Issue 98  |  31 May 2024

Welcome to this week's Stakeholder Bulletin.

Our stakeholder bulletin aims to bring you key updates from the health and care system.

This week you can find out more on available vaccines, save the date for carers week, free online courses for parents in Derby and upcoming events.

Whooping cough rates have risen sharply in recent months. Babies who are too young to start their vaccinations are at greatest risk.

Vaccination is the best defence against whooping cough. The whooping cough vaccine is given as part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule in the UK at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age with a booster offered preschool. This programme provides good protection against severe disease but protection after vaccination and disease will wane over time.

You can read more about the signs, symptoms and what to do if you suspect a child may have whooping cough on the NHS website.

People who are immunosuppressed, aged 75 or over and older adults care home residents are now eligible for their covid-19 spring vaccine. People in these groups will be invited to book in for their vaccine starting from April. It is really important to book in and get your vaccine if this is offered to you. The vaccine reduces your risk of becoming seriously unwell with covid.

Book yours now if eligible.

Carers Week aims to raise awareness of the support available for unpaid carers and the huge contribution they make to their families, communities and society. It takes place from 10 June.

Events for unpaid carers in Derbyshire during Carers Week hosted by Derbyshire County Councils Derbyshire All Age Carers Support Service (DAACSS) range from relaxation and mindfulness sessions, wellbeing walks and a carer-friendly employment webinar.

A list of activities is available. You’ll need to be a carer and registered with the Derbyshire All Age Carers Support Service to get involved. Read more

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is now offering free access to online courses for parents in Derby to better understand their children’s mental and physical health. 

The courses have been expertly designed in line with a national model called the Solihull Approach to improve access to high-quality support and advice for families. Concerns that impact children with additional needs – including learning disabilities and autism – are also covered in many of the courses, as well as in the ‘understanding your child with additional needs’ course.

Access the courses on the Derbyshire Healthcare website.

Polls are now open for UHDB Trust Members to cast their votes to decide who will become the next Public Governors on the Council of Governors. 

Voting will take place for seven positions across five constituencies:

• Derby City (three positions) 
• East Staffordshire (one position)
• Lichfield and Tamworth (one position)
• Leicestershire and the rest of England (one position)
• South Derbyshire (one position)

To cast your vote, visit the UHDB website.

Open to all Derbyshire businesses, you can join the free employability networking event to get support for employees with disabilities and additional needs.

It's taking place on Wednesday 19 June between 8.45am to 12pm at County Hall, Matlock.

Sign up now for a free place.

A BME employment and skills event is being held to support inclusive recruitment and bring employers, training providers, partners and BME residents together.

The event takes place on Thursday 11th July between 11am - 2pm at Chesterfield College.

Book your free place.

Did you know that you don't always need to see a GP or consultant to access some referral services? Self-referral is an option that can make it easier and faster for you to get help, rather than seeing your doctor.

You can register for most of them online. Find out more.