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Woman outside a hospital

Here to Hear – at our monthly drop-ins

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Healthwatch Northumberland Monthly Drop-ins

Come and see us at one of our monthly drop-ins, which we hold in all five local council areas of the county. These sessions are a chance for residents to tell us, in confidence, about their experiences of NHS and social care services so that we can understand what is working well and what could be improved. You can also use our Signposting and Information Service to find out more about local support and services. Call in to speak to our friendly team at one of the venues below, or if you’d prefer to make a specific appointment for one of the sessions, please get in touch.

  • East Bedlington Community Centre, 16 & 17 Station Street, Bedlington, NE22 7JN: First Friday of the month, 10.00am – 12.00pm
  • Weavers’ Court, Swordy Drive, Alnwick, NE66 1SZ: Second Thursday of the month, 10.30am – 12.30pm
  • Blyth Community Hub, Unit 6, Keel Row Shopping Centre NE24 1AH: Third Wednesday of the month, 10.00am – 12.00pm
  • Spetchells Centre, Prudhoe, NE42 5AA: Third Thursday of the month, 11.00am – 1.00pm
  • Morpeth Library, inside Morpeth Leisure Centre, Gas House Lane, NE61 1SR: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 11.00am – 1.00pm
  • Online Zoom session: Second Friday of the month, 1.00pm – 2.00pm. Email: helenb@healthwatchnorthumberland.co.uk for the Zoom link. There will be a different topic each month – see events page or social media for details.

 

You can leave feedback at any time here on our website

Blyth Women's Centre

Spotlight on…Anxious Minds

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As part of our information and signposting service, we’re shining a spotlight on organisations offering all kinds of support to people in Northumberland.

Anxious Minds is a charity which provides mental health support to people across the North East. Services on offer include support for children and adults, support for veterans and their families, women-only support, addiction support, help into employment or training, outdoor therapy and suicide prevention.

Their Blyth Women’s Centre (The Liberty Centre) is there to support local women and girls and empower them to achieve their full potential. The Centre provides a wide range of services to help women to overcome the challenges they are facing. This could be domestic abuse, the need to develop new skills, lack of self-esteem or self-confidence and isolation.

There are free support groups on offer for anxiety, grief and loss, drop-in friendship groups, SMART Recovery (for addiction) and arts & crafts.

Watch this short video about Blyth Women’s Centre.

To find out more email: blythwomen@anxiousminds.co.uk or call: 01670 946 188.

More information about all Anxious Minds services can be found at their website.

Knowledge gap restricts mental health support to the vulnerable

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Last year we launched the Your Voice Fund, and awarded four small grants to local organisations to run projects with their service users.

These projects are helping us to gather the views of people whose experiences we don’t hear enough about, in particular, people with learning disabilities, people from LGBTQ+ communities, young people, black, asian and minority ethnic communities and people living in Northumberland through asylum or refugee resettlement programmes.

Being Woman, based in Ashington and Blyth, have been using the grant to support a conversation café activity called ‘KITES – when you are your own voice’. People from various ethnic backgrounds and at risk of social isolation have been sharing their ideas, thoughts and experiences of health and social care services.

The latest report from Being Woman shows that there is a knowledge gap restricting mental health support to the most vulnerable people in Northumberland.

A total of 61 people from BAME groups including asylum seekers and refugees were surveyed with questions around general mental health knowledge, services used and proposed future needs. 8 out of 10 people said they didn’t know they could speak with their GP about anxiety, low mood and depression.

Among the suggestions listed by respondents for better knowledge on mental health were leaflets, support groups, translation services, clubs and therapists.

Read the full report here

If you would like to tell us about your recent experience of mental health services give us a call on 03332 408 468 or tell us your story here.

Healthwatch Northumberland Annual Survey 2020

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Tell us your NHS, health and care experiences from last year.

We are running our annual survey during February and March this year, asking you about the NHS, health and social care you received in the last 12 months – it might be a new year but your experiences from 2019 still matter. Health services include hospital services, GPs, dentists, pharmacists, mental health and ambulance services. Social care is care in the home or in a residential or nursing care home.

By telling us about the care you received and what’s important to you, you can help us set our work for the coming year so that we can be more effective on your behalf.

You can also come and talk to us and tell us what you think of health and social care services at one of our public events below. Let us know about your experiences, what went well and what could be improved, and together we can help make care better for everyone in Northumberland.

