Is This Love? Domestic abuse campaign encourages us to recognise the signs of abuse

A campaign to highlight the signs of domestic abuse, has been relaunched in the run up to Christmas and the New Year.

Is This Love? is an annual campaign run by Portsmouth’s community safety partnership that aims to raise awareness about the various types of domestic abuse, including emotional and financial, which often go unrecognised.

The campaign encourages individuals to recognise the signs of domestic abuse and to consider whether their relationship, and relationships around them, are healthy, or whether they could be abusive.

As well as pressures around Christmas time, the continuation of home working due to the pandemic this year has had a significant impact on many individuals living with domestic abuse, with home not likely to be a safe place.

Stop Domestic Abuse deliver support services in Portsmouth and across Hampshire to anyone affected by unhealthy and abusive relationships. A Portsmouth is helpline available from Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm. This is open to victims, family/friends, those who are abusive, violent or controlling in their relationship and want to change, and professionals.

The service also provides refuge accommodation for women and children and community-based support for victims and survivors. The team can also work with those using unhealthy behaviours in their relationships who want to change. This includes delivering Up2U, a behaviour-change programme that addresses abusive and unhealthy behaviours to break the cycle.

A refuge-based client and survivor of domestic abuse shared her story: “It all began when I became pregnant. It started emotionally and mentally then he would physically assault me. He acted very jealous that I was pregnant almost like it was because I could do something that he couldn’t. He never wanted to cuddle me and show me affection, he started to have an affair and said that this was my fault because I was pregnant. He showed no interest in my pregnancy and this made me sad because this should have been a happy time.”

The client shared that this didn’t end until she got help from Stop Domestic Abuse; now she is “so happy and so supported”.

Superintendent Clare Jenkins, Portsmouth’s District Commander for Hampshire Constabulary, said: “Domestic abuse is often a hidden crime with incidents taking place behind closed doors without any witnesses. It takes a lot of courage to report these incidents and it’s important to be working together to ensure that anyone suffering from domestic abuse knows where to get help.”

Tackling domestic abuse has been a priority for Portsmouth’s community safety partnership for more than a decade, and there is always an increased demand for support around this time of the year; more so with the continued impact of the pandemic.

Cllr Dave Ashmore, Cabinet Member for Community Safety at Portsmouth City Council, said: “We are continually working with partners city-wide to reduce and prevent domestic abuse. The Is This Love? campaign is particularly pertinent at this time of the year when we know that the number of domestic abuse cases reported increase.

“Around 40% of all assaults in Portsmouth take place in a family setting, and witnessing violence is a risk factor for perpetrating violence and/or experiencing further abuse – so it’s vital that we do everything we can to raise awareness of abusive behaviours and ensure people know where they can get help.”

Claire Lambon, CEO of Stop Domestic Abuse, said: “While Christmas has always been a difficult time for victims of domestic abuse, for those working from home or having to isolate it will only make things worse as victims are further cut-off from the outside world. Domestic abuse always increases during the holiday season as families and couples spend more time together at home. We are advised to reduce contact with family and friends in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but the daunting reality faced for many victims of domestic abuse is that this Christmas, home is not safe. If you are affected by domestic abuse, I would urge you to contact Stop Domestic Abuse for help and support and in an emergency please dial 999.”

If you need support, call Stop Domestic Abuse, on: 023 9206 5494 or email portsmouthreferral@stopdomesticabuse.uk. If it’s an emergency, always call 999.

Find out if your relationship is healthy by taking a short online quiz at www.isthislove.org.uk.

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Portsmouth social worker wins student of the year award

A newly qualified social worker at Portsmouth City Council has won a top national award.

Lucy Collier won the student social worker of the year award for her role in supporting children with disabilities and their families.

The Social Worker of the Year Awards was held on Wednesday 17 November and streamed online. Two other Portsmouth City Council social workers, Liam Mills and Amanda Haylock were shortlisted for children’s social worker of the year and team leader of the year respectively.

