This month’s edition includes:

  • Hadith of the Month
  • Muslim Network Eid, Hajj and Health Inequalities event summary 
  • End of Life Care report
  • Mosques hold coffee mornings in support of cancer awareness
  • Autism Hour held across mosques in the UK
  • Flu vaccination: Doubling uptake in Muslim communities
  • Key Information for Members
  • IMPORTANT – NHSE&I Prayer Rooms – temporary closure
  • Skipton House Ablution Facility Installation
  • Water in cubicles consultation
  • Reverse Mentoring opportunities
  • NHSE&I Joint Working Programme – Support
  • Network Members survey

Hadith of the Month

Malik reported: Allah’s (God’s) Apostle said, “I have been sent to perfect good character.”

Muwatta Imam Malik 1614

 

Amanda pritchard and dido harding discuss health inequalities at the collaboration’s annual hajj event

The Muslim Network Health Collaboration hosted a seminar on Eid, Hajj and Health Inequalities at both Wellington House in London and Quarry House in Leeds during October 2019.

A room full of attendees from various backgrounds heard from various keynote speakers including Baroness Dido Harding, Chair of NHS England and NHS Improvement, and Amanda Pritchard, the newly appointed Chief Operating Officer of NHS England and NHS Improvement. Both speakers spoke about the importance of recognising and accommodating faith both in the workplace and through our health promotion.

Attendees heard from Habib Naqvi, Deputy Director for the Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES), and Shahana Ramsden, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at NHS England and NHS Improvement, who spoke about the importance of a diverse workforce across the whole of the NHS.

The final part of the event focused on showcasing some best practice engagement on cancer screening. With the Network’s key focus on improving cancer screening in Muslim communities, the audience heard from a number of Clinical Commissioning Groups and voluntary organisations who have engaged Muslim communities around improving awareness and uptake around cancer screening.

The Muslim Network would like to thank all attendees and speakers for their participation. If you would like to find out more about the engagement pieces showcased above or benefit from similar events in your buildings then please email us.

Please click here for the slides from the event.

Report on elderly and end of life care for muslims in the uk

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), in collaboration with the Centre for Islamic Studies at the University of Cambridge, have produced a report on “elderly and end of life care for Muslims in the UK” shedding light on the growing demands of elderly care in British Muslim communities.

The number of Muslims aged 65 or over is estimated to increase from 110,000 in 2011 to 450,000 by 2036, with 38% of Muslim women aged 65 and above self declaring they have bad or very bad health. Diabetes, heart condition and high blood pressure are three of the most prevalent medical conditions among this group.

The report finds that elderly Muslims may not ask for services due to perceptions of being a burden, lack of awareness of due rights and a lack of information. The evidence pointing to a “schism between the current model of end of life care and the health needs of religious and ethnic communities”.

On the back of the report the Reseach and Development team at MCB are planning further work. If you would like to get involved with the follow up work or for more information please click here.

Mosques up and down the uk host first ever autism hour

A number of Mosques across the UK hosted the first ever Autism Hour on October 6th 2019. This pioneering initiative was conceived by sister Sara Mangera, Disability Consultant and a mother of two autistic boys, in conjunction with the National Autistic Society and supported by the MCB.

While visiting the Mosque is an essential part of a Muslim’s life, it is often a difficult and anxiety-filled for those that might be autistic. This initiative aims at improving awareness about how Mosques can be made more accessible for all through small changes.

To find out how your mosque can become more accessible or to volunteer your Mosque to take part in this initiative next year, please email the campaigns team.

Flu vaccination: doubling uptake in muslim communities – inspired by the luton project

With a number of Muslims at risk refusing the flu vaccine due to it’s porcine element, the British Islamic Medical Association hosted a webinar on a flu vaccine alternative which is being piloted by Public Health England in Luton alongside the Muslim community.

In total, 2,182 people in the UK had to be admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) or high dependency unit (HDU) because of flu in 2019. 195 people died as a result of flu-related illnesses in 2018, while 1 in 5 of the population get flu most years, and this includes healthy people.

The flu vaccine remains the best way to protect against flu, generally protecting 6 in every 10 who receive them. However the nasal spray flu vaccine contains a highly processes form of gelatine (porcine gelatine) to keep the vaccine viruses stable so the vaccine provides the best protection against flu.

A study by the Public Health England’s Screening and Immunisation Team, working with representatives from the Luton Council of Mosques and other members of the local Bury Park, Luton, Muslim community, aimed at improving Muslim uptake of the flu vaccine by offering a nasal flu alternative.