If you are unable to come to one of our events you can leave your feedback via our online survey or get in touch to ask for a postal copy with freepost return.

 

Come and see us in your area!

Monday 3 February: Age UK Northumberland, Round House, Ashington NE63 9JZ: 10.00am – 1.00pm (part of the Northumbria Cancer Patient and Carer Group public drop-in)

Tuesday 4 February: Amble Youth Project NE65 0DT: 10.00am – 11.30am (Bridge Project Employability Hub)

Wednesday 5 February: No 28 Community Project, Hexham NE46 1DJ: 11.00am – 12.30pm (Bridge Project Employability Hub)

Thursday 6 February: Concordia Leisure Centre, Cramlington NE23 6YB: 1.30pm – 3.30pm

Thursday 6 February: Cheviot Centre, Wooler NE71 6BL: 2.00pm – 4.00pm (in partnership with Wooler patient participation group)

Wednesday 12 February: Rothbury Practice NE65 7UW: 10.30am – 12.00pm

Thursday 13 February: Northumbria Hospital (cafe area, lower ground floor), Cramlington NE23 6NZ: 10.00am – 12.00pm

Thursday 13 February: The Village Surgery, Cramlington NE63 6US: 3.00pm – 4.00pm

Thursday 13 February: Forum Family Practice, Cramlington NE63 6QN: 4.15pm – 5.15pm

Friday 14 February: Spetchells Centre, Prudhoe NE42 5AA: 10.00am – 11.30am (Bridge Project Employability Hub)

Wednesday 19 February: Seaton Delaval Community Centre NE25 0BW: 10.00am – 1.00pm (part of the Northumbria Cancer Patient and Carer Group public drop-in)

Wednesday 19 February: Adapt (NE) Community Information Morning, Hexham NE46 3HN: 10.30am – 12.30pm

Thursday 20 February: Morpeth Library NE61 1AF: 3.00pm – 5.00pm

Tuesday 25 February: Riverside Leisure Centre, Morpeth NE61 1PR: 1.30pm – 3.30pm

 

Wednesday 4 March: Morpeth Town Hall NE61 1LZ: 10.00am – 1.00pm (part of the Northumbria Cancer Patient and Carer Group public drop-in)

Monday 9 March: Hexham General Hospital NE46 1QJ: 10.00am – 1.00pm

Wednesday 11 March: Blyth Library NE24 2DJ: 10.30am – 12.00pm

Wednesday 11 March: Blyth Sports Centre NE24 5BT: 1.30pm – 3.30pm

Thursday 12 March: Haltwhistle Leisure Centre NE49 0AX: 1.30pm – 3.00pm (Bridge Project Employability Hub)

Thursday 12 March: Haltwhistle Methodist Church NE49 0AX: 5.00pm – 7.00pm

Wednesday 18 March: Wansbeck General Hospital, Ashington NE63 9JJ: 10.00am – 1.00pm

Wednesday 18 March: Ashington Leisure Centre NE63 9JY: 2.00pm – 4.00pm

Thursday 19 March: Berwick Library (first floor) TD15 1DB: 12.00pm – 2.00pm

Monday 23 March: Bedlington Community Allotment (behind Chester Court Care Home) NE22 7LD: 11.30am – 1.30pm

Friday 27 March:  Gallery Youth Project, Alnwick NE66 1SX: 11.00am – 12.30pm (Bridge Project Employability Hub)

The survey is now closed.

 

 

 

BID Services Northumberland

BID Sight Loss Drop In Service

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BID Services is a charity working in partnership with children, young people and adults and their families and carers. It supports people who are deaf, hard of hearing, visually impaired or have a dual sensory loss. Specialist service areas include advocacy, employment, British Sign Language interpreting and training, rehabilitation and mobility training, specialist equipment, residential care, social work, support for tinnitus and housing related services.

BID Services Northumberland is trying to further promote services across the community by having promotional tables at a range of venues for people to come along and discuss sight loss. There will be equipment on display and information leaflets available on different sight conditions. The people manning the table are qualified professionals within the sight loss area and are able to answer any questions you may have. Please see below where you can go and when to have a chat with the BID Services team.

For more information call 01670 293150.

