Healthwatch Round Up - 6 March 2025
Welcome to this week's Healthwatch Stockport Information Round-up!
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#TeamHealthwatchStockport
This week, the team reached the final stop of our Library Tour stop offs; Bramhall Library, we've supported the Human Factor event and ventured to every corner of Stockport to deliver posters and flyers for our upcoming 'Putting the Spring into Stockport' wellbeing fun day!
To find out more about our exciting event, read on..... there's a poster attached for you to share too!
Healthwatch: Thank you For Your Support
Thanks to everyone who took part in Share for Better Care Week! Visitors to our National 'Have Your Say' feedback page rose by 642% compared to the previous week!
We're very grateful to the support provided by our health and care stakeholders, including national organisations and local NHS authorities, but most of all to the residents and patients of Stockport who gave their feedback.
As a reminder: Share for Better Care Week shines an extra spotlight and reinforces the importance of sharing your experiences and feedback of using health and social care services.
Have Your Say: NHS Adult Hearing Services in Stockport!
At Healthwatch Stockport, we're currently reviewing the NHS Adult Hearing Services in Stockport. Have you or your loved ones used this service in the past 12 months? If so, please share your experiences with us in a our short survey. Your feedback makes a huge difference!
We're always listening to what people have to say about health and care services in Stockport and our focus on hearing services is no different. The more feedback we receive from those who use the services, the better our understanding will be and the more comprehensive we can make our review.
Our survey also offers you the opportunity to share your experiences around other NHS services ear care, not directly linked to NHS Adult Hearing Services.
If you prefer to provide feedback offline, we can arrange for a paper copy of the survey to be sent to you or one of our team can fill it out with you over the phone.
Thank you for helping us make a difference!
The survey closes on 14 March.
Healthwatch to 'Put the Spring into Stockport'
Join Healthwatch Stockport and local health and wellbeing services for a fun filled day of activities and taster sessions to help you to stay well.
Our 'Putting the Spring into Stockport' wellbeing fun day will take place on Tuesday 8 April and everyone is welcome. Its’s a drop in event but ideally let us know you're planning on stopping by (this helps with catering and numbers for activities).
Please share our event with your families, friends and networks.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Fact sheet
A reminder that Healthwatch Stockport have been working on a series of screening programme fact sheets and are excited to launch the first of six - for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm screening.
Our fact sheets are designed to give you quick access to the information you need around different types of screening. We are currently working on the following: Bowel, Breast, Cervical and Diabetic eye screening, and the Prostate programme. All of which will be added to our website soon.
Appointment: Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and Tameside & Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Details from Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
David Wakefield has been appointed as new joint Chair at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust (SFT) and Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (TGICFT).
David Wakefield has held previous Chair roles at NHS Trusts, including his most recent as Chair of the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust. He is a qualified accountant and has held several senior executive posts, including Commercial Finance Director for Royal Mail. He has also held a number of non-executive directorships.
This is the first time the trusts have shared a Chair role, which brings the role in line with other senior leadership positions across the two organisations.
The appointment of David as Joint Chair is a key next step in strengthening collaboration in line with national NHS policy. While the trusts will remain as separate organisations, the role will seek to maximise the potential for joint working for the benefit of the local population, patients and staff. The appointment was made by the Council of Governors at each trust, after a competitive interview process.
David said “I feel very proud and privileged to take up this position as chair representing two organisations which provide healthcare to many thousands of people across their respective areas, in both hospitals and in the community. I look forward to meeting my many new colleagues as we work together, striving to uphold the highest standards of care and treatment for all.”
Jane McCall, who has served TGICFT for the last seven years will be handing over to David who commences on 1 April. Marisa Logan-Ward, who has served as Interim Chair at SFT for the last 12 months will return to her Non-Executive Director and Vice-Chair role at the start of his tenure.
The trusts thank both Jane and Marisa for their leadership and commitment to their roles.
Have Your Say: An NHS GM Fit For the Future
Details from NHS Greater Manchester (Stockport locality)
There’s less than 10 days to get involved in NHS Greater Manchester’s (NHS GM) public conversations about making the NHS Fit for the Future in Stockport and Greater Manchester.
This third and final discussion is about how the NHS can help people to stay well, prevent ill health and how it should work with communities in the future. So, whether you've been involved so far or not, this is your last chance to have your say.
You can have your say in one of two ways:
Fill in the 'Happy healthy lives' survey by Sunday 16 March.
Join an NHS GM representative at a public conversation on Thursday 13 March, 1pm to 2pm, in Stockport Town Centre.
