A new temporary testing centre is opening in Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taf this week. The testing centre is available for residents living anywhere in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Test bookings need to be made in advance via this link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/
A number of frequently asked questions have been developed in partnership with RCT Council – in relation to the testing facility an what to expect from the testing process: https://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/EN/Newsroom/PressReleases/2020/TemporaryTestingFacilityPorthFrequentlyAskedQuestions.aspx Please only book an appointment if you are showing signs of Coronavirus symptoms:
The Staying Well at Work project have just launched a series of live webinars on health and well-being in the work place. Here's a bit more about the work they do:
The Staying Well at Work project is led by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, is part funded by the European Social Fund through the Welsh Government, and aims to provide support to small businesses and their employees. The support is offered at no cost, and focussed on a bespoke range of products to improve employee Health and Wellbeing and businesses to manage employees with disabilities/work limiting health conditions. Services we offer include; coaching, counselling, physiotherapy, occupational health advice, health surveillance checks, specialist business and people support. For more information regarding European Funding please visit : www.gov.wales/eu-funds What problems can we help with? Staying Well at Work specialises in designing and delivering services including consultancy, training and clinical support. Our proactive and integrated approach supports the prevention and management of physical ill health, mental health, rehabilitation and long term conditions. We provide clinical support for people to improve their daily functioning and symptom management so that they can return to or continue to work. The service offers direct access to specialist support at no cost in the following areas:
What problems can’t we help with? We cannot provide the service to individuals who:
How to access the service? You can self-refer without seeing a GP first. You are advised to telephone the Staying Well at Work Centre. The center is open Monday to Friday 9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. You will be asked to complete a self-referral form prior to attending an appointment. Self-referral forms are available at the GP practice or alternatively can be sent out via post or email. Contact details Telephone: 01443 827317 Email: stayingwellatwork@rctcbc.gov.uk Website: Staying Well at Work Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StayingWellAtWork/ Young people and their parents and carers have described a family wellbeing course as ‘comforting and reassuring’ during difficult times.
The Families 2gether 4 Wellbeing course, run by wellbeing charity Valleys Steps, is a free course designed for young people, aged 14-18, accompanied by their parent or carer. Developed last year through a partnership with Cwm Taf Morgannwg’s Taff Ely Primary Care Cluster, the course aims to provide a range of ideas and practical steps to improve mental health and wellbeing. Practical techniques such as mindfulness and stress management are taught over six weeks by a Valleys Steps practitioner. The course was developed after GPs in the Taff Ely Primary Care Cluster noticed an increase in the numbers of young people coming to them with anxiety, stress and finding they were unable to cope with some everyday situations. Valleys Steps was asked to develop a course that would meet the needs of teenagers and developed the course with input from pupils and staff at local schools in the area. Dr Ian Morris, a GP at Old School Surgery in Pontyclun, said: “Mental health and wellbeing are such important areas to address in the modern world. Work, school, exams and the everyday stresses and strains of being a teenager can impact on family life and we increasingly see evidence of this in our surgeries. As a cluster we asked Valleys Steps to develop a family project to promote wellbeing for young people and the result is this fantastic course that is already helping families in the Taff Ely area.” Initially developed as eight face-to-face sessions, the course was adapted to six sessions, delivered online, due to the pandemic. Despite the changes, the course has been given a 100% approval rate by the families who have taken part, with every participant saying they would recommend the course to other families. One parent who attended with their teenager said: “I really found this course helpful. It was really positive to participate with my teenage daughter as a team. My daughter and I both took a lot of good tips and advice from the course. It was also comforting to see other parents in similar situations.” Research suggests that over time mindfulness brings about long term changes in mood and levels of happiness. Mindfulness can help prevent or reduce depression and can help when stress and anxiety issues arise. Clare McRobbie, Wellbeing Course Practitioner for Valleys Steps and a former teacher, developed and delivered the course. She said: “The Mindfulness and Wellbeing course was developed for parents and young people to learn together in a way that felt invitational and gently encouraged them to use the mindfulness and stress reduction techniques, taught in the weekly sessions to reduce stress and anxiety. “I really enjoyed teaching this course and felt that the group grew in confidence each week in a safe and nurturing environment with lots of different learning activities to keep young people and their parents engaged. I look forward to our next course starting.” The next course, starting on September 17, is now open for registration. The course is free for young people aged 14 to 18 and their parent or carer. Participants must live in the Taff Ely area of RCT or be registered with a Taff Ely GP practice. Please contact Valleys Steps on info@valleyssteps.org or call 01443 803048 to register or for further information. For further information on health and wellbeing services and other cluster initiatives in the Taff Ely area visit www.taffelycluster.com Aminah Teague and Hannah Furnish work in surgeries across the Taff Ely area, providing support with non-medical needs. This includes mental health and wellbeing, loneliness and isolation, volunteering or employment, housing, benefits and financial support, or anything else patients would like to talk about.
