Healthwatch Round Up - 16 October 2024
Welcome to this week's Healthwatch Stockport Information Round-up (IRU).
Please share and encourage others to sign up. To receive the link, sign up here.
Follow our social channels: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Twitter,
To promote your work, event or share any information, please fill in the form here.
Have Your Say: Local Health and Care Services
Here at Healthwatch Stockport, we listen to the issues that really matter to each and everyone across Stockport. So, if you use GPs, hospitals, dentists, pharmacies, community or care services, we want to hear your experiences - good, bad or in-between to help to improve the quality of care for us all. At the moment, we're particularly keen to gather your feedback around the following areas:
Your Experience of Local Eye Care Services: Tell us what you think of local eye care services. Are you happy with the eye care you’re receiving – what's working well and what do you think could be improved? All feedback will help us to recommend improvements to commissioners and eye care providers and services.
Hospital Appointment Systems: Tell us your experiences of the hospital booking systems and how information about your appointments is provided to you.
GP Practices Accessibility: We'll be visiting GP practices to observe the signage and information available to patients. We aim 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. We're keen to hear your experiences.
You can contact us by:
Feedback centre (on our website)
0161 974 0753 or text 078710 89100 (text service only)
info@healthwatchstockport.co.uk
Healthwatch Articles & Reports You May Have Missed
Please see the latest news from us and Healthwatch England.
If you're trans or non-binary, what's your experience of GP services?
We want to learn more about the experiences of trans, non-binary and other gender-diverse people (sometimes referred to as trans+) when they visit the GP. GPs are the gateway to accessing other care, whether gender-related or not, but trans and non-binary people can face challenges when navigating services. Complete Healthwatch's short survey.
Four challenges people face living with learning disabilities
In the UK, approximately 1.5 million people have a learning disability. Many people with learning disabilities find it difficult to learn, develop new skills, understand information and interact with other people. Therefore, accessing the support they need to live as independently as possible is crucial.
Book Your Place: NHS Fit for the Future Event!
Details from NHS Greater Manchester
In case you missed last week's Round Up, NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) in partnership with us at Healthwatch Stockport, are inviting you to share your views at this public listening event. Don't forget to book your place on our Eventbrite page asap to avoid disappointment.
The NHS in 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. As part of the public engagement, NHS GM is holding a number of public listening events, ‘An NHS Fit for the Future’, including one in Stockport on 19 November.
We want to take you on our journey helping us to achieve our population health, performance and financial goals; giving stakeholders and communities the opportunity to say what is important to you. We also want to hear what you think NHS GM should prioritise in Stockport and across Greater Manchester, whilst increasing awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by the organisation.
At this event you’ll receive an overview of our three challenges:
Healthy Happy Lives
We need to spend more time focusing on supporting people to live happy, healthy lives by preventing illnesses and where possible identifying these early.
Great Services
We need to make services high quality, easy to access with shorter waiting times and fair across Greater Manchester.
Financial Balance
We need to make the most of our money to bring the local NHS finances into balance.
We want to hear what's important to you, what you think we should prioritise and suggest ways we can improve our services.
To attend our listening event, visit our Eventbrite page and see the attached poster.
Reminder to ‘Get Winter Strong’ Vaccination Campaign
Details from NHS Greater Manchester
The NHS Greater Manchester have launched their latest campaign to urge people to protect themselves against viruses like Flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Viruses common in Winter can make some people very unwell and result in serious problems that may need hospital care.
The campaign is, ‘Get Winter Strong’, which links into ideas of staying strong, healthy, well and being ready for Winter. This is teamed with a clear call to action: ‘Get Vaccinated.’ The NHS offers free vaccines to those at greatest risk, so they can get the protection they need.
Smoking Rates in Greater Manchester Hit Record Low
Details from Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
Latest figures from 2023, show the number of people smoking in Greater Manchester (GM) have dropped to an all-time low. An estimated 284,000 adults (12.5% of the population) now smoke within GM with a record 36,800 adults giving up smoking last year alone.
The drop puts GM closer than ever to the national average smoking rates (11.6%) – marking the first time the gap has been less than 1%.
