Adult Learning Disability Service
The adult learning disability service provides health and well-being support to people aged over 18 years, who may have additional needs.
The team includes learning disability nurses, physiotherapists, drama and movement psychotherapists, specialist nurses, dietician, and clinical psychologists. They work together and with other health and social care providers to make sure people can access the health and community-based services they need.
Referrals can be made by anyone, including health professionals, family, carers or self-referral, by phoning 0161 770 3868 (9am until 5pm, Monday to Friday) and asking for a member of the on duty health team.
Audiology
The audiology service provides hearing aid maintenance, newborn hearing screening, ENT (ear, nose and throat) support, school hearing screening, support for adults and children with hearing loss and more. More information is available here.
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Cancer family history service
The cancer family history service is for people who have been assessed by a health professional as being more likely to develop certain inherited cancers, including breast, bowel, womb and ovarian; or who are concerned about this because of their family history.
People are given an individual assessment, which places them into three groups: population, moderate or high-risk.
Population risk: patients are given advice and information on ways to reduce their risk of getting cancer, including healthy lifestyles, national screening programmes and raising awareness about symptoms of cancer.
Moderate risk: patients are offered early screening and also receive information and advice to reduce their risk of getting cancer.
High-risk patients: are also offered screening and are offered the opportunity to go to Regional Genetics Department at St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester for genetic testing and counselling. They also receive advice and information to reduce their risk of getting cancer.
The service offers ongoing support for people in all the above categories and people can be reassessed if a family member develops cancer.
Children’s Community Nursing
The children’s community nursing team provides care for children and young people, aged from birth to 16 years old, with ongoing health conditions, in their own home. They also support parents to deal with their child’s condition. More information about the services they provide is available here.
Children with disabilities/complex needs
The service provides family-centred support to children and young people, aged from birth to 18 years, who have learning disabilities and/or complex health needs, including children who require technological support, children with behaviour that challenges and children with physical, sensory or communication difficulties.
The team aims to support children to live as ordinary lives as possible and to support families to bring up their child and ensure they can access the health and community services they need. The team includes physiotherapists, nursery nurses, learning disability nurses, children's nurses, speech therapists, dieticians, specialist nurses and clinical psychologists. They work in partnership with parents, carers, other health professionals, education staff and social care staff.
Referrals can be made by anyone who has written permission from the child’s parents and by phoning 0161 627 1749 (9am until 5pm, Monday to Friday) and asking for the on duty health team.
Community Diabetes Service
The community diabetes service is for people who are registered with an Oldham GP and is based at Glodwick Primary Care Centre.
The service provides care and support for people with diabetes within a variety of community-based locations. It aims to reduce the risks that are associated with diabetes, which can affect people’s quality of life.
Patients are seen by a specialist nurse or doctor at a clinic that is easy for them to get to and home visits are offered to patients who are unable to leave their house.
Community matrons
Community matrons treat people who have a long-term condition, such as diabetes, and are registered with an Oldham GP. They provide care in people’s homes or within community-based locations. The team work with people, their carers and other health, social and voluntary services to help them have more control over their condition, help them to avoid an unnecessary stay in hospital and support them to live a healthy lifestyle at home.
Community Stoma/Continence Nursing Service
It is estimated that one in five women and one in ten men over the age of 65 experiences urinary incontinence. The Royal College of Physicians suggests that 70 per cent of incontinence cases can be cured following proper assessment and treatment.
Also, each year between 70,000 and 100,000 people across the country will have colorectal or bladder surgery resulting in a stoma.
The community stoma/continence nursing service provides care for people registered with an Oldham GP, who experience bladder and/or bowel dysfunction. Care in provided in people’s homes, in residential or nursing care homes, or within a community clinic.
The team works in partnership with GPs and other health care professionals to provide a range of specialist services. They assess people’s needs; provide short-term or ongoing care; support people to avoid an unnecessary stay in hospital, or where hospital treatment is necessary, help them to return home sooner; support people to be healthy, including physically and mentally and socially and help people with a disability to be independent.
