Information Round Up Thursday 15th February 2024
Welcome to this week's Healthwatch Stockport Information Round-up (IRU), filled with news, updates, events and more. Our Round up brings together updates from us at Healthwatch, our health and social care services, community groups to name a few.
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Healthwatch Stockport's Event - Limited Spaces!
You have less than a week to book your place at our event, due to take place from 12pm to 3.30pm on 28 February at Stockport's Masonic Guildhall.
Our event is open to all; the public, community groups, volunteers and professionals like.
The focus will be Healthwatch Stockport's plans for 2024/2025 and developments in Primary Care services. You will get to hear how we are making a positive difference to local health and social care services. We'll involve you in shaping what we look at next, and what matters most to you. Are there things we need to look at over the next 12 months?
Special guest speaker, Viren Mehta, Chief Officer at Viaduct Care and Director of Primary Care, will share key developments in Primary care, including GP, dentists, pharmacy and optician services.
There are limited places left. To book your place(s) at: info@healthwatchstockport.co.uk
info@healthwatchstockport.co.uk by February 19 February.
This event is open to all; the public, community groups, volunteers and professionals like.
Health & Social Care - What's Matters To You?
Healthwatch Stockport is your local and independent health and care champion. To us, you come first, especially if you find it hard to be heard elsewhere, so we are currently taking stock of our priorities for 2024/2025. What matters most to our community when it comes to health and social care services? What should we focus on next?
We've continued to listen to feedback over the last 12 months - all of which will help inform our priorities, but are there other areas that we need to focus on?
Ahead of our Healthwatch Stockport Network Event on 28 February, we want to hear what is most important to you and tell us the top three things that we should focus on in our work programme.
Please see our quick survey to share your thoughts. Please also share this within your networks so that we can gather as many views as possible. (we welcome feedback whether you're attending our event or not).
Pathway to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
Details from Healthwatch Greater Manchester
Have you tried to access CAMHS, or are you the parent or carer of someone who has? We know there are long waiting times for young people to be seen and we want to investigate how this is affecting them. Our findings will help decision-makers in statutory NHS and Care services, as well as in the education and voluntary sectors, to effectively prioritise services.
We have a launched a survey to gather young people's personal experiences, as well as a separate survey open to parents and carers for them to share their experience of supporting their children. We want to know more about the pathway to accessing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), as well as the Autism/ADHD diagnostic paths.
If you're a child aged 13 and over who started looking for support within the past 2 years, you can take part in the survey below:
Children and young people's survey
If you're a parent or who has supported a child or young person trying to access care, please use the link below:
Feel free to be completely open and honest. The information collected will always be anonymised, which means that it will not be possible for someone to identify you by your answers. Please take care not to include any personal details in free text boxes (e.g. name and address).
New Plan Announced for NHS Dentistry
Details from Healthwatch England
Last week, the NHS and the Government published a plan to recover NHS dentistry, which sets out a major new focus on prevention and good oral health in young children, and an expansion of the dental workforce.
Healthwatch England evidence tells us that people on low incomes, children and women, have particularly found it difficult to get an NHS dental appointment.
Under a new plan, people will benefit from millions more NHS dental appointments over the next year. Read our response.
What's in the plan?
- NHS dentists will be given a ‘new patient’ payment of between £15-£50 (depending on treatment need) to treat around a million new patients who have not seen an NHS dentist in two years or more.
- People will be able to see which practices in their local area are accepting new patients on the NHS website and the NHS App. The government will roll out a marketing campaign encouraging anyone who has not been seen by a dentist for the past two years to access treatment.
- A new ‘Smile For Life’ programme will offer parents/parents-to-be advice for baby gums and milk teeth, with the aim that by the time children go to school, every child will see tooth brushing as a normal part of their day.
- Dental vans will help deliver dental treatment in rural and coastal areas.
- A water fluoridation programme will be rolled out, which could reduce the number of tooth extractions due to decay in the most deprived areas of the country.
The plan follows three years of campaigning by Healthwatch along with local Healthwatch, and the British Dental Association for NHS dentistry that is more accessible fair and affordable.
See Healthwatch England's response here
Need help finding a dentist?