Councillor Suzy Horton, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, said: “I would like to congratulate Lucy for her immense efforts to support children and young people in the city who have additional needs. For someone who has only recently qualified, Lucy has shown professionalism and resilience, going above and beyond to support local families.

“I’m really proud of our workforce in children’s social care who have maintained face-to-face contact with local residents throughout the pandemic when restrictions allowed. I would like to take this opportunity to thank every single social worker who has supported our community during this time.”

Lucy originally trained to be a teacher but had a particular interest in helping children with disabilities. She decided to re-train as a social worker. Lucy joined Portsmouth City Council in May 2021 after a course at the University of Winchester.

Lucy has developed a training package that helps social workers support children with disabilities. This includes information on respite care, which enables parents or carers to take a break.

Lucy said: “The fact that I had been shortlisted was amazing but to win the student social worker of the year award is incredible. I would like to thank my team and line manager for supporting me since I started at the council. I’ve always wanted to help children and families fulfil their potential and remove barriers for people with disabilities.”

Liam Mills, who was shortlisted in the children’s social worker of the year category works with children whose families were impacted by complex issues. He explained challenging subjects through the use of pictures he made himself.

Liam said: “To be recognised in any awards ceremony is a massive boost. To receive a collective thank you at a surprise ceremony with colleagues was something else. This was a true team effort though. I would like to thank my line manager for supporting me over the last 18 months, through mentoring and training.

“The council has a fantastic culture of support through its Stronger Futures training academy. It has helped shape my practice, ensuring the support I give is tailored to the needs of the individual.”

During the pandemic, social workers have been on the frontline supporting children, young people and families when they need it most. Examples in Portsmouth include the multi-agency safeguarding hub (MASH) who have worked tirelessly with the police, local NHS trust and other organisations to ensure same day decisions are made on time.

Sally Hodges, interim director for children and families at Portsmouth City Council said: “Social workers are key people in providing support when families need it most. Liam, Lucy and Amanda are a real testament to the service. We are immensely proud of them and our entire workforce who go above and beyond every day to help our local community.”

A recording of the Social Worker of the Year Awards is now available on their website. Those interested can visit www.socialworkawards.com.

Sarah Daly (deputy director, children and families) Lucy Collier (social worker) Councillor Suzy Horton (Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, Liam Mills (social worker) and Clare Poyner (principal social worker)

Left to right – Sarah Daly (deputy director, children and families) Lucy Collier (social worker) Councillor Suzy Horton (Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, Liam Mills (social worker) and Clare Poyner (principal social worker)

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A challenging winter ahead for local NHS services

NHS services in Portsmouth and South East Hampshire are facing increased pressures and challenges as they continue to respond to COVID-19, deliver the vaccination programme, see patients not seen during the pandemic, and deal with the onset of flu and cold season as we head into winter.

GP practices are experiencing significant demand for their services, and both South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust are facing relentless pressures on their services. This include a significantly high volume of calls to 999 and 111, and higher than normal attendances at the Emergency Department at Queen Alexandra Hospital, alongside rising numbers of people needing admitting with COVID-19.

As such, partners in Portsmouth and South East Hampshire are working closely to manage and limit the pressures on the NHS and the potential impact on local residents. We are working together to:

  1. Reduce demand at the Emergency Department at QA by decreasing numbers attending and admitting
  2. Ensure stays in hospital beds are used for as long as needed and no longer, and
  3. Increase timeliness and volume of daily discharges from our hospitals

We are already seeing some early signs of improvement and must ensure this continues. So, we’re asking for the help of our local residents. Please, help to support this NHS this winter, by:

  • Only using 999 in a life-threatening situation – such as loss of consciousness, persistent and severe chest pain, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding that cannot be stopped, or if you suspect someone is having a heart attack or stroke.
  • Use other local NHS services such as an Urgent Treatment Centre, pharmacist or self-care at home – see our handy guide below for which services to use when.
  • Boost your immunity – get your COVID vaccinations, booster and flu jab if you’re eligible.
  • Wear a mask – help to stop transmission of the virus, especially indoors and in crowded spaces such as in shops and on public transport.

