Healthwatch Round Up - 22 August 2024
Welcome to this week's Healthwatch Stockport Information Round-up (IRU).
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Healthwatch Stockport - Work With Us
We're recruiting for two new exciting job opportunities and a chance to join the Healthwatch Stockport team!
Communications & Volunteer Coordinator: We're continuing our search for a dedicated Communications & Volunteer Coordinator for Healthwatch Stockport. In this role, you'll be responsible for leading our communications strategy, coordinating members and volunteers, and engaging our local communities. Your work will drive positive changes in Stockport's health and social care services.
Engagement Officer - Mental Health: We are looking for a dedicated Engagement Officer for Healthwatch Stockport. Could this be you? You will be working within the passionate team at Healthwatch Stockport to effectively engage with local people, communities who have a lived or living experience of serious mental illness and of using mental health services in Stockport.
How to Apply:
Both positions close 15 September 2024.
Join us in making a difference in Stockport's mental health services!
Healthwatch Stockport's 'Inform' Newsletter
If you haven't yet checked out our latest 'Inform' newsletter (Summer of 2024 edition), be sure to take a peek by clicking on the button below!
This time, we feature our Network event in February, our focus around 'Hospital to Home' and better understanding family experiences of Children's and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). We also share how you can get involved with our work, including our Lived Experience Network and more. The newsletter is also available in paper format (email info@healthwatchstockport.co.uk).
Reminder: We Want Your Feedback!
At Healthwatch Stockport, we're excited for our upcoming Enter and View Programme as we'll be focusing on two important areas of healthcare services in our community.
Hospital Appointment Systems: Our first focus will be the systems used by hospitals to book your appointments. We want to hear your experiences with the hospital booking systems and how information about your appointments is provided to you.
GP Practices Accessibility: The second focus will be on GP practices. We'll 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, visit our website. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve healthcare services for everyone in Stockport.
Have Your Say: Translation & Interpreting Services
Details from Healthwatch England
Do you have experience of working in translation and interpreting services in a healthcare organisation? The NHS England want to hear from you! They're trying to understand what's working well and what isn't to support improvements. If you have experience working in this area - have your say in their survey by Friday 6 September :
The survey is aimed towards organisational and professional stakeholders in translation and interpreting services working in healthcare (for example, in Trusts, Primary Care).
Reminder: 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. Healthwatch across England are trying to gather as many experiences as possible from people who’ve used NHS eye care services recently. Every response received will help shape eye care services and improve people’s care.
Share Your Views: an Honest Conversation on Making Our NHS fit for the Future!
Press Release from NHS Greater Manchester
Every day in Greater Manchester, thousands of people are seen by the health and care professionals that make up our NHS and receive great care. However, waiting lists have grown, some people struggle to access some services, or find it hard to know where to go for help and support.
The NHS in Greater Manchester, the body responsible for making decisions about health services across Greater Manchester, is keen to hear from people living and working in Greater Manchester about what they feel is working well and what could change to improve both their experience of getting care and their health.
NHS Greater Manchester is inviting people to share their views in a public engagement exercise, ‘An NHS Fit for the Future’, from now until the Autumn.
- The first face-to-face event will be in Manchester on Thursday 12 September between 1:30pm and 4:00pm. Register online to attend.
- An online event is being held on Microsoft Teams on Wednesday 25 September between 6:00pm and 7:30pm. Register online to attend.
This programme will give stakeholders and local communities the opportunity to understand issues faced by the NHS locally including its financial position; tackling waiting times; care and support for long-term conditions and improving the prevention of ill health; as well as giving their views on what matters most and how they think the NHS should shape services for the future.
Mark Fisher, Chief Executive of NHS Greater Manchester said:
“We know how much the NHS means to people and that day in day out, people rely on its many services and receive great care. However, we know that we aren’t getting everything right, so we want to hear from people living in Greater Manchester on what matters to them and what they feel they need from their health service.
“We’ll be running a series of face-to-face and online events across Greater Manchester which we’ll advertise on our website, social media channels and through other organisations.
“We’d encourage people to get involved and have their say and share details with their local communities so we can ensure as many people as possible get to have their say.”
Find out more about Fit for the Future and get involved, visit the NHS GM website.
Support Over August Bank Holiday
Details from NHS Greater Manchester
Bank holidays can be busy times for the NHS - unexpected injuries and illnesses can always happen. Please see the following advice from NHS Greater Manchester.
- Your GP practice will be closed and may be busier than usual before/after the bank holiday. Lots of minor illnesses can be treated at home - for information, go to www.nhs.uk.
- To find the right health service, visit: ‘Get To Know Where To Go’ If you’re still not sure what to do, call NHS 111 or go to www.111.nhs.uk (over 5 years of age only).
