Local news from your Healthwatch:

What is the NHS 111 Service? And what is happening in Southwark?

NHS 111 is the new national service that’s being introduced to make it easier for you to access local NHS healthcare services. You can call 111 when you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency. NHS 111 replaces NHS Direct. What’s happening in Southwark? Read here.

SLaM are running a pilot of the first ever College focused on Recovery.

The college will offer recovery-focused education and training, delivered by peers and professionals, in an open and friendly setting and will officially open in September. If you are a service user, supporter, or a member of staff and you would like to register for a course email tony.holmes@slam.nhs.uk, or call 020 3228 2175. Venue: ORTUS learning Centre, 82096 Grove Lane, Denmark Hill, SE5 8SN

New Mental health and well-being in Camberwell.

In June, a new £4.6m learning and events centre called the ORTUS was opened in Camberwell, next to Maudsley Hospital. The Centre aims to share skills and knowledge in mental health using new technology and working with loca l and national professionals, service users, carers, family and friends affected by a mental health condition. It includes a community café, events space and online learning resource. More info…

EASE Mentoring and Advice Services

EASE Peer Mentoring Service (education, employment and volunteering advice & support) and our Peer Financial Support Service relating to access to adult care services is available to Southwark residents with mental health issues.

• Appointments: TUESDAYS from 1pm to 4pm
•   Drop in Services: FRIDAYS from 1pm to 4pm.
• For more information, contact the Employment and Resettlement Team 0207 062 0500 or 0203 616 6070.
• Volunteer for Peer Mentors Thames Reach is recruiting for Volunteer Peer Mentors and Peer Advisors. More information.Bus Service Changes to routes 381 and N381 (near Guy’s Hospital)

  Bus routes 381 and N381 will be diverted from Borough High Street, via Duke Hill Street and Tooley Street to Jamaica Road in both directions. Re-routing will be introduced on Saturday 31st August 2013. Full Consultation report can be found here.

  GP Leaders in Southwark help launch General Practice Care’s campaign

  Two Southwark GPs are supporting the new patient information poster campaign to help patients and the public understand that across many GP practices, the staff is caring,hardworking, dedicated and focused on patient needs. The campaign is being rolled out across family doctor surgeries in every London Borough by London Local Medical Committee, a confederation for London GPs and practice teams www.lmc.org.uk

• SLaM Psychological Medicine Advisory Group

• The departments that manage the services at South London & Maudsley NHS FT have ‘advisory groups’(or CAGs) where service users and carers come together to advice on and discuss developments. The Psychological Medicine department advisory group has produced a summary of their discussions. This department includes emergency access services, complex care services and neurosciences service (brain injury).