There are also lots of local services available if you need some support. These include:

  • PositiveMinds – informal support if you are experiencing low mood, stress or a mild to moderate mental health condition such as depression or anxiety (for those aged 18+, must have a GP within a PO1-PO6 postcode).
  • Talking Change – the service provides talking therapies to help you cope and feel better if you’re struggling with low mood and anxiety, or with a physical condition such as chronic pain or fatigue (must be aged 16+, live in Portsmouth and be registered with a GP in the city).
  • The Harbour – a remote, out of hours service for those at crisis point who need urgent mental health support. Available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 4.30pm to 11pm on 07418 364911. If people feel uncomfortable on the phone, they can also text, web chat or use video calls to access the service (for those aged 18+ in Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport, Havant and East Hampshire).
  • Veteran’s Mental Health – Call NHS 111 and tell them you are a Veteran
  • Let’s Talk About It – Solent NHS Trust Sexual Health Service provides sexual health testing, treatment, advice and contraception to anyone in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton.

 

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Share some Comfort & Joy this Christmas

Help make this Christmas happier for those who are most in need

Churches Homeless Action are once again running their ‘Comfort & Joy’ appeal in the run up to Christmas. Last year more than £15,000 was raised for those in need in Portsmouth.The campaign invites the whole community to share some comfort and joy. This might be thinking about an elderly neighbour, someone on their own or a family that needs some seasonal joy. Is there someone who could benefit from a seasonal gift and a greetings card to show that people care?

You can also contribute to the campaign by donating a gift card, cash or cheque which will give the gift of choice to those who may not currently have many choices. For some of them this might enable them to choose a box of chocolates, a new toy or even essential food shopping.

If you’d like to make a donation of a gift card, cash or cheque (payable to St Mary’s Church), these can be sent to St Mary’s Vicarage, Fratton Road, Portsmouth, PO1 5PA or handed in at St Mary’s Church any morning between 9am – 12pm.

The deadline for donations is Saturday 18 December. Donations will then be passed onto charities to reach those most in need. Below you can read more about who the campaign will be supporting this year.

 

Two Saints
The vouchers would benefit our Two Saints Portsmouth services such as our adult services for example, Hope House, also our Young People’s services such as the Foyer, in addition to our mental health services in the city. The vouchers make a huge difference at Christmas to all our clients who receive them as give them the gift of choice and freedom to choose what to purchase based on their personal needs. This can be to meet their basis needs such as food and clothing or allows them to buy a loved one a gift at Christmas which they ordinarily may not be able to do.

Stop Domestic Abuse
Stop Domestic Abuse provide practical and emotional support to victims of domestic abuse living in Portsmouth, accommodating up to 21 women and 32 children in four refuges, and also support women, children, young people and men living in their own homes. We are also working with Portsmouth City Council and Two Saints to provide support to homeless women staying in respite rooms who have been victims of domestic abuse.  In the last year we have supported over 400 women, children, young people and men affected by domestic abuse in Portsmouth.

Roberts Centre
Over the years thousands of families and vulnerable single people supported by the Roberts Centre have benefitted from the kindness of those who support the Churches Homeless Action Voucher scheme. Never in the 34 years of the Roberts Centres existence has the kindness and compassion of those who make the Voucher scheme a reality been more important. At different times we all need the help of others and in these challenging times there seem too many more people who would benefit from the kindness of others. The Roberts Centre has expanded our range of beneficiaries over the past year, across our 15 services we support well over 1000 families and households a year.

Catherine Booth House
Catherine Booth House is a residential Centre for 24 families with high support needs.  The vouchers are shared between the families (amount dependent of number in family) helping the parents to ensure the children and indeed themselves, have the best possible Christmas.

SSJ
Pre Covid we were supporting rough sleeping who were accessing the homeless day service, to have access to basic needs and necessities such as food, washing facilities as well as access to 1:1 support from support worker and potentially a night bed etc.