The webinar was delivered by Abdul Ghafoor, who is a representative from the Luton Council of Mosques. He summarised the study and findings thus far, as well as highlight the actions they are taking to sustain increased uptake.

To watch the webinar or to find out more please email the health promotions team at BIMA. The Muslim Network Collaboration will share the link to the recorded session in the next newsletter.

 

 

Key information for members

temporary closure of multi-faith rooms across london NHSE&I and DHSC buildings

The multi-faith rooms across 39 Victoria Street, Wellington House and Skipton House will be temporarily unavailable between the 23rd to the 25th November 2019. This is due to some refurbishment works being undertaken in these rooms. Refurbishment works include a thorough clean, curtains being installed to separate the men’s prayer space from the women’s, new cupboards and a basket for all prayer mats.

The Muslim Network Collaboration has secured alternative rooms during this closure:

  • Skipton House – Room A575/5B (Male) and Room 5A3 (Female)
  • Wellington House – Training Room 1.4 (Male) and David Sloman’s office (Female)
  • Victoria Street – Please email Afjal.Ali@dhsc.gov.uk for more information

The Network would like to encourage all members to remove their personal belongings and other material/prayer mats from the rooms ahead of the refurbishment works beginning. These can be restored after all works have been completed on the 25th November 2019.

Please email us if there are any issues during this time.

 

Installation of ablution facilities at skipton house

Following a number of meetings with the Estates teams across NHS England and NHS Improvement and Department of Health and Social Care, works will now begin on ablution facilities at Skipton House. Currently there are four toilets, two male and two female, on the second floor which have shower facilities and an additional seat and ablution tap will be fitted to these to make it accessible for anyone wishing to perform ablution.

While this will be delivering cold water in the meantime, the Network are working with estates on ensuring these facilities also provide warm water in the near future. The existing plumbing structure means there are some limitations in place.

The move is part of NHS England and NHS Improvement’s commitment to making estates more user-friendly, and the Network would like to thank Mark Blakeman and his team for all their support with this and their commitment to making NHS England and NHS Improvement sites a precedent for the rest of the NHS and wider to follow.

Water facilities in toilet cubicles

The Muslim Network Health Collaboration are working with the NHS England and NHS Improvement Estate teams to provide water in toilet cubicles. The Network recognises water is essential for cleanliness post-toilet use and is not an issue which members are comfortable discussing. as a result, this is a conversation the Network is having on member behalf.

The Network are looking at potential solutions which would avoid interfering with the current plumbing structure in place and is cost effective.

If you are aware of any buildings where a suitable facility has been implemented, please share with us.

 

 

 

Collaboration survey for members

The Muslim Network Health Collaboration is looking to better understand it’s member demographics to ensure we are addressing your needs effectively. To do this, we have prepared a very short survey that will take only a minute or two to complete.

The Network appreciates your time in completing this survey and this will help us assess what we need to work on going forward. Click here to take survey

Would you like to be reverse mentored?

The Muslim Network Health Collaboration is working directly with the Diversity and Inclusion teams at NHS England and NHS Improvement to offer members the opportunity to be reverse mentored.

Reverse mentoring is a great opportunity to have someone senior in the organisation (Director level) mentor you through your career and also for the mentee to find out more about the challenges you might face in the workplace due to your faith or background.

If you are interested in being reverse mentored, then please email us.

 

Collaboration priorities 2020

The Muslim Network Health Collaboration are finalising their priorities for 2020 and our events plan for next year. The Collaboration is keen to gather your thoughts on both before we finalise. Please review the attached and share your thoughts.

The priorities have already been discussed with senior leaders across our various organisations including:

  • Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive at Public Health England
  • Lord David Prior, Chair of NHS England
  • Emily Lawson, National Director for Transformation and Corporate Development
  • Cathy Morgan, Deputy Director for Strategy and PHE Head of Policy Profession Planning, Partnerships and Accountability
Muslim Network Health Collaboration Priorities 2020Download
Muslim Network – Draft Year Plan 2020Download

Muslim Network health collaboration vacancies

The Muslim Network Health Collaboration is growing and as a result there is an opportunity to join the team. If you would like to be part of the below then please email us:

  • Communications Support officer – Responsible for supporting communications sent from the network
  • Health Promotions Lead – Responsible for working collaboratively with partners to develop action plans around health promotion
  • Facilities Lead – Responsible for working with the various Estate teams to assess whether they are faith-friendly
  • Events Lead – Responsible for organising and delivering successful Network events

support during NHSE&I joint working consultation

If anyone requires any support from the network during this consultation period please contact us.

If you have any queries or suggestions about this content please contact us.