News

First Community is delighted to launch its Green Plan in response to the NHS’s mission to reach Net Zero Carbon by 2040

An important and exciting opportunity is being advertised for you to contribute your long COVID lived experience to help improve Long COVID services. NHS England’s Long COVID Programme sets the national policy and commissioning standards for post COVID services.

“Working with people with lived experience is vital to ensuring our work considers the needs of all those affected by long COVID. Please contact us if you feel you can bring your experience to our team.”
Hazel Nyamajiyah, Senior Policy Manager at NHS England and NHS Improvement

First Community has developed a new and exciting Patient Safety Partner role that is open to members of the public to work as an advisor to help us deliver safe healthcare across the organisation.

This is a new and innovative position which stems from a growing body of work both nationally and within First Community focusing on involving patients across all levels of healthcare with particular focus on improving safety.

East Surrey resident Ian Grant was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in 2016, and through sheer determination and support from Speech and Language Therapists at First Community Health and Care, he has improved his speech and helped produce a well-known cover song.

Following his PD diagnosis, Ian suffered with several associated symptoms including difficulties with his speech, which led to a referral to First Community’s Speech and Language Therapy Team to help manage his condition.

There are no immediate changes to COVID Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) requirements in healthcare settings. This includes the requirement for staff, patients and visitors to wear a mask/face covering.

The consistent application of IPC measures, alongside the roll out of the vaccine programme and staff and patient testing, remains the most effective defence against the entry and spread of COVID-19 in healthcare settings.

Today, First Community's Chief Executive Sarah Billiald shared a video explaining why First Community is a great place to come and work.

Sarah talks about the range of benefits and extra rewards on offer for people who work at First Community, and the organisations passion for supporting professional development and staff health and wellbeing. 

Click here to watch the full video. 

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.