Healthwatch Round Up - 15 August 2024
Welcome to this week's Healthwatch Stockport Information Round-up (IRU).
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Healthwatch Stockport's 'Inform' Newsletter Published
Today, we've published Issue 5 of our 'Inform' newsletter - the Summer of 2024 edition!
In this issue we feature our Network event in February, some of our key projects around 'Hospital to Home' and better understanding family experiences of Children's and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Find out about our Lived Experience Network, how to get more involved in our work and much more.
Yet again we have had fun producing this newsletter. Click the link below to read it online at your leisure. The newsletter is also available on paper format (please email to request a copy at info@healthwatchstockport.co.uk).
Reminder: We've Published Our Annual Report 2023/2024
Read our Annual Report 2023/2024
Reminder: We Want Your Feedback!
At Healthwatch Stockport, we're excited to update you on our upcoming Enter and View Programme, where we'll be focusing on two important areas of healthcare services in our community.
Hospital Appointment Systems
Our first area of focus will be the systems used by hospitals to book your appointments. We want to hear about your experiences with the hospital booking systems and how information about your appointments is provided to you. If you have any feedback, please share your thoughts with us.
GP Practices Accessibility
The second focus area will be on GP practices. We will be visiting various GP practices to observe the signage and information available to patients. Our goal is to ensure that these practices are catering to the needs of people requiring additional support, including those with learning disabilities, sensory loss, neurodiverse conditions, dementia, and other disabilities.
You can share your feed back in the following ways:
info@healthwatchstockport.co.uk
To learn more about our Enter and View Programme and how you can get involved, please visit our website. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve healthcare services for everyone in Stockport. Thank you for your support!
Are You Getting The Eye Care You Need?
Details from Healthwatch England
Healthy vision is something many of us take for granted – until there's a problem. An estimated 50% of sight loss is avoidable. That's why people must be able to have their eyesight tested regularly and, if there is a problem, get the help they need.
Healthwatch across England are trying to gather as many experiences as possible from people who’ve used NHS eye care services recently. We’re especially keen to hear from:
- People from South Asian, Black African and Black Caribbean backgrounds.
- People from lower-income households.
- People waiting for secondary care.
Every response we get will help shape eye care services and improve people’s care.
Get Involved: NHS Community Pharmacy Focus Groups
Details from Healthwatch England
RAND Europe and NHS England are looking for people with recent experiences of clinical services from pharmacies to join an online focus group. Participants will receive £25 for their time.
Focus groups will take place in August and September and the feedback shared will help the NHS to shape services for the better.
Have you used any of the following services in the last six months?*
- Blood pressure checks
- Support taking medications after a hospital stay
- Support in using a new medication (including follow up)
- Referral from hospital to a stop smoking programme
- Free flu vaccine Birth control (‘the pill’)
*They'd also like to hear from you if you declined the service.
Reminder: Get involved in ‘An NHS Fit for the Future’
Details from Andy Callaghan, NHS Greater Manchester
NHS Greater Manchester (GM) is inviting GM residents to share their views in a public engagement exercise ‘An NHS Fit for the Future’, which will run until Autumn.
This programme will take the public on the journey with NHS GM towards achieving their population health, performance and financial goals; to give stakeholders and communities the opportunity to tell them what is important to you and what they should prioritise, and to increase awareness and understanding of the challenges they face.
Find out more about Fit for the Future and get involved, visit the NHS GM website.
Targeted Lung Check Programme In Stockport
Details from Teams Around The Place & Eleanor Banister, Stockport Council
The Targeted Lung Health Check programme is currently for people based in Reddish, Brinnington Woodley and Bredbury and is running until 24 September. More than 1,000 Stockport people have already attended their appointment.
The quick, free checks can help find lung cancer at an early stage – before you might have any symptoms – when it's much more treatable and can help save lives. Most visitors to the lung health checks will get reassurance that everything is OK.