- Your local pharmacy is a great source of advice on a range of minor illnesses. Check which pharmacies are open at ‘Greater Manchester Bank Holiday Pharmacy Opening Hours’. Pharmacies can now provide prescription medicine for some conditions - without a GP appointment. Visit the ‘Think Pharmacy First’
Your ‘just in case’ bank holiday contact list:
- Greater Manchester Urgent Dental Service – call 0333 332 3800. Open 8am - 10pm every day, including weekends and bank holidays.
- Greater Manchester Urgent Eye Care Service – www.primaryeyecare.co.uk/find-a-practice. Available all week, including weekends and bank holidays.
- Free 24/7 mental health crisis support helplines. Stockport - 0800 014 9995.
Patients to Benefit From ‘E-Patch’ Stroke Monitor Pilot
Details from Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
Patients at Stepping Hill Hospital who've experienced minor strokes are about to benefit from a new electronic-patch, which will help monitor whether they at risk of stroke or heart failure.
Patients who've experienced a minor stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) are seen at the hospital’s Rapid Access TIA clinic to receive appropriate treatment. These patients may be vulnerable once they've left hospital care to Atrial Fibrillation (AF), which can put them at a higher risk of further stroke, and also heart failure.
The new ECG (electro cardiograph) patch or e-patch will monitor for signs of AF, helping to ensure more timely and effective treatment, and improved outcomes. 150 patches will be in place for patients who have been assessed by stroke clinicians as having the appropriate risk.
Flu & Covid Vaccination Programme Update
Message from NHS England
Vaccination is a high priority action for the NHS, to protect people from serious illness and to support NHS and adult social care resilience.
Ensuring that eligible people receive high quality information about vaccinations from people they trust, and providing a convenient offer in which people have confidence, are critical actions to maximise protection.
The government has accepted final advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) regarding a COVID-19 Autumn/Winter 2024/25 vaccination programme.
The groups to be offered a COVID-19 vaccine in Autumn/Winter 2024/25 are:
- residents in a care home for older adults
- all adults aged 65 years and over
- persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group
Read the full statement online
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccinations
Details from NHS Greater Manchester
From 1 September, pregnant women and elderly adults in Greater Manchester will be able to get the new free Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine. RSV is a major cause of respiratory illness, particularly dangerous for young babies and the elderly.
This new RSV vaccine offers huge opportunities to prevent severe illness in those most vulnerable to RSV, helping to protect lives.
One Stockport Family Hubs: How They Can Help You
Details from Stockport Council
The Family Hubs video is a valuable resource that explains more about the Family Hubs and the variety of support. Please take a few minutes to view it and raise awareness of Family Hubs with family, friends and your networks.
Family Hubs bring together information, help and support services for families with children from pre-birth until they reach the age of 19, or up to 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities. Families can get support:
- Online 24/7 from the website.
- Face-to-face at a Family Hubs in Brinnington, Adswood or Reddish
- Face-to-face at libraries, Life Leisure hubs and Stockport Homes sites where you see the signs. The website has a complete list of places to get face-to-face support.
Targeted Lung Check Programme Continues
Details from 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.
The quick, free checks can help find lung cancer at an early stage when it's much more treatable and can help save lives. Lung Health Checks are available to current or former smokers aged 55-74 based at GP practices in the Tame Valley Primary Care Network. This programme is for invited patients so please attend if you receive an invite.
The mobile clinic is based at Morrisons, Bredbury, SK6 2BN
Medical Examiner Service to Give Bereaved People A Voice
Details from NHS Greater Manchester (GM)
A new statutory medical examiner service is being rolled out across England and Wales to provide independent scrutiny of deaths, and to give bereaved people a voice.
From 9 September, it becomes law that all deaths that are not investigated by a Coroner will be reviewed by NHS medical examiners before a death can be registered.
Attached is a NHS GM stakeholder briefing that outlines the role of the medical examiner, what is changing and how it impacts the process when someone dies. The aim of the briefing is to raise awareness of the upcoming changes amongst those who may come into contact with the bereaved. There are a number of potential benefits for GPs and the bereaved loved ones of those who have passed away. It will also give bereaved families the chance to ask questions or raise concerns.
Read the full statement attached
Get Involved: Champion Community Health
EmpowerED, Adult Eating Disorders Provider Collaborative, is looking for people to volunteer their time to champion and promote adult health, wellbeing, eating disorder services, and families/carers support across the North West.
EmpowerED is committed to driving improvements across the eating disorders patient services and ensure people who access them are empowered to play an active role in the development and delivery of these services. You do not need any formal qualifications to become an EmpowerED Ambassador/Community Champion as training will be provided.
Have Your Say: National LGBTQ+ Survey
Details from the Greater Manchester Equality Alliance
The National LGBT Partnership team are running a survey that focuses on joint working between LGBTQ+ organisations and health care systems.
The information you provide will help them to co-produce a set of resources to further resource and support LGBTQ+ organisations in their work with local health systems.
This survey takes approx. 10 minutes and is aimed at people who work, volunteer or act as a trustee for an LGBT+ group, network, project or organisation. You'll be entered into a draw to win a £50 Love 2 Shop voucher.
