News

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.

The rehabilitation ward at Caterham Dene is temporarily closed to new admissions due to a number of cases of vomiting. All infection protection controls are in place. We hope to re-open the ward again soon. If you want to visit a patient, please contact the ward first before arriving.

If you have been unwell, please do not visit the hospital until 48 hours after any episode of diarrhoea and vomiting. If you are unsure about visiting, please contact the ward at Caterham Dene before arriving.

First Community has appointed experienced non-executive director Florence Barras as its new chair.  Ms Barras will replace current chairman Elaine Best, who is retiring. Miss Best has been chairman of First Community since its formation in 2011.

First Community is among England’s top performing health and care organisations having been rated Outstanding by CQC in 2017. First Community provides NHS community health and care services in east Surrey and parts of West Sussex.