HWNL-April-May-web

Newsletter
April/May 2016
Inside This Issue:
Advocacy update
Volunteer Recruitment
Inspiring Change, Improving Outcomes
Neurological Services – Survey
Design Competition
You are invited to the
Healthwatch Staffordshire
Annual Conference
Date: 30th June
Time: 5 - 8pm
To book a place: http://bit.ly/HealthwatchStaffsAGM
Telephone: 01785 224819 or 0800 051 8371
Annual Conference
30th June 2016
Healthwatch Staffordshire
Foxlowe Arts Centre
Market Place
Leek
Staffordshire
ST13 6AD
0800 051 8371
@HWStaffordshire
enquiries@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk
www.healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk

Update from Jan Sensier – Chief Executive
There is a lot happening in the health world in particular at the moment. In May, we saw the
commencement of the Improving Lives programme in East Staffordshire. This programme has
been set up by the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to create better and more joined up
care for adults in the area, and is being delivered through a contract with Virgin Healthcare.
Charles Pidsley, Clinical Chair of East Staffs CCG, attended our Board meeting in public on 25
May to update us on progress, explaining that for the first few months the focus is on the safe
transition of services, but some innovations have already been brought in such as the work
with Age UK to use Care Navigators to help patients access a wider range of services including
from the voluntary sector. As a GP, Charles said he has already seen startling results for some
of his patients as a result of this work. Full details on the programme can be found here -
http://eaststaffsccg.nhs.uk/improving-lives.
At our Board meeting, we also saw a presentation from Burton NHS Foundation Trust (FT),
explaining their plans working closely with Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS FT to address
better patient pathways and the financial gaps. We have agreed with the Trust that we will
work with them to set up a patient reference group to support this work, and we are working
with Healthwatch Derby and Healthwatch Derbyshire to take this forward.
It will be really important for this work to be seen in the wider Staffordshire context. The NHS
in all parts of the country are now required to produce a Sustainability and Transformation
Plan, outlining how organisations will work together as a system to develop a place based plan
which is ambitious about transformation and covers the breadth of the agenda from
prevention and self-care, workforce through to new models of care and finance. For our area,
the “footprint” for this plan is Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent and Healthwatch Staffordshire
has a seat on the overall Programme Board, giving us a real chance to ensure that priority
is given to public and patient engagement, although the time-scales for producing the plans
makes this challenging. For Staffordshire, a key issue will be the extent of the financial
deficits across both commissioners and providers in the system, and how these can be
addressed in a way that leads to better joined up services and patient care. Both Staffordshire
County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council are also partners in this programