News

On Monday 17 January, NHS England and NHS Improvement launched a new mental health campaign to highlight that feelings of anxiety and depression can affect us all - and the NHS is here to help.

The NHS provides a range of talking therapies for common mental health issues such as anxiety and depression which are free, effective and confidential. The ‘Help’ campaign will encourage anyone experiencing common mental health problems to seek help from these NHS services – either by referring themselves, or by contacting their GP.

First Community would like to thank our staff, partners and all those working over the holiday period to provide health care across our local community.

Minor Injury Unit - Caterham Dene Hospital

Our Minor Injury Unit at Caterham Dene Hospital will remain open as normal from 8am to 8pm daily for those aged 18 and over throughout the festive period.

First Community Health and Care today launches its Urgent Community Response (UCR) Service.

The new, multidisciplinary UCR team will provide an urgent response in the community to east Surrey residents seven days a week from 8am to 8pm, giving patients the right care in the right place, including in their home if it is safe to do so, to prevent hospital admissions or readmissions.

Pictured left to right - Steve Slade (Treasurer), Helen Denton (Chairman), Linda Woodland (Trustee), Jean Mallery (Trustee), John Hazell (Chief Executive Officer) Friends of Caterham Dene Hospital.

Over the past year local charity, Friends of Caterham Dene Hospital, have gone above and beyond to raise money for large scale projects, including one which has seen the hospital benefit from new air conditioning technology.

Today the First Community Network launches, giving members of the public the opportunity to have an input into the way community health services are provided and developed in east Surrey and parts of West Sussex.

To achieve its aim of delivering first-rate community healthcare, First Community wants to listen to the voices, views, and opinions of those in the community it serves and give people a choice of how they would like to be involved.

Members of the public are reminded not to attend the Minor Injury Unit (MIU) at Caterham Dene Hospital if they are displaying any symptoms of Covid.

If patients or visitors displaying Covid symptoms attend the unit, we are required to temporarily close it to undertake a deep clean to reduce the risk of infection and keep all staff and other patients at the site safe.

You can help us to keep you safe by:

Homeowners in and around Oxted are being advised to boil their tap water after tests showed that supplies could be affected by the bacteria E-coli.

SES Water are working to investigate and fix the problem.

Customers should boil their water – and then let it cool – before using it for drinking, preparing food or cleaning their teeth.

You can find affected postcodes here:

https://seswater.co.uk/your-water/work-in-your-area/network-latest

Colleagues from across First Community Health and Care came together to virtually party today (Wednesday) to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the organisation’s formation.

The exciting milestone was marked with an online party where staff past and present, partners and a variety of stakeholders shared their thoughts and anecdotes of First Community’s evolution and wishes for the organisation’s next 10 years and beyond.

The NHS is gearing up to deliver the safe and effective annual flu vaccination programme from autumn as it’s the best protection against flu and its compilations.

A six-year-old boy with cerebral palsy has walked and cycled 70 miles to raise over £1,400 for the paediatric physiotherapy unit in Horley at which he is treated.

Joseph Hodgson was born with cerebral palsy and has left hemiplegia - which is the paralysis of the left side of his body – and affects his left leg and foot as well as his left arm.