and/or anxious as their symptoms increase and cognitive powers decline.

The robopet also helped Shirley’s full-time carer, who knew he could start to divert Shirley’s attention by talking to her about the pet. This gave him small amounts of respite at home during the day when Shirley became focused on the pet, which in turn made her less distressed, more relaxed and comforted.

*Please note, as the project is a pilot, East Sussex County Council is not currently accepting new referrals or applications.

Help with Dementia

The NHS has a dementia guide which offers information on symptoms, living with the condition, care and support and how people with dementia and their families and friends can access help.

Report highlights your views on accessing health and care services in East Sussex

Almost 500 of us have had our say on what we like, and sometimes found frustrating, about accessing health and social care services in East Sussex.

The thoughts and opinions of residents have been published in a report by Healthwatch East Sussex following its ‘2022 Listening Tour’ event in Eastbourne.

The report details everything you told Healthwatch during its first face-to-face ‘Listening Tour’ since 2019. It also sets out conclusions and recommendations to support positive change in our health and care services.

Healthwatch East Sussex worked with community groups to capture ‘every voice’ to better understand how health inequalities are impacting people in the county.

People gave their views through surveys, focus groups, one-to-one conversations and dedicated events last October.

Healthwatch East Sussex found that:

  • People’s appreciation of the NHS was clear, with positive examples of support, advice, treatment and procedures. We heard numerous examples of the expertise, professionalism and compassion of staff in the NHS and wider health and care services, as well as staff and volunteers in local community groups.
  • Common frustrations were waiting times, delays and poor communication. Nearly a third of 390 survey respondents were ‘Unsure’ and 7% were ‘Not Confident at all’ about accessing health and care services when they need them.
  • Some health and care services were not easily accessible to those with disabilities or impairments.
  • Specific user groups, such as the homeless or migrant communities, faced barriers when accessing health and care.
  • There’s a lack of understanding among the public about who provides care services locally and the responsibilities of different organisations in commissioning and delivering care.
  • The cost-of-living crisis is having an impact on people’s wellbeing, with just over half of survey respondents more anxious about the future and a third having less ‘good quality’ sleep than before.

NHS dentistry sessions: additional hours scheme

Several dentists in East Sussex are offering extra NHS dentistry sessions for patients who have an urgent dental need.  This ‘additional hours scheme’ aims to increase accessibility to NHS dentistry.

Urgent dental need may include patients:

  • experiencing pain or needing a course of treatment
  • who have had emergency dental care but require more treatment to become dentally fit
  • who need dental assessment or treatment to have hospital treatment.

This scheme is not for routine check-ups for the wider population, but care home residents and those who need to be dentally fit before they undergo hospital treatment, can attend for a routine check-up.

Sessions are held in the dental practice, and care homes would need to arrange transport for residents. Patients do not need to be known to, or associated with, the practice to access these sessions.

More information:

Get into the countryside and jump start your wellbeing journey with cheaper bus travel

Enjoying the health and wellbeing benefits of getting outside and accessing our beautiful county is being made easier with changes to our bus services.

One way we are supporting your health journey is with a scheme that allows you to travel on East Sussex buses all day for just £5. Our new multi-operator ticket can be used on all bus services in the county and can also have age related fare reductions applied.

The lower fares on East Sussex buses is part of a series of improvements enabled through the East Sussex Bus Service Improvement Plan that will see some buses run more often, others run later and improvements made to some weekend routes.

Changes also include the launch of FlexiBus, a bookable, on-demand transport service for areas with limited or no bus service.

FlexiBus can be booked to take you to your nearest town, train station, hospital or other key destinations in East Sussex for the same cost as a bus ticket between 7am and 7pm Monday to Saturday. Call 01273 078203 to book or download the RidePingo app.

If you are 66 or over, you can explore the county, on any of these buses, for free with your older and disabled person’s bus pass – if you’ve not got one yet register for your free older and disabled persons bus pass today.

Sussex practices deliver record number of same-day appointments

We all know the frustrations of booking a GP appointment, so it was comforting to learn that Sussex had a record number of same-day appointments in March, according to the primary care appointment data.

A total of 408,000 appointments took place on the same day they were booked in March. During that month, more than 972,000 primary care appointments took place in Sussex.

To improve access to general practice appointments there have been better phone systems put in most practices, including a cloud-based system that assists in better managing the demand for calls in the morning. Other options available to book appointments include e-Consultations,  call-back request and online appointment booking.

It is now possible to get an appointment between 8am and 8pm Mondays to Fridays and between 9am and 5pm on Saturdays. The additional appointments are provided by primary care networks (groups of practices in the same area).

Patients urged to order repeat prescriptions before May Bank Holiday closures

We hope you enjoyed your Bank Holiday, but with two more left in May you might want to start thinking about ordering your repeat prescriptions now to avoid running out of medication – especially if your pharmacy or GP surgery is closed or has reduced hours during those times.

The NHS is advising patients, their families and carers to check on stocks of medication to ensure they have enough to see them through the bank holiday breaks.

This year, along with the annual May Bank Holidays on 1 and 29 May, the Coronation of King Charles III means there is an additional Bank Holiday on Monday, 8 May.

Forgetting to get enough supplies of essential medication can put patients’ health at risk, and end up putting strain on out-of-hours services, which are there to deal with the most urgent health problems.

You can order repeat prescriptions in a number of ways.

  • From your GP (and then nominate a pharmacy to collect them from)
  • By logging into your account using the NHS app or the NHS website. If you’re asked to nominate a pharmacy, you can only nominate a high street pharmacy. You’ll be able to collect your medicine in person when it’s ready. Some high street pharmacies also deliver.

