Feedback from October 2024

This month 312 people gave us feedback on NHS and social care experiences, asked a question through our Information and Signposting Service, or came to one of our events.

16% of what you told us was positive, 55% was negative, with the rest being neutral or mixed.

GP practices and hospitals were the services we heard about most this month. Issues about online access for patients was the most common concern raised for GPs. We started to hear more about this during September, and this month makes up a third of all feedback about GP practices. Poor communication and the distance to travel were the most common concerns reported for hospitals. Poor communication was an issue either with the patient, between GP and hospital, and/or between between hospitals.

This month’s focus

We have had a busy time out in our communities with our Here to Hear drop-in events. We also attended Northumberland County Council’s World Mental Health and World Suicide Prevention Day sessions in Berwick and Cramlington, and Health and Wellbeing events in Haltwhistle, Wark and Blyth.
Our Annual Event, held at The Maltings, Berwick was a hive of activity, with around 100 people attending the Information Marketplace in the morning. Over 25 organisations from across NHS, voluntary and community services were there to let people know about the care, support and services they can offer.
At our afternoon theatre session 85 people came along to hear our review of the year and from guest speakers about mental health services, the new Berwick Hospital and community services in the area.
Working with Northumberland County Council we have launched the Pharmacy Needs Assessment survey which will run until the end of November.
This month’s online talk was from Carers Northumberland. 20 people attended to find out more about the services available to unpaid carers.
Impact
At Northumberland County Council’s Health and Wellbeing Board this month, the Principal Social Worker for Adult Social Care reported that our work had helped Adult Social Care redesign its website and also ‘helped rewrite and reframe Carers Assessment Training for Social Workers’.
Positive feedback example
A member of public told us they had a very positive experience with the early intervention psychosis team (delivered by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust). Their daughter is currently receiving
treatment and they have not only been really good with her but also with the family: keeping them in loop, checking in etc.
Cramlington, Bedlington and Seaton Valley resident
Negative feedback example
Patient lives on the border between Northumberland and Cumbria (on the  Northumberland side) so receives split care between Carlisle Hospital and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust/Newcastle
Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust hospitals.
This can sometimes cause issues with the trusts not communicating with each other and the patient not knowing which one they’ll be referred to, when.
Tynedale resident
Service providers we heard about and how many times
Brockwell Medical Group 5
Northumbria Healthcare Trust 4
Alnwick Medical Group 4
NSECH 2
Union Brae Surgery 2
Hexham General Hospital 2
We also heard about 23 other organisations once each.
Read more in our short summary.
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