Healthwatch Round Up Thursday 18 July 2024
Welcome to this week's Healthwatch Stockport Information Round-up (IRU).
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Book Today: Making it Real Conference
Time is running out to book your seat at our ‘Making it Real’ Conference on 31 July (12 - 3.30pm) at Stockport's Masonic Guildhall. It's a free event open to the public and health professionals alike.
Healthwatch Stockport will highlight the top priorities for 2024 – 2025, with the aim of influencing better health and social care. It follows extensive feedback and engagement with the people of Stockport over the last 12 months. You said, we're doing!"
Through the Making It Real Board and other local partnerships, the event will also prove a 'fantastic' opportunity to hear from people with lived experience, who've been involved in shaping new ways of working and how new services are delivered in Adult Social Care.
Book with the Healthwatch Stockport team:
info@healthwatchstockport.co.uk (subject header: Making it Real Conference)
Please let us know your dietary and /or special access requirements when you book.
Please use the attached poster to print and/or share with your networks.
Thank you For Your Feedback on Continence Care
Many thanks to those who shared their experiences of using continence care (accessing services and products) with us in recent weeks. This is just one piece of research work we're carrying out at the moment to find out if you or a loved one is receiving the right care. All responses are kept confidential and we will produce an anonymised report in due course.
Healthwatch Articles You May Have Missed
Please see the latest news from us and Healthwatch England.
Healthwatch England - Our Position on Dentistry
Communities across England have made it clear that NHS dentistry needs to be fixed – so it’s affordable and accessible. Read more about Healthwatch England's evidence and what changes we’re calling for the NHS and Government to make.
Annual GP Patient Survey - Healthwatch England's Response
Waiting times for NHS elective care – Healthwatch England response
Today’s figures show that appointments for planned hospital treatment are at 7.6 million. Only 59% of patients waited under 18 weeks for elective care, while the NHS target is 92% of patients being seen in this timeframe. Commenting on the latest NHS data on elective care, Louise Ansari, Chief Executive at Healthwatch England.
Up to 1.5 million disabled people could be missing out on social care support
A poll of 1,504 working-age disabled adults found that 28% have never accessed social care or other support despite potentially being eligible. We call for a fully funded, long-term plan to reform social care.
Accessible Activities Booklet
Following feedback from the Stockport Advocacy Learning Disability Conference, we have produced an 'Accessible Activities' booklet, which contains some of the local exercise activities available. This booklet is not an exhaustive list and can be added to, to ensure it's relevant and informative for those who need it.
School Uniform Scheme to Support Families
Details from Stockport Council
Stockport Council, in partnership with the Cherry Tree Project (Youth led community group) are launching a brand-new scheme - called School Uniforms For All - which will see high quality, pre-loved school uniforms made available to families across the borough.
The scheme will provide year-round support for those who need uniforms; for children at all Stockport schools and of all ages and will form part of the council's Climate Action Now goal. This will help to reduce waste and save families money by re-using quality items and stopping them being thrown away.
To get the scheme up and running we need you to donate pre-loved uniforms (good condition only) to:
- Any of Stockport’s 16 libraries
- Bredbury or Reddish Morrisons supermarkets
- Disability Stockport, 23 High Street, Stockport, SK1 1EG
- Age UK Stockport, Commonweal, 56 Wellington St, Stockport, SK1 3AQ
- Stockport Signpost for Carers, The Heatons Centre, Thornfield Road, Stockport, SK4 3LD
- Merseyway: a donation bin will be in place between 22 July and 5 August outside Specsavers
Once we have your uniforms the new scheme will then get underway later in the year.
HIV Prevention England - Get Ready For a Hot Summer
Details from Sector 3
HIV Prevention England has launched the Get ready for a hot summer campaign, which focuses on raising awareness on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV.
Getting checked for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is easy and free. You can either order a test kit online in some parts of the country or get checked at a sexual health clinic.
Find a sexual health clinic near you: http://www.nhs.uk/.../sexual.../find-a-sexual-health-clinic/
TRU Community Fund Available
Details from Lizzie Austin, Pure Innovations
The TRU Community Fund (Trans Pennine Upgrade Route) are offering local community groups, schools and charities the opportunity to apply for funding to improve local spaces and services.
Community projects situated within 5 miles of the core TRU route and key diversionary routes will be considered eligible for the fund. A total of £175,000 is available for this year. Funding will be available as either small grants (£1,000 to £5,000) or medium grants (£5,000 to £20,000).
NHS Get to Know You Campaign Returns
Details from NHS Greater Manchester
The Get To Know Where To Go (GTKWTG) campaign is back! This time it's all about getting ready for the school holidays. The aim of the campaign is to make sure people know where to go to get the help they need, as quickly as possible. After all, no one wants an unexpected illness or injury to spoil the summer fun! Look out for #GTKWTG campaign posts on our social media channels.
- Facebook @NHSGreaterManchester
- X @NHS_GM
- Instagram @nhs_gm
Reminder: Become a Stockport Foundation Trust Governor
Details from Stockport Foundation Trust
Stockport Foundation Trust (SFT) are looking for people from all walks of life and are keen that our Council of Governors reflects the diversity of our communities. As part of the Council of Governors, you'd play an important role in the Trust, seeking assurance from the Board of Directors and helping to shape the Trust’s future priorities and plans. Training and support to help you carry out your role is available.