If you or someone you know needs support finding a NHS dentist, please visit NHS Find a dentist or contact the Healthwatch Stockport team on 0161 974 0753
If you are an unregistered patient in need of urgent dental care you can contact the Greater Manchester Urgent Dental Helpline on 0333 332 3800, opening times 8am – 10pm, 7 days a week.
'What Will You Miss?' Smoking Campaign
Details from Healthwatch England
As part of ambitions to Make Smoking History across Greater Manchester by 2030, NHS GM launched phase two of their hard-hitting 'What will you miss?' campaign to encourage people to give up smoking.
Smoking is the biggest cause of preventable death and ill-health in Greater Manchester. It has an impact on everyone’s lives and takes too many of our loved ones from us.
Phase one of the campaign (that ran from November 2023) surpassed expectations, including a 360% increase on average, monthly Smoke Free App downloads across GM.
Phase two of the campaign launched on 12 February and runs for six weeks, in the run up to 'No Smoking Day'. Residents can again expect to see and hear the campaign across Greater Manchester billboards, buses, via social media and more. On 9 March (2.30pm-4.30pm), a team will also be on hand to help and support residents in Stockport Town Centre (more details to follow).
For more information and support around quitting
Governor Vacancies in Stockport: 2024 Elections
Details from Donna Wrigley, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trus
It's that time again, as Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust are planning their elections to the Council of Governors which will run from April to June 2024.
At Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, the governors play a key role in representing the views of the patient, public and staff members, ensuring that services meet the needs of our communities.
If you have an interest in mental health, learning disabilities and autism services, and in helping them continue to deliver the best possible care to patients, then please consider standing for election as a governor.
They have 1 public governor vacancy in Stockport this year. To express an interest and find out more:
www.mi-nomination.com/getinvolved
ftmembership.penninecare@nhs.net
0161 716 3374
Disability 'Live at Ease' Service
Details from Gav Jones, Disability Stockport
Disability Stockport offer a support service, called ‘Live at Ease’. The service is focused on supporting those who've:
- served in the Armed Forces as a regular or reservist for any length of time
- living within Greater Manchester and Cheshire
- who are struggling due to having a disability, brain injury, ADHD, autism, or other health related complex needs.
(referrals outside those 2 areas above and within the North West would be considered on a case by case basis and level of needs),
The service aims to help people improve their independence, wellbeing, and quality of life, and help reduce their dependency on public services. The service also helps them to re-integrate and feel a part of their local community, and engage with other community focused activities, groups, and networks. Please see the attachments for more information.
Breaking Down Barriers Support Morning
Details from Chris Hughes, Stockport Homes
Stockport Continuing Education are running a Support Morning on 22 February – see attached flyer for details.
Cost of Living Support
Details from Starting Point
Starting Point are delighted to announce that all their computer sessions are warmspaces. Even if you aren’t wanting to learn new skills, feel free to pop in to enjoy a warm drink, free wifi and a chat.
Monday 9.45 -10.45am: Arthur Greenwood Centre, Woodley
Tuesday 10am -11am: Start Point coffee shop, Woodley
Tuesday 2pm - 4pm: York Street Community Centre, Edgeley
Thursday 10.30-12.30pm: The Cornerstone, 2 Edward Street, Stockport
Friday 10am-12noon: Start Point coffee shop, Woodley
Register for 'Ask the Expert' Webinar on Healthy Ageing
Details from Ashley Minchin, CRN Greater Manchester
Professor Emma Vardy will take questions in a live online ‘ask the expert’ event on Thursday 14 March, 7pm to 8pm, about the latest research into staying healthy as we age.
Professor Vardy is a Consultant Geriatrician, and Clinical Frailty Lead at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, and holds an honorary Professorship with the University of Manchester. She is a Specialty Lead researcher for Ageing with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR are hosting this event.
The event will be on Zoom. To join, attendees need to sign up in advance using the event registration form, where they can also enter a question for the expert. They'll also be able to ask a question at the event.
