News

As part of the Multidisciplinary Care Homes Project, NHS East Surrey Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has reduced the number of older people from care homes who are admitted to hospital in an emergency. 

Caroline Burns, Nurse Advisor for Care Homes is featured in the video below explaining how multi agency work improves the experience for residents living in care homes. 

Visit our Care Home Advisors webpage for more information. 

On Tuesday 28 May, the Nursing Times announced that First Community Health and Care were shortlisted for the Best Wellbeing and Staff Engagement award at the Nursing Times Workforce Awards.

Following NHS staff survey results, and supporting the NHS prevention agenda, First Community decided to do more to support and empower 450 employees to focus on their health and wellbeing. 

Our Minor Injury Unit at Caterham Dene Hospital will be open 8am to 8pm every day over Easter including the bank holidays. This service is for people aged 18 and over who have a minor injury that cannot be managed by your GP or practice nurse. We offer treatment for broken bones, cuts and bruises, bites, eye problems, minor burns and scalds. Our qualified emergency nurse practitioners provide first rate care. 

In April 2019 First Community, as part of Children and Family Health Surrey (CFHS), launches a two year outreach programme to improve the health of local Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities. The project, which is the first Surrey-wide GRT health initiative, has been commissioned by Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership.

On Thursday 14 March 2019 Carol Gallo, First Community Heart Failure Team Administrator was awarded runner up in the category of Support Workforce Heroes - Working above & beyond the call of duty at Health Education England Kent Surrey and Sussex Apprenticeship and Support Workforce Awards.

The Health Education England Kent Surrey and Sussex Apprenticeship and Support Workforce Awards celebrates the contributions of NHS support workers who, often work behind the scenes, but play a vital role in ensuring patients receive high quality care.

At the end of January 2019 First Community in collaboration with Alliance for Better Care (ABC) launched a new service where local people can see a specialist physiotherapist at their GP surgery.

Employees at First Community, which provides community health care in east Surrey and West Sussex, say its services are first rate and recommend it as a good place to work. The 2018 NHS staff survey went out to 1.1 million people at more than 300 organisations providing NHS services. The results of the survey were released on 26 February 2019. 

First Community, as part of Children and Family Health Surrey (CFHS), held a Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) Health Conference on Thursday 31 January 2019 to explore the issues facing GRT communities ahead of the launch of CFHS’s two year assertive outreach programme, funded by Surrey Heartlands. The conference was held at the Cobham Curve Conference Centre.

On Wednesday 30 January 2019 a Winter Home Hub was launched for residents in Reigate and Horley. The initiative, which lasts 10 weeks, aims to offer extra support, help and advice to members of the community who may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of winter. This could include the elderly and those who have long term health conditions.