For full details and to book your place, email Andrew.callaghan1@nhs.net (Public Engagement Manager for Stockport at NHS GM) or by calling 07931233916.
This will bring a six-month discussion across the whole of Greater Manchester to a close. Many of you will have had your say on the financial difficulties faced by our local health and care organisations, what a good service should look like as well as sharing many of your personal experiences.
The findings of the engagement will be reviewed and published on the NHS GM website. Watch this space for further updates too!
Have Your Say: Final Views for NHS 10 Year Plan
Details from Healthwatch England and NHS
In addition to the NHS Greater Manchester Happy healthy lives' survey, a new survey has been published on Change.NHS.uk, focusing on ideas that emerged from the national engagement process to help finalise the 10-Year Health Plan. This focuses on priorities for change.
The survey will close on Friday, 14 April.
Everyone in England is invited to share their views on how NHS services can be made better – so, Stockport, have your say! This feedback campaign has been described as the “biggest ever conversation about the future of the NHS.”
Diabetes and Ramadan
Details from Diabetes UK
Diabetes UK have published their Diabetes and Ramadan webpage which contains a wealth of information, including a link to our Diabetes UK shop where you can download or order a simple Ramadan and Diabetes fact sheet, which is available in five languages
The factsheet about diabetes and Ramadan, which includes information about fasting and managing your diabetes, has been developed in partnership with the British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA).
The 'Get to Know Where to Go' Campaign is Back!
Details from NHS Greater Manchester
NHS Greater Manchester has teamed up with Hits Radio’s Mike Toolan to ask the people of Greater Manchester – ‘Do you know where to?’ and created a fun and engaging video which guides people on where to go if they have health concerns.
Since 2022, the Get to Know Where to Go campaign has been helping the public learn more about what healthcare services are available to them and where to turn to get the right treatment for them and their family. So, they thought it was time to test Greater Manchester’s knowledge of where to go for everyday health issues. See Mike Toolan take to the streets to ask those questions.
You can follow the campaign on their socials by looking out for #GTKWTG
- Facebook @NHSGreaterManchester
- X @NHS_GM
- Instagram @nhs_gm
Samaritans: Your Words are a Life Saving Kit
Details from the Samaritans
Ever wondered if you should check in and start a conversation?
We’ve all seen someone in public who seemed overwhelmed, afraid, or struggling. Since 2017, we’ve encouraged the public to approach others and start a conversation if someone doesn’t look OK. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple, friendly chat to make a huge difference.
The Samaritans are running this campaign to drive home the importance of 'Small Talk saves lives' and how 'Your words are a life-saving kit'.
Daily Breakfast Clubs Pilot Announced
The government has announced the first 750 schools to provide free daily breakfast clubs as part of a pilot scheme ahead of a planned England-wide rollout. As well as helping children thrive academically and socially, breakfast clubs give parents and carers more choices in childcare, and support families with the cost of living.
Starting in April, the participating schools will be funded to provide access to a free, universal breakfast club lasting at least 30 minutes, which includes food. One of the schools selected is Outwood Primary school, Stockport.
Have Your Say: Pharmacy Services Survey
Details from Healthwatch in Greater Manchester
Do you use pharmacy services in Stockport? Community Pharmacy Greater Manchester, in partnership with local Health and Wellbeing Boards, want to hear your views and experiences to ensure everyone has the right access to community pharmacy services.
- Are they easy to get to when you need to?
- Do they offer the services you want?
- How could we make pharmacies better in the future?
Your feedback will help them to understand what pharmacy services people use, what services you want, and how you feel about access to pharmacies.
The survey closes on 21 March.
See the article here
Have Your Say: Learning Disabilities Improvement Standards Review
Details from NHS England
Have your say in the National Learning Disabilities Improvement Standards Review: Family/Carer survey. Your feedback is really important and will help NHS England to improve the experiences of people with learning disabilities and/or autistic people receiving care from the NHS.
To ensure the NHS understand people's experiences with hospital services they're keen to hear from relatives and family carers of people with learning disabilities and/or autistic people who have used a hospital service in the last year. The survey will take around 5 minutes.
Closing date: 31 March.
Have Your Say: Living Well Mental Health Transformation
Details from Living Well, Greater Manchester
Living Well is a part of Greater Manchester's community mental health transformation, and aims to support people with serious mental illness to stay well, and connected to their community.
One of the priorities is to ensure lived experience is at the heart of its development. With this on mind, they'd like to hear your feedback and experiences to make sure your voices are heard.
