If you feel you need mental health support, please contact this 24/7 helpline – they’re available to anyone of any age!

Next week is the 23rd anniversary of Know Your Numbers Week! Know Your Numbers Week 2023 is taking place from 4-10 September. The theme for 2023 is: Make the time, ease your pressure. The focus this year is on home monitoring as it’s the easiest way to Know Your Numbers!, so you can take steps to lower them. Please encourage your friends, family, neighbours, and colleagues to measure their blood pressure at home!

Check your blood pressure at home with a home blood pressure monitor or at your GP/Pharmacy, if they are offering blood pressure checks!

The 10th September is World Suicide Prevention Day, every year organisations and communities come together to raise awareness. This year, we are highlighting the importance of the language used when we talk about suicide. When we use our words carefully we can create a safe environment for people to open up. For tips on how to start a conversation with someone, please visit here

We had a great afternoon last Thursday for September's LTI - WellFest! The theme was Health and Wellbeing with many activities on offer whether staff wanted to relax, move or be creative! The feedback has been great and we're happy you all enjoyed! A big thank you to all that participated and made the afternoon a success ❤ Take a look at the pictures from the afternoon below...

Hey there, it's Mel and Rachael, the occupational therapy apprentices! We're super excited to be joining RHA and PCA for the next eight weeks as part of our extended scope placement. Looking forward to getting to know everyone! Let us tell you a little about ourselves! We're both pursuing Occupational Therapy through the apprenticeship program at the Northern Care Alliance (NCA). We're currently in our second year of studies at Sheffield Hallam University. Rachael works with the Community Neuro team and Mel is part of the Community Stroke team. We're so grateful for this opportunity to learn and grow in our field! So what is the extended scope or role emerging placement? Extended scope placement refers to a work placement where occupational therapists (OTs) work in emerging or non-traditional practice areas or settings that do not currently have an OT in post. This placement provides a great opportunity for us students to explore new roles, expand our skills, and address emerging needs in this area. Specifically, we have identified that we would like to work with GP practice staff, focusing on their health and wellbeing. We've just finished our first week at PCA, where we've been shadowing lots of different services. And we got to attend their amazing Wellfest Day! We had a great time chatting with the staff and gathering information. We're hoping to identify areas where we can provide some support and help out with any challenges they're facing. We'll keep you updated next week on what we find out!

Hey there! Can you believe we're already in week 3 of our journey? This week, we've been reaching out to our fantastic RHA/GP staff to gather their thoughts from our Menopause and Sleep Hygiene questionnaires, and we just wanted to give a big shout-out to everyone who took the time to respond to us - we really do appreciate it! We're currently working hard behind the scenes to create some awesome presentations and resources that we can share with you all. We hope that these resources will be a way for us all to learn together about these important topics. We're excited to leave behind a lasting legacy of knowledge on these topics, and we can't wait to share what we've come up with! We are also super excited as we have teamed up with the digital prescribing app Orcha . This prescribes apps to patients and staff, and we will be using this throughout our project. We will share more news about this in the coming weeks........ If you work for Rochdale Health Alliance or GP (HMR) setting and would like to get involved, we'd love to hear from you! You can complete our questionnaire by emailing Samantha.austin9@nhs.net

We know how important access to quality healthcare is, especially in the Greater Manchester area; and we are driven and committed to providing the healthcare services that this area requires. Rochdale Health Alliance & Primary Care Academy understands this, and it is committed to providing a wide range of services to support the health and well-being of the community in the Rochdale borough. So what does RHA offer? 1. Supporting Primary Care Networks: RHA plays a crucial role in supporting six Primary Care Networks (PCNs) across the Heywood, Middleton, and Rochdale (HMR) area. By providing essential back-office support such as finance management, recruitment, contract administration, employment of ARRS (Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme) staff, and training and development, RHA enables PCNs to focus on what matters most: patient care. Notably, RHA has been at the forefront in delivering vital services such as the mass COVID-19 vaccination program, ensuring that patients in the Rochdale borough receive timely and efficient vaccinations. 2. In Hours Same Day GP Appointments: Recognising the increasing pressure on GP practices and the difficulty patients face in securing appointments, RHA has introduced the In Hours Same Day GP Appointments Service. After triage at their own practice, patients can now be booked into same-day appointments if clinically required. This service ensures that patients receive the care they need promptly, reducing waiting times and enhancing the overall patient experience. 3. Enhanced Access: RHA has been commissioned by five Primary Care Networks to provide enhanced access to GP and other routine healthcare appointments outside of regular practice hours. These appointments are available during evenings (between 18:30 pm and 20:00 pm) and on Saturdays (between 9 am and 17:00 pm). This extended availability ensures that patients can access healthcare services at times convenient for them, promoting accessibility and patient-centered care. 4. Sunday and Bank Holiday Service: RHA's commitment to accessible healthcare extends to Sundays and bank holidays as well. Patients in need of healthcare services can access GP appointments and other healthcare resources between 08:00 and 16:00 on these special days. RHA understands that health concerns don't always adhere to the traditional Monday - Friday 9-5 schedule; and this service ensures that care is available when it's needed the most. 5. Homeless Alliance Response Team: RHA goes above and beyond in its mission to provide healthcare services to all members of the community. The Homeless Alliance Response Team is a primary care health service dedicated to the homeless and transient populations within the Rochdale borough. This initiative reflects RHA's commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that even the most vulnerable individuals receive the care and support they require, as helping those who are the most in need, is a core value of ours. 6. Primary Care Nurse Service: The Primary Care Nurse Service offered by RHA supports residents in care homes on behalf of five HMR Primary Care Networks. This proactive service collaborates with various healthcare and social care professionals to provide comprehensive care. It includes annual health checks for every resident, management of long-term conditions, and the establishment of care plans and advanced care plans. Through this service, RHA plays a vital role in improving the overall health and well-being of care home residents. In conclusion, Rochdale Health Alliance is not just a healthcare provider; it's a partner in the well-being of the Rochdale community. By offering a wide array of services, from mass vaccinations to enhanced access appointments and specialised care for vulnerable populations, RHA demonstrates its unwavering commitment to ensuring that healthcare is accessible, comprehensive, and patient-centred. With RHA by your side, you can rest assured that your health and well-being are in capable hands.

