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Our Chair steps down
Healthwatch Northumberland’s Chair, David Thompson, stepped down this month after six years in the role.
Healthwatch Northumberland is the independent health and social care champion for people in Northumberland and is delivered by Hexham-based charity Adapt (NE).
David has been at the helm since 2017 and has been instrumental in championing the voice of the people in health and social care decision making with those providing and commissioning services.
During his time as Chair of the Healthwatch Northumberland Board, David was involved with the Northumberland Health and Wellbeing Board, the Primary Care Commissioning Committee and the System Transformation Board, and for the past 12 months he represented the North East and North Cumbria Healthwatch Network on the Integrated Care Board.
David says “The past six years have flown by and it has been a real privilege to have shared a journey with such a dedicated band of staff, board members and volunteers. Meeting members of the public and professionals has been very rewarding as there has been and remains a determination from everyone to improve services even further.”
Before joining Healthwatch Northumberland David was Chair of leisure trust North Country Leisure and Tynedale Sports Council. Previous to that he was Head Teacher of Haydon Bridge High School for 19 years.
A new Chair is now in post and Peter Standfield of Morpeth will take the reins of the Healthwatch Northumberland Board.
David says he is ‘delighted’ with the appointment, adding “Peter will be a decided asset to Healthwatch Northumberland, bringing with him a broad range of experience and expertise.”
Healthwatch Northumberland’s Vice Chair Margaret Young is also leaving after six years in post. David told us “Margaret has been a stalwart of Healthwatch Northumberland since 2017. She has brought great knowledge and awareness to the board about what is happening in health and social care across the county.”
We’ll bring you more information about new chair Peter Standfield soon!
Help make care better
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.
You can also provide feedback on care by giving us a call on: 03332 408 468
Online event: Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
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
Healthier Together
The Healthier Together website is full of useful health advice for parents, carers, young people and health professionals. All of the information has been approved by clinicians so it’s a great place to go for reliable advice.
Topics include common illnesses in babies and children, when to keep your child off school/nursery, support for young people and a guide to how the NHS works.
If you need some help finding local health and care information or support, please get in touch.
Online event: Eating Distress North East
Join us for our next free lunchtime event on Friday 14 April, 1pm-2pm, to hear from Maria Lavelle of Eating Distress North East (EDNE), who will talk about the early identification of eating disorders and how best to support those who have one.
She will cover how to recognise signs, symptoms and potential triggers of an eating disorder; practical strategies for working with people with eating disorders; and increase your knowledge of local support services in Northumberland and the North East of England.
This session is suitable for anyone living or working in Northumberland. There will be a chance to ask questions after the presentation.
and we will send you a link to join closer to the event.
If you would like to tell us about your experience of accessing support for an eating disorder or would like help finding local support services please get in touch.
This event has now passed
Hearing loss services
Audiology services for residents of Northumberland
When accessing audiology appointments there are five general appointments open to patients:
- First hearing assessment
- Hearing aid fitting
- Re-assessment of hearing and fitting
- Repairs (booked appointments only)
- Troubleshoot appointments
Appointments may be offered at The Freeman Hospital or other local clinics across Northumberland. To request batteries or replacement tubing call: 0191 223 1043, email: tnu-tr.audiology@nhs.net or visit the Newcastle Hospitals website.
We are currently doing a piece of work on how people in Northumberland are accessing audiology services. If you, or someone close to you, uses these services, or have used them in the last two years, we’d like to hear from you. This could be at The Freeman Hospital where the service is based, or at one of the outreach clinics.
Your feedback will help the NHS know what is working well and how the service could be improved.
Please share your experiences of accessing audiology services
Online event – Limbless Association
Join us to hear from Tania Spurling from the Limbless Association on Friday 10 March, 1pm-2pm via Zoom. Tania will talk to us about having a limb amputated, tips to help manage and how we can help others living with their loss of a limb. We will also hear what support is available from the charity and there will be a chance to ask questions.