The Lung Health Checks are available to current or former smokers aged 55-74 and based at one of the following GP practices. (practices all in the Tame Valley Primary Care Network):
- Woodley Village Surgery
- Heaton Norris Medical Centre
- Park View Group Practice
- Alvanley Family Practice
- Brinnington Surgery
- Bredbury Medical Centre
- Vernon Park Surgery
How will people be invited to the programme?
People will be invited based on the GP practice where they're registered. Everybody in the age range will be invited but only current or former smokers will be eligible for an appointment.
The GP will search their database to find ‘ Ever Smokers’ (someone who has smoked a 100 cigarettes or more in their lifetime). If a person has not informed their GP of their smoking status, they will not receive an invite. People are encouraged to let their GP know.
This programme is for invited patients so please attend if you receive an invite.
The mobile clinic is based at Morrisons, Bredbury, Stockport SK6 2BN and runs until early September 2024
If you're experiencing any of the following, speak to your GP: persistent cough, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, tiredness, weight loss, aches and pains breathing and coughing, appetite loss.
Support for Results Day
Details from Stockport Council
Today (15 August) and next week, both GCSE and A Level students will be receiving their results. Find out how you can help support a young person through this difficult time and know that there’s always someone to talk to in Stockport.
Find out more on Healthy Stockport
(A level results are out on Thursday 15 August and GCSEs on Thursday 22 August).
Childhood Vaccinations
Details from UKHSA and Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership
Childhood infections like measles and whooping cough are rising, with outbreaks across the country. Such infections can have a huge impact on your child’s life.
It's important for parents to take up the NHS’ free childhood immunisation programme as soon as offered to ensure your child has the best protection. Getting vaccinated also helps protect people who cannot be vaccinated (unborn and newborn babies and anyone with a weakened immune system).
However, if you or your child have missed a vaccine, it's not too late to check if you can catch up. Check your child’s Red Book for MMR and Whooping Cough vaccines or check with your GP.
See the Greater Manchester Integrated Care's article about Whooping Cough here, including the latest advice and the best time to get vaccinated.
Also, find out what vaccinations your child needs before going back to school.
More information on free NHS childhood vaccinations can be found on the NHS website.
Whooping Cough Vaccinations for Pregnant Women
Details from UKHSA
From July 2024 pregnant women have been offered the Pertussis vaccine. Whooping cough (Pertussis) is a highly infectious disease that can be very serious for babies under one year of age.
Pregnant women are offered a whooping cough vaccine in every pregnancy, ideally between 20 and 32 weeks. This passes protection to their baby in the womb so that they are protected from birth in the first months of their life when they are most vulnerable and before they can receive their own vaccines. If you have reached 20 weeks of pregnancy and have not yet been offered the whooping cough vaccine, please ask your midwife and / or GP practice.
Farm Visits Over the Holidays
Details from UKHSA
Visiting a farm is an enjoyable and educational experience for many people, particularly children, but farm animals can be the source of several bugs that can be passed from animals to humans and cause illness. Some can be particularly serious for children or pregnant women. If you're taking children to visit local farms over the holidays, these simple hygiene steps will help reduce the risk of catching infection from animals or the environment.
Be Tick Aware
Details from UKHSA
UKHSA is encouraging people to continue to ‘be tick aware’. Peak tick season in the UK usually begins in March and ends in October, although ticks can be active all year round. The warmer weather encourages more of us to be out and about enjoying the great outdoors, we are reminding the public to be aware of where ticks are found and how to remove them safely and quickly.
Service Overview: The Carents Room
Details from The Carents Room
The Carents Room is an online hub providing free information, advice and peer support to any adult who is caring for an elderly relative.
The Carents Room want to give families the advice and help they need to keep themselves and their elderly relatives safe and well. The information covers all the different aspects of helping an older relative who is struggling to manage their own home, affairs or health, alongside advice to help carers maintain their own wellbeing.
All information is free to access whenever or wherever you need it. If you are looking for practical tips or emotional support, they have a wealth of helpful information alongside a community who understands exactly what you are going through.
All support is digital - they do not provide any in-person or personalised care. Visit their website and follow their socials for more information.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/carentslounge (Peer support group)
Service Overview: Constellations
Details from Charlotte Chilvers, Sector 3
Constellations is a LGBTQ+ youth group for those aged 13-18 years who are questioning their gender or sexuality, who live or spend time in Stockport.