Since Covid, we had 3 additional services put in place which are tagged to the homeless day service these are a temporary accommodation provision. We are currently supporting homeless people who have been placed in the temporary accommodations we have 45 rooms at Kingsway, 41 rooms at The Registry, 19 Rooms at Elm Grove and around 30-35 rough sleepers as we still have a day service provision for people who are still rough sleeping.

The idea now is that we support clients to gain skills to move through the pathway and end up in more permanent accommodation.

Sunday Suppers
We are open to all comers for a hot meal, some food to take away, hot and cold drinks, a haircut occasionally, and an opportunity to sit down and talk to people. We peak at about 60 guests (we average about 45-50) but at Christmas time we tend to get packed out.

Our guests change week by week, some we see only a few times, others have been coming to Sunday Suppers for a very long time.

Portsmouth Churches Housing
Portsmouth Churches Housing Association (PCHA) have three hostels. Two hostels support 24 young homeless families and one hostel supports 7 homeless single women.

Life House
Vouchers will support our guests who are rough sleeping, sleeping in unsuitable conditions, underhoused, recovering addicts and those with poor mental health and any combination thereof.

We aim to create an environment of compassion and care, where people feel they belong, are accepted; and where they can build a sense of self-worth and confidence – a place where we can be generous with our time, energy and practical resources; where we can go the extra mile.

Friends without Borders
Providing support to those who are asylum seekers and refugees in the area.

Hope into Action
Providing supported housing in our city.

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Portsmouth’s learning disability service celebrate and reflect after unprecedented times

Portsmouth’s Integrated Learning Disability Service recently celebrated the resilience shown through the pandemic after a challenging 18+ months for the team, its providers and its service users and carers.

The service currently supports over 750 adults with a learning disability in the Portsmouth area and offers specialist services to enable and support them to participate in daily activities and increase or maintain levels of independence.

Based at the Kestrel Centre in the Civic offices, the service is run by Portsmouth City Council in partnership with Solent NHS Trust. Being an integrated service means service users can access support with both health and social care needs rather than needing to be referred to multiple services. This joined up, partnership working is a result of the Health and Care Portsmouth project which has changed the way health and social care services are delivered in the city.

The pandemic impacted the face-to-face services the team usually provide but they continued to stay in regular contact with service users via phone calls and video calls to check they were ok and offer support, including with getting their vaccinations.

Some of the service users carry out volunteer roles within the service; this might be doing office related tasks at the Kestrel Centre, or as volunteer trainers delivering presentations about the service.

Pete is one of the volunteer trainers for the service; his work had to stop during the pandemic. To begin with he received weekly phone calls and/or texts from the facilitators of his volunteer role. Pete had voiced that he missed seeing everyone and being able to make jokes. This prompted the facilitators to arrange fortnightly video calls via Microsoft Teams for the volunteer trainers’ group. Pete said he really enjoyed these and was able to return to the friendly and jokey person he usually is.

Pete is now back to doing his volunteer role and is currently delivering presentations virtually. He explains it’s “not the same feeling as when you do face-to-face.”

Bob is also a service user and volunteer trainer. Describing his role, Bob explains he gives presentations to different groups including colleges and tells them about the Learning Disability Service. He enjoys talking to people in his role and missed this during the pandemic.

Both Pete and Bob were included in a project run by the Learning Disability Service this summer – they were given their own tablet and training on how to use it. Both have enjoyed learning how to use the devices. Several years ago, Pete had said that he didn’t want to use a computer at all, so feels he has come a long way since then.

Service users including Pete and Bob, along with the many staff who make up the service attended a celebration event on Wednesday 13 October at Portsmouth’s Central Library. This was an opportunity for the service to reflect on their experiences through the pandemic and to celebrate the fantastic work that’s continued despite the challenges faced.