The continence service is available for children aged three and above and adults who experience bladder and bowel dysfunction.
The stoma service is available for people of any age, including newborn babies, who need, colostomy, urostomy, ileostomy or fistula pouch management.
Contraception and sexual health (CASH) service
Oldham CASH Service provides free confidential advice and information on contraception and sexual health to men and women of all ages, including young people under 16 years old.
The team provides a wide range of services ranging from a variety of contraception methods through to pregnancy testing, cervical smears and advice, screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. More information is available here
Dental service
The dental service provides dental care to people of all ages, including in-hours unscheduled dental care, screening, monitoring and oral health improvement programmes. More information is available here.
District nurses
The district nursing service provides nursing care to people registered with an Oldham GP. They work in partnership with other health professionals and care agencies to allow people to stay in their own home, or wherever they wish to live.
The service provides short-term and ongoing care; helps people to avoid an unnecessary stay in hospital, or where hospital care is necessary help people to return home sooner.
People can be referred to the service from any source, for example health professionals, family members and carers, 365 days a year.
The district nursing services is committed to a future in which patients are not only helped through periods of ill health, but are given advice and support to help them to improve and look after their own health and well-being.
Health Improvement Service
There are a wide variety of free services, projects and initiatives on offer in Oldham that can provide you and your family with support, advice and activities to help you live a healthier life. Many of these are provided by Oldham Community Health Services’ health improvement service. The teams have something on offer for everyone throughout the year. So, whether you just want to join a family activity or just do something for yourself, the ideal solution could be on offer here.
The Health Improvement Service offers the following services, projects and initiatives:
Activate
This is a cycling programme that runs across Oldham throughout the week. People can come along to a ‘drop-in’ session, or sign up for a six week beginners or advanced course. Activate sessions can be tailored to the needs of the group. For more information contact Gaynor Keane, health development worked, on 0161 621 7128 or email Gaynor.keane@nhs.net
Active Adults
The team provide a variety of community-based physical activity sessions including aerobics, walking and jogging, pilates, yoga and swimming. Sessions can be tailored to the needs of the group.
For a full detailed timetable of activities visit: www.activeadultsoldham.co.uk. For more information contact Oliver Barnes, Active Adults co-ordinator, on 0161 621 7128 or email oliverbarnes@nhs.net
Black Minority Ethnic mental health development team
The mental health development team (for Black and Minority Ethnic Communities) works in local communities and provides well-being sessions in various languages around the symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression and how to deal with these conditions.
The team runs gender specific groups, for example in the south Asian community. They also provide a group for asylum seekers and refugees and work with local schools and colleges to address issues around student well-being and emotional intelligence.
They also aim to make it easier for people in BME communities to know what services are available and which are right for them. For more information contact Neil Fallon, advanced practitioner health improvement service, on 0161 621 7128 or email Neil.fallon@nhs.net
Digging for Health
The Digging for Health initiative teaches local people, young and old, how to grow their own fruit and vegetables, eat more healthily, manage their weight, get more physical activity and improve their overall well-being.
It has already helped hundreds of local people and community groups develop the skills and knowledge to grow their own food meaning they can live a healthier lifestyle.
A variety of sessions and courses are on offer including ‘taster sessions’, ‘Growing Families’ and ‘Grow and Taste’. For more information, contact Hannah Williams, Digging for Health co-ordinator, on 0161 621 7128 or email Hannah.williams3@nhs.net.
Food and nutrition team
The Food and Nutrition team support people to become more healthy. They offer healthy eating advice, which can help to prevent obesity and diet-related diseases such as cancer.
