Healthwatch Round Up - 3 April 2025
Welcome to this week's Healthwatch Stockport Information Round-up!
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Over the last week, preparations for our 'Putting the Spring into Stockport' wellbeing fun day have ramped up and we're now ready to welcome you next week - are you coming along? See more details further down this Round Up.
As April marks the start of Autism Awareness Month, this week, we've also proudly attended Stockport Council's Autism Awareness Stall Event at Ladybridge Connect Ivy Café.
Healthwatch Articles & Advice You May Have Missed
Please see the latest news, advice and support articles from us and Healthwatch England.
Waiting for social care reform
Read the article
Our response to the latest British Social Attitudes Survey results
From addiction to recovery — why we need person-centred care
Check out our website for more news, advice and informative articles.
Reminder: A Strain on Sight: Healthwatch Share Findings
Details from Healthwatch England
With a new survey revealing people’s health deteriorating amid long waits for specialist eye care, Healthwatch England has called for greater use of high street optician services, including optometrists working in optician services, to help cut waiting times.
Eye care is the busiest outpatient speciality in the NHS in England, and with an ageing population, demand is set to grow further.
According to NHS statistics, of the nearly 59,000 people currently waiting for specialist eye care as of December 2024, only two thirds (66.8%) have been waiting less than the 18-week target set by Government, compared to a target of 92%.
Click the link to read the full report, which includes Healthwatch England findings and recommendations.
Don't Miss it: Healthwatch to 'Put the Spring into Stockport'
Less than three weeks to go! 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 8 April and everyone is welcome. It’s a drop-in event but let us know you're planning on stopping by (this helps with catering and numbers for activities).
Activities include a the Dementia Disco taster, Daisy First Aid demos for babies and children, Chair Yoga with Stockport County, health checks, games and more.
Please share our event with your families, friends and networks. We'll be sharing more details on our socials too so give us a follow!
Have Your Say: Help Shape the National Cancer Plan
Details from Prostate Cancer UK
The Government is setting out a programme of reforms to the health service and as part of this, it’s developing a national cancer plan for England.
Ministers want to find out how they can improve outcomes for cancer patients, speed up diagnosis and treatment, and make the best use of new technology to help save lives. Whether it’s supporting people living with cancer or tackling inequalities in our health system, you can have your say on what matters most to you and help shape the Government’s plans.
What can I do to help shape the national cancer plan? The Government are collecting information and ideas to help develop the national cancer plan. To share your views and suggestions, you can complete a survey on the Government’s website.
The survey closes on Tuesday 29 April.
You’ll be asked to give your opinion about a range of cancer issues and have the chance to share your personal experiences too.
When you’re completing the survey, you might like to consider: What changes you’d like to see, are there any personal experiences that have informed your view? and in what ways might these changes improve cancer care for people in the future?
Reviews: Hip and Knee Replacements
Details from Healthwatch in Greater Manchester
NHS Greater Manchester is reviewing its commissioning statements on hip and knee replacements to combine them into one comprehensive statement. This ensures patients receive care based on the best available evidence.
Key points:
- Hip and knee replacements are major operations for worn joints that significantly impact daily life.
- Surgery is for patients with profound symptoms not manageable with other treatments.
- Decisions should involve shared decision-making between patients and surgeons.
- No exclusions based on age, sex, smoking history, weight, or comorbidities.
The review draws from trusted guidelines, including NICE and the Royal College of Surgeons.
Bowel Cancer Awareness: Know the Symptoms
Details from NHS North West
www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer/
Here at Healthwatch Stockport, we'll be releasing our screening fact sheet very soon so watch this space!
Stress Awareness: Making Small Changes
Details from NHS Greater Manchester
Calling all Expectant Parents
NHS Greater Manchester have built a new section on their website that acts as your ‘one stop shop’ for all things pregnancy and maternity information. There’s information to guide you through every step of your journey, from pregnancy, giving birth and after your baby arrives.
Get To Know Where To Go Spring 2025!
Details from Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership - GMICB
With the bank holidays only weeks away, NHS Greater Manchester is ensuring that everyone knows where to go for the care they need and sharing a few important tips:
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Do you take regular medicines on a repeat prescription? Check how much you have at home before the long weekend. If you need to order more, put your request in asap to avoid any complications or delays.
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Did you know your pharmacist can give you expert advice on treating minor illnesses or injuries? So, if you find yourself with a sore throat or your little one is teething, your local pharmacy can see you without an appointment and recommend over-the-counter medicines. Remember to check their bank holiday opening times.
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Not sure which NHS service you need? When you use the right NHS service, you get the right treatment sooner. If you’re not sure where to go, visit 111.nhs.uk (available 24/7, all year).
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Need urgent care? Whether you have a pain in your gums, have a sudden change in your vision or need support for a mental health crisis, there are services there to help. Find the right urgent and emergency services for your needs.
Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea Screening to Change in Stockport
Details from NHS Greater Manchester
The provider for free chlamydia and gonorrhoea STI (sexually transmitted infections) screening for 16-24 year olds in Stockport changed on 1 April. This service was previously provided by Brook but will now be delivered by Locala.