Service users, their families and carers and the staff from across the service enjoyed tea and cake as they enjoyed being able to meet face-to-face again. Catering was provided by the Lily & Lime café based in Portsmouth Central Library, which is run as a training enterprise for people with learning disabilities.

Suzannah Rosenberg, Chief Operating Officer (Portsmouth) at Solent NHS Trust speaking at the event, said: “It’s the only service that would open up to service users and have this many attend, which is testament to the work the service does.”

“It’s a seamless service. Service users don’t have to go to one place then another – it’s a result of health and social care services being joined up.”

Cllr Fazackarley, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing & Social Care at Portsmouth City Council, said “Our services have faced new challenges during the pandemic and have shown outstanding resilience and dedication in the face of these, embracing new ways of working in order to be able to support service users safely.”

 

Service user, PeteService user, Bob

Service users and volunteer trainers Pete (left) and Bob (right)

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Superstar social workers shortlisted in national awards

Three superstar social workers have been shortlisted in a prestigious national award scheme for their efforts to support vulnerable children, young people and families in the city.

The Social Worker of the Year Awards take place annually to celebrate the achievements of practitioners and teams in the profession across the country.

Stronger Futures and Portsmouth City Council put forward colleagues in children’s social care, with three social workers being shortlisted in the following categories.

  • Liam Mills – Social worker – (Category: Children’s social worker of the year)
  • Amanda Haylock- Service leader – (Category: Team leader of the year)
  • Lucy Collier – Newly qualified social worker – (Category: Student social worker of the year)

Councillor Suzy Horton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council welcomed the news:

“Since launching Stronger Futures, we feel it is important to shout about our amazing social workers who do a fantastic job supporting the city’s children, young people and families. The fact that our colleagues have been recognised in three different categories is a huge achievement. You all deserve a collective thank you and well done!”

As part of the nomination process, a supporting statement was submitted for each social worker which showcased their compassion, resilience and professionalism when supporting those who need it most.

Liam Mills who is part of the family safeguarding and support team, visited homes during the first lockdown to ensure families had the right support. Liam’s work has also seen him creating picture books for children to explain complex subjects that might be impacting a family’s life.

Amanda Haylock, service leader in the adult family safeguarding team introduced Portsmouth’s unique approach to family safeguarding, working with different teams to support parents/carers in issues such as mental health, substance misuse and domestic abuse.

Sarah Daly, deputy director of children and families at Portsmouth City Council said:

“Our workforce in children’s social care mean the world to us. A national awards scheme gives us a chance to showcase what we are all about by recognising the efforts of our teams across the service.

“We value our teams’ commitment to children, young people and families in the city. I would like to thank you all for your ongoing work and give you all a well-earned congratulations.”

Lucy Collier, a newly qualified social worker, who has been shortlisted in the student social worker of the year category, said:

“When my colleagues told me I had been shortlisted, I couldn’t believe it. It’s an incredible feeling to be recognised. Portsmouth is such a great place to work, partly due to the training and mentoring I have received through Portsmouth City Council and the University of Winchester.”

In her role at Portsmouth City Council, Lucy has been proactive in developing relationships with specialist schools in the city to enable better partnership working as well as supporting families who require respite as part of their care packages.

Lucy joined Portsmouth City Council through the step up to social work programme, a government initiative, which is designed to support those who graduate from training into employment. The University of Winchester supported Lucy on the 14-month programme.

Simon Jobson, dean of the faculty of health and wellbeing at the University of Winchester said:

“Congratulations to Lucy on her nomination and her fantastic achievements in her work for Portsmouth City Council since graduating from the University of Winchester.

“Our step up students undertake placements across the South, thanks to our close collaboration with local councils. This combination of employment and academic experience leads to the development of confident, highly-skilled and reflective practitioners, like Lucy, who are ready to work effectively and safely in social services.”

Those shortlisted will find out if they have won on Wednesday 17 November as part of a special virtual awards ceremony broadcast live from London. For more information on children’s social care at Portsmouth City Council, visit: www.strongerfutures.co.uk.