They offer a variety of sessions, for example healthy cooking sessions, and these are tailored to the needs of each group. For any more information contact Emma Haman, senior health development officer, on 0161 621 7128 or email ehaman@nhs.net
Health improvement in primary care
Specialist health improvement practitioners work with GP practices to develop activities for people who are overweight or obese, for example the Why Weight programme mentioned below. They support GP practices to develop their services, skills and knowledge to ensure patients receive the information they need to manage their weight. For more information email specialist health improvement practitioners Liz Boniface or Jenna Lewis at eboniface@nhs.net or jennalewis@nhs.net or phone them on 0161 621 7128.
Health Improvement in Secondary Care
Oldham's health improvement service is working in partnership with Pennine Acute Hospitals at The Royal Oldham Hospital to develop health improvement plans for patients. The aim is to support lifestyle changes and ensure people are referred on to other services where appropriate. For more information contact Paul Campbell, specialist health improvement practitioner, on 0161 621 7128 or email paul.campbell1@nhs.net
Health improvement training
The health improvement training team provides training and courses for the Open College Network and the Royal Society for Public Health. It is aimed at health professionals, people working in the community and volunteers. It is particularly focused on ways of offering advice and improving people’s motivation to change their behaviour.
They are in the process of setting up a Health Improvement Training Network to develop and share good practice within the Health Improvement Service. For more information contact Nikki Pattison on 0161 621 7128 or email Nikkijean.pattison@nhs.net
Healthy weight programmes
The Health Improvement Service delivers a range a healthy weight courses for all ages groups, including:
MEND– Mind Exercise Nutrition Do It!: MEND is a free fun programme for children aged five to seven or seven to 13, who are above their ideal weight and their families. It aims to help them become fitter and healthier. Programmes run throughout the year across Oldham and sessions include activities, food and nutrition advice and tips on behaviour change. Generally sessions run for two hours, twice a week (usually after school or on a Saturday).
SHINE (Self Help Self Help, Independence, Nutrition and Exercise): The aim of SHINE is to help young people aged between 13 and 17 years to manage their weight, by helping them to understand attitudes to food and providing information and advice about physical activity and emotional well-being.
Why Weight: Why Weight is a successful 12-week weight management programme. Weekly sessions include weigh-ins, activities, a motivational challenge and support in a friendly group setting. Why Weight is along-lasting approach to weight control that is informative and fun.
For more information contact Emma Haman, senior health development officer, on 0161 621 7128 or email ehaman@nhs.net
Let’s go for a walk
People can come along to a volunteer-led walk at venues right across Oldham. Walks vary in length and cater for everyone, with varying levels of physical activity. The scheme has been accredited by Natural England, which means it has met strict criteria and is delivering a high quality scheme for local people.
For a full timetable of walks visit www.visitoldham.org ; or contact Gaynor Keane, health development worker, on 0161 621 7128 or email Gaynor.keane@nhs.net
Oral health improvement team
The team’s aim is to improve the oral health of local people. They work with a range of health, education and social care professionals to deliver a range of oral health promotion programmes, in a variety of settings, for example nurseries and schools. For more information email Lynne Smith, health improvement manager, on 0161 621 7128 or email Lynneann.smith@nhs.net
Pathways to Health
Pathways to Health aims to tackle health inequalities and promote equality and diversity by providing education and employment opportunities for people in seven specific areas of Oldham. It is aimed at people in Black and Minority Ethnic Communities, asylum seekers and people with disabilities.
For more information contact Sue King, Pathways to Health co-ordinator, on 0161 621 7128 or email Sueking2@nhs.net
Physical activity team
The physical activity team provide a range of projects and initiatives that aim to increase people’s levels of physical activity, so that more of Oldham's population are reaching the recommended levels of five 30 minutes long sessions of moderate activity per week.
