Your Local Consumer Champion for Health and Social Care Services

Issue 9 - October 2014

Welcome to our Healthwatch East Sussex e-newsletter, providing you with information straight to your inbox

In this issue:

  • What Have You Been Contacting Us About?
  • Healthwatch England's New Video - Service Redesign
  • Engaging with Patient Participation Groups (PPGs)
  • Engaging with Patients and Carers
  • Forthcoming Activities
  • CQC Inspection Kent Community Health NHS Trust
  • Involving Young People
  • Volunteering Opportunities
  • Information and Signposting Library Role
  • Clients and Carers Safeguarding Advisory Network
  • Activities, groups and courses for the over 55s in the Wealden area – share your views
  • Stoptober
  • Care Act 2014
  • Consultations
  • Health Course - Online Learning
  • Sources of Information Around Mental Health
  • Online Volunteer Resource
  • Events
  • Give Us Your Feedback

What Have You Been Contacting Us About?

Since our last newsletter you have been contacting us about the following:

  • Difficulties getting transport home from hospital. We have heard of long waits for patient transport home after outpatient appointments are over.
  • Getting a GP appointment, we are especially interested to hear if people have been offered a call back from the doctor instead of an appointment to see the doctor.
  • Also we are interested in people’s experiences making a complaint about a GP or wishing to change GPs.
  • Access to NHS Dental care
  • How to get a package of appropriate help in the home for someone coming out of hospital
  • Problems with getting a wheelchair adequate for needs
  • Long waiting times, including longer than the 18 weeks set out in the NHS constitution as a maximum wait. 

If you have anything you would like to share with us, whether it is mentioned above or not, please do get in touch.  

How to get in touch

We have a number of ways you can contact us and have your say:

Freepost

Freepost RTJT-HZEA-YGKU
Healthwatch East Sussex
85b Ashford Road
Eastbourne
East Sussex
BN21 3TE

Telephone

0333 101 4007

Text

07826 021 114

Visit our website

www.healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk
and fill out our "Speak Out" form

Healthwatch England's New Video

Service redesign

The film explains what redesign of health and care services is, why it is happening and how your voice can help influence what happens.

Engaging with Patient Participation Groups (PPGs)

Healthwatch, in partnership with local voluntary action groups and the three Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) co-hosted the first of three Development days in Hastings on Saturday 12th September.

The day brought together active PPG members from across Hastings and Rother to share best practice, hear from local speakers about the current health landscape and to identify ways of encouraging more patients to become involved.

Forthcoming PPG Events

There are two more events planned for October :

Saturday 11th October, 9.30am - 3.00pm - Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, College Road, Eastbourne

Saturday 25th October, 9.30am - 3.00pm - Civic Centre, Uckfield.

To find out more please contact your GP Practice.

More information can be found on our website www.healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk

Engaging with Patients and Carers

Hospital Discharge

We are completing the final stage of our review into Hospital Discharge. Volunteers have been visiting the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath to talk to patients and carers about their experiences leaving hospital, particularly if they require on-going support when they arrive home in East Sussex.

Once the report of our findings has been shared with those who provide the service and who took part, the full report will be available on our website.

Healthwatch East Sussex would like to acknowledge and thank our fellow Healthwatch colleagues in West Sussex, Brighton and Hove and in Kent for their support in enabling these visits to go ahead. We would also like to thank the Staff at the Royal Sussex County, Princess Royal and Tunbridge Wells Hospital, Pembury for welcoming our visitors.

Forthcoming Acitivities

Following on from our quarterly Priorities Review in September, work is due to commence looking at the pathway for people with mental health diagnosis in crisis (including young people).

This activity will begin with Healthwatch staff and volunteers, who will be undertaking this work, visiting local acute services provided by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust as part of a series of fact finding visits. 

For the next phase we would like to hear from people who have experienced this pathway, their carers or family members or any support organisations in the community. This will help us to understand what works well and what needs improving.

If you have any experiences you want to share please contact in confidence:

Elizabeth Mackie on 01323 400520 or Debby Matthews on 01323 400521

Alternatively, you can email us at enquiries@healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk

CQC Inspection Kent Community Health NHS Trust

NHS Trust rated good by Chief Inspector of hospitals

England’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals has rated the services run by Kent Community Health NHS Trust as Good overall following inspection by the Care Quality Commission.

The full report can be downloaded by visiting http://www.cqc.org.uk/provider/RYY

Involving Young People in Healthwatch

If you are connected with any organisations or network supporting the involvement of young people in health related issues (including mental health), please get in touch.


We are also keen to hear from young people who are interested in volunteering with Healthwatch or finding out more about the Young Inspector programme, recently transferred across to East Sussex Community Voice from the local authority.

