Experiences of NHS dentistry

Experiences of NHS dentistry

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Tell us your experience of NHS dentistry

People have been telling us about the challenges they face getting NHS dentistry.

Using your feedback we are working with the NHS Integrated Care Board in the North East and North Cumbria to help shape future services, including planning the next phase of the NHS dental recovery plan in the region.

Across the North East and North Cumbria, the local Healthwatch network is working together to tackle this important issue.

So if you live in Northumberland or anywhere else in the North East and North Cumbria region and have recent experiences with using or trying to access dental services, then share your experiences with us.

We are the independent champion for users of health and care services in Northumberland. Your responses will inform decision-makers in the North East and North Cumbria NHS Integrated Care Board (who are funding this research), service providers and partners including Local Authority Public Health teams.

As a thank you for your time we are offering £100 of Love2shop vouchers to a lucky prize draw winner.

If you require a paper copy or have any questions please get in touch.

Please leave your feedback before Sunday 31 March 2024.

This survey has now closed

Online event – Growing Healthy Northumberland 0-19 Service

Online event – Growing Healthy Northumberland 0-19 Service

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Online event – Growing Healthy Northumberland 0-19 Service

Join us on Friday 8 March, 1pm-2pm, to hear from Rachel and Sam from the Growing Healthy Northumberland 0-19 Service.

They will talk about what services are provided by the 0-19 Service for children, young people, and families in Northumberland, including the Health Visiting Service, 5-19 Service and their digital offer.

Suitable for mums, dads, grandparents, carers and professionals alike, Zoom in to find out more about these services for the children in your life.

This event has now passed.

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Share for Better Care

Share for Better Care

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Share for Better Care

Last year, Healthwatch received nearly 400,000 experiences of health and social care. When services are under pressure, feedback on care can be crucial to identify what is working and what issues need fixing. But not everyone’s voice is being heard.

‘Share for Better Care’ aims to help more people give feedback about their care, especially if their community experiences poor health outcomes.

Your experience matters to us

The simple act of sharing feedback is already helping to improve care for the people who use it. We want people to know that their feedback, no matter how small, has the power to transform health and social care across the country.

Together we can improve health and care, but we can only make a difference if we know about your experience.

Have your say

Please share your experience and help us make NHS decision-makers aware of what needs to change to improve access to care, for everyone. We’re completely independent and impartial, and anything you say is confidential.

Share your experiences

 

Life in rural Northumberland

Life in rural Northumberland

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Join our team!

Join our team!

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Experiences of health visiting services

Experiences of health visiting services

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What is your experience of health visiting services?

All families expecting a baby or with children aged 0-5 years are offered a universal health visiting service. In Northumberland this is delivered by Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT)

We want to hear about your experiences of using the health visiting service. This will only take around 10-15 minutes of your time.

In this survey, we’ll ask you about your experiences including what has worked well and what has not worked so well. We will use your feedback to report to the NHS anonymously on what is working and help identify how to improve care for parents and carers. Everything you tell us will be stored securely and we won’t identify you in our report.

Closes Sunday 18 February 2024.

For more information about maternity and parenting services and support in Northumberland visit our Maternity and Parenting webpage or get in touch.

 

This piece of work has now ended and we will share our findings with you soon.

Online event – British Liver Trust

Online event – British Liver Trust

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Online event – British Liver Trust

Join us for our next free lunchtime event where we will hear from Louise Parker from the British Liver Trust.

Louise will talk to us about the UK liver disease crisis and why we need to raise awareness. She will also talk about the three preventable risk factors, tips on how to ‘Love your Liver’ and information about the free support available for anyone affected by a liver condition.

This event has now passed

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December 2023 feedback

December 2023 feedback

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Health and social care feedback Northumberland December 2023

This month we received an equal number of positive and negative comments about the quality of GP services. Where people had a less happy experience, this was mainly difficulty getting an appointment or about poor service. People are still finding it very difficult to get an appointment with an NHS dentist, including having to travel outside of the area.

What did we get up to?

We attended our usual Here to Hear drop-in sessions and also a one-off session at Cramlington Hub. As part of our work on health visiting services, we went to Wentworth Leisure Centre to speak to parents and carers about their experiences. We also attended Northumberland County Council’s Family Hubs sessions in Alnwick, Blyth, Berwick and Hadston as part of this work.

The online session in December was from the NECA team who spoke about gambling awareness and support in the region.

Our new cost of living information booklet was distributed to organisations, venues and groups across the county. The booklet is a free resource which we have produced as part of our Signposting and Information Service.

Find out more in our December 2023 feedback report.

We’re recruiting for board members!

We’re recruiting for board members!

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We’re looking for board members to help steer the direction of our work. We need people from all of our communities and with different skills and experiences to join our board.

Are you:

  • Aware of current health and social care issues, particularly for people with mental ill health, learning disabilities or people who aren’t being listened to?
  • Good at communicating and listening to people from a wide range of backgrounds and with different experiences?
  • Able to use evidence from service users and research to make impartial, practical judgements?
  • Experienced in setting goals and able to monitor how Healthwatch Northumberland achieves its goals?
  • Experienced in working effectively in a collective decision-making group, board or committee?
  • Committed to working in an impartial and independent way to achieve improvements in health and social care services for service users, carers and the public?

Not everyone will have all the knowledge or experiences listed here, so the board operates as a team, blending together what individuals bring.

Board member positions are voluntary and unpaid and reasonable travel expenses are paid. The board meets four times a year.

Would you like to know more? Read our board member information pack.

How do I apply and what happens then?

Please complete the using the Person Specification to tell us about you and why you want to join us. We will use this to decide who to offer an interview.

All applications must be received by 9am on 7 February 2024.

Please note that we may close submissions earlier than this date if we receive a large number of applications.

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

Invitations to interview will be emailed to shortlisted candidates. The interviews will be held during February/March 2024.

Board member information pack

Board member information pack easy read

This vacancy is now closed.

Online event – Time to talk about cancer

Online event – Time to talk about cancer

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Friday 16 February 2024, 1pm – 2pm

Join us to hear from Maggie Bailey from Coping with Cancer North East who will talk about some of the myths around cancer.

She will also provide information on the care and support available in Northumberland through Coping with Cancer and other services.

There will be a chance to ask questions after the presentation.

This session is suitable for anyone who would like to know more about cancer and the support available, both professionals and members of the public.

This event has now passed.

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