Your Local Consumer Champion for Health and Social Care Services

Issue 8 - August 2014

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

In this issue:

Breaking News - East Sussex CCGs agree outcome of Better Beginnings consultation on maternity and paediatric services
What Have You Been Contacting Us About?
Hospital Discharge Survey
Practice Participation Group Development Day's
CQC Inspection East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
Involving Young People
Herstmonceux Drop In
Healthwatch East Sussex Volunteers Meeting
Information and Signposting Library Role
Training Dates for New Volunteers
Assist UK/ESDA Assistive Technology Pathfinder
Healthwatch England Press Release
Care Act 2014
Consultations
Health Course - Online Learning
Sources of Information Around Mental Health
Online Volunteer Resource
Give Us Your Feedback

Breaking News

East Sussex CCGs agree outcome of Better Beginnings consultation on maternity and paediatric services

The three East Sussex Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) met on the 25th June 2014 to make a decision on the outcome of the Better Beginnings consultation on local NHS maternity and paediatric and emergency gynaecology services.

The decision that has been made can be found at the Better Beginnings website:

www.betterbeginnings-nhs.net/ccgs-agree-outcome-of-better-beginnings-consultation/

Now that this decision has been made, Healthwatch East Sussex will be providing further information about next steps as we are made aware of them.

What Have You Been Contacting Us About?

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

Problems getting GP appointments under the “Doctor First” phone back triage system currently under trial in Hastings & Rother area. This may be widened out across the whole the county. We would like to hear of any feedback, positive or negative.

Paying for residential care and how contributions are assessed by East Sussex County Council. How care costs are charged are likely to change under the new Care Act 2014. More about how this far reaching legislation will impact on care will be shared as it becomes known.

Long waits for mental health assessment or treatments

Cancellations of dermatology appointments

Access to dental treatment and understanding NHS charges

Questions about the Mental Healthline and who can access it

Understanding your medication

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

Hospital Discharge

Hospital Discharge in the spotlight

This month our volunteers visited the Eastbourne District General Hospital, the Conquest Hospital and also Pembury Hospital to talk to patients about being discharged from hospital.

The project is in conjunction with our colleagues at Healthwatch Kent and we spoke to patients that were being discharged from hospital that day.

Our findings will be published locally but will also be part of a nationwide Special Inquiry into Hospital Discharge which is being lead by our umbrella organisation, Healthwatch England.

If you have feedback on any of the above or about any health or social care services you use – particularly “ Good News” please share it with us.

There are lots of ways you can give your feedback:

Enquiry Line: 0333 101 4007 Monday – Friday 10.00 – 16.00 hours

Email: enquiries@healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk

Text Phone: 07826 021 114

Website: http://www.healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk

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

Visit our Information Desks:

Bexhill Library every Monday 10 – 12.00

We will publish in our next Edition “What happens?” as a result of sharing your feedback!

Practice Participation Group Development Day

If you are involved with your GP Practice Participation Group (PPG), then you are invited to come along to one of the events being held across East Sussex.

These are “PPG Development Days” being organised by local voluntary action groups HVA and 3VA, together with Healthwatch East Sussex and the Clinical Commissioning Groups.

There will be opportunities to hear from speakers and to share your own information and views. In the afternoon, there are some learning sessions which will offer you some new learning and information to take back to your practice. We hope you will be able to join us, the details are:

Saturday 13^th September Hastings and Rother CCG University of Hastings, Priory square

Saturday 11^th October Eastbourne Hailsham and Seaford CCG at Devonsire Park Lawn Tennis Club, College Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4JJ

Saturday 25^th October High Weald, Lewes, Havens CCG event Civic Centre in Uckfield

Doors open at 9.30 am for coffee and registration, the events will start at 10am and finish at 3pm. A light lunch is also included.

Further information can be found by visiting http://www.healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk/practice-participation-development-days/#.U_8mJcVdVHU

CQC Inspection East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Healthwatch East Sussex will be in discussion with CQC and East Sussex Healthcare Trust regarding the forthcoming inspection. Further information on this can be found here http://www.esht.nhs.uk/news/2014/2014-05-23-trust-welcomes-cqc-inspection/

Further details will be available nearer the date about how you can give your feedback, from our website and via regular e bulletins. To subscribe to our e bulletin please visit our website www.healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk

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

Herstmonceux Drop in Centre

If you're in the Herstmonceux area on Monday 1st September, call in and talk to a member of the Healthwatch East Sussex team.

We will be at the Village Information Centre on the High Street from 10.00 – 12.00 - pop by and say “hello”.

Healthwatch is particularly interested to hear people’s experiences of Patient Transport and how people in rural areas get to hospital appointments if they don’t have a car.

You can also just call in and find out information about any specific health service or care concern, or, you can call by and arrange a time to talk in confidence about any concerns/complaints you may have about you, or a member of your family’s care.

