GP access
Many residents and patients have been telling us about how useful and practical it has been to access their GP via the telephone or online, but equally, for many, this has caused a number of problems. Those in minority groups, such as the Deaf community, those with mental health issues or those from an ethnic minority have been especially affected.
Therefore, GP access will continue to be one of our key priorities in 2024/2025 and we’ll be exploring ways GP surgeries can continue to improve communication and engage with their local communities .
Young People & Mental health
The prevalence of mental health, behavioural, and emotional disorders in NCL surpasses the national average across most conditions. It's evident that young individuals in Enfield grapple with mental, eating, conduct, and emotional disorders, many of whom require support for their social, emotional, and mental well-being. Our aim is to promote the utilization of available services in Enfield by raising awareness about their accessibility. By doing so, we hope to equip young people with the knowledge of how to access mental health services, empowering them to seek the support they need.
Cancer awareness & screening
In Enfield, cancer is the second leading cause of death. Early cancer detection is critical since it improves survival rates. In England, adult cancer screenings come in three varieties, and they save thousands of lives every year:
Men and women aged 60 to 74 are eligible for bowel cancer screening in order to identify any early indicators of the disease.
Women and transgender individuals with breast tissue between the ages of 50 and 70 are eligible for breast cancer screening in order to identify breast cancer early on.
Over 70-year-old women are able to self-refer.
Women and transgender persons with cervixes between the ages of 25 and 64 are eligible for a cervical cancer screening to assess the condition of their cervix cells. Every three years, it is made available.
Dental Care
We are aware that finding a Dental practice that takes on NHS patients is a National health issue as well as in Enfield. We are now pleased to advise that the NHS is now introducing a plan that shifts towards prevention and good oral health in young children and expands the dental workforce.
Details of the plan include a 'new patient' payment scheme, funding, and the introduction of dental vans to provide mobile care in underrepresented areas.
Enter and View
Social care, particularly care and nursing home settings is one of our key priority areas. Now, more than ever, the role care homes play in the community has been highlighted by the coronavirus pandemic. Our statutory powers enable us to ‘enter’ and ‘view’ care and nursing settings as part of our ‘Enter and View’ programme.
Our independent research is used to support providers to make improvements that make things better for residents. We also make a point of highlighting and sharing the good practices that we observe and we make realistic recommendations to help providers make improvements where necessary.