In addition to the reduction in general smoking rates, GM has also achieved record lows in smoking among pregnant women with Smoking at the Time of Delivery (SATOD) rates dropping by 50% since 2017, with the current rate at just 6.1% of pregnant women considered smokers at the time of delivery- resulting in 6,000 babies born smokefree since the beginning of the Make Smoking History programme. #Stoptober
Reminder: Urgent Blood Donor Appeal
Details from NHS
Every minute, the NHS needs 3 lifesaving blood donations. That’s a lot of blood! Whatever your blood type, YOU can make a difference for many. You could be helping a daughter fight sickle cell, a neighbour combat cancer or providing life-saving medicines to a newborn.
The NHS needs your help urgently to keep providing lifesaving blood. They're calling for people who are O negative to give blood. O negative can be given to anyone hence the urgent call.
O negative: Please book and keep your appointment to donate as soon as possible.
All other blood types: Please book and keep your appointment, even if it's a few weeks away - your donation will be just as valuable then.
Log in to book an appointment and find the best availability.
Walthew House Hearing Loss Course
Details from Walthew House
Do you have a mild to moderate hearing loss or support/work with people with a hearing loss? This free course could give you a better understanding of hearing loss and tips to make the most of your hearing.
Walthew House will be running their 'Making the Most of Your Hearing' course:
Monday 18 November, 10.00am - 12.30pm.
Walthew House, 112 Shaw Heath, Stockport
Places are limited so to attend, contact Walthew House:
0161 480 2612
Menopause Day Awareness Events
Details from The Wellness Project CiC
FREE Menopause cafe event on Thursday 17th October 5.30pm -7.00pm at a cafe in central Manchester (venue to be sent out on booking). You can find more details and book a place here
Pure Innovations - Menopause in Mind Event: Pure Innovations are running a free ‘Menopause in Mind’ event on Friday 18 October at the Cornerstone, 2 Edward Street, SK1 3NQ. The event will bring together health professionals, holistic practitioners and support services to offer information and advice and the opportunity to try out menopause yoga, womb massage and acupressure. Feel free to drop in during the day. Find out more
Further Events & Community Activities across the Borough
Become a Digital Champion!
Starting Point are looking For Digital Champion support throughout Stockport. If you're interested in any of the below roles, email clara@startpoint.org.uk
Stockport Continuing Education (SCE) Drop in Service
Mondays and Tuesdays 12.30 – 1.30pm. Term time only. Start date is 5 November. “Taster” sessions available before November.
Daw Bank, SK3 0EQ
Stockport Continuing Education service support people to learn new skills and gain skills for work. Some of their learners may be doing work related skills, brushing up their Maths or Literacy, or learning English. Students need support to submit coursework online, access tasks set by their tutors, find out information online, feel more confident using a computer or use fun apps to learn. That’s where you come in!
Requirements:
- 6 Digital champions, so you’ll be part of a group.
- Training will be provided. If you volunteer regularly, SCE will fund a Google Level 1 qualification in Digital skills.
******
Stockport Homes - Brinnington Job club
Fridays 11am - 1pm
First house, 367 Brinnington Rd, SK5 8EN – October start
You'll work with Starting Point and Stockport homes staff to support job seekers to find work online and learn digital skills. You'll help people make a real change and feel more confident to look for a job they enjoy.
******
Signpost for Carers Support
First Monday of month, 11am -1pm. Start date is 4 November.
Annie’s café, The Heatons Centre, Thornfield Rd, Heaton Moor, SK4 3LD
Signpost support unpaid carers (relatives or friends) who care for someone who's disabled or unwell. Annie’s café offers refreshments and a chance to chat to other carers. Many are older people who care for someone they love.
Requirements:
- 2 Digital champions to meet and chat to people at the centre and offer digital help if people need it.
******
Chelwood Food Bank at Brinnington Lighthouse
Wednesdays 1.30 – 3pm
Northumberland Rd, Stockport SK5 8LS.
Volunteers help people to sign up to the Databank (free sim cards) and offer digital support if people need help to solve a problem on their phone or laptop. Foodbank customers come to the Lighthouse to collect food parcels, chat, and seek support.
Requirements:
- Looking for 2 volunteers in addition to volunteer they have
- Full training will be provided.
GMCVO
GMCVO eBulletin (October 2024)
NHS England
National Survivor Supporter Newsletter
NSUN Supporter Newsletter October 2024 (mailchi.mp)
Prince's Trust
Upcoming courses from The Prince's Trust (princes-trust-digital.co.uk)
Starting Point
Stockport Digital Champion Update - 14th October 2024 - Training Special (campaign-archive.com)
Sector 3
Stockport Council
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.