They're keen to hear from people living with a serious mental illness (illness seriously impacts your every day life), the challenges you may face, what helps you to maintain good mental health, and what could work better. To share your experiences:
maya@healthwatchstockport.co.uk
Call Maya on 0161 974 0753 (Tuesday to Thursday)
Have your say: Removal of Benign Skin Lesions
Details from Healthwatch in Greater Manchester
NHS Greater Manchester is reviewing the criteria for when benign skin lesions (like moles, cysts, and skin tags) should be referred for removal. This will ensure decisions are guided by expert dermatologists and the latest medical evidence.
Some lesions may be harmless and need no treatment, while others—like those causing pain or bleeding—may require attention. Your feedback can help shape this important review.
Share your views here
The survey closes: 5pm, 4 April.
Ovarian Cancer Awareness
Details from the Eve Appeal
Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer in women, yet awareness of the signs and symptoms is low. Evidence suggests that low symptoms awareness leads to a later diagnosis, and worse outcomes. The number of women diagnosed at an early stage varies between 21% - 62% depending on their location in the UK.
More must be done to reduce inequalities and get rid of the ‘postcode lottery’ when it comes to ovarian cancer. and so this Ovarian Cancer Month, the Eve Appeal are running an awareness campaign. Follow their socials @eveappeal in calling for action! #OCAM #OvarianCancerAwarenessMonth
To find out about the Eve Appeal campaign, symptoms and where to get support, visit the website.
You can also visit the MacMillan website for support.
No More: Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness
Details from Stockport Women And Girls & Stockport Council
This week has been NO MORE Week, which brings together people from every corner of society and the world to say “NO MORE” to domestic and sexual violence. It shines a spotlight on an epidemic that impacts 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men globally.
But it’s more than just about increasing awareness; it’s about collective action to stop it. Even though the awareness week is coming to an end, the campaign continues.
If you need support, please know that help is available.
Stockport Without Abuse - 0161 477 4294
Owls - 0161 425 6300
101 or police live chat
Victim support - 24 hour help line 0808 168 9111
National domestic abuse helpline - 0808 200 0247
See more support helplines on our website. We are also reviewing our website so please let us know if further information of support is available.
Funded Childcare Support
Details from Stockport Council
Please find the following details around funded childcare support:
15 hours* funded childcare for ALL parents of 3 and 4-year-olds irrespective of income levels, benefit status, or family circumstances. It can be used at various childcare providers. For help finding local childcare, visit the Stockport Information and Childcare Directory.
15 and 30 hours* funded childcare for ELIGIBLE WORKING parents of children aged 9 months to school reception age subject to income eligibility criteria. For more information, or to apply, visit the Childcare Choices website.
(15 hours for term starting after 1 April 2025. Increasing to 30 hours from September 2025)
15 hours* funded childcare for ELIGIBLE NON-WORKING parents of children aged 2 years, subject to benefit status eligibility criteria. More at Childcare for 2-year-olds.
Wraparound childcare, available before and after school, to help parents work outside school hours. By September 2026, this service will be available from 8am to 6pm during term time in all primary schools. Depending on circumstances, funded support may be available. Ask your school, or visit Wraparound childcare.
*Hours per week, 38 weeks per year.
31 March deadlines
- For children of eligible working parents who are 9 months by 31 March 2025, apply ASAP for funded childcare for the term starting after 1 April, and no later than 31 March.
- If you want a place at a school nursery from September for your child (must turn 3 by 31 August), apply for a maintained nursery place by 31 March.
For help with the application process
Call in a One Stockport Family Hub or visit: Find childcare and help with childcare costs. Family Hubs, open to all families across Stockport, are located at:
Westmorland Drive, Brinnington, SK5 8HH
Garners Lane, Adswood, SK3 8QW
Abingdon Road, Reddish, SK5 7EU
Trained staff are also available at local libraries, Life Leisure Hubs, and Stockport Homes. One Stockport Family Hubs support is accessible online 24/7.
Support to Live Independently
Details from Stockport Council
Visit the online virtual house, a showcase of innovative gadgets designed to help you or your loved ones stay independent and live well for longer. From practical tools to cutting-edge smart tech, everything is designed to make life easier.
Take an online tour and see how small changes can make a big difference.
Mastercall Join the Good Employment Charter
Details from Mastercall Healthcare
Mastercall Healthcare, an award-winning social enterprise providing innovative patient-focused NHS services across Greater Manchester, is proud to announce its membership in the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter. This commitment underscores Mastercall Healthcare’s dedication to exemplary employment practices and the wellbeing of its workforce.
The Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter is a voluntary membership and assessment scheme designed to elevate employment standards across the region. It focuses on seven key characteristics of good employment: secure work, flexible work, fair pay, employee engagement and voice, excellent recruitment practices, effective people management, and health and wellbeing.
See the full press announcement attached and well done to the team!
International Women's Day in Stockport
Details from Stockport Council
Saturday 8 March is International Women’s Day (IWD) and Stockport Council is encouraging people across the borough to come together and challenge gender inequality.
The theme of this year’s IWD is ’accelerate action’ towards gender equality. With the latest GM4Women2028 Pankhurst-Fawcett scorecard data, revealed at an event at Edgeley Park last month, telling us that inequality is still the reality for many women across Greater Manchester, it’s a powerful topic for the community to tackle together.
There are events taking place across Stockport where people can come together and make a difference, as well as celebrate the social, political and cultural achievements in the borough.
Covid-19 Day of Reflection: Five Years On
Details from One Stockport
Sunday 9 March is the Day of Reflection across the UK for the COVID-19 pandemic. It's an opportunity to come together to remember those who lost their lives since the pandemic began and to honour the tireless work and acts of kindness shown during this unprecedented time.
2025 marks five years since the pandemic began and we continue to honour and remember those affected. People and communities are invited to come together on the COVID-19 Day of Reflection, to mark the day in ways that feel meaningful to them.
See the full list of community spaces
Pure Innovations Start the Week Social
Neurodiversity Celebration Week Event
Details from Disability Stockport
Disability Stockport are hosting an event for local neurodivergent people, their families and supporters as part of Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2025!
Meet with local neurodivergent-friendly organisations and services and try a range of wellbeing and creative activities, including yoga, Reiki, Zumba and more. The wellbeing activity schedule will be shared soon. A free buffet lunch will also be provided from 12noon
Thursday 20 March, 10am – 4pm
Disability Stockport, 23 High Street, SK1 1EG
If you have any questions:
david.humphrey@disabilitystockport.org.uk or natashamalik@disabilitystockport.org.uk
Cancer Awareness Screening Event
Details from Beech Medical Centre
On 11 March, Beech House Medical Centre's cancer care coordinators will be hosting a drop in Hazel Grove. Learn more about the importance of bowel, breast and cervical screening and the signs and symptoms over a brew.
11 March, 11am - 2pm
Torkington Community Centre, Hazel Grove.
Further Events & Community Activities across the Borough
Exciting Opportunity: Lived Experience Co-chair of Stockport’s Autism Partnership Board
Are you passionate about making Stockport a better place to work and live for our autistic community? Stockport’s Autism Partnership Board is seeking a Co-Chair with lived experience to help shape a brighter future for autistic people in our borough.
Stockport’s Autism Partnership Board is made up of a group of people who work together to help make the lives of autistic adults, children, young people, and their families better. This includes individuals with lived experience
As Co-Chair you will work alongside the current chair to:
- Contribute to developing and delivering plans to support the Autism Strategy
- Ensure local autistic voices and their families are heard, across all ages
This is a paid role (through your choice of bank transfer or voucher payments) under Stockport Council’s Working Together Policy. £15 per hour.
Apply by: 31 March
Exciting Opportunity: Co-Chair of the Age Friendly Partnership!
Are you passionate about making Stockport a great place to age well?
The Stockport Age Friendly Partnership is seeking a Co-Chair with lived experience to help shape a brighter future for people of all ages in our borough.
Get Involved: NIHR Committee Opening
Details from the National Institute of Health & Care Research (NIHR)
The NIHR (National Institute of Health & Care Research) are looking for members of the public to join their NIHR committees. As a public committee member you'll need to have a broad interest in and knowledge of health, social care and/or actions to improve public health and address health and care inequalities.
You don’t need to have a scientific or academic background to help shape research. They're looking for members of the public from all backgrounds and communities who are able to use their own experiences to improve the research that NIHR wish to fund.
To find out more visit the Public Committee Member page of the NIHR website.
Training Courses Coming Up
There are a variety of training courses including those from from Skills For Life (SFL) and others. Please see the attachments below:
Answer Cancer
For Men Who Talk
Greater Manchester Aging Hub
Age Friendly Greater Manchester - January 2025
Kings Trust Newsletter
Upcoming courses from The King's Trust
ND Matters
North West Ambulance Service
Your Call - Issue 23 (February 2025) by NWAmbulance - Issuu
Starting Point
Stockport Council
Stockport Libraries Newsletter
Information and Advice
For up to date health and social care information, signposting and guidance, call Healthwatch Stockport on
0161 974 0753 10am - 2pm
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.
