Health & Wellbeing

'The NHS will last as long as there are folk left with the faith to fight for it' - famous words uttered by Nye Bevan in 1948. 'We are those folk, come and join us', says Frances Warboys of Defend Enfield NHS, as she explains how the NHS has been neglected and what the implications are of the Health & Care Act that comes into effect next week.

Local health service campaigners from Defend Enfield NHS (DeNHS) were out on the street at Palmers Green Triangle on Saturday as part of a national day of action in protest about the Health and Care Act, which comes into effect on 1st July. They were calling for the NHS body which will run health services in North Central London to undertake not to have private firms sitting on its decision-making board.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Anne Nicholls' work to relieve period poverty, both initially in Kenya, and more recently in Enfield. Later this month she's off to Kenya to continue her work, but before that, on 12th June, in conjunction with Jackie Lee of North London Yoga, she's running a Wellbeing Day at Mayfield Tennis Club. They've invited lots of small, local businesses to join them and share their expertise on fitness, healing, health or general wellbeing.

Walk and talk your way to a healthier and happier life for you and your friends as you take a virtual journey from Enfield Town to England's highest mountain. The Enfield Twalking Challenge starts at the end of May and you have two months to reach the top of Scafell Pike. Just what the doctor ordered!

Last week nurses around the world were celebrating International Nurses' Day and the team from the North Mid's children's and young people's department were in the mood for some fun!

The NHS body which procures services for patients in five north London boroughs - Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington - is preparing to run a new procurement process to find a provider for NHS 111 and out-of-hours services in the boroughs. As part of the process it is surveying residents about their experiences with these services as currently provided. One aspect of particular importance is finding out why patients continue to attend accident and emergency (A&E) departments rather than using NHS 111 online or by phone in cases where this is the recommended option.

Do you have the knowledge, experience, and passion to promote better health and care for the people of Enfield? Healthwatch Enfield are looking for local residents, students, and professionals to join them as Local Committee Volunteers to amplify the views of local people and guide and monitor their work.

London Metropolitan University in partnership with NHS North Central London Clinical Commissioning Group has launched an evaluation study: Your experiences with accessing NHS services this winter: a survey of North London residents. The study is about people's experiences in accessing local NHS services, how informed they were to look after themselves and their families' health this winter.

Age UK Enfield's Fit For Life exercise project is encouraging older people to get out and get active this spring time, offering the first class for free.

Enfield Wellbeing Network (EWN) is a collaboration between a number of local community organisations, which aims to enable people to set and achieve realistic goals to improve their health and wellbeing. The Network, which has been set up by Age UK Enfield, Enfield Carers Centre, and Mind in Enfield and Barnet, is available for free to people over 18 who are at risk of, or are managing, deteriorating health and wish to make positive changes and/or manage long term conditions.