Run by the Proud Trust, Constellations take place every Wednesday, from 5pm - 7pm online or at a Stockport venue.
Get Involved: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Forums
Details from Lesley Goodburn, NICE
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) are excited to launch their new Working alongside people and communities at NICE strategy. This strategy is going to transform how they involve and engage across NICE, and they need the voluntary and community sector (VCS) to be part of that! They want to hear what will work, what won’t, and exactly what and how they need to change to better reflect real people and real lives in the work that we do as an organisation.
The forum brings together organisations who want to shape NICE’s work. As a forum member, you are invited to:
- share your organisation’s views, perspectives and priorities
- attend our virtual meetings (currently happening once a quarter) when able
Thursday 12 September, 10am – 1pm via Zoom
NICE voluntary and community sector (VCS) forum.
Complete the survey on the forum webpage (or click ‘Apply to join the forum’ button at the top).
For questions about the new strategy or becoming a member of the Forum, email NICEVCSForum@nice.org.uk.
Have Your Say: What Helps Wellbeing?
Details from Ellie Unwin, Pure Innovations
The Big Life group wants to hear from people aged 65+ and/or men to share their insights around wellbeing, which in turn will shape support in our community.
Feedback from 65+ - Are you looking for something that might make you feel better, connect with your community and improve your wellbeing?
Feedback from men - share what helps your mental wellbeing and the barriers you face.
The Big Life Group will be running a variety of ways to feed back including engaging sessions, activities and surveys. Participants will be recognised for their time.
haveyoursay@thebiglifegroup.com to join
Funding: Myriad Scheme For Mental Health
Details from Ellen Brookes, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
MYRIAD is a two-year creative health initiative, which aims to increase the range of creative, mental health support available to global majority* communities in Greater Manchester.
In the next stage of their programme, they aim to create opportunities to explore new practices, new approaches and new partnerships and are inviting expressions of interest from statutory, Voluntary, Community, Faith, Social Enterprise (VCFSE) and cultural sector organisations
MYRIAD: Spark Project Fund will fund delivery of up to six small projects (approximate £15K). See the attached flyer for details
*Global majority refers to people who do not consider themselves/not considered to be white.
Menopause Awareness Sessions With Stockport Mind
Details from Stockport Mind
Supporting Employees through the Menopause a Managers Guide
Thursday 5 September – 9.30am – 11.30am
Monday 7 October – 10am – 12pm
Menopause Awareness for Employees:
Menopause Education Event
Details from Stockport East & South Primary care Network Socials
Are you experiencing menopause symptoms? Stockport East & South Primary care Network are hosting a free a health education event to talk about symptoms, treatment options and more.
27 September, 6:30pm – 8:30pm in Hazel Grove Civic Hall
Parent And Carer Coffee Morning
Details from Great Minds Together socials
Further Events & Community Activities across the Borough
Job Vacancies: MS Society Finance Volunteer
Details from MS Society
The MS Society is a community of people living with MS, scientists, campaigners, listeners, organisers, ambassadors and fundraisers.
They're looking to recruit a Finance Volunteer for their Stockport and South East Manchester Group to maintain and approve income and expenditure records and explain financial information clearly to other group members. You'd also ensure their financial requirements and policies are followed, and that money is spent in a cost effective manner.
This is a great opportunity to gain experience with a large charity and help make positive changes to the lives of people affected by MS. You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that they do. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be comfortable with figures, preferably with an accounting or business background.
Closing date - 16 September
Groundwork Wellbeing Programme
Details from Charlotte Chilvers, Sector 3
Groundwork are currently running a wellbeing and skills programme called Support to Succeed for Stockport residents. Through the programme, people can access 1-1 support and join in a range of activities to improve their wellbeing and learn new skills.
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
Stockport Council Review
Review Extra 09.08.24 (stockport-council.co.uk)
GMCVO Bulletin (Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation)
GMCVO monthly eBulletin - August 2024
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.