Young women will still be able to go online and request a free STI test kit which will be sent out by post. Tests can be ordered through Free Home STI (STD) Test | Sexual Health Kit & Contraception | SH:24.
Any queries please contact alison.leigh@stockport.gov.uk, Stockport Public Health Team.
Services: Offering Parenting Support
Details from Stockport Council
One Stockport Family Hubs have pulled together a range of resources, services and organisations that can help parents and carers to understand their child and strengthen their relationship with them on the Parenting Support web page. Support includes:
- Stockport Empowering Parents, Empowering Communities (EPEC) - offer a mixture of workshops and courses, virtual and face to face, helping parents to learn practical communication skills essential for navigating everyday challenges and nurturing confident, happy and cooperative children.
- Essential Parent - a digital library of information, videos and resources to support parents of babies and children through to teenagers. Professionals such as midwives, health visitors and school nurses use Essential Parent to send out key information to parents and most information is available in other languages
- In our place - offer a range of online courses for parents and carers to complete in their own time, as well as courses for teenagers to help understand their own development. Some courses that have been translated into other languages.
One Stockport Family Hubs are a 'one-stop-shop' for support with children and young people from pre-birth up to age 19, or 25 for young adults with SEND. One Stockport Family Hubs support is accessible online 24/7 or call in at your local One Stockport Family Hub in your community. 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 at local libraries, Life Leisure Hubs, and Stockport Homes can also help you access support.
NHS Bookings - Spring Covid Vaccinations
Details from Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership - GMICB
The NHS national booking system opens today for up to 7.5 million eligible people to book their spring Covid-19 vaccination.
Appointments run from 1 April until 17 June for the following eligible groups:
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adults aged 75 and over
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residents in care homes for older adults
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people aged 6 months and over, with a weakened immune system
Check your eligibility on the NHS website.
Eligible people will be contacted by the NHS via text, email, NHS App messages or letters, but you don't need to wait for an invite to book - you can visit the NHS website, use the NHS App or call 119 to book. Housebound people will get their vaccination in a visit from their GP surgery.
Walk-in appointments are also available every day, with a full list of local locations available on the NHS finder.
Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on last year's spring Covid-19 vaccination programme showed that those who received a vaccine were more than 40% less likely to be admitted to hospital with Covid-19 for up to two months after vaccination, compared to those who did not receive one.
Online Safety: Protecting Children and Young People
Details from Starting Point
As part of their ongoing efforts to promote online safety, Starting Point have followed the widespread talk about Netflix's Adolescence with interest. Some of our team have been glued too!
If you haven't watched it, the four part drama focuses on the experiences and challenges that young people face today in a world online, including key issues like social media pressure, cyberbullying, and online identity. Although a TV drama, it has driven more conversations about staying safe and being able to critically consider what we're all reading online.
Anyone who has conversations with young people daily can help them to navigate some of these themes. Starting Point have collated some online resource links for you to find out more:
Internet Matters - Conversation starters to understand your child’s online life
NSPCC - Preventing online harm and abuse
Samaritans - internet safety, suicide and self-harm free training
Open University Introduction to cyber security: stay safe online
Digital Matters - free digital literacy lessons
Read more in their online bulletin, attached to this Round up (see Newsletters section).
Have Your Say: Crisis Hubs & Cafes and Listening Lounges
Details from Pure Innovations
Gaddam are a charity offering advocacy, carer support and therapy services to Manchester. For nearly 200 years, they’ve been a voice for people struggling to have theirs heard, a shoulder to cry on for those shouldering a burden and a helping hand for anyone helping others to cope.
They're running a survey and would value your feedback. This can be your personal view or be on behalf of someone you live with or support
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.”
Reminder - Have Your Say: Neurodiversity
Details from Stockport Council
As part of Stockport’s all-age autism strategy, Stockport Council would like to engage with mums of neurodivergent children and young people. They're keen to understand more about their pregnancy journeys and the key themes they'd like us to include in this upcoming training for maternity healthcare staff. Please take a few minutes to complete a short questionnaire.
Stockport Businesses Urged to Become Fostering Friendly
Details from Stockport Council
Stockport Council is calling on local businesses to become fostering friendly and help support their employees who are foster carers. By adopting fostering friendly policies, they'll support and encourage more employees to foster and help provide the best possible care for a child or young person.
Employers will receive support from The Fostering Network, the UK’s leading fostering charity.
As part of GMCA, Stockport Council is a fostering friendly employer, together with the 10 other local authorities, NHS Greater Manchester and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), making Greater Manchester the UK's first fostering friendly city-region.
For more information, visit Foster for Greater Manchester’s website.
Stockport Council urgently needs more foster carers - right here in Stockport. By fostering, you’re not just giving a child a loving home; you’re giving them hope, stability, and a brighter future.
Interested in becoming a foster carer? Visit:
0300 303 0321.
Service Overview: 42nd Street Online Chat Support
Details from Pennine NHS Foundation Trust
42nd Street is an innovative Greater Manchester young people’s mental health charity. Their mission is to support people age 13-25 by offering a choice of effective, young person-centred and rights based approaches.