The Limbless Association is the largest civilian limb loss charity in the UK. As a national charity, working with amputees and sector professionals for over 39 years, the Limbless Association offers both practical and emotional support for amputees throughout their pre and post-amputation journey.
This session will provide an overview of the Limbless Association’s services and support available for amputees, their families, friends, and professionals. Register now and we will send you a link to join closer to the event:
This event has now passed
Are you struggling to access health services this winter?
With the NHS under extra pressure this winter, we need to hear your experiences of care to help services understand what is working and spot issues affecting support for you and your loved ones.
The NHS is facing added pressures this winter. This means that it can be more challenging for people to receive the care they need.
Feedback from the public can play a vital role in helping health and social care services understand what is working and spot issues affecting the care of local people.
This is why we have launched a campaign to get more people to share their experiences of care this winter.
If you or a loved one have used GPs, hospitals, pharmacies, care homes or other support services this winter, we want to hear about your experience.
Every experience matters
Have you faced challenges or delays accessing health and care services this winter? If you have, we want to know how this has affected your health and wellbeing.
Have you found accessing NHS services easy? Are there any aspects of the care you got that you really valued?
Your positive or negative feedback can help services hear what is working and spot issues affecting care for you and your loved ones.
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.
We’re completely independent and impartial, and anything you say is confidential.
You can also provide feedback on care by giving us a call on: 03332 408 468
How to stay well this winter
Winter conditions present an increased risk to our health, especially if you are older or have a long-term health condition such as heart or kidney disease, asthma or diabetes.
Being cold can raise the risk of increased blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes. The cold, damp weather can aggravate existing health problems, making you more vulnerable to respiratory winter illnesses. Here are some tips to help you stay well this winter.
Top tips to stay well from the NHS
- Make sure you get your COVID-19 booster and flu vaccination if you are eligible.
- Keep warm by wrapping up, wearing lots of layers of thin clothes.
- Stay active by moving around indoors, avoid sitting for more than one hour. Keeping active can also support your mental health.
- Keep the heat in by drawing your curtains at dusk and keeping doors closed to block draughts. Try and heat rooms you regularly use to at least 18°C and keep your windows closed at night. Make sure you’re getting the help you’re entitled to with heating costs.
- Use a hot water bottle or an electric blanket to keep warm in bed – but don’t use both at the same time.
- Have at least one hot meal a day. Eating regular meals and drinking hot beverages can help you keep warm.
- Look after your mental health by speaking to someone – a friend, family member or healthcare professional, like your doctor – if you are feeling down. Check out the NHS website for support on where to get urgent mental health support.
- Make sure you have the right medicines at home in case you get poorly. Ask your pharmacist if you are unsure.
- Wash your hands with soap and water:
- When you get home or into work;
- After you blow your nose, sneeze or cough; and
- Before you eat.
- If you get ill, rest and keep warm, drink lots of liquids, have at least one hot meal each day and take the tablets you have been recommended by a healthcare professional.
If you get ill
- If you think you need medical help right now, call 111 by phone or use NHS 111 online.
- If it is a real emergency and life-threatening, then you can call 999.
- If it’s less urgent contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Look out for others
- Keep in touch with your friends, neighbours and family and ask if they need any practical help, or if they’re feeling under the weather.
- Make sure they’re stocked up with enough food supplies for a few days, in case they can’t go out.
- If they do need to go out in the cold, encourage them to wear shoes with a good grip and a scarf around the mouth to protect them from the cold air, and to reduce their risk of chest infections.
- Make sure they get any prescription medicines before the holiday period starts and if bad weather is forecast.
- If you’re concerned about someone’s health or safety, call NHS 111 for health advice, or 999 in an emergency.
Download the NHS stay well this winter leaflet
Download the NHS stay well this winter easy read leaflet
Need more advice?
Read more tips on keeping well this winter at the NHS website.