Get Involved: Coughing Study
Researchers at the North West Lung Centre, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, are running a study to understand why people with different chest conditions develop a cough and how their cough compares to people without a chest condition.
Coughing is a protective reflex which is used to clear the airways of irritating material or phlegm. It is one of the most common issues for which people seek medical advice.
The results of this study will help researchers understand the mechanisms of coughing and may be used to help improve treatments in the future. This study is looking for people:
- Diagnosed with asthma
- Never smoked (or quit at least six months ago)
- Not currently taking ACE inhibitors (e.g. Ramipril, Enalapril)
- Previously experienced variation in peak flow for at least a fortnight, or had positive breathing test, and can show evidence of this (e.g. peak flow diary, NHS app)
Taking part will involve:
- Attending four clinic visits, each lasting approximately 1 hour, over a 2-6-week period.
- Clinic visits will include a range of tests (e.g. a blood sample, blood pressure check, breathing tests and a nebuliser) as well as questions about lifestyle and medical history.
Wythenshawe Hospital (part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust)
Participants will receive £120, travel expenses for clinic visit and free parking
Join the study:
0161 291 5029
Service Overview: Stockport Support Hub
Details from Stockport Support Hub
Stockport Support Hub deliver early help and prevention support services across Stockport, which have been commissioned by Stockport Borough Council.
If you're not sure what support is right for you, they can guide you in the right direction, offering information, advice or connecting you to other organisations and useful resources. They can also refer you directly to any of the services within Stockport Support Hub.
0161 474 1042, or the text option for the deaf community 07539 468 560.
Service Overview: PAC-UK
Details from PAC Family First
PAC-UK provides specialist therapy, advice, support and counselling for all affected by adoption and permanency. PAC-UK helps thousands of people each year. Some of them are birth parents or other birth relatives, some are adoptive parents and some are adopted adults.
Their First Family Service for the North West provides independent advice and support to parents and relatives whose children have a plan of adoption or have been adopted.
The experience of losing a child or relative through adoption is incredibly isolating, is why it’s so important that we try to reach as many people as we can in our communities.
See the attached for further details
Mayor of Stockport's Civic Service
Details from Stockport Council
The Mayor of Stockport's Civic Service will be taking place from:
2.30pm to 3.30pm on Sunday 15 September
Stockport Parish Church (St Mary’s in the Marketplace, Churchgate, SK1 1YG)
Everyone is welcome to attend so please share with family and friends.
For those traveling by car, visit the council’s website for car park details.
So Many Beauties Event For Dementia
Details from Dementia United
Dementia United is joining the upcoming So Many Beauties Festival, a special event celebrating the power of music, creativity, and well-being for people living with Dementia. People can enjoy and participate in a variety of musical and artistic experiences, take part in activities and receive a host of support and advice on Dementia care. Click here for a full festival programme
Friday, 20 September, 10:00am – 4pm
Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Dementia United will host a stand at the festival’s Healthy Brain Space. This area will feature various organisations dedicated to Dementia care and research, including Dementia UK and the Alzheimer’s Society.
This is a free event so book to avoid disappointment booked in advance at:
Bridgewater Hall Box Office website
0161 907 9000
Greater Manchester (GM) Live Well Event
Details from NHS Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester Integrated Care are hosting a 'Live Well - Growing community power to tackle health and wellbeing inequalities' event this October. This event is being planned in partnership with GM Networks Connect and brings together a range of digital, food poverty, climate, and homelessness social justice and action networks across Greater Manchester.
They're inviting communities to help shape the places they live and the support available to tackle health and wellbeing inequalities.
3 October, from 10am - 4pm
Methodist Central Hall, Manchester, M1 1JQ
Cycle September
Details from Love to Ride
Cycle September is a fun, free, and friendly challenge. Ride anywhere, any time during September to join in. Invite your friends, family, and co-workers to share the joy of riding a bike and reap the many heath and wellness benefits! Apply by 31 August.
Love to Ride’s Cycle September is supported by Transport for Greater Manchester, which means it’s free for your workplace or organisation to participate.
Further Events & Community Activities across the Borough
MadLab's Click Training Programme
Details from MadLab
This Autumn, MadLab are launching Click into Employment: Click into Community - a training programme designed to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to gain confidence, develop skills and secure employment in the tech industry.
Click will run for three years in Stockport, offering free, short tech courses (3 - 5 weeks) and workshops, covering topics like UX, Game Design, and more. The course will also offer skills and networking meetups and events. Ongoing mentorship will be provided throughout, including mental health support, from Beacon Counselling.
Who's it for:
- People living in Stockport, aged 18 - 30, not currently in full-time education (especially looking to support those either unemployed or underemployed)
- Beginners wanting to work in the digital industry
Further Training Courses Coming Up
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 16.08.24 (stockport-council.co.uk)
Prince's Trust
Upcoming courses from The Prince's Trust (princes-trust-digital.co.uk)
TPA: The Prevention Alliance
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.