Their job involves connecting people to local activities, support and services. Wellbeing Coordinators can take the time to chat with patients and get to know them and their interests. Aminah said: “We take time to have a good chat, find out what might be helpful to them at the moment and it could be for anything, from feeling a bit isolated, mental health and wellbeing, issues around housing, finance, training and volunteering, it could literally be anything.” During the covid19 pandemic, Hannah and Aminah have been working in new ways supporting patients. Appointments are currently take place over the phone and the wellbeing team have been able to provide practical support, such as shopping or picking up prescriptions. Between them, Aminah and Hannah provide support to patients across the whole Taff Ely area. Aminah covers New Park Surgery, Eglwysbach Medical Practice, Taff Vale Practice and Old School Surgery. Hannah can support patients in Park Canol Practice, Ashgrove Surgery and Taffs Well Medical Centre. She also supports people attending Llantrisant Job Centre and Pontypridd Job Centre and will be running appointments from both locations in the future. If you’re looking for support with any of the issues above or just feel you need a chat about your mental health or wellbeing, you can contact Aminah or Hannah directly or make an appointment through your GP surgery. Aminah is available on 07515 166035 or email ateague@interlinkrct.org.uk Hannah is available on 07730 431859 or email hfurnish@interlinkrct.org.uk Daily online health and wellbeing sessions are helping residents across Rhondda Cynon Taf to get active and stay connected during lockdown. Yoga, gardening, chair aerobics, dance, crafting and Pilates are just some of the sessions being delivered by Be Active RCT via the digital platform Zoom and one to one support sessions. The Be Active RCT programme aims to improve health and increase active lifestyles by offering easy to access fun activities in the community. It provides wellbeing advice and sessions tailored to individuals’ needs, alongside supportive, fun, social groups. Due to the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the programme was keen to diversify to keep in touch with people and ensure they were supported to stay physically and mentally well. Using its Facebook page, the programme decided to deliver its classes online and promote its work digitally. It has also provided one to one support over the telephone and via video chat to connect with its participants. Steph Duffy, Health and Wellbeing Officer at local housing association RHA, who is part of the team leading sessions, said, “It’s more important now than ever to take care of our health, and keep active by trying new activities and ensuring we stay connected with each another. “We were really keen to keep offering our health and wellbeing classes in the best way we could and although it’s a different way of working, we’ve had great fun delivering our sessions online. “It’s so lovely to stay engaged with existing participants of our Be Active RCT programme as well as warmly welcoming new people and supporting them to stay motivated and active in the comfort of their own homes.” The Be Active RCT team run daily sessions online that you can sign up for in advance. There are a variety of activities on offer from arts & crafts, gardening, quizzes, social events, yoga, aerobics, circuits and dance to suit all abilities. Or if you just fancy a cuppa and a chat, you can join in the Wellbeing session with Steph which takes place every Wednesday. This session offers tips on healthy living during lockdown and short taster sessions in relaxation techniques which can help reduce anxiety and aid better sleep. The sessions are open to everyone and suit all ages and all abilities with the overall goal to improve wellness and reduce social isolation. Steph added; “These sessions are open to everyone in the community and can really help to not only improve health and wellbeing but to provide a vital connection with others during this challenging time. I know how difficult social isolation can be and this can make a difference to people, particularly those who live alone. “I’d like to say a big thank you to those who have already joined us online and look forward to welcoming even more. Check out the Be Active RCT Facebook page and view all the sessions and support available. Please get in touch and give it a go!” The Be Active RCT programme was launched in July 2019. It is delivered in partnership by RHA, Interlink RCT, Ynysbwl Regeneration Partnership, Spectacle Theatre, Active Nutrition, Cambrian Village Trust and Volunteering Matters. The project is funded by Welsh Government, Sport Wales and Public Health Wales, through their Healthy and Active Fund (HAF). For more information and to register for a class, please see the Be Active RCT Facebook page www.facebook.com/BeActiveRCT/ email BeActive@rhawales.com or call 01443 424272. There is a timetable available online. Please register at 24 hours before a session. Members of an arts for wellbeing group are supporting each other through lockdown after taking their weekly sessions online. Members of RCT-based Breathing Space have been meeting via Zoom since the beginning of the Covid pandemic and painting, sketching, writing and even dancing and hula hooping in unison from the comfort of their own homes!