 

Prudhoe Waterworld

Monday 17 February, 2.00pm – 4.00pm

Thursday 25 June, 2.00pm – 4.00pm

Friday 23 October, 1.30pm – 3.30pm

 

Wentworth Leisure Centre, Hexham

Monday 17 February, 11.00am – 1.00pm

Tuesday 25 June, 11.00am – 1.00pm

Friday 23 October, 10.30am – 12.30pm

 

Swan Centre, Berwick

Monday 20 January, 10.30am – 12.30pm

Wednesday 20 May, 10.30am – 12.30pm

Thursday 24 September, 10.30am – 12.30pm

 

Willowburn Leisure Centre, Alnwick

Monday 20 January, 2.00pm – 4.00pm

Wednesday 20 May, 2.00pm – 4.00pm

Thursday 24 September, 2.00pm – 4.00pm

 

Ashington Leisure Centre

Monday 20 April, 2.30pm – 4.30pm

Wednesday 19 August, 2.30pm – 4.30pm

Friday 4 December, 2.00pm – 4.00pm

 

Riverside Leisure Centre, Morpeth

Monday 20 April, 11.30am – 1.30pm

Wednesday 19 August, 11.30am – 1.30pm

Friday 4 December, 11.00am – 1.00pm

 

Blyth Sports Centre

Wednesday 25 March, 11.30am – 1.30pm

Thursday 23 July, 11.30am – 1.30pm

Friday 20 November, 11.00am – 1..00pm

 

Concordia Leisure Centre, Cramlington

Wednesday 25 March, 2.30pm – 4.30pm

Thursday 23 July, 2.30pm – 4.30pm

Friday 20 November, 2.00pm – 4.00pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

Magic Memories Dementia Cafe Blyth

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Magic Memories Dementia Group Café at Blyth Central Methodist Church Hall, Beaconsfield Street, Blyth

For carers of, and people with memory problems or dementia. Come along for a chat, to pick up information and to enjoy some social time with others in a similar situation to your own where you can share ideas and experiences. There’s no need to book, please just drop in; refreshments will be available.

The café will run fortnightly on Mondays, dates shown below, from 1.00pm to 3.00pm in the Church Hall at Blyth Central Methodist Church.

(Magic Memories Dementia Cafe is independent to any of the church groups or activities)

For further information please contact Kath 07762 743579 or Joanne 07762 403292 or email: magicmemories2018@gmail.com

 

2020 dates – takes place on the following Mondays: 

13 and 27 January

17 and 24 February

9 and 23 March

6 and 23 April

11 May

1, 15 and 29 June

13 and 27 July

10 and 24 August

7 and 21 September

5 and 19 October

2, 16 and 30 November

7 and 14 December

Find more support at our Dementia webpage

Healthwatch Northumberland Conference 2019

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Thank you if you joined us at our Conference in Blyth on 16 October! We hope you found the sessions useful and informative. Please see all of the presentations below, including the short film we were unable to show on the day. If you would like more information on any of these subjects, please get in touch and we will make sure your enquiry reaches the right people.

Draft minutes of Healthwatch Northumberland AGM Conference 2019

 

Review of the year and AGM: David Thompson and Derry Nugent

Community Involvement: Mark Johns, North East Ambulance Service

Primary Care Networks: Pamela Phelps, Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group

Marine Medical Patient Participation Group: Carole Pitkeathley

Social Prescribing: Tara Twigg-Robson, Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group

Mary’s story. Part of the Social Prescribing presentation

Review of the Ageing Well Programme: Louise Sweeney, Public Health

Mental Health Trailblazer: Rhian Davies, Northumbria Healthcare

A Space at the Table: Film created by Hexhamtv with Dry Water Arts

Substance Misuse Health Needs Assessment: Louise Sweeney, Public Health

 

Healthwatch Northumberland Conference

Join us at our Annual Conference 2019

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If you use NHS or social care services and live or work in Northumberland, we’d love you to come along to our bigger and better Conference 2019. The Conference will take place at The Phoenix Theatre in Blyth on Wednesday 16 October, between 10.00am and 3.30pm.

Join in the community conversation at this free event with information and listening workshops about mental health, dementia, substance abuse, social prescribing, patient involvement, GP services and more.

We aim to make the day informative, interactive and entertaining. This is a chance for you to share your experiences of care with those who provide it and find out what’s available locally.

There will be an ‘information buffet’, free raffle and lunch and refreshments provided.