For further information, please contact Debby Matthews on 01323 400521, or email Debby.Matthews@healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk

Healthwatch East Sussex Volunteers Meeting

Tuesday 23rd September

The next volunteers meeting will be held on Tuesday 23rd September, 10am-1pm at Herstmonceux Village Hall.

If you are interested in becoming a Healthwatch East Sussex volunteer please feel free to come along.

For further information or to confirm your place please contact Charlie Rustem on 01424 230551 or email Charlie.Rustem@healthwacheastsussex.co.uk

Volunteer Recruitment

Opportunities Avaliable

Library Information Service approx. 2 – 4 hours per week, various locations available
Authorised Representative to undertake enter and view activity – next training session end of September 2014
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

Find out about health and social care services at your local library

If you want to find out about local health and social care services, come and visit Healthwatch East Sussex at a weekly drop-in session in Bexhill Library.

Visitors to the library will be able to meet a trained Healthwatch volunteer who can give simple, non-clinical advice, information and signposting and can provide access to your local Healthwatch team, to share any views or concerns you may have about local health and social care services.

Your Healthwatch volunteer, will be at Bexhill Library, on Western Road, every Monday morning from 10am to 12 noon.

For more information, or to find out more about becoming a volunteer, please contact Debby Matthews on, 01323 400521
or email Debby.Matthews@healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk

(Pictured, Healthwatch Champion, Valerie Greenwood at Bexhill Library)

Training Dates for Volunteers

Enter and View Training

If you are interested in becoming an Authorised Representative to visit local health and care services as part of enter and view activity, the next training session is on the 18th September, at Uckfield Civic Centre.

The session is free and lasts a full day (lunch included) which covers understanding the role of an Authorised Representative.

Additional training is required together with a satisfactory DBS clearance.

Please contact Elizabeth Mackie on 01323 400520 for more details or email Elizabeth.Mackie@healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk

More information can also be found on our website http://www.healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk/volunteer/#.U_2XKMVdVHU

Assist UK/ESDA Assistive Technology Pathfinder

This training has been developed by East Sussex Disability Association (ESDA) and is accredited through Assist UK.

The programme aims to enable support staff and volunteers to support service users to help themselves to seek assistive technology (AT) solutions.

The programme focuses on raising learners’ awareness of products and minor adaptations which support independence in everyday living, and how to empower disabled and older people to access services such as Assist UK centres, high street outlets and the internet with sufficient information for them to make informed decisions.

This programme is particularly suited to people working in the voluntary and statutory sector who have a lot of contact with older and disabled people but who do not assess for or issue disability products.

This course is free, but participants will be expected to complete an assignment and a personal workbook in order to be accredited.

Dates of the course: Thursday 18^th September 2014 and Tuesday 6^th October 2014

NOTE: This is a two day course

Interested? For more information and to book a place please contact the Daily Living Centre by email: dlc@esda.org.uk or by telephone: 01323 514515

Healthwatch England Press Release

Trouble finding an NHS dentist? You're not alone...

New research by Healthwatch England finds that in some areas just 1 in 5 surgeries accepting new NHS patients
Reports of patients being deregistered / struck off books without notice
Emerging concerns of dentists providing poorer quality services on the NHS and insisting on private treatments

If you have feedback on any of the above or about any health or social care services you use – particularly “ Good News” please share it with us.

There are lots of ways you can give your feedback:

Enquiry Line: 0333 101 4007 Monday – Friday 10.00 – 16.00 hours

Email: enquiries@healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk

Text Phone: 07826 021 114

Website: http://www.healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk

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

Visit our Information Desks:

Bexhill Library every Monday 10 – 12.00

We will publish in our next Edition “What happens?” as a result of sharing your feedback!

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; 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

Depresssion: Asking the Right Questions (ARQ Project)

This is a national public survey on depression, which is seeking the views of anyone affected by depression, in order to inform future research.

Depression ARQ is a partnership of 27 national organisations, including charities, NHS Trusts and Royal Colleges. They want to know what questions people have about depression. They are collecting questions from those directly affected, their friends, family and carers, and they also are seeking input from health and social care professionals who work with people with depression.

Please visit www.depressionarq.org to take part, and also share this with your friends and colleagues via Twitter or Facebook. You can follow the progress of the survey on Twitter at @depressionarq.

Guide for patients on complaints and feedback in the NHS

The Department of Health has been developing a short, simple guide on making complaints and giving feedback about NHS care, to sit alongside the NHS Constitution and help patients and the public understand how they can raise concerns including if NHS care or services fall short of the standards in the NHS Constitution.

The Department is inviting comments on a draft of this guide to ensure that it is as clear and helpful as possible for patients.

You can make comments online at http://consultations.dh.gov.uk/nhs-constitution-team/bb33575d until Monday 8 September 2014

The document can be viewed here http://www.healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Draft-Guide-for-patients-on-complaints-and-feedback-in-the-NHS.pdf

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 come and see us 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

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