The team works with a wide range of services and organisations across Oldham and offers sport and physical activity programmes, including walking and cycling, which can help people to lose weight and to reduce the chances of getting coronary heart disease, lung disease, cancer, or having a stroke. For more information contact Tom Maloney, senior health development officer, on 0161 621 7128 or email Thomas.Maloney@nhs.net
Self-Care
Everyone can benefit from a course in self-care, which can offer improved health and well-being and quality of life, increased confidence and knowledge about how to care for minor ailments. For more information contact Jason Bromley, self-care coordinator, on 0161 621 7128 or email Jason.Bromley@nhs.net
Sexual health team
The sexual health training programme focuses on people’s physical, mental, emotional social and spiritual well-being. It aims to reduce inequalities in relation to sexual health education and services and to address the needs of health professionals, volunteers, parents and carers. For more information contact Colin Avery, sexual health training officer, on 0161 621 7128 or email cavery@nhs.net
Steps to Health – health trainer programme
Health trainers see people individually in GP practices and other community venues to support people to make lifestyle changes. The Steps to Health programme is part of the NHS Health Checks Programme and works with people who are assessed by their GP as having a 20 per cent or more risk of developing heart and circulatory disease in the next 10 years.
They also work closely with community mental health teams to support their clients to make lifestyle changes. For more information contact Sheila Cadd, health trainer co-ordinator, on 0161 621 7128 or email sheila.cadd@nhs.net
Stop smoking service
Oldham’s award winning specialist stop smoking service provides help, support or advice to anyone wishing to give up smoking or other tobacco use. Research has shown that people who quit with support from the service are four times more likely to stop smoking in the long term.
The service is free and tailored to meet the individual needs of each client – and there is no waiting list for treatment. Advice and support is available on an individual basis, in a group setting; at ‘drop-in’ sessions and via telephone, text message or home visits. You can contact the service on 0800 328 8534 or 0844 873 0032 and ask for Liz Woodworth.
Parkruns
Parkruns are held every Saturday morning at 9.00am in Alexandra Park, Glodwick. People can take part in a timed 5 kilometre race, which is run by qualified staff. Parkruns are suitable for anyone, regardless of physical ability, because people can choose to run, jog or walk the course.
For more information contact Roma Hashim, health development worker, on 0161 621 7128 or email Roma.hashim@nhs.net
Volunteer opportunities
Volunteers provide a valuable contribution to the services provided for local people. Anyone who is interested in becoming a volunteer is encouraged come along recruitment events, which are held in the community. Volunteers will have access to training and have regular meetings with mentors.
To find out what opportunities are currently available, contact Margo Jackson, health development worker, on 0161 621 7128 or email Margo.Jackson@nhs.net
Workplace Health
Healthy workforce initiatives are available to local businesses to support them to look after their employees’ health and well-being needs. For more information contact Tom Maloney, senior health development worker, on 0161 621 7128 or email Thomas.Maloney@nhs.net
Health visitors
Health visitors are qualified nurses with specialist public health training. They aim to improve the health and well-being of local families with children under the age of five. They visit people at home and carry out assessments to see if there any health needs, so that appropriate care or support can be provided. More information is available here.
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Mental health team
The mental health team provides services for people aged 16 and above, who are registered with an Oldham GP, and are experiencing anxiety and/or mild to moderate depression. More information is available here.
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Nutrition and dietetics
The community nutrition and dietetics team provides people with an assessment, diagnosis and management of dietetic (diet) needs and provides information and advice to people who need to improve their diet because of a medical condition. The service is available to people of all ages who are registered with an Oldham GP and is provided in a range of health centres across Oldham. A home visiting service is available for people who are housebound.
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Ophthalmology
The community ophthalmology service provides assessment and treatment for a wide variety of eye conditions including minor ophthalmic emergencies that can be treated in the community, rather than in hospital.
Referrals are made by opticians, GPs and other health care professionals and the service is available to people who are registered with an Oldham GP.
Treatment can begin quickly, which can prevent the condition getting worse, reduce discomfort and distress and reduce the chances of needing hospital treatment.