They offer online support in the wider Greater Manchester area where young people can access support online in a text-box. There are two forms of online support to choose from. These are:
Weekly message: involves sending messages to a worker during the week, then receiving a message back from them at agreed time each week. Young person can read and reply to their response at any time throughout the following week.
Live text chat: chatting live with a worker at agreed time during the week. These regular sessions last for about 1 hour.
Those two forms can also be combined. Online support typically lasts between 6-12 weeks.
For Stockport, available support is online only.
42nd Street | Webchat online support |
TheTeam@42ndstreet.org.uk for any direct enquiries.
Service Overview: Stockroom to Open its Doors!
Details from Stockport Council
Stockroom will officially HATCH this Spring with an exciting Easter event across various venues including the Merseyway and Hatworks! Taking place on 19 April from 10am - 4pm, you can enjoy a day of fun-filled activities with the family - ahead of the official opening.
Stockroom is a brand-new space in the town centre which will officially open in May, where you will find the town’s library, a children’s creative learning space, a cafe bar and Stockport’s historical archives. Stockroom is designed for getting together, getting involved or just popping by for a brew and has been developed with and for local people and the creative community.
Funding: The SKylight Community Fund is Open
Details from Stockport Homes
Apply for up to £2,000 for your community group to support Stockport Homes tenants and their neighbourhoods. The fund is available for grassroots* groups focussing on one of five aims:
- Older people
- Young people
- Community Spirit
- Health & wellbeing
- Digital Inclusion
Applications close on Thursday 17 April at midnight. Early applications are encouraged. They reserve the right to close applications earlier should the funding limit be reached.
To apply, visit: www.sk-y-light.org/funding/community-fund/
*Priority given to unincorporated associations, please view our eligibility criteria for more information.
Enquiries: community.fund@stockporthomes.org
Autism Social Group at Disability Stockport
Details from Disability Stockport
Disability Stockport runs a a relaxed and friendly monthly drop-in social group for autistic adults. There is often a guest speaker, or a film, plus games and refreshments (hot and cold drinks and biscuits). There is also a quiet/dark sensory room.
Runs on the first Monday of each month (except bank holidays) at 4pm – 6pm
Disability Stockport, 23 High Street, Stockport, SK1 1EG
Attendees need to be independent/accompanied by their support worker throughout their stay.
If you'd like more information, contact David:
0161 480 7248
David.humphrey@disabilitystockport.org
Groups for Carers
S.C.A.A.S:
Stockport Carers of Adults on the Autistic Spectrum (S.C.A.A.S) holds these self help groups so that you can get together, share your experiences, find out about information and services to help you and the person you care for.
You may be a family member, a partner or a friend so it’s also about giving you the chance to someone who first hand understands. You too will hear from key speakers, all of whom are there to further support you whilst sharing what services they offer across Stockport.
Speaker Meeting:
29 April, 11am - 1pm
Stockport Advocacy, 48 Middle Hillgate, SK1 3DL
Invited Speaker from Estate planning Seminars to talk about Wills and Estate Planning.
Contact: Rayonette Jude at Scaascarersgroup@gmail.com
Further Events & Community Activities across the Borough
Job Opportunity: Matron for Dementia Care
Details from Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Integrated Safeguarding Team support the provision of high quality, safe and effective patient care and continuous improvement of the patient experience by providing effective, professional nurse leadership across the Trust as the Matron for Dementia Care.
The successful applicant will promote evidence-based dementia care across the organisation thereby improving patient, carer, and staff experience.
See the full job specification on the NHS jobs website, which includes the detailed role description, reward, benefits and more.
The closing date is 09 April 2025.
For questions, contact: Head of Safeguarding, Mags Deakin:
Margaret.Deakin@stockport.nhs.uk
0161 419 5124
Volunteering: Music in Mind
Details from Stockport & District Mind
Stockport & District Mind is working in partnership with Manchester Camerata to run Music in Mind sessions to support people living with Dementia and their carers to communicate through the power of music.
They have a brand new Music Café opening in Heaton Moor in May and are looking for volunteers to support with this.
If you are available for three hours a week on a Tuesday and want to find out more about the role, they're hosting an information and recruitment event on Tuesday 8 April.
For more information, visit:
www.togmind.org/volunteering or contact their Volunteer Manager:
07770263286
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. The closing date has been extended to 6April.
Webinars: LGBTQ+ Spend Well, Live Well
Details from Forward CIC
Money is personal, but it shouldn't be isolating. Forward CIC are teaming up with True Self Wealth Ltd to bring you four webinars, tackling key financial issues in the LGBTQ+ community - from divorce and partnerships to healthcare and neurodivergent-friendly spending.
23 & 24 April, 8 & 15 May
Online – Join from anywhere!
Sign up now:
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:
Diabetes UK
Diabetes UK Team North Health System Update
For Men Who Talk
Kings Trust Newsletter
Upcoming courses from The King's Trust
ND Matters
NHS England
Starting Point
Stockport Council
Stockport Libraries Newsletter
Libraries Newsletter March 2025
Stockport Race & Equality News
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.