Events
Prudhoe Healthy Living Week
We are taking part in Prudhoe Community Partnership’s ‘Prudhoe Healthy Living Week’, which runs from Monday 25 April until lunchtime on Saturday 30 April at Prudhoe Community Hub (61 Front Street). Local organisations will be offering activities and information about physical and mental health support throughout the week, and we will be there on Tuesday 26 April from 10am until 3pm. Hope to see you there!
Public Coronavirus Question Time
Health and council leaders in Northumberland are to host their first ever online coronavirus public question time.
While case numbers have steadied, they’re still too high in the county, and following the recent introduction of a national lockdown, leaders will be answering residents’ questions on Wednesday 18 November, at 5pm.
The panel for Wednesday’s broadcast will include:
- Cllr Glen Sanderson, Leader of the Council
- Liz Morgan , Director of Public Health
- Daljit Lally, Chief Executive
The broadcast, the first of its kind in the region, will look at the current Covid-19 picture in Northumberland, what the national lockdown means for the county, and answer queries or concerns people have.
While council and health bosses might not be able to answer every question, the aim is for the public broadcast to become a regular event and cover the most commonly-asked issues.
Council Leader Glen Sanderson said: “We know the impact this pandemic has had on all our lives and the hard work everyone has put in to stay safe and drive numbers down.
“People have already made huge sacrifices, and many feel exhausted by the strain that it has caused. We have a duty to support our communities to continue all their hard work to get infections under control, and we’re in a good position to build on that.
“The situation is changing almost daily so this is a great opportunity to find out the very latest information from a number of experts, as well as hearing about some of the questions that affect you and your communities – whether you work in, live in or visit our county.
“We know this public question time approach has been well-received in other parts of the country and we’d really encourage people to let us know questions they might have which we can address during our first broadcast.”
Diabetes UK – Let’s Talk About Feet webinar
Join the Diabetes UK North of England team for a free webinar full of practical advice around good foot care for people living with diabetes. Checking your feet at home is so important, now more than ever, and this webinar will show you how to.
There will be talks from podiatrists Donna Welch and Colette Jones, and Diabetes UK volunteer Andy Lavender, who will share his foot care experiences.
To register visit: https://footcare.eventbrite.co.uk. Email: evie.kinghorn@diabetes.org.uk if you have any queries.
Our Review of the Year and AGM
Our Review of the year and AGM will take place online on Wednesday 21 October, from 2.00pm and 4.00pm. Find out about our work and how we made a difference to people in Northumberland over the last 12 months.
As the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care says ‘People should have phone or video consultations with their doctors unless there is a clinical reason not to’, and that there had been a ‘hugely positive’ response to virtual appointments during the coronavirus pandemic, we will also have guest presenters talking about technology in NHS and social care services. We’ll explore how the coronavirus crisis has accelerated the move to online appointments and consultations, what has worked well and not so well, and what we can expect in the future.
You can ask a question in advance or at the Q&A session in our webinar.
Diabetes and Moving More
The North of England Diabetes UK team presents a webinar for people living with diabetes or those at risk of diabetes, taking an informal and relaxed look at the basics of getting more active. You will hear from Neil Gibson (Physical Activity Insight Advisor at Diabetes UK) and George West (Diabetes UK volunteer living with type 1 diabetes).
This webinar is free and registration is simple. If you have any queries, Email evie.kinghorn@diabetes.org.uk
Care Homes – keeping in touch with loved ones
People are telling us they are worried about care homes continuing to be closed to nearly all visits.
They understand it is safer for residents and staff and the extra efforts made to maintain the quality of life in the homes. But after 6 months, people say they can see the effect on their loved ones, and their own, health and wellbeing.
It seems the situation may go on for some time yet.
Sharing good practice could help make this difficult time a bit better. If your relative, loved one or friend lives in a care home we would like to know what is being done to keep you in touch day to day and on special occasions like birthdays.
