Meet your Lived Experience Panel Members in Stockport

11 minute read

In 2019 a partnership opportunity emerged to develop a collaborative approach in building quality improvement into local service through a Lived Experience Panel. AQuA, an NHS organisation working with providers and commissioners of health and social care in North West England, Stockport Clinical Commissioning Groups and Healthwatch Stockport worked together to recruit and train people with lived experience to support the frailty pathway in Stockport. In 2021 we have a fully trained panel to help shape services in Stockport.

Project Goal – To develop a ‘Lived Experience Panel’ which will use its experience, skill, and knowledge, along with additional training and support to drive quality improvements in clinical frailty pathways (including dementia and end of life care).

Over the course of 12 months a Lived Experience Panel of 6-10 people was recruited and trained to support quality improvement, redesign and patient & carer input in clinical frailty care delivery (e.g. input in patient record, development of triage process, how best to encourage self-management and contingency planning). This group continues to meet and explore other areas of health and social considering how they can best bring the lived experience of local people to service improvement.

Francine Harrop

Lived Experience Panel Engagement Worker

About Francine

I was born in Stepping Hill Hospital and live in Stockport. I went to university in Sheffield and during that time I got involved with literacy projects working with children and families in schools. Following university, I started training as a primary school teacher but realised my passion was working with children and families in the community.

I spent several years working for Barnardo’s in Tameside as part of the Sure Start programmes and although my main role was as a Community Development Worker, I also undertook my MA in Youth & Community Work during this time and worked as a family support worker and volunteer co-ordinator.

I have worked for the British Red Cross in Manchester as a member of their Refugee Services team and for Trafford Council as part of their Equality and Diversity team. In recent years I have worked closer to home working for Stockport Council in local Children’s Centres…and since 2017 for Healthwatch Stockport! J

What made you join the Lived Experience Panel?

I was keen to support the work of the Lived Experience Panel as it is vital that our local health and social care services deliver a person centred approach – people’s experience of health and care differ from person to person.

Our Lived Experience Panel volunteers are fantastic they give up their time and share their experience and skills to take an active role in developing and improving our local health care services and work with a wide variety of people such as NHS staff and social care staff, patients and wider community networks.

What have you enjoyed most about being a panel member so far?

Working with and learning from our Lived Experience Panel volunteers and our NHS and CCG panel members.

Plus the training and support offered from our AQuA (Advancing Quality Alliance) members.

What do you hope the work of the panel will achieve?

I hope the work of the panel will help influence and inform our local health and care services by evaluating services from a service user perspective ensuring the person, carer and family perspective is integral to any quality improvement work. This in turn helping health and social care staff in their roles supporting a person to access services and go through the local health care system - ensuring the person in need of health care gets the right care.

How did you hear about Healthwatch Stockport?

Looking up community events on the internet and Healthwatch Stockport came up so I had to find out more..!

Jan Kitching

About Jan

I’ve lived in Stockport 7 years, we moved here to support our children and grandchildren. 

I worked in business administration for a defence contractor and retired in 2018.

I have worked in NHS administration - yes, one of those jobs some claim the NHS doesn’t need!  I have no medical knowledge but lots of experience of the primary and secondary care system as a +1 with my husband who has some long term medical conditions.

What made you join the Lived Experience Panel?

I joined the Lived Experience Panel when it launched as it coincided with my retirement and I was to volunteer some time constructively.

What have you enjoyed most about being a panel member so far?

As a panel member I have enjoyed learning more about the work of Healthwatch Stockport and also understanding more about the NHS and how the LEP can be a critical friend in many ways, directly and indirectly.

What do you hope the work of the panel will achieve?

I hope the work of the Panel will help health professionals to hear first hand relevant questions from the public and help them to see their service from a new perspective.

How did you hear about Healthwatch Stockport?

Facebook post on Healthwatch Stockport.

Ruth Turner

About Ruth

I have always been interested in Health improvement and worked for the health service for nearly 30 years. I am a widow since my husband passed from Dementia 5 years ago.  I have two daughters and four grandchildren.

I am a member of Healthwatch since I joined as Chair of the Stockport Carers Forum.

My particular interest is Dementia as my husband was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease.

I am a member of Stockport Dementia Steering Group at Stepping Hill for many years. In 2019 I became a member and current Chair of the Greater Manchester Dementia Carers Expert Reference Group, working formerly with TIDE and Dementia United, part of Greater Manchester Health and Social Partnership. On several occasions I have been asked to speak at conferences for TIDE, Dementia Action Alliance and the Alzheimer’s Society for who I also volunteer. I am also a member of Stockport Dementia Champions. 

I am passionate about improving awareness about all forms of Dementia, raising the profile of unpaid carers.

What made you join the Lived Experience Panel?

Being a member of Healthwatch and recognising its importance, I wanted to join the Lived Experience Panel to give my personal knowledge and Experience.  I wished to see how I could make a difference.