Hey there! We wanted to share with you what we have been up to this week. We enjoyed spending some time with the Occupational Therapists from The Royal College of Occupational Therapy (RCOT) . It was such a great experience as we got to learn more about what they do behind the scenes. We focused on the education side of RCOT and on Occupational Therapy in Primary care. It was really interesting and a valuable insight into the RCOT world. We had a wonderful time working with Healthwatch and Action together to explore women's services in and around our local area. It was great to meet and chat with so many amazing professionals who shared their unique views and ideas on this important topic. We also had lots of fun discussing exciting opportunities in the region. We have, of course, been finalising our presentations for the session on the 12th of October 2023 at the LTI on Menopause and Sleep . The session is only open to all who work in Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale Primary Care (receptionists, HCAs, Nursing staff), and if you would like to join us, the link is... https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/menopause-and-sleep-tickets-728765716877?aff=oddtdtcreator

Are you in search of a meaningful career in primary care? Do you want to make a difference in your community while pursuing your passion? Look no further because Rochdale Health Alliance is here to open doors to exciting job opportunities and vacancies across Greater Manchester! At Rochdale Health Alliance, we understand the importance of accessible healthcare services, and we are committed to making it easier for you to kickstart your career in primary care. We tirelessly strive to create and provide easy access to as many job opportunities as possible to ensure that everyone has a chance to contribute to the health and well-being of their community. Your Path to Opportunities Starts Here! You may have noticed the QR code on the blog image when clicking to read this; which was also on our social media posts. These QR codes are your direct link to all of our job opportunities waiting for you on our website. Simply scan the code, and you'll be taken straight to the job opportunities section where you can explore the various roles available. Diverse Roles, Diverse Opportunities When you explore our job opportunities, you'll discover a wide array of roles in primary care across Greater Manchester. Whether you're interested in patient care, administration, or a specialised healthcare role, we have options for you. Every role comes with a detailed job description, and contact email for application; plus, most come with salary details and closing dates. Our commitment to diversity and inclusivity extends to our job opportunities as well. We believe in fostering an inclusive work environment, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply. We value the unique skills and perspectives that each team member brings to the table, and we believe that diversity makes us stronger. Your Future Awaits At Rochdale Health Alliance, we believe in nurturing talent, providing growth opportunities, and supporting career development. When you join our team, you'll not only find a job but also a pathway to a fulfilling career. We're here to support you every step of the way, from the moment you apply to your continued growth within primary care. Are you ready to take the leap and kickstart your career in primary care? Scan the QR code, explore our job opportunities, and take the first step towards a rewarding journey with Rochdale Health Alliance. Your future in healthcare is just a click away. Plus, experience all the benefits of NHS working including a Blue Light Card - giving you discounts on shopping and eating out! Join us in our mission to provide top-quality healthcare services and make a positive impact on the lives of people in our community. Get started today and embark on a meaningful career that you can be proud of with Rochdale Health Alliance. Your journey begins here!

Hey there! We're thrilled to announce that the October LTI Sleep and Menopause session went off without a hitch! Huge thanks to all of you who came by yesterday and spent your afternoon with us. We hope you had a great time and that you found the session informative and engaging. It was truly wonderful to have you there. We're in the process of going through all the feedback we received, and we're excited to share our thoughts with you next week. If you weren't able to attend the session, no worries! We'll be recording them and uploading the videos to the website so you can catch up on what you missed. For anyone who wants further information on anything discussed at the session, please feel free to contact us via Sam Austin at the Academy samantha.austin9@nhs.net , and we will get in touch. We really hope you had fun with your goody bags ! We just wanted to take a moment to say thank you so much for evaluating our session. We truly appreciate your time and feedback! We'll be in touch soon to see if anyone downloaded the suggested apps , and if there's anything else we can do to help you out. Don't forget to look out for the October Newsletter on the 18th , which coincides with WORLD MENOPAUSE DAY . You can expect lots of information from our session. Thank you once again for your support and participation. Warm regards, Mel and Rachael

Look here for a quick interactive animation on all the best routes to get into a career within Primary Care ...