We would like to know if you are getting the eye care you need.
Healthy vision is something many of us take for granted – until there is a problem. An estimated 50% of sight loss is avoidable. That is why people need access to regular eye tests and, if there is a problem, get the help they need.
Tell us about your experiences and help improve eye care services for everyone.
This survey is now closed
Join us for our next free online event on Friday 9 August, 1pm-2pm, with NSPCC’s Building Connections service.
Research shows that 73% of young people between the ages of 16-18 do not feel equipped to deal with loneliness (Vote for Schools survey, 2023). The NSPCC’s newest service Building Connections is looking to change that.
Ellen Watling and Jess France from Building Connections will share how their service is supporting young people to overcome and manage feelings of loneliness.
This presentation will last around an hour including time for attendees to ask questions at the end. It is suitable for public and professionals who want to know more about the support on offer through the NSPCC’s Building Connections service.
This event has now passed.
Sign up to our newsletter to hear about future events or catch up with previous events.
Northumberland County Council would like to hear your views on services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Northumberland.
Families are invited to complete an online survey sharing their experiences about what is working well and what needs to change.
The survey has been developed with the Northumberland Parent Carer Forum and a group of parents and carers who are working with Northumberland County Council and NHS commissioners. The feedback will help to set the county SEND partnership’s vision and priorities over the next three years.
You can complete the survey online, or if you require a paper copy please contact sarah.elliott@northumberland.gov.uk and a copy will be posted to you.
If you would like support to complete the survey over the phone, give us a call on 03332 408 468 (option 3) or text 07413 385275 for a callback.
Please leave your feedback by Friday 20 September 2024.
This survey is now closed
Join us on Friday 12 July at 1pm to hear from Nick Livadas and Kathy Mills who will give us an introduction to Northumberland’s Joint Musculoskeletal and Pain Service (JMAPS).
This online session will give an overview of what JMAPS is, how people can access the service and how it can help people with musculoskeletal conditions or persistent pain. There will be a chance to ask questions after the presentation.
This session is suitable for anyone who wants to know more about the support on offer through JMAPS.
This event has now passed.
Sign up to our newsletter to hear about future events or catch up with previous events.
Join us on Friday 14 June at 1pm to hear from Ben Rutter and Jess Turner of Crohn’s & Colitis UK. They will talk about Crohn’s and Colitis, and the support available for people living or working with these conditions.
They will cover topics including recent campaigns, policy and research and will also share results from the recent Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) UK local reports in the North East.
This session is suitable for people who live or work in Northumberland and are living with or supporting someone with Crohn’s or Colitis. There will be a chance to ask questions after the presentation.
This event has now passed – watch the recording on YouTube.
Sign up to our newsletter to hear about future events.
The Government has launched a consultation on the NHS Constitution, which sets out your rights as an NHS patient. It also includes the commitments the NHS aims to achieve so you get high quality care.
The Government is planning to make several changes to the NHS Constitution. You can tell the Government what you think about the proposals, as well as any other changes you think should be made.
The NHS Constitution outlines the founding values of the NHS and details the rights, commitments, and obligations of patients and staff, as well as their roles in ensuring the NHS works effectively.
The NHS Constitution plays a vital role in helping the NHS set the right culture and focus on what matters most to the public. It also tells you about your rights. For example, if a GP needs to refer you for a physical or mental health condition, in most cases, you have the legal right to choose the hospital or service you’d like to go to.
The Government must update the Constitution via a public consultation every ten years to reflect what people value most when it comes to their health and social care services. The Government is planning to make several changes to the NHS Constitution. For example, they want to introduce a new right for patients and their loved ones to be able to request a second opinion when a hospital patient’s condition deteriorates.
The Government wants to hear your views about their proposals, as well as other changes you think should be made.
The proposals include:
Getting a second opinion: Changes that would empower patients and their families to ask for a second opinion on treatment if their condition or the condition of their loved one deteriorates. The rule would see more power put in the hands of patients.
Carer rights: A new right to involve unpaid carers as early as possible when a patient is discharged.
Patient communication: A commitment to ensuring the NHS communicates information about appointments in a clear and timely way to help patients meet their responsibility to keep or cancel appointments.
Health inequalities: A plan to strengthen the NHS focus on health inequalities by committing services to work with partners to understand the needs of their local communities.
We should all expect high standards of care, whether for emergency care, a dentist appointment, or a check-up with a GP. However, many people don’t know their rights under the Constitution. The consultation is your opportunity to learn more, tell the Government what you think about their proposals, and say if they should make other changes.
Have your say on the NHS Constitution: 10 year review
The consultation is now closed.
Join us on Friday 10 May, 1pm-2pm, to hear from Helena Swarbrook from Sorted (Northumberland’s Substance Misuse Service for young people).
Helena will talk to us about substance misuse, general substance awareness, harm reduction and the first steps in making changes. She will also outline the information, advice and support provided by Sorted across Northumberland for under 18s.
There will be a chance to ask questions after the presentation.
This session is suitable for anyone concerned about their own or a loved one’s drugs misuse or professionals supporting people where drugs may be a concern.
This event has now passed – watch the recording on our YouTube channel.
Sign up to our newsletter to hear about future events.
There are plans to extend water fluoridation in the North East to help tackle preventable tooth decay.
Tooth decay is the most common oral disease affecting children and young people, causing pain and distress, preventable hospital admissions, sleepless nights and missed days from school. Ensuring drinking water contains the recommended level of fluoride is an effective way to help prevent tooth decay.
Some areas of the North East already have tap water which contains fluoride at these recommended levels and this has been very effective at reducing dental decay for the population living in these areas. In Northumberland, around 101,000 people are already supplied with artificially fluoridated water.
In the East and North of the county, fluoridated communities include Alnwick, Alnmouth, Howick, Embleton, High Newton by the Sea and Seahouses. In the West of the county, fluoridated communities include Haltwhistle, Henshaw, Haydon Bridge, Corbridge, Heddon on the Wall and Prudhoe. These fluoridation schemes have been in place since 1968.
The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) would like to hear your views on expanding water fluoridation in the North East, including those areas of Northumberland without fluoridation.
This consultation is now closed.
At our next online lunchtime event on Friday 12 April, 1pm-2pm, you can hear from local Health Trainers Jack and Kirsty.
They will give an outline of what support is on offer to help to improve and maintain health and wellbeing, plus details of 1:1 clinics, healthy lifestyle programmes, Weigh & Go programmes, health checks, Health Walks and more.
They will also share some top tips for keeping well and there will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session.
This session is free to attend and open to anyone who lives or works in Northumberland.
This event has now passed – watch the recording
Sign up to our newsletter to hear about future events.
Pharmacists can now provide treatment for seven common conditions without patients needing to see a GP, as part of a major transformation in the way the NHS delivers care.
Highly trained pharmacists at over 90% of pharmacies can now assess and treat patients for earache, impetigo, infected insect bites, shingles, sinusitis, sore throat and urinary tract infections (UTIs) for women aged 16-64 – without the need for a GP appointment.
No appointment is necessary and private consultations are available. Patients will be signposted to other local services where necessary.
By expanding the services community pharmacies offer, the NHS is aiming to help free up GP appointments and give people more choice in how and where they access care.
Don’t wait for minor health concerns to get worse – think pharmacy first and get seen by your local pharmacy team.
More information about Pharmacy First
If you would like to give feedback about a pharmacy you have used please get in touch.
We are your local health and social care champion. We’re here to make sure your views on NHS and social care services in Northumberland are heard.