The service is based at Failsworth Primary Care Resource Centre and is also available at the Oldham Integrated Care Centre.
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Parkinsons Nurse Specialist
Parkinson’s Disease is one of the most common neurological (nervous system) conditions, which gets worse over time and there is no known cure. On average one in every 500 people will develop Parkinson’s Disease and it is a frequent cause of falls, fractures and hospital admissions.
The Parkinson’s Disease nurse specialist’s role is to provide effective and ongoing care for people with Parkinson’s who are registered with an Oldham GP, and their carers. Care is adapted to the needs of the individual patient throughout the course of the disease.
The Parkinson’s Disease nurse specialist provides patient and carer assessment, individual medicines management, ongoing support and advice, education and referral to other specialists. This support helps patients to look after their health and well-being and promotes self care and independence.
Physiotherapy team
The physiotherapy team provides assessment and treatment for long or short-term musculoskeletal (muscles, joints and bones). The service is available for people aged over 16 who are registered with an Oldham GP. More information is available here.
Podiatry
The podiatry service is available for people of all ages, depending on their needs, and provides assessment and treatment for foot and ankle conditions. More information is available here.
Positive steps team
The positive steps team provides information and advice on any health-related subject for young people, aged 16 years to 19 years, who live in Oldham. They also provide immunisations, pregnancy testing, prescriptions for minor conditions and more. More information is available here.
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Respiratory optimisation and management service (ROAMS) (respiratory diseases)
The ROAMS aims to support people with a life limiting respiratory disease, within their home. The service provides assessment, plans care, prescribes medication and arranges specialist equipment where needed.
They work with a range of other health and social care professionals and organisations, including MacMillan, Marie Curie, Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, along with care homes, charities, the voluntary sector and private sector.
The service is available for adults who are registered with an Oldham GP and have been:
• diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or other lung disease; and • Had two or more acute hospital admissions in the last 12 months/ or are receiving end of life care.
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School health team
The school health team works with young people, aged four to 18 years and offers health assessments, dental and personal hygiene advice, immunisations, sexual health advice and more. More information is available here.
Speech and language therapy - adult
The service provides assessment, diagnosis, treatment and advice for adults in Oldham who have difficulties with communication, speech or swallowing. Problems could be caused by neurological conditions such as stroke, dementia, brain injury, progressive neurological conditions, conditions affecting the muscles of the upper body, or cancer of the head and neck. The team also provides advice and therapy for people with voice problems.
They see people in clinics, nursing or residential homes, or at home for people who find it difficult to attend a clinic.
They also carry out training in the community on dysphagia awareness (swallowing) and making communication accessible for people with communication impairment. More information is available here.
Speech and Language Therapy – children and young people
The speech and language therapy team provides assessment and therapy for children and young people, aged between birth and 16 to 18 years, with communication difficulties, including unclear speech, stammering, limited social interaction with others and who need to communicate through other methods such as signs or pictures. They work in partnership with children and young people and their families, carers, schools and other health professionals. More information is available here.
Stroke team
The community stroke team provides assessment and care to people who have had a stroke and are registered with an Oldham GP.
People are often referred to the service after a stay in hospital, or the team can help to plan life at home following a stroke, while the person is still in hospital.
People can be referred to the service by hospital doctors, GPs, district nurses, social workers and other health care professionals. They work closely with several other services including occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, dietetics and the Stroke Association. They also have strong links with the general community physiotherapy team.
They visit people either at home, in a residential or nursing care home, at day centres and other appropriate places. The team will asses the person’s needs and work with them to set achievable goals and care and family members or carers are encouraged to be involved.
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Tissue viability / leg ulcer service
The tissue viability service works to prevent and treat chronic (long-term) non-healing and complex wounds; and to assess and treat skin conditions and chronic oedema (swelling).
They provide care to people who are registered with an Oldham GP, in community-based clinics, within residential or nursing care homes; or in people’s homes.