Update on new Berwick Hospital

Update on new Berwick Hospital

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Temporary changes to inpatient care at Berwick Hospital as building work progresses

The building of the new £35 million hospital in Berwick-upon-Tweed is now at a stage where changes to inpatient care are needed to ensure that the new hospital will open on schedule towards the end of 2024.

A new temporary 10-bed inpatient ward will be installed in the maternity car park while the hospital works continue. This is necessary to ensure that patients can remain on the hospital site in Berwick rather than be cared for elsewhere in Northumberland.

Some patients that would usually be admitted to Berwick Infirmary will be cared for in Alnwick depending on their clinical need.

Relocation of the ward will ensure the best completion date so that people from Berwick and other local communities can access the new 20-bed hospital as quickly as possible.

Maternity, oncology, ambulatory care and minor injury unit services will remain within the Berwick Infirmary building and will not be affected.

Northumbria Healthcare is working with Northumberland County Council to ensure that maternity patients have access to parking nearby.

Once the frame of the new hospital is up, stairs and floors will be installed along with an accessible rooftop. The building will be clad and glazed externally to weatherproof it and the building will be fitted out.

Finally, the remaining old hospital buildings will be demolished, the car park and access roads will be built, and landscaping work completed.

Read more about the developments at Berwick hospital

Get in touch if you would like to tell us about a health or social care service you or a loved one have used.

Making a complaint

Making a complaint

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Making a complaint about primary care services in Northumberland

How you make a complaint about primary care services in Northumberland is changing on 1 July 2023. By primary care services we mean GPs, dentists, opticians or pharmacy services.

You have the right to make a complaint about any aspect of NHS care, treatment or service.

There are two ways you can make a complaint:

  • You can complain to the healthcare provider: this is the organisation where you received the NHS service, for example a GP surgery or dental surgery.
  • You can complain to the commissioner of the service: this is the organisation that paid for the service or care you received.

After 1 July 2023 if you want to make a complaint about primary care services to the commissioner you will now contact the North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Integrated Care Board instead of NHS England.

You can do this by:

Telephone: 0191 512 8277

Email: necsu.pccomplaints@nhs.net

In writing to the following address:

Primary Care Complaints Team

North East and North Cumbria ICB

Riverside House

Goldcrest Way

Newburn

Newcastle Upon Tyne

NE15 8NY

If you want to make a complaint directly to the provider of the primary care service, you still can – that does not change on the 1 July 2023.

Members of the public with ongoing complaints received on/after 1 July 2023 will receive a letter from NHS England informing them that the ICB is now handling their complaint with confirmation of their case handler.

Members of the public with any ongoing complaints received before 1 July 2023 will receive a letter from NHS England informing them that their complaint is being retained by NHS England with confirmation of their case handler.

Any complaints about secondary care can be made either to the hospital trust or to the ICB at the following email address: necsu.complaints@nhs.net

Find out more about how to feedback or make a complaint about an NHS service 

To find out more about health and social care services and support in Northumberland please get in touch.

What you told us: April 2023

What you told us: April 2023

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Health and care feedback Northumberland April 2023

The main issues we heard about in April were accessing GP services, and the quality of service when seen, hospital service and access to NHS dentists – we are still hearing from people about the lack of provision in Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Our main focus this month was passing on to the council and the NHS what we heard from you at our Here to Hear drop-in sessions. We promoted the COVID-19 spring booster vaccination programme and our public online info session this month was around disordered eating, with guests from Eating Distress North East.

Read our short report below to see at a glance who we heard from during the month and the services we heard about.

 

Healthwatch Northumberland report April 2023

Closure of Lloyds pharmacy

Closure of Lloyds pharmacy

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Lloyds pharmacy in Sainsbury’s, Manor Walks, Cramlington is due to close this summer on a date yet to be confirmed. As your independent local health and social care champion, we would like to hear from residents and those who use the pharmacy about how the planned closure may affect them.

Our team have been at Lloyds pharmacy during May 2023 talking to customers about the potential impact of the closure of the pharmacy. We will continue to collect feedback over the next few weeks and you can still share your views online.

We have already been able to take what we’ve been hearing and share it immediately with decision makers, so that they can understand and act upon the issues raised. Our Project Coordinator Derry presented our findings so far to the Northumberland Health and Wellbeing Board on 11 May. You can watch the meeting below – Derry speaks from around 18 minutes in.

Health and Wellbeing Board meeting 11 May 2023

If you would like to speak to us please get in touch.

Help make care better

Help make care better

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Help make care better in Northumberland for people with learning disabilities

People with a learning disability and autistic people are more likely to experience poorer care and face inequalities, despite needing to use health services regularly. Their needs are not always met by the system, leaving people and their loved ones feeling diminished or ignored.

