Get yourself and your children vaccinated
Dr Charlotte Benjamin, GP and chief medical officer at NHS NW London, says: “Childhood vaccination has been one of the most powerful tools over the past century to protect and improve the health of our children. Catch-ups and boosters are now being offered specifically for the polio vaccine and it is important to take up this offer as well as ensure that your children are up to date with all their broader vaccines.”
Check your children’s red book and contact your GP surgery if you think your child needs part of their routine vaccinations. For children aged one to nine, the NHS will proactively contact parents to book in their polio boosters.
Covid vaccines are also available for everyone over five years old and the flu vaccine will be offered in line with the coming autumn season.
More details about the polio booster can be found at www.gov.uk/publications
Attend your breast screening when invited
NHS screening services are an important way of finding out if you have a higher chance of having a health problem, so that you can get early treatment, or information to help you make informed choices.
Sanjeet Johal, programme director - breast screening recovery programme, NHS England London, says: “Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK. A woman’s risk of getting breast cancer goes up as they get older, with about four out of five breast cancers found in women over 50 years old.
“If you’re a woman aged between 50 and 71, you will be automatically invited for breast screening every three years. You will get a letter in the post inviting you. We would encourage women to take up their screening appointments when they are invited”.
The NHS is planning to launch, in partnership with the Jewish community, a BRCA screening programme to provide genetic testing to people with Jewish ancestry. BRCA gene mutations increase the risk of developing certain cancers including breast cancer.
For more information, you can check the recent article published in the JC and find details on breast screening at www.nhs.uk
Make space for your mental health
Follow the Good Thinking guide’s Five Ways to Wellbeing & Judaism which is based on NHS advice and is also encouraged in Judaic teachings. Louise Kermode, head of services from Jami, says: “Most of us will feel stressed, low or anxious from time to time, but if it’s affecting your life, there are things you can try that may help. You can try talking to friends or family, contact your GP and reach out to Jami for advice and support.”
Resources can also be found at jamiuk.org/get-support/
What can we do as a community?
In our communities, we play a role in looking out for each other and supporting those who are most vulnerable. This was very important for example during the recent hot weather waves.
The London Jewish Health Partnership (LJHP) is a network of health and care organisations, local councils and community leaders and partners that was set up to provide support for the health issues that matter to the Jewish community and to bring health organisations directly together with the community.
The aim is to put communities into the core of our health delivery and as drivers of their health agenda — allowing partnership in responding to both urgent issues and longer-term thinking. The London Jewish Health Partnership has been working on a number of key areas including supporting vaccinations, screening and good mental health.
Cllr Alison Moore, chair of Barnet Health and Wellbeing Board, says: ‘The London Jewish Partnership is an important development and an example of how the NHS, UKHSA, local authorities, wider health and social care services and the community can work together to understand and reduce health inequalities, and promote healthier communities.”
The LJHP has been supporting community health events, from hosting a health and wellbeing stall at the Maccabi GB Community Fun Run, where the public had the opportunity to engage with healthcare professionals and receive information and resources, to having a health experts panel event in Stamford Hill covering wide range health topics for women.
This Rosh Hashanah, as you make plans for the year ahead, make time for your healthy choices, ensure your family is up to date with their immunisations and be involved in your community health activities alongside your health and public health professionals. We wish all families a happy new year and a healthy one!
This article was prepared by: Dr Leonora Weil, public health consultant, UKHSA and, co-chair of the London Jewish Health Partnership, Ana Zuriaga-Alvaro, UKHSA and London Jewish Health Partnership project lead, Andrew Gilbert, co-chair of the London Jewish Forum, co-chair of the London Jewish Health Partnership, Daniel Kosky, director of the London Jewish Forum, co-chair of the London Jewish Health Partnership