Contact Helen Connor for further information:

Email: Helen.Connor@escv.org.uk
Tel: 01424 230550
Mob: 07909 253671

Volunteer Opportunities

Opportunities Avaliable

  • Library Information Service approx. 2 – 4 hours per week, various locations available
  • Authorised Representative to undertake enter and view activity.
  • Healthwatch Champions – are you connected with any local group and willing to share information and updates about Healthwatch East Sussex?
  • Mystery Shoppers – if you are aged 16 – 20 and would be interested in getting involved please get in touch
  • For more information, please contact Elizabeth on 01323 400520 or email Elizabeth.Mackie@healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk

Want to be a patient assessor

The assessments give patients and the public a voice that can be heard in any discussion about local standards of care, in the drive to give people more influence over the way their local health and care services are run.


Assessment teams are a collaboration between staff and patient assessors, therefore patients must make up at least 50 per cent of the assessment team. Anyone who uses the service can be a patient assessor, including current patients, their family and visitors, carers, patient advocates or patient council members. The only restriction is that current staff are not able to assess the hospital they work at as a patient assessor.

If you are interested in becoming a patient assessor, or for more information please contact: Elizabeth.Mackie@healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk or call 01323 400520

or alternatively you can complete an application form here http://www.healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Final_Enter-and-View-Role-Description-and-Application-Form.docx


Full training will be provided, and more information about PLACE Assessments can be found by visiting:
www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/qual-clin-lead/place/ 

Information and Signposting Library Role

Volunteer opportunities avaliable

Since March 2014, we have been providing an Information and Signposting service at a number of libraries, including Bexhill, Langney and Heathfield.

Due to its success, we are now looking for volunteers to help run these sessions at the following libraries:

  • Battle
  • Bexhill
  • Crowborough
  • Forest Row
  • Hailsham
  • Lewes
  • Mayfield
  • Northiam
  • Ore
  • Peacehaven
  • Ringmer
  • Robertsbridge
  • Rotherfield
  • Rye
  • Seaford
  • Wadhurst

If you are interested in any of the above opportunities, please contact Debby Matthews on 01323 400521 or email Debby.Matthews@healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk

What libraries can you find us at?

You can find our volunteer at the following libraries:

  • Bexhill Library - Every Monday, 10am - 12pm
  • Langney Library - Every Thursday, 10am - 12pm
  • Heathfield Library - First Thursday of the month, 10am - 12pm

We are also planning a drop in at Lewes library on a future Saturday afternoon (to be confirmed)

Clients and Carers Safeguarding Advisory Network

Following a recent Peer review of the East Sussex Safeguarding Adults Boards recommendation was made to approach Healthwatch East Sussex, as the independent consumer champion for Health and Social Care, to Chair the Clients and Carer Sub Group of the Safeguarding Adults Board.

This is with the aim of strengthening the voice of clients and carers in shaping safeguarding practice in East Sussex and to ensure the Board is effective in implementing the changes being introduced in the Care Act 2014 embedding Safeguarding Adults in legislation.

Please follow the link for more information: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/321308/Factsheet_7.pdf These changes will come into effect in April 2015.

Healthwatch East Sussex’s role as the independent champion, highlights how we can work together, with partner organisations who look outside of their own governance structures to strengthen the patient and user voice. 

Activities, groups and courses for the over 55s in the Wealden area – share your views

Local charity, Engage South East, ­­­has been awarded a grant through the East Sussex Commissioning grants prospectus 2014 to find out what activities and groups are currently available for people over 55 years of age, particularly in the TN21 and TN22 post code areas of Wealden.

The purpose of this study is to increase social opportunities and to help combat isolation and loneliness. This is a well-documented problem for some older people, particularly those in rural areas, and the results of the study will help to shape local programmes and development of activities, groups and courses.

It is believed that this is the first time, such a study has happened so it is a great opportunity for people to report what is happening locally and what is missing. Sometimes older people find it hard to join a club or group on their own, or they may have trouble getting there. Engage South East wants to hear what people need to help them to take part.

To take part in the survey, you can either complete it online at www.engagesoutheast.org.uk/contact/share-your-views/

or request a paper copy from Denise Leary on 07462 790210. To find out more, please contact Denise Leary on the same number.

The closing date is 26th November so please hurry to have your say.

Stoptober

224,872 people have already signed up

Stoptober is the 28-day national stop smoking challenge - Stopping smoking for 28 days means you're five times more likely to stop for good and last year, thousands of people successfully quit in the biggest mass participation stop smoking challenge ever.

For more information, and to order your free stop smoking pack, go to https://stoptober.smokefree.nhs.uk

Care Act 2014

The Care Bill becomes The Care Act

The Care Act represents the most significant reform of care and support in more than 60 years https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/care-bill-becomes-care-act-2014

Many people are unsure what this means for them; how will their care and the support they receive now change? how will care needs be assessed in the future?

Healthwatch East Sussex already know many people have lots of questions, please contact us with any questions or comments you have to help steer our discussions with East Sussex County Council Adult Social Care.

Consultations

NHS England - Making health and social care information accessible

NHS England is launching a consultation on the draft 'accessible information standard' and is inviting views from health and social care organisations.

For more information please go to http://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/patients/accessibleinfo-2/

General Osteopathy Council - Changes to way complaints are handled

The General Osteopathy Council are seeking your views on new guidance to assist those involved in deciding whether or not complaints to the GOsC about an osteopath’s conduct should be investigated, or referred to a formal hearing.