To register for a place please call us on 03332 408468 or visit Eventbrite

Watering can and daffodils

Stepping into Spring Roadshows

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Stepping into Spring is a series of roadshows from Ageing Well in Northumberland. These are free events for older people in Northumberland and are a chance to talk to local organisations offering advice and information on staying well and keeping active. Call in for a cup of tea or coffee and have a chat about local events and activities, volunteering opportunities and keeping fit and healthy.

 

The Roadshows are happening at the following locations:

  • Ponteland, Merton Hall: Thursday 21 March, 9.00am – 12.00pm
  • Prudhoe, Waterworld: Monday 25 March, 10.00am – 1.00pm
  • Haltwhistle, Methodist Hall: Tuesday 2 April, 10.00am – 2.00pm
  • Hexham, Wentworth Leisure Centre: Friday 12 April, 10.00am – 2.00pm
  • Morpeth, Town Hall: Wednesday 1 May, 10.00am – 2.00pm
  • Blyth, Leisure Centre: tbc
  • Ashington, Leisure Centre: tbc

 

For more details about individual events please visit our events page

 

 

 

Hands making a heart shape

New Heart Support Group

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Do you or a family member have a heart condition or heart disease?

Heart Support Groups can help you share experiences, gain emotional support, provide opportunities for families and carers to learn about how others cope, offer healthy lifestyle tips and organise activities.

An opportunity has arisen to start a new Heart Support Group in Blyth with funding from The British Heart Foundation. The first session will take place on Thursday 14 February at The Buffalo Centre, Blyth, between 11.00am and 1.00pm. For more information visit the Buffalo Centre website or email: chris@buffalocommunitycentre.co.uk.

Events

Monthly drop-ins

Drop-in session Blyth

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Healthwatch Northumberland drop-in session Blyth February 2024

Call in to our monthly Here to Hear drop-in sessions and speak with one of our friendly team, in confidence, about your experiences of care services. You can also find out more about local services with our free Information and Signposting Service and pick up one of our fantastic giveaways! Just call in or if you’d prefer to make a specific appointment for one of the sessions, please get in touch.

Come and see us at Blyth Community Hub, Unit 6, Keel Row Shopping Centre, Blyth on the third Wednesday of the month, 10am – 12pm.

We also hold Here to Hear sessions in Bedlington, Alnwick, Prudhoe and Morpeth. Full details of all of our drop-in sessions

 

Monthly drop-ins

Drop-in session Blyth

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Healthwatch Northumberland drop-in session Blyth January 2024

Call in to our monthly Here to Hear drop-in sessions and speak with one of our friendly team, in confidence, about your experiences of care services. You can also find out more about local services with our free Information and Signposting Service and pick up one of our fantastic giveaways! Just call in or if you’d prefer to make a specific appointment for one of the sessions, please get in touch.

Come and see us at Blyth Community Hub, Unit 6, Keel Row Shopping Centre, Blyth on the third Wednesday of the month, 10am – 12pm.

We also hold Here to Hear sessions in Bedlington, Alnwick, Prudhoe and Morpeth. Full details of all of our drop-in sessions

 

Winter Warmer – Blyth South Beach

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Winter Warmer – Blyth South Beach

Call into Neptune HQ, South Beach, Blyth on Tuesday 14 November, 10am to 12pm for this free Ageing Well event.

The event is an opportunity for over 50s and their families to find out how to stay safe and well this winter. There will be stalls from a number of local organisations offering advice and information.

Refreshments will also be available.

For more information please email: cllrcaitlinjones@gmail.com

Volunteer Anne at Blyth Community Hub

Wellbeing Day at Blyth Community Hub

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Wellbeing Day at Blyth Community Hub

We’ll be joining a range of organisations for this free wellbeing event at Blyth Community Hub, Keel Row Shopping Centre on Wednesday 11 October, 10.30am-12.30pm.

Also there on the day will be Marine Medical Group, Northumberland Recovery College, Anxious Minds, Headway Arts, Health Trainers and many more.

Find out about the activities, groups and support available in Blyth Valley, speak to us about health and social care services and pick up some free giveaways.

Here to Hear drop-in December 2023

Drop-in session Blyth

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Healthwatch Northumberland drop-in session Blyth December 2023

Call in to our monthly Here to Hear drop-in sessions and speak with one of our friendly team, in confidence, about your experiences of care services. You can also find out more about local services with our free Information and Signposting Service and pick up one of our fantastic giveaways! Just call in or if you’d prefer to make a specific appointment for one of the sessions, please get in touch.