What have you enjoyed most about being a panel member so far?

I have enjoyed meeting other panel members, being part of this important initiative.   All our voices are heard and we are valued for our expertise.

Through the panel I have been able to join the Frailty Board at Stepping Hill Hospital.  My views as a panel member and former carer are taken on board. 

I feel privileged to be a member of the panel.

What do you hope the work of the panel will achieve?

My hope is for our voices to be heard in the professional field, having parity with them and making a real difference.  This can be in our input into protocols and guidance e.g how to someone with Dementia should be treated in the hospital setting.

How did you hear about Healthwatch Stockport?

I have been a member of Healthwatch for many years and value the work the organisation does.

Janet Ratcliffe

About Janet

I have been retired for over five years having worked for twenty plus years in the NHS in a variety of managerial roles predominantly in quality improvement.

Since retiring, and apart from volunteering at Healthwatch I am also a volunteer for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and care for Aero, who has an Ambassador Dog role.  Together we support the charity by helping to raise awareness of their work and fundraising through social media and other forums.

Like everyone I have my own experiences of using the NHS either personally or through friends and family.  However I am most passionate about using my experiences and those I shared with my mum, who died in May 2019 at the grand age of 93, both as a catalyst for change where needed and to highlight the amazing work of the NHS.

What made you join the Lived Experience Panel?

I have been a member of Healthwatch for about four years now and was invited to become a member of the LEP just before Covid took hold.  I agreed to join the group for all the reasons described above and also to hear other people’s stories and to be part of something that could really make a difference to how health and social care serves are delivered.

What have you enjoyed most about being a panel member so far?

I have enjoyed sharing my experiences and also hearing the experiences of other members of the group and being able to see how that is then used to make change happen.

What do you hope the work of the panel will achieve?

I hope that it will not only be a driver for change, where that is needed but also highlight the great work that is happening across the NHS.  I also hope it will demonstrate how important it is to involve the users of services in any changes that are happening and how there experiences can be invaluable when moving forward.

How did you hear about Healthwatch Stockport?

Having worked in the NHS before I retired I was aware of the work of Healthwatch and knew it was something I’d like to be involved in.

Jane Harper

About Jane

My working life was spent as an IFA (Independent Financial Adviser) looking after occupational pension schemes for companies and then latterly for a company specialising in care issues.  This involved advising clients moving into care (or their families) on how best to fund their care to ensure they were provided with the care of their choice for the rest of their lives and this included inheritance planning and estate preservation.

I then left work earlier than normal retirement age to look after my Mum which I did for 11 years.

What made you join the Lived Experience Panel?

Following an extremely difficult time looking after my Mum, I was advised to inform Healthwatch Stockport of the issues surrounding this.  As a result, when the LEP was being put together, I was asked if I would be interested in joining, which of course I was.

What have you enjoyed most being a panel member so far?

Becoming part of a small team which just may be able to have some influence over procedures and issues relating to any patients who may otherwise not have the best of experiences for various reasons.

What do you hope the work of the Panel with achieve?

Anything that can improve the experience of frail patients or those approaching the end of life, would mean a great deal to me.

How did you hear about Healthwatch Stockport?

Via my wonderful caring pharmacist who was of more help to me than all the other care professionals put together!

Neisha Fielder 

Neisha is unfortunately recovering from a knee operation, so we have taken the questions from when she did a member profile in Christmas e-Bulletin last year. Neisha works tiresly with the Lived Experience Panel and we want to wish Neisha a speedy recovery and thank her for all the good work she does at Healthwatch.

About Neisha
I have lived in England for 53 years having come from Guyana. I trained as a Nurse, Midwife and Health Visitor and obtained an Open University Degree.

I also served as a Magistrate on the Stockport Bench. I have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. My last job was as a Health Visitor in Manchester but had to finish in March this year when the first lockdown started.

In your view what does Healthwatch Stockport do?
Healthwatch Stockport is a friend and support the people here, offering help and guidance on many issues and problems that are being experienced. The team listens to complaints and tries to find possible solutions working with Health and Social Care Organisations.

Why did you get involved with Healthwatch Stockport?
I wanted to carry on being involved in the Community offering my expertise and life experiences.

How long have you been involved with Healthwatch Stockport?
I have been involved for over a year now.

What is the best thing about Healthwatch Stockport?
Healthwatch Stockport is there when one is not sure who to turn to and what to do.

What could be improved?
Hoping for activities to be restarted in the community when Covid 19 is more under control.

When not involved in other groups, what do you like to do (Hobbies)?
I like reading, swimming, going to the cinema and meeting up with friends and family.

What is your favourite meal?
Sunday Roasts 

Coffee or Tea?
Both

& lastly If you had a Health & Social Care Magic Wand – what would you wish for?
More help for children and adults with mental health problems. Also for everyone to have enough food.