Have your say

We are working with Healthwatch England to hear more from autistic people and those with learning disabilities about their experiences of care. Please share your experience and help us make NHS decision-makers aware of what needs to change to improve access to care.

We’re completely independent and impartial, and anything you say is confidential.

Share your story

You can also provide feedback on care by giving us a call on: 03332 408 468

Online event: Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Online event: Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

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Would you like to find out about the benefits of physiotherapy and how to improve your strength?

Join us on Friday 12 May, 1pm-2pm, to hear from Rachael Wadlow from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Rachel will give an overview of the physiotherapy profession in the UK and the Stronger My Way Hub – a ‘one stop shop’ of physio-approved reliable advice and insight about strength, suitable for both healthcare professionals and the public.

The UK Chief Medical Officer’s guidance on physical activity recommends doing strengthening activities at least twice a week, but research shows too few people meet what has become known as ‘the forgotten guideline’.

The Stronger My Way Hub offers resources for the public to maintain and improve strength, including information for people living with stroke, cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis and chronic pain. Professionals can also access a range of strengthening resources to help empower patients to become stronger.

There will be a chance to ask questions.

Register now and we will send you a link to join closer to the event: 

If you would like more information or would like to tell us about physiotherapy services you have used please get in touch.

This event has now passed

What you told us March 2023

What you told us March 2023

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Health and care feedback in Northumberland March 2023

During March you continued to share your concerns about NHS dental provision in the county, GP appointments and mental health services.

We launched our ‘How are you feeling?’ young people’s campaign with a number of local high schools helping to share the information with students.

To investigate why a higher proportion of children aged 0-5 in the Blyth area attend A&E compared to those elsewhere in Northumberland, we held focus groups with Blyth residents as part of a joint piece of work with Blyth Primary Care Network. The report will follow shortly.

Read our short monthly report to see at a glance who we heard from during the month and the services they fed back on.

What you tell us helps us build a picture of what is working well and where there are issues in services, and is taken into account by those providing services when making decisions about local care.

Healthwatch Northumberland report March 2023

Engagement and Volunteering Officer vacancy

Engagement and Volunteering Officer vacancy

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We’re recruiting for an Engagement and Volunteering Officer to join our team!

Hours: 25 hours per week

Contract: Permanent (dependent on funding)

Location: Based in Hexham with travel across Northumberland

Salary: £24,396 pro rata – £16,483 actual for 25 hours. Pay award pending

Benefits: 25 days holiday per year, plus statutory holidays pro rata

 

Healthwatch Northumberland is the independent champion for health and social care across the county.

Health and social care are never far from the news and it’s an area that affects all of us. Come and join us to work as part of a skilled and enthusiastic team, listening to local people and ensuring their voice is heard in how these vital services are planned and delivered.

It’s a busy time. You can make a difference by supporting our current volunteers and encouraging other people to get involved in our work.

Find out more about this role in the Engagement and Volunteering Officer job description.

To apply please complete the online application form.

Closing date for applications is 9.00am Monday 22 May 2023.

Interviews will be on Wednesday 7 June 2023 in Hexham.

If you would like an informal discussion about the role and Healthwatch Northumberland, contact Derry Nugent, Project Coordinator by email derryn@healthwatchnorthumberland.co.uk  or call 07590 880016.

This opportunity has now closed

Chair of the Board vacancy

Chair of the Board vacancy

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We’re recruiting for a new Chair

Healthwatch Northumberland is the independent champion for health and social care across the county. We’re looking for someone to become the new Chair of the Healthwatch Northumberland Board.

Health and social care are never far from the news and it’s an area that affects all of us. It’s an important time to be involved with Healthwatch and this is a great opportunity for someone who wants to champion the patient voice in how the county’s health and social care services are planned and delivered.

Our new Chair will lead the board in setting and overseeing our strategy and chair our quarterly board meetings. They will also attend high-level external meetings, such as the Health and Wellbeing Board, and act as an ambassador for Healthwatch Northumberland.

The role involves a minimum of three working days per month, plus occasional weekend and evening work, and is therefore remunerated at £9000 per year plus out-of-pocket expenses.

Want to know more?

Read all the details of this opportunity, including the person specification in the Chair Recruitment Information Pack.

Watch Project Coordinator Derry Nugent explain more about this opportunity.

How do I apply and what happens then?

Complete the addressing the person specification but really say why you want to join us. Applications will be shortlisted based on these criteria.

All applications must be received by 9.00am on 4 May 2023.

If a written application is not appropriate for you, an interview-only assessment may be carried out. Please contact Derry Nugent:
derryn@healthwatchnorthumberland.co.uk to arrange.

Invitations to interview will be emailed to shortlisted candidates. Interviews will be held on Tuesday 23 May 2023.

The interviews will be in person at the Adapt (NE) offices in Hexham.

This opportunity has now closed