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Safe Space moves to Civic Offices

A Safe Space for individuals who might need support on a night out is now located in the reception of Civic Offices in Guildhall Square. This has moved from Guildhall Walk Practice, where it has been located over the summer.

The Safe Space will be open every Friday and Saturday from 10pm – 3am, to offer confidential and non-judgemental advice, immediate medical care, and help for minor injuries from trained professionals to anyone who needs it.

It is delivered by South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) in partnership with NHS Portsmouth Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Portsmouth City Council (PCC), and with support from the University of Portsmouth.

To ensure that people get the most appropriate care, we will also be signposting to other support services and schemes in the area such as PARCS, Stop Domestic Abuse, Positive Minds, Portsmouth Wellbeing Service, Citizens Advice Bureau, Ask for Angela, Ask for Clive and others.

If you have any questions about Safe Space, please contact Jo Atkinson at Portsmouth CCG on j.atkinson2@nhs.net or 023 9289 9541.

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New mental health crisis service launches in Portsmouth

The number of people living with mental health issues in Portsmouth and south east Hampshire is on the rise – but a health service launching this week aims to help tackle this problem.

The Harbour – a remote, out of hours mental health crisis service – is set to launch on Friday 17 September for people living in Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport, Havant and East Hampshire.

The Harbour aims to reduce the number of people who use the emergency and hospital mental health services by preventing people reaching crisis point.

Figures from the ‘Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey: survey of mental health and wellbeing’ from NHS Digital show the predicted prevalence of mental health problems for adults aged 18-64 in Portsmouth, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The report predicts more than 26,000 people will have a common mental health disorder in 2025.

Steve Johns, The Harbour Service Manager, explains:

“These predictions were made prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. The impact of Covid-19 and the resulting economic depression is expecting to cause a considerable increase in mental ill health over the next three to seven years.

In order to support those who are impacted by this, mental health services are being asked to treat more people and improve access to the right service at the right time. These figures show that it’s important now, more than ever, that we ensure we provide a service for people who feel they are at breaking point and need empathetic and positive support to get them through their self-defined crisis.

The Harbour aims to do this and enable local people to continue on and improve their mental wellbeing to ensure they can thrive, not just survive.”

The service, to be piloted for 12 months, will be run by Solent Mind and Havant and East Hants Mind, in partnership with Solent NHS Trust and Health and Care Portsmouth, and is based on the successful crisis service in Southampton, the Lighthouse, staffed in partnership between Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust nurses and Solent Mind peers.

It will be unable to support people who need medical attention; incoherent under the influence of drinking alcohol or using drugs; threatening/aggressive behaviour; and are under 18.

The Harbour will initially launch during the busiest times of the week – Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, open 4.30pm- 11.pm. If people feel uncomfortable on the phone, they can also text, web chat or use video calls to access the service: 07418 364 911.

Dr Nick Moore, Clinical Executive at Health & Care Portsmouth, said:

“I’m really excited for this new service to open up in Portsmouth. It’s important that people have somewhere to go, out of hours, where they can talk to some with lived experience of Mental Health issues. We know the impact the Covid-19 Pandemic has had on peoples feeling of wellbeing and that many people are struggling with their mental health for the first time in their life, this service can support those people in times of need when most other services are closed for the night. We’re looking forward to seeing how the Pilot of the service progresses and what we can achieve and learn from over the next 11 months.”

Jo Perry, Operations Director, Mental Health Services, Solent NHS Trust, said:

“We are really proud to be a partner in piloting The Harbour which will ensure that there is real-time support for people experiencing mental health problems, particularly in the evenings when we know people can feel even more lonely, isolated and vulnerable. We would encourage everyone who is struggling with their mental health in Portsmouth and southeast Hampshire to reach out to The Harbour because the team, with their lived experience, is brilliantly positioned to understand what support’s needed for that individual.”

