Online event – Qwell

Online event – Qwell

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Join us on Friday 11 November to hear from Andrew Poinen, Engagement Lead for Kooth and Qwell.

In this free, online public event Andrew will provide an overview of Qwell, the online service available for adults aged 18 and over in Northumberland which provides free, safe and anonymous mental health and wellbeing support.

We will hear what it involves, how to access it and there will be a chance to ask questions.

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

This event has now passed

Join our Annual Conversation

Join our Annual Conversation

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This year, instead of our usual Annual Survey, we’re having an ‘Annual Conversation’. This is a more focused piece of work which will help us hear from people that we don’t hear from as often. We’ll be working with groups and organisations from across Northumberland to hear about people’s recent experiences of NHS and social care services. This is anything from GP and dental services, hospital and ambulance services, mental health services, care homes and care in the home.

Only by hearing what people want and need from services can providers know how to improve care. Speaking to us here at Healthwatch Northumberland is a confidential and anonymous way to get your voice heard and your views taken into account when decisions are being made about services

We also want to hear what went well for people when they used services.

During October and November we’ll be working with Fishermen’s Mission, Escape Family Support, Being Woman, Royal Voluntary Service, Miners Lamp Community Cafe and Hub, Bridge Northumberland and Journey Enterprises, to hear from service users and local communities.

If you would like to tell us about your recent experience of health and social care please share your story. Or ask a question about local services through our Signposting and Information Service.

This piece of work has now closed

Share your experiences of GP referrals

Share your experiences of GP referrals

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Have you been referred by your GP practice to a specialist for tests, diagnosis or treatment? Or have you expected or requested a referral but didn’t get one? We’d like to hear about your experiences to help the NHS understand what is working and what could be better.

The survey will only take a few minutes of your time and any information you share will be anonymised.

What is a GP referral?

It’s when a GP or other medical professional at a GP practice sends you to a specialist at a hospital or community clinic for further tests, diagnosis or treatment. Your GP could make a referral for many reasons, such as a hip replacement, MRI scan, physio, mental health services, endoscopy and more. A referral can happen during a phone or face-to-face appointment.

Tell us about your experiences

Online event – Royal Osteoporosis Society

Online event – Royal Osteoporosis Society

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Join us on Friday 14 October, 1pm-2pm, to hear a presentation from Janet Boyd, a volunteer from the Royal Osteoporosis Society.

In this free, online public event Janet will provide an overview of osteoporosis, including signs and symptoms, risk factors, effects of osteoporosis and how to maintain good bone health.

We will also hear about local and national Royal Osteoporosis Society services, including support for people with osteoporosis and their carers, how to access advice and information and opportunities for volunteering. There will be a chance to ask questions.

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

What you told us: August 2022

What you told us: August 2022

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Our ‘at a glance’ monthly reports provide a summary of who we have been hearing from and what you have told us. What you tell us helps us build a picture of what is working well and where there are issues in the NHS and social care services we use here in Northumberland. In many cases, we can get a quick response to your enquiries.

Some issues are already being looked at by other organisations and we pass on your comments and concerns to them so that they have as much feedback as possible from those using services.

There are some issues that we look into in more detail and set aside time and resources to investigate further and put together recommendations for change.

Read more about these projects.

These feedback reports are also shared with those paying for and providing the services.

Healthwatch Northumberland feedback report August 2022

Dental services in Berwick

Dental services in Berwick

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With the MyDentist practice in Castlegate closing at the end of September 2022, we have been hearing concerns from patients in Berwick about the provision of NHS dental services.

NHS England has given us the following messages for residents of Berwick and the wider area.

