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Nightingale News - Summer 2025
Meet Caroline Bell
Meet Caroline Bell. Caroline joins us in August as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP). ANPs are trained specialist nurses with advanced education and clinical experience. Their main area of expertise is in the management of common illnesses and long-term conditions. Caroline has five years’ experience working in general practice and one year in a busy walk-in centre in central London. Before this she worked in occupational health and as a hospital-based registered general nurse, both in the UK and in Toronto, Canada.
Many patients will be sad to learn that, as we welcome Caroline, we say goodbye to Clare Ashton. Clare, who has been our Advanced Nurse Practitioner for almost ten years, leaves us this summer. We thank Clare for all she has done for us, and we wish her well for the future.
And finally, a big Nightingale welcome to two more new members of staff just joining us this summer. Farzana Zaman is our new Clinical Pharmacist. Samina Haque joins the wider team as our new Healthcare Assistant (HCA). Glad to have you on board!
Outbreak of measles in the borough
Hackney Public Health have been made aware of an outbreak of measles in the borough this summer. Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease caused by a virus that can lead to severe complications. It is spread through coughing, sneezing and close contact with others. It spreads very easily between unvaccinated people - especially between young children in schools and nurseries.
The MMR vaccination is the only way to prevent measles. This vaccine is free to everyone. Although it is normally given to babies and toddlers, you are never too old to have it. Additional vaccination clinics have already taken place in Hackney this summer. Please contact your local surgery to ask about further clinics if you and/or your child are not immunised or have missed a dose.
Remember: ask at your surgery for advice about measles vaccinations if you are worried.
Annual Health Reviews
A reminder that what we used to call ‘Chronic Disease Management Recalls’ or, mysteriously for some patients, ‘CDM Clinics’ are now – from July this year - simply called ‘Annual Health Reviews’ or ‘Annual Reviews’. This very logical and sensible name change was made after we asked for patients’ views at a Friends of the Nightingale meeting earlier this year. We hope it simplifies things for patients (and staff).
A big thank you to everyone who attended the Friends of the Nightingale meeting and came up with the new name. Your input was much appreciated. If you have any other ideas about how we can simplify things for patients, please feel free to share them. One way would be to attend the next Friends of the Nightingale meeting. Or you can simply write to our Practice Manager, Jill White. Just leave a letter addressed to Jill at our Reception.
The next Friends of the Nightingale meeting is on 10 July. The one following that is scheduled for 11 September. As usual, the meetings will be held on-line for people to dial-in but, following your feedback, we are going to experiment with ‘hybrid meetings’. A ‘hybrid’ meeting means that, as well as having people dial in, a member of the Nightingale staff will be at the surgery with any patients who want to attend the meeting in person.
James Cook MBE
It is with great sadness that we report the death of James Cook MBE. James passed away in June, after a cancer diagnosis earlier in the year. A former professional boxer, well-known and much respected in the wider world of boxing, James was latterly an enthusiastic and loyal Together Better volunteer here in Hackney.
James created our Together Better Boxercise group in 2022, inspiring many people to try something new and different, and take some exercise in a fun way. Boxercise was a great success! James will be very much missed by his friends here at the Nightingale
On 12 June the Boxercise group members gathered at the community hall to pay tribute to James and to share their memories. We will also be organising a fundraiser for the Pedro Club, which was founded by James.
A wonderful obituary was published by the Independent newspaper on 9 June.
We can only echo the Independent’s words: “James Cook was universally adored in boxing. His pursuit of the impossible dream will endure. [He] overcame the odds to claim British and European titles and establish himself as one of the sport’s most liked and respected fighters.”
Rest in peace, James. Our sincere condolences to your family and friends.
A community games event
A community games event for people and families living with and beyond cancer is taking place on Saturday 28 June at Haggerston Community Centre, 8 Lovelace Street, London E8 4FF.
The games – which are free to attend – are part of a wider series of activities being organised across North-East London. They are being delivered in partnership with London Sport, Macmillan, Maggie’s at the Royal Free and Arsenal FC Foundation.
Designed to support the wellbeing of people affected by cancer, the games offer:
- Light, low-pressure physical activities suitable for all abilities
- Free NHS health checks e.g. blood pressure and help with stopping smoking
- Friendly, drop-in chats with wellbeing and support services
- A positive space to help to reduce social isolation and support mental health wellbeing.
The games start at 11am and go through until 3pm. Please feel free to come along.
New glass screens
As patients may have noticed, we have had new glass screens installed in the Nightingale Reception area. These screens were purchased recently, using money allocated to us from the Integrated Care Board (ICB).
The new screens, which replace the old plastic ones, provide a better and safer working environment for our staff. The new screens also give the practice’s reception and waiting area a more professional, up-to-date feel that we hope all our patients appreciate.
Together Better volunteers
Our Together Better volunteers across Hackney are very much valued! This photo shows Nightingale Together Better Co-ordinator Tom Fearon presenting volunteer Beverly Francis with another Volunteer Centre Hackney (VCH) certificate to add to her growing collection! Beverly has been making teas and coffees for the Nightingale Together Better group since it began meeting at the surgery, way back in March 2022.
VCH would like to thank all their amazing volunteers for all their hard work!
If you are interested in becoming a VCH volunteer, check out their website
Supporting St Joseph’s and remembering Pete Hannigan
We were saddened earlier this year to hear of the death of Peter (Pete) Hannigan. Pete’s mum, Ann, is a much-loved founder member of our Nightingale Together Better group who has never ceased to give it her full support.
When Pete passed away in March this year, after a long and brave battle with cancer, the group wanted to support Ann and do something in Pete’s memory. So, we organised a coffee morning, which raised £220 for St Joseph’s Hospice.
St Joseph’s Hospice was founded by the Sisters of Charity 120 years ago. The Sisters originally came from Ireland to care for the people of the East End of London.
Today, St Joseph’s continues to provide an invaluable service to our local community. It relies on charitable donations. There are a variety of ways you can help or get involved - visit their website for more details.
Enjoying a day out together
Members of the Together Better group at the Nightingale enjoy a day out together.
They recently took a bus ride to the Guildhall Art Gallery in Moorgate, in the City of London. This gallery isn’t very well known, for some reason. Not compared with the National Gallery or the Tate. However, it houses a very fine collection of London paintings and many other interesting exhibits, and we think it is well worth a visit.
It was an enjoyable and interesting day. And the sun came out for us!
Together Better group
The Nightingale Together Better group is very keen to get your ideas and suggestions for visits you would find useful from healthcare professionals.
We have a tradition of inviting interesting speakers to our coffee mornings on a Thursday. As an example: we are currently trying to arrange a visit from the Falls Prevention Service, but it could be anyone connected to healthcare.
If you have a suggestion, please speak or send a message to our Together Better Coordinator, Tom Fearon. Tom ‘s number is 07305 617 421 or you can email him.
A reminder: Together Better organises a coffee morning at 10am every Thursday in the back room of the Nightingale surgery. It’s open to anyone to come along.
Changes on the Nightingale Estate this summer
The Nightingale Together Better group is going to have to move out of the community hall in the Nightingale estate at the end of July. This is because of redevelopment work.
For some years, the Nightingale Together Better group has been allowed to use the hall for some of our activities, as it is very near the surgery. Clearly, this will not now be possible.
Together Better are in the process of finding a new space for our activities. We will keep you posted about where activities, formerly held in the hall, will take place in future.
Meanwhile, the Nightingale Lunch Club that also uses the hall is being moved temporarily to Mount Pleasant.
Published: Jun 25, 2025