GOsC have developed guidance which aims to reach a clear consensus on which matters should be investigated and referred for a hearing, and those cases that should not be the concern of the GOsC. This will assist the GOsC and its committees in their decision-making, allowing a more effective use of time and resources.

The draft Guidance on Threshold Criteria, along with the consultation response form is available at: http://www.osteopathy.org.uk/about/our-work/consultations-events/Draft-guidance-on-threshold-criteria/.

The deadline for responses is 31 December 2014

Consultation Update

Meals in the Community in East Sussex: consultation update from Adult Social Care, ESCC

Since the 16th June, we’ve been consulting on draft proposals for how future meals in the community will be provided in East Sussex. The consultation ended on 16 September, and a final report had been due to go to Cabinet on 14 October.

Although we’re currently analysing the responses, it’s clear that people are concerned about how any new arrangements would work – particularly, how clients would get meals and the positive benefits from contact with delivery staff.

Currently, the contracted provider is commissioned to carry out health and wellbeing checks when delivering meals. If the changes outlined in our proposals were agreed, we would need to be clear on how a health and wellbeing check service could be provided in future. Recommendations on this would need to be put to the Cabinet, together with costs.

The best way we can design a specification for such a service will be to draw information from the reviews of the clients currently getting meals in the community. This will take some time, as there are around 540 clients currently getting the service, so reporting to Cabinet will need to be put back to January 2015.

This approach will help us provide the fullest possible information to Members when it’s considered by the Scrutiny Committee, and when decisions are made by the Cabinet about how future meals in the community should be provided in East Sussex.

Thank you to everyone who has given input to the consultation so far, and we’ll keep you updated as things progress. 

Health Course Online Learning

Healthwatch East Sussex has teamed up with Learning Services

Are you interested in releasing the full potential of the Internet in helping you find out about health services and providing feedback?


Learn My Way provide a free, online, 30 minute course to show you how to:

  • How to look up conditions and symptoms online
  • What you can do to maintain a healthy lifestyle
  • How to find a local GP
  • How to leave feedback on your GP service and hospital
  • How to find local facilities to help you improve your fitness

It's free to sign up for the course, click on the link below and "enter you details" and centre number 4692.

www.learnmyway.com/user/register#step1

If you have any questions or would like to arrange to visit for some support, please contact the Learning Services Team at Eastbourne Library on 01323 463903 or david.hide@eastsussex.gov.uk

New Valuable Sources of Information Around Mental Health

The Mental Health Directory of Community Support, was produced in November and contains information about the full range of community level support and mental health services available in the community; many of which people can self-refer themselves into.


This is available from www.eastsussex.gov.uk website or email Karolina Hutnik Karolina.Hutnik@eastsussex.gov.uk for paper copies.

A new publication called Information Booklet for Mental Health Carers in East Sussex, is packed full of useful information for carers of people with mental health problems. Produced by the Improving Carers Experience (ICE) project.

Contact Alan on 01273 617100 or email alan.icepro@btconnect.com for more information on how to get a copy. 

Online Volunteer Resource

Any volunteer not already signed up for the on line resource section on the website should contact Charlie Rustem for log in details. You can email Charlie.Rustem@healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk or phone 01424 230551

Events

Support in Crisis Conference/Seminar - Mental Health

Friday 10th October, 10am-4pm
The Kings Centre, 27 Edison Road, Hampden Park (opposite Morrisons)

To find out more and to book your place, visit http://www.eventbrite.com/e/world-mental-health-da...

or call Sharnie Henley on 07743923922

Black & Minority Ethnic Health and Social Care Forum

Saturday 11th October, 12:00-2:30pm
Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, Bohemia Road, Hastings, TN34 1ET

Untold Stories aims to increase visibility and celebrate positive contributions of Black and minority ethnic older people in East Sussex.

In doing so it increases individual awareness of services and support available and strengthen personal networks.

To find out more information and to book your place, please contact Liz Plowright on 01273 336567 (ext 36567) or email elizabeth.plowright@eastsussex.gov.uk

Your Feedback

Healthwatch East Sussex proactively talk and listen to people from every part of your community about health and social care services. We then talk to health and social care providers about your experiences of care with the aim of changing these services for the better.

Some of the services we would like to hear your experience on are:

  • Ambulance Services
  • Care Homes
  • Dentists
  • Doctors
  • Home Care
  • Hospitals
  • Mental Health Services
  • Opticians
  • Pharmacies

There are a number of reasons why you should talk us:

  • Service providers have to listen to us, so they will be listening to you
  • Because if we can't help you we will know someone who can
  • We are powerful and well connected and will make sure your voice is heard

We have a number of ways you can contact us and have your say:

Freepost

Freepost RTJT-HZEA-YGKU
Healthwatch East Sussex
85b Ashford Road
Eastbourne
East Sussex
BN21 3TE

Telephone

0333 101 4007

Text

07826 021 114

Visit our website

www.healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk/have-your-say

Facebook Twitter

East Sussex Community Voice

Freepost RTJT-HZEA-YGKU, Healthwatch East Sussex, 85b Ashford Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 3TE