Stanford-Le-Hope & District

HEALTH

NHS 111 SERVICE

Click the link to view the NHS 111 advice NHS 111 Service

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Advice from NHS ENGLAND.

"FLU VACCINATIONS"

Each year the flu kills on average 11,000 people and hospitalises thousands more. The flu virus spreads from person to person. Even amongst those not showing symptoms. The flu vaccine is the best protection for you and those around you. It’s available for free to those most at risk. Ask your GP or pharmacist.

This year, it’s more important than ever that eligible groups are vaccinated to protect them from flu, COVID-19 booster vaccines are also available.

Flu can affect people differently; even if you are healthy and think you can cope with it, you may pass it onto someone close to you who may be at a greater risk of complications due to medical conditions such as heart disease or diabetes etc.
The best way to reduce your risk of getting sick with seasonal flu and passing it to other people is to have the flu vaccination, which is free to many.

If you are unsure of your eligibility for the free NHS flu vaccine, contact your GP or pharmacy.
OR
Follow this link to check eligibility nhs.uk/wintervaccinations

The more people who have the vaccination this winter, the less the flu virus can spread, helping to protect yourself and those vulnerable children and adults within our community.

Also available is advice from the NHS. Click Stay Well This Winter

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How to get free food with OLIO.

To help stop Food Waste. People will collect surplus food from the stores and distribute it via the Olio app, to anyone that can download the app, request and collect. It’s yellow sticker food and it is to Help Stop Food Waste.

It’s Free: no money in Olio. Just download the app and join us to Help Stop Food Waste. Click OLIOEX for more information.

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Hearing Aids
Repairs

To assist their patients, the hospital are providing a postal hearing aid repair service and posting hearing aid batteries.
At present, any patient who require batteries can telephone Orsett Audiology on 01268 394 732. They will take the persons details and post out the required batteries. If any aids are broken, or need repairing, the individual can post the aids off to Orsett Audiology and they will attempt to fix the aids and post back once completed. They can also supply the tubing.

For more information, and if you require advice about your aid, please contact by email %Orsett Audiology% or telephone 01268 394 732

They also have information on their website Audiology Services Scroll down and click the Basildon Link.

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Public Health England have asked us to inform our members of the following:-

There is a vaccine that helps reduce your risk of getting shingles and reduces the severity of symptoms if you develop the disease.

People aged 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 78 and 79 years are eligible for the shingles vaccination.

Shingles can be very painful and may sometimes lead to complications, such as postherpetic neuralgia. This severe nerve pain can last for years even after the rash has gone.
Complications like this are more common in older people and those with a weakened immune system.

Please contact your GP surgery to enquire and to book your vaccination.

For more information please see Shingles

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Coronavirus (COVID-19)

This is a page of links to all the latest information and advice relating to the Coronavirus pandemic. Click CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION

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PROBLEMS WITH YOUR HEARING

Do you use a hearing aid or are you officially recognised as hard of hearing?

If so are you aware that you might be eligible to buy a Disabled Persons Railcard (which is cheaper than a senior rail card)?

This disabled rail card allows you to get a third off the cost of most rail fares throughout Great Britain, including all Standard and First Class Anytime, Off-Peak and Advance fares across the National Rail network. You also get 1/3 off London Zones 1-6 Off-Peak Day Travelcards and 1/3 off Anytime Day Travelcards, when bought as part of your ticket to London from outside London Zones 1-9. Not only do you get cheaper tickets but if you travel with another person they also get the same reduction.

Minimum fares apply to Anytime Day and Off-Peak Day Travelcards. 1/3 off Oyster pay as you go single fares and daily caps (available to the Railcard holder only.)

The proof of your hearing loss which is required is a copy of the front page of your NHS battery book, or a copy of your dispensing prescription or other evidence that you are deaf/use a hearing aid from an official health provider or local authority. You can apply on line (if you are able to send scanned evidence) or by post using the Disabled Person Railcard forms found at railway stations. (They have a green border compared to the blue ones for Senior Railcards.) These forms also provide you with more information than is mentioned here as does disabled persons railcard

This information is not publicised at hearing aid clinics and a lot of people who are hard of hearing who I have spoken to are not aware of it. I wish to thank Jean Baker who mentioned it an interest group meeting.

The Disabled Persons Railcard is obviously also for people with other disabilities including various types of epilepsy – if you think it might apply to a disability you have, check it out.
Diane Wallace.