 

Removing the taboos: how men are finding the courage to tackle mental health

Mental health awareness has come a long way in recent years. High profile campaigns with well-known people sharing their stories have all helped to reduce stigma, leading to record numbers of people deciding to ask for help to improve their mental health, writes Kevin Rozario-Johnson, Health in Mind, East Sussex NHS Talking Therapies Service. Provided by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Yet despite improvements in mental health awareness and more and more people feeling comfortable asking for help when they need it, this is not true for everyone.  A national survey of men showed 43% (2 in 5) say they regularly feel worried or low, yet only 36% of referrals to NHS Talking Therapies Services were from men. Tragically men account for 78% of deaths by suicide, many of whom have not previously sought any help.

Although the challenge is national, the same picture is true at a local level. In 2022 only 30% of referrals to the local East Sussex NHS Talking Therapies Service ‘Health in Mind’ were from men. We want this to change.

Mental Health Awareness Week, which takes place from 15-21 May, gives us all the opportunity to reflect on those numbers and make sure everyone feels able to ask for mental health, when they need it, whatever their gender.

No shame in seeking support

There is no shame in asking for help. It’s not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of strength.

If you’re going through a low point or experiencing stress or symptoms of anxiety and depression, you can contact Health in Mind, free NHS Talking Therapies Service for East Sussex. Health in Mind provide a wide range of 1 to 1 therapies, courses and online programmes, which help anyone over 18 experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Access to the service is quick, with initial appointments typically within two weeks of referral.

If you’re nervous about seeking help, you may like to know the service is completely confidential. If you doubt whether it can make a difference, trust us it can. We know it takes a lot of courage to speak about how you feel for the first time, but we offer a safe space where you can do that, without judgement. And as we work together, we’ll help you better understand what is going on for you and provide you with the tools and strategies to take control of your mental health and life.

If you’re not sure whether what’s going on for you has anything to do with your mental health, that is perfectly normal. The symptoms of anxiety and depression can be hard to tell apart from the stresses and strains of normal life pressures. Symptoms to look out for might include lacking motivation, difficulties sleeping, feeling more emotional, low in mood or stressed. All of which can impact on our relationships, at home or at work. If you’re noticing any of these signs, we can help.

You might not even know what is wrong (many people who come to us don’t), but just one conversation with the Health in Mind team can be hugely helpful, and be the start of a better future.

If you’re worried about seeking help, you can take comfort in some of these things people have told Health in Mind after they found the courage to ask for help.

“I hate to think where I would be if I hadn’t reached out and I can honestly say that working with you has made me look at life again with a positive attitude and enjoy everything I have.”

Or this:

“I was nervous, but I needn’t have been. After decades of pain and worry I am now able to understand my situation and finally feel that I can actually start to move forward again.”

Reflecting on your mental health

The Health in Mind service can transform your mental health in as little as four-to-six weeks. In 2022, just under 60% of men who referred to Health in Mind began with significant symptoms of anxiety or depression, and at their end of their time with us, they reported almost no symptoms at all.

So, if we know that the support we provide is easy to access and that it can, and often does, change and save lives why do we receive fewer referrals from men?

There are many reasons, which are well evidenced in national research around this:

  • A sense of shame or embarrassment for seeking help.
  • A nervousness about how you might be perceived by others if you did.
  • You might not know what to expect from an NHS Talking Therapies Service.
  • You might doubt whether a service like ours can really make a difference for you.
  • You might feel scared or uncomfortable about talking about how you feel.
  • Or you might believe that the things you’re going through in daily life are nothing to do with mental health.

Getting help

If you, or someone in your life, could benefit from contacting our free service, then our advice is don’t put it off. You can find out more and self-refer online via the health in Mind website. Our team is ready to help you make positive changes.

Seeking urgent help

The East Sussex County Council’s mental health directory has a list of information to help with your mental health, this includes details of local and national support available.

If you have an urgent concern for yourself, or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please don’t ignore the warning signs and seek help straight away.

 

More than 236,000 people are invited to get their spring COVID-19 jab in Sussex

Are you one of the more than 236,000 people eligible for their next COVID-19 jab in East Sussex?

If you are aged 75 and over, have a weakened immune system or live in an older adult care home you are invited to get your spring COVID-19 jab as part of the next phase of the NHS’s Covid vaccination programme.

However, the NHS is advising those invited, or making a booking, to make sure their appointment takes place at least three months after their last dose.

This spring marked the first time that people eligible for their next dose received their initial invitation through the NHS app, which also allows you to book your jab. Text messages and letters will also be sent to those of you who are eligible for their next dose but either don’t have the app or don’t actively use it.

Get help with computer skills at your library

In this digital age we have become more connected to friends and loved ones through technology, which is why having good IT abilities has become increasingly important, especially for our health and wellbeing.

That’s why IT For You is offering free support on everyday computer skills at your local library. You choose the skills you learn, there are no tests and no exams, and you can attend as many or as few sessions as you need. Use the computers provided or bring your own laptop or tablet.

IT for You volunteers can help you learn to:

  • use email and the internet,
  • stay safe online,
  • search and apply for work,
  • download and use the NHS app,
  • keep in touch with friends and family online,
  • discover Microsoft Office and more.

The service is available at: Battle, Bexhill, Crowborough, Eastbourne, Hailsham, Hampden Park, Hastings, Heathfield, Hollington, Lewes, Newhaven, Peacehaven, Rye, Seaford and Uckfield Libraries.

If you, or someone you know, could benefit from this service either book online or call 01323 463 759 to book a place.