We would like to know your experience of:
- Using video calls (FaceTime, Zoom etc) or telephone calls. Does the home support these? How many times a week and how long? Does a member of staff help your loved one with the call?
- Socially distanced visits. Does the home support ‘window’ visits. How many times a week and how long?
- How does the home keep you informed about how your loved one is getting on (apart from necessary issues about their care or health). Eg manager updates, photographs, videos
- Does the home have a programme of group and 1 to 1 activities? Has your loved one taken part?
- Has the home asked you what, within the current restrictions, would make this time easier?
- What, within the current restrictions, would make it better for you and your love one?
- When restrictions are eventually eased (not totally lifted) what would help you and your loved one?
The forums will take place via Zoom. Read our guide on how to use Zoom.
If you would like to take part please contact Laura Kane: laurak@healthwatchnorthumberland.co.uk, or call 03332 408468.
If you can’t make the forum and would like to tell us your story, or would rather speak to one of our team in confidence please get in touch.
Children and Young People’s Services
Are you a voluntary or community organisation working with young people? If so, we’d like you to join us for an open discussion on children and young peoples services, particularly around mental health services.
The forums will take place via Zoom. Read our guide on how to use Zoom.
If you would like to take part please contact Laura Kane: laurak@healthwatchnorthumberland.co.uk, or call 03332 408468.
Find out more about our other online forums
Cancer services: Join our online forum
If you, or someone close to you, have used cancer services in the last 12 months, we’d love to hear about your experiences at our online forum.
Lead Cancer Nurse, Amanda, from Northumbria Healthcare, and Jo from the Northern Cancer Alliance will be there to answer your questions.
You can join us as a cancer patient or carer or as someone who works with people using cancer services, or just if you have an interest in local services and support.
For those who aren’t able or would rather not attend, questions for Amanda, Jo, or Healthwatch Northumberland can be sent via text to: 07413 385275 anytime before 12 August.
The forums will take place via Zoom. Read our guide on how to use Zoom.
If you would like to take part please contact Laura Kane: laurak@healthwatchnorthumberland.co.uk, or call 03332 408468.
Find out more about our other online forums
Laburnum Surgery closure – online forum
NHS Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has made the decision to close Laburnum GP Surgery in Ashington.
The CCG’s primary care commissioning committee made the decision, last week, to end the contract of Laburnum Medical Group following inspections carried out by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and ongoing investigations carried out by the CCG, which identified issues with the quality of care provided.
The practice, which provides healthcare for 2400 patients from Ashington and the surrounding areas, including Wansbeck, Morpeth, Newbiggin and Bedlington, will close by the end of July.
Patients at the practice have been written to and allocated another GP at a nearby surgery.
We are holding an online forum for patients to discuss any concerns they have about the closure of the surgery and their ongoing healthcare.
To register please email: laurak@healthwatchnorthumberland.co.uk or call: 03332 408468.
The forums will take place via Zoom. Read our guide on how to use Zoom. If you would like help setting up Zoom on your device please ask.
Read more about the closure of Laburnum Surgery
Find out more about our other online forums
Share your experiences – join our online forum
As we will be unable to get out and about across the county to meet with and listen to people for a while, we’re holding some public online forums, and we’d like you to join us. If you are unable to take part but would like to tell us about your experiences of these services, Caroline and Lesley will be available by phone, text and email each Wednesday between 3.00pm and 4.00pm to listen, answer any questions and help with providing information about services.
The forums will take place via Zoom. Read our guide on how to use Zoom.
Whilst some of our forums are on specific issues and services, this one is a chance to tell us about any health or social care service you’ve used in the last 12 months. That could be hospitals, GPs, care homes, NHS 111, mental health services, maternity services or dentists and pharmacies.
If you would like to take part please contact Laura Kane: laurak@healthwatchnorthumberland.co.uk, or call 03332 408468.
Find out more about our other online forums
Healthwatch Northumberland
We are your local health and social care champion. We’re here to make sure your views on NHS and social care services in Northumberland are heard.