  • NHS England is acutely aware of the difficulties patients are experiencing in accessing NHS dental care following the closure of the practice in Berwick.
  • NHS England is looking at short term solutions to increase access for patients requiring urgent dental care whilst it works on the longer-term solution of securing a new NHS provider in Berwick, both of which are dependent on the availability of the dental workforce.
  • Berwick has not been forgotten and NHS England is trying hard to find alternative dentists or services to fill the gap. This includes approaching dentists in other parts of the county to see if they can offer any additional capacity.
  • In the meantime, the best advice is to use NHS111 for urgent or emergency treatment. If after clinical triage, your dental problem is not assessed as being clinically urgent, you will be asked to contact an NHS dental practice and/or given self-care advice until an appointment can be offered.
  • When contacting an NHS dental practice it is important that you tell the practice up front what the problem is so that they can determine the urgency of the dental need. NHS England is asking dental providers to prioritise those patients in greatest need into their available appointment slots.
  • NHS dental providers will soon be required update the NHS website with availability of NHS provision as part of some recently announced reforms.
  • Other changes to come out of the dental contract reform programme include making it easier for practices to use the skills of dental therapists and hygienists to undertake some of the work currently done by dentists. This will free up dentist time to focus on patients with more complex treatment needs.
  • The frequency in which you need to attend a dentist for a check-up is based on your oral health – if your teeth and gums are healthy, you may not need to attend as often and this could be up to two years for those with good oral health.

Here at Healthwatch Northumberland we will continue to monitor the experience of patients in the area, make NHS England aware of ongoing issues and press for positive outcomes.

If you would like to tell us about your experiences of dental services please get in touch.

 

A new way for outpatients?

A new way for outpatients?

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A new way for outpatients? Have your say

 

Survey deadline extended – there’s still time to share your views with us on outpatient services – both existing care and plans for future changes to some appointments.

 

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospitals in Northumberland and North Tyneside, is looking at how it might change outpatient appointments.

Potentially this might replace some or all routine follow up appointments that would normally have been planned and would allow you to contact your clinic if you have any concerns.
Northumbria Healthcare has asked us to find out your views about this and to understand what would be important to you to make follow up care better.

If you have regular outpatient appointments now, or have ideas how a previous appointment could have been improved,

As a thank you for your time you can be entered into a prize draw for £50 shopping voucher.

This survey has now closed

Drop-in for fishermen and families

Drop-in for fishermen and families

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We’re pleased to be holding a drop-in session with the Fisherman’s Mission in the Harbour Office at Amble Quayside on Monday 26 September, 1.00pm – 3.00pm. The session is for active fishermen, former fishermen and fishing families. Tea and coffee will be provided and the local GP practice will be offering free health checks to visitors.
For more information please contact Peter Dade on 07917 754259 or email PeterDade@fishermensmission.org.uk.
This event has now passed
Share your views about GP referrals

Share your views about GP referrals

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Have you or your loved one struggled to get a GP referral for tests or treatment?

Healthwatch England has been hearing from the public about how hard it can be to get a GP practice referral to another NHS service, and they would like to hear about your experiences.

GPs are the first point of call for many health issues and the gateway to specialist support. But with many GP surgeries stretched thin and under pressure, NHS decision-makers need to understand if people are finding it difficult to get the right help.

Examples of services your GP can refer you to include:

  • Scans or tests for a diagnosis of a condition or health issue
  • Mental health support
  • Surgery for knees, hips and eyes
  • Support like physiotherapy for back pain or arthritis
  • Non-urgent heart problems
  • Wellbeing services, like smoking cessation or diabetes management.

The impact of delayed referrals

GP referrals affect people of every age group, every background, and every region across the country. Some of the things patients have said include:

  • People feel like their symptoms are dismissed
  • They have to try multiple times before they’re successful
  • They are left in the dark about how serious their condition is.

Share your views

As the independent champion of health and social care services, we want to hear your experiences of trying to get specialist NHS support, like physiotherapy, talking therapies, hospital scans and consultations.

By sharing your story, we can use your feedback to help the NHS better understand your challenges and improve how people access the care they need.

Find out more about GP referrals

This piece of work has now ended.

What you told us: July 2022

What you told us: July 2022

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Our ‘at a glance’ monthly reports provide a summary of who we have been hearing from and what you have told us. What you tell us helps us build a picture of what is working well and where there are issues in the NHS and social care services we use here in Northumberland. In many cases, we can get a quick response to your enquiries.

Some issues are already being looked at by other organisations and we pass on your comments and concerns to them so that they have as much feedback as possible from those using services.

There are some issues that we look into in more detail and set aside time and resources to investigate further and put together recommendations for change.

Healthwatch Northumberland feedback report July 2022