SFT are holding elections in the following public constituencies for a 2 or 3-year term of office: Tame Valley & Werneth (4 seats), High Peak & Dales (3 seats), Outer Region (1 seat)
Nominations will close at 5pm, 1 August.
How to apply:
To be a governor you must be a member of the Trust.
To find out more about the elections, the role of a Governor or to complete a nomination form online:
www.cesvotes.com/stockport2024
0161 419 5164/5166
If you'd like a hard copy nomination form, contact the Returning Officer, Abi Walcott-Daniel, as follows:
020 8889 9203
ftnominationenquiries@cesvotes.com
Civica Election Services, 33 Clarendon Road, London N8 0NW
Stockport Mental Health Network
Details from Ellen Brookes, NHS Foundation Trust
The Stockport Mental Health Network provides strengths based, holistic support and is delivered by some of our partners from VCSE (Voluntary, Community Social Enterprise) sector; Pure Innovations and SPARC.
The service is designed for people who have been with or are currently with secondary mental health services. Their mission is to help you become more confident, increase resilience and your social networks. This includes community based activities, volunteering opportunities, peer support and green space activities. See the flyer attached for details.
Have Your Say: Stockport Family Hubs Survey
Details from Sarah Burke, Stockport Council
Stockport Council and partners are keen to find out what families in Stockport have learned so far about Family Hubs and their services. Please encourage families to complete the short online survey by 14 August to be entered into a free draw to win a £30 Love to Shop voucher!
Stockport's Summer Events
Details from Stockport Council
Stock Party will be starting on July 20 (12pm - 9pm) in the town centre and Underbanks. There will be an array of workshops, family entertainment, mouth-watering food and drink pop ups.
Stockport kicks off off its Summer of Sport Spectacular with a launch party on Saturday 27 July from 11am to 3pm. Families can head to Merseyway and Viaduct Park or free activities to help local children stay active this summer, including sprinting, hurdles, long jump, rhythm gymnastics, climbing and more. The free outdoor beach, Merseybay is also back and officially opens on the same day.
The free to attend Krazy Races Soapbox Derby returns on Sunday 28 July. You and your family can watch Krazy karts whizz round Stockport Town Centre. Expect great local food, entertainment and more. Have you got what it takes to race?
Holding an event in Stockport this summer? Add it to Stockport Council's what’s on guide at https://www.stockport.gov.uk/events.
Friday Club: New Monthly Drop In Sessions
Details from Charlee Fitzgerald
Friday 9 August
Bridgehall Community Centre, 11am - 12:45pm
Adswood Community Centre, 1:30pm - 3:15pm
Friday 13th September
Bridgehall Community Centre, 11am - 12:45pm
Adswood Community Centre, 1:30pm - 3:15pm
ARC Mental Health Exhibition
Details from Ellen Brookes, NHS Foundation Trust
Arc is Stockport’s arts and mental health charity provide creative wellbeing sessions to help our service users connect, create, and improve their mental wellbeing.
By working with local artists they create products to be exhibited and sold in Arc’s shop (online and in store), which raises funds for charity.
ARC will be holding a preview event on 26 July, for their new range featuring artwork created from the group’s collaboration with artist Kim Hubball. This range took inspiration from our Stockport roots and feeling better in nature.
To join ARC, meet the makers and try your hand at making a macrame keyring, book your place here
If you can’t make the preview event, the exhibition is open to the public from:
27 July- 21 September (Thurs & Fri 10am-4pm and Sat 11am-3pm).
Free Restore & Recover Mindfulness for Autistic Adults
Details from Ellen Brookes, NHS Foundation Trust
Yellow Beacon is a mental health professional and lived-experience led organisation offering trauma-informed mindfulness courses, workshops and 1 to 1 sessions across Greater Manchester.
Their free Restore & Recover course is being run in partnership with HAPI - Neurodivergent Practitioners for Autistic Adults in Stockport. The course will help people to use mindfulness in daily life to aid mental wellbeing, reduce anxiety, stress, depression and burn-out, learn how to cope with your emotions....and more.
Courses are running:
17 September - 5 November (Tuesdays) - Face to face
18 September - 6 November (Wednesdays) - Online via Zoom
See the poster for full details
Further Events & Community Activities across the Borough
Reminder - Job Opportunity: MadLab
Details from Rachael Turner, MadLab
MadLab are looking for a new part-time Tech Tutor to join their growing team. Is this you?
Working alongside MadLab's Head of Learning, you'll be responsible for teaching tech employability skills to a diverse cohort of young people as part of MadLab's new Lottery-funded programme.
They're looking for someone who wants to make meaningful impact on young people's lives, with a real passion for delivering workshops and training.
If you have any questions, or would like to arrange a pre-application chat, email rachael@madlab.org.uk.
Further Training Courses Coming Up
Details from Chris Hughes, Stockport Homes
There are a variety of training course available from Skills For Life (SFL) and others. Please see the attachments below:
Starting Point Bulletin
Digital Champion Update - 15th July 2024 - 15 years of Starting Point Special (campaign-archive.com)
Stockport Council Review
Sector 3
GMCVO Bulletin
GMCVO monthly eBulletin - July 2024
Trafford and Stockport College Newsletter
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.