Usually held every Thursday afternoon in rooms above St Catherine’s Church, Pontypridd, Breathing Space is a creative group dedicated to enhancing wellbeing and reducing loneliness in Cwm Taf Morgannwg. While lockdown could have been a major setback for several members, the group moved online during the very first week of restrictions, proving a lifeline to those most at risk of social isolation. While some regulars to the group have been unable to attend due to the digital set-up, the online sessions are proving an unexpected bonus for those who sometimes struggle to leave home due to anxiety and depression. Coordinator Katja Stiller said: “Zoom is proving an extra stepping stone for some people who are anxious and allows us to be more inclusive. People who are not very well can join us without having to travel, or people who have moved away can stay involved. “It’s the only date in the diary for some of the group who are shielding or self-isolating, and in the future we will continue to offer this option for members who are too ill or for some reason can’t come to come to the church. “The group dynamics are interesting and the members have all been helping each other through lockdown. It’s such a good support system. We all have our ‘down’ days at different times, so there is always someone to pick us up. Art is the focus; we share our experience of lockdown and it’s important that everyone finds a way of expressing themselves and finds a way to process what is happening at the moment.” The Zoom meetings have attracted a core group of six or seven members each week, with others joining in when they can. Members have written poems based on the themes of ‘In the Middle of the Night’, ‘Through My Window’ and ‘My Street’, listening to music and dancing and hula-hooping. Participants paint and draw individually during the two-hour session, while chatting if they wish to or otherwise just listening to everyone else. Member John said: “Most of us are not sleeping too well at the moment, which is why we have written poems about the middle of the night. We’ve also been looking at surrealism, as some of our dreams have been so strange! I’m missing the friendship with some members who are unable to join online, but it’s a good way of keeping in touch with others.” Joan said: “It’s been lovely to see how much we have in common. We have done some dancing and Katja sent us journals, pencils and brushes,” while Sarah added: “It’s been nice to see each other’s pets!” The group, which was launched two years ago as a joint initiative between Taff Ely Primary Care Cluster and Tanio, the new name for Valley and Vale Community Arts, had been planning to stage an exhibition in September and now hopes to hold this online too. Initially established as a 12-week project, Breathing Space is seen as a long-term solution in improving mental wellbeing and reducing social problems. Jointly funded by the health board, the Arts Council Wales and the Welsh Government’s Integrated Care Fund through the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Regional Partnership Board, the group has become a lifeline for people managing anxiety, depression and chronic pain. Some members are referred by their GP or another community organisation, and individuals are also welcome to self-refer. There’s no obligation to attend every week, meaning members can dip and out as their health allows. For more details, phone Katja on 01656 729246. Last week the Welsh Government issued new advice recommending face coverings are worn in situations where social distancing is not possible. We advise patients to check with their surgery before attending for an appointment as rules over face coverings may differ slightly in each surgery. If you do have a suitable three-layer face covering, we encourage you to bring it with you when attending your appointment.
Further information and advice about why face coverings are recommended and the types of face coverings suitable to use can be found on the Welsh Government website: https://gov.wales/face-coverings-frequently-asked-questions Eye to Eye Young Peoples counselling service is currently offering online counselling to children and young people aged 11-25, living in the RCT area. Patient Resources - Mental Health, Bereavement, Domestic Abuse and Support for Young People23/5/2020
Despite the ongoing Covid-19 situation, there are still many resources available to help patients during these unprecedented times.
Free family wellbeing courses are now being offered in parts of RCT for young people and their parents or carers.
The Taff Ely Cluster, part of Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board is teaming up with local wellbeing charity, Valleys Steps to run an 6-week family focused course promoting mental and emotional wellbeing for parents and young people. The course will be run online at this time. The families 2gether 4 wellbeing course is free for young people aged 14-18 accompanied by a parent or carer. Participants must live in the Taff Ely areas of RCT or be registered with a Taff Ely GP Practice. The course aims to provide a range of ideas and practical steps to improve mental health and wellbeing. It is also hoped the course will lead to better conversations about promoting wellbeing at home. To book a place or for more information please contact Valleys Steps on info@valleyssteps.org or call 01443 803048 to register or for further information. |
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