Dr Zaid Hirmiz, a Horndean GP and the Clinical Director (South East Hampshire) for NHS Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight CCG, said:

“I applaud the skills and knowledge of the partner organisations behind this hugely worthwhile project. People live with mental health problems every minute of the day, and it is well documented that this is now a vast problem for society. To have this crisis out-of-hours service on our doorsteps is hopefully going to help change many lives for the better.”

For more information, visit: https://www.solentmind.org.uk/support-for-you/our-services/the-harbour

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Thank you to all NHS staff and volunteers in Portsmouth

On Emergency Services Day (9 September 2021), we want to pay tribute to all of our fantastic emergency services in the city, but in particular we’d like to highlight the hard-working and passionate staff and volunteers we have throughout the NHS in Portsmouth.

Whether you’re a paramedic, call handler, ambulance driver, doctor, GP, nurse, healthcare support worker, midwife, pharmacist, carer, practice manager, community responder, care staff, administrator, or any other role in the NHS – from the bottom of our hearts at Health and Care Portsmouth, we want to say thank you.

Your expertise, skill and dedication have been essential in supporting our city through the most challenging of times, and – alongside other local emergency services in Portsmouth – you are the reason that we can begin our recovery from the pandemic.

We know there is still a long way to go, and know that resources within the NHS continue to be stretched – but we want you to know that your commitment and ongoing support for those living, working and studying in Portsmouth has not gone unnoticed. We are truly grateful for your work.

Thank you, on behalf of everyone involved with Health and Care Portsmouth.

 

Dr Elizabeth Fellows, Clinical Chair, Portsmouth NHS Clinical Commissioning Group
David Williams, Executive Lead, Health and Care Portsmouth
Jo York, Managing Director, Health and Care Portsmouth

 

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Major milestone reached as 2m COVID-19 vaccines delivered across Hampshire and Isle of Wight

A major milestone has been reached in the local delivery of the COVID-19 vaccination programme with 2 million jabs delivered across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Latest official data published on Thursday 17 June shows that 2,068,810 doses of the vaccine had been delivered locally by the week ending 13 June.

To date more than 91% of adults aged 30 and over have received their first COVID-19 jab and the vaccination programme continues to roll-out at pace across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

This milestone has been reached just six months since the launch of the biggest vaccination programme in this history of the NHS.

Anyone aged 21 and over is invited to make an appointment to receive the vaccine by contacting via the National Booking Service at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or by calling 119. Text invitations appear as an alert from ‘NHSvaccine’, including a web link to the NHS website to making a booking.

With bookings open to adults aged 18 or over, everyone eligible is urged to take up the offer of a vaccine as soon as they receive their invitation.

Jenny Erwin, Senior Responsible Officer for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight COVID-19 vaccination programme, said:

“We are proud of and incredibly grateful to everyone who has stepped up and continues to go above and beyond to support delivery of the COVID-19 vaccination programme. We will never forget the dedication of every one of our colleagues, partners and volunteers who have helped us achieve this milestone in just six months – thank you.

“We don’t stop here. Working with our partners we continue to do all we can to reduce inequalities and ensure everyone eligible receives the vaccine. We remain on track to have offered every adult across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by 19 July and I urge anyone eligible who hasn’t yet made an appointment to do so as soon as possible.”

Dr Nigel Watson, Clinical Lead for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight COVID-19 vaccination programme, said:

“This is an incredible achievement and testament to the dedication and commitment of all our colleagues and partners across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight whose outstanding efforts are helping to save lives.

Getting the vaccine helps protect you, your loved ones and our communities against COVID-19. The first dose offers good levels of protection, but to get maximum protection everyone will need a second dose.

Two doses of the vaccines are highly effective against the Delta variant of COVID-19, which is now making up the vast majority of cases and I encourage everyone eligible to get vaccinated without delay.

Please keep your appointment if you have been offered one or are booked into a clinic. If you are unable to attend an appointment please cancel the appointment so that someone else can benefit from it.

If you have previously declined a vaccination – the benefits outweigh any potential
risks – if you now would like to be vaccinated please contact your practice or book
an appointment via the national booking service.”

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