Come and see us at Blyth Community Hub, Unit 6, Keel Row Shopping Centre, Blyth on the third Wednesday of the month, 10am – 12pm.

We also hold Here to Hear sessions in Bedlington, Alnwick, Prudhoe and Morpeth. Full details of all of our drop-in sessions

 

Here to Hear drop-in November 2023

Drop-in session Blyth

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Healthwatch Northumberland drop-in session Blyth November 2023

Come and see us at Blyth Community Hub, Unit 6, Keel Row Shopping Centre, Blyth on the third Wednesday of the month, 10am – 12pm.

Call in to our monthly Here to Hear drop-in sessions and speak with one of our friendly team, in confidence, about your experiences of care services. You can also find out more about local services with our free Information and Signposting Service and pick up one of our fantastic giveaways! Just call in or if you’d prefer to make a specific appointment for one of the sessions, please get in touch.

If you’re a patient of Marine Medical Group, come to our free drop-in session to get advice and support with managing your health online. We’ll be joined by staff from the surgery to show you how to register for GP online services, how to use eConsult, or how to download and use the NHS app, and help you be fine online!

If you’re not online and would like to be, we can point you in the direction of local digital skills support.

We also hold Here to Hear sessions in Bedlington, Alnwick, Prudhoe and Morpeth. Full details of all of our drop-in sessions

 

Healthwatch Northumberland drop-in sessions September 2023

Drop-in session Blyth

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Healthwatch Northumberland drop-in session Blyth September 2023

Call in to our monthly Here to Hear drop-in sessions and speak with one of our friendly team, in confidence, about your experiences of care services. You can also find out more about local services with our free Information and Signposting Service and pick up one of our fantastic giveaways! Just call in or if you’d prefer to make a specific appointment for one of the sessions, please get in touch.

Come and see us at Blyth Community Hub, Unit 6, Keel Row Shopping Centre, Blyth on the third Wednesday of the month, 10am – 12pm.

We also hold Here to Hear sessions in Bedlington, Prudhoe and Morpeth. Full details of all of our drop-in sessions

 

Here To Hear drop-in Morpeth August 2023

Drop-in session Blyth

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HEALTHWATCH NORTHUMBERLAND DROP-IN SESSION BLYTH AUGUST 2023

Call in to our monthly Here to Hear drop-in sessions and speak with one of our friendly team, in confidence, about your experiences of care services. You can also find out more about local services with our free Information and Signposting Service and pick up one of our fantastic giveaways! Just call in or if you’d prefer to make a specific appointment for one of the sessions, please get in touch.

Come and see us at Blyth Community Hub, Unit 6, Keel Row Shopping Centre, Blyth on the third Wednesday of the month, 10am – 12pm.

This month we’ll be joined by the social prescribing team from Marine Medical Group so come along if you’d like to find out more about social prescribing or ask them a question.

We also hold Here to Hear sessions in Bedlington, Prudhoe and Morpeth. Full details of all of our drop-in sessions

Healthwatch Northumberland drop-in sessions July 2023

Drop-in session Blyth

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Call in to our monthly Here to Hear drop-in sessions and speak with one of our friendly team, in confidence, about your experiences of care services. You can also find out more about local services with our free Information and Signposting Service and pick up one of our fantastic giveaways! Just call in or if you’d prefer to make a specific appointment for one of the sessions, please get in touch.

Come and see us at Blyth Community Hub, Unit 6, Keel Row Shopping Centre, Blyth on the third Wednesday of the month, 10am – 12pm.

We also hold Here to Hear sessions in Berwick, Bedlington, Prudhoe and Morpeth. Full details of all of our drop-in sessions

 

 

Monthly drop-ins

Here to Hear Drop-in – Blyth Community Hub

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Each month we’ll be holding drop-in sessions, in all five local council areas of the county. These drop-ins are a chance for residents to tell us in confidence about their experiences of NHS and social care services and use our Signposting and Information Service. Just call in or if you’d prefer to make a specific appointment for one of the sessions, please get in touch.

Come and see us at Blyth Community Hub, Unit 6, Keel Row Shopping Centre, Blyth on the third Wednesday of the month, 10am – 12pm.

See details of other drop-in sessions