Those unable to attend can provide their email address using the form. They'll be sent a link to a recording post event.
researchsupport.crngm@nihr.ac.uk for queries
For participation opportunities in research into all different areas of health and care, people can register with NIHR's Research for the Future service to hear about opportunities to get involved in research.
Autism friendly films at The Light, Stockport
Sent by Stockport Advocacy on behalf of Greater Manchester Combined Authority
The following films will be shown on the first non-Bank Holiday Monday of every month, starting promptly at 7pm.
Tickets will be available via The Light Cinema website and in person at the cinema, in due course.
- Monday 4 March, 7pm, Wicked Little Letters
- Monday 18 March, 7pm, Dune: Part Two
- Monday 8 April, 7pm, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
- Monday 13 May, 7pm, The Fall Guy
- Monday 3 June, 7pm, Furiosa: A Mad Max Story
- Monday 1 July, 7pm, A Quiet Place: Day One
- Monday 5 August, 7pm, Deadpool 3
The following have also been arranged for autism friendly/relaxed screenings:
- Sunday 25 February, 10:15am, Revolting Rhymes
- Sunday 3 March, 10:10am, The Boy And The Heron (Dubbed)
- Sunday 10 March, 10:10am, Soul
- Sunday 31 March, 10:15am, Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out & The Wrong Trousers
- Sunday 7 April, 10:10am, Luca
Relaxed/Autism Friendly Screenings have the following features:
- Lights are lowered but not turned off
- Sound is at a lower level than other screenings
- No adverts or trailers
- All customers are free to move around the auditorium
- Customers can bring own food – though the usual cinema snacks are available
Blues Brothers Tribute Fundraiser for Stockport Mind
Details from Louise Gresty, Stockport Mind
Join Stockport Mind on Friday 12 April at Cheadle Hulme Conservative Club for a musical fundraising extravaganza in aid of their charity.
The hugely popular Soul Men – Blues Brothers Tribute Act AKA ‘Jake and Elwood’ (brought to you by resident quizmaster Rob Keen's Quiz Night) who'll be performing their greatest hits! The evening will be an all singing all dancing musical bonanza.
Tickets cost £10 and include a FREE wellbeing gift bag and one free raffle ticket entry where you could win a number of prizes. In addition, they'll be running an auction to win a signed Manchester United football!
Training Courses Coming Up
Details from Christopher Hughes, Stockport Homes
For more information about any of the courses or to book a place, contact:
0161 474 2862
customer.training@stockporthomes.org
Skills for Life Plus (sk-y-light.org)
Priority given to Stockport Homes’ customers.
Wider Stockport Courses Coming Up
Details from Christopher Hughes, Stockport Homes
STEP Ukraine Programme
STEP Ukraine is an intensive, virtual, 12-week English language and employment programme for Ukrainians in the UK – see the link for details.
FREE Connect 5 Training Sessions – from Stockport & District Mind
Details from Louise Gresty, Stockport Mind
Connect 5 is a series of mental health training modules designed to help people have better mental wellbeing conversations in the workplace. It is ideal for anyone who works or volunteers in a public facing role within Stockport
The sessions enable you to provide better mental health support, break down barriers, raise awareness and understanding and ultimately improve wellbeing and conversation across Stockport.
For more information and to book
You can also click on the links below:
Module 1
- Tuesday 20 February 2024 13.00 – 15.00. Face to Face. Stockport Advocacy, Stockport, SK1 3DL
- Thursday 7 March 2024 10.00 – 13.00 Face to Face. Stockport Advocacy, Stockport. SK1 3DL
- Monday 11 March 2024 09.30 – 13.00 Online
Module 2
- Thursday 14 March 2024 10.00 – 13.00 Face to Face. Stockport Advocacy, Stockport. SK1 3DL
- Thursday 21 March 2024 09.30 – 13.00 Online
Module 3
information and Signposting
For up to date health and social care information, signposting and guidance call Healthwatch Stockport on
0161 974 0753 10am - 2pm or email info@healthwatchstockport.co.uk
Visit our Information and Signposting directory
Do you have a health or social care experience you want to share – how did your last appointment with your GP or dentist go? Are you happy or frustrated with the service you received – let us know so we can work with local services to influence better commissioners and better outcomes for you and your family.
