volunteer

Lived experience of being diagnosed with high blood pressure

Message from Hertfordshire & West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), it replaced CCG. It’s function is to be a bridge between the primary care providers and the NHS. We have our representation via our local surgery’s PPG (patient participation group).

As part of the ICB’s current campaign to encourage people to get their blood pressure checked we are keen to speak to anyone willing to share their own experiences.

Do you, or anyone you know, have a story you would be happy to share with us?

High blood pressure has no symptoms but if left untreated can lead to heart attack or stroke.

The campaign is particularly encouraging people over 40 to take up a free blood test check at a pharmacy.

Hearing from people who have discovered they had high blood pressure, and what this has meant for them, would really help us get the message out about the huge importance of getting it checked.

Find out more about the campaign on the ICS website including existing patient stories.

If you would be happy to share your story please email Lauren Oldershaw.

By Ash Pattni, ago

Winter Fair needs help

A message from the The Winter Fair Project Team, Rickmansworth Town Team

The Winter Fair is fast approaching – Friday 24th November, and we are very short of stewards for the evening. We have enough ‘set up’ help, but we need more volunteers to help man the HQ and patrol from 4pm to 9pm, and to help with the striking of the site from 9pm to 10pm. Shifts will probably be for 1-2 hours max. Radios and Hi Vis jackets are provided along with full instructions.

We would be most grateful if you could volunteer – please contact david.montague@btinternet.com.

By Ash Pattni, ago

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The AGM will be held at the Education Centre at Batchworth Lock on Monday 19th of June at 8pm. I do hope that you will make every effort to attend.

Parking can be found in Church Street, Moor Lane and the Tesco car park, all of which are a few minutes’ walk from the Lock.

We encourage non-members to attend although, of course, they are not able to vote. Formal notice and the agenda etc. will be contained in Independence which should be with you in the next week or so – can you help deliver to a dozen or so houses near you? We are short of members to help with distribution so please let me know if you can spare half an hour or so to help.

If there is already someone in your road delivering then we have many roads which will be close to you where we do not have a road rep at present.

Your Committee have decided to reduce the size of Independence to A5 from 2024 which is easier to post through letter boxes and will be the same size as other local periodicals. You will still be able to print off in A4 size if you want to from the website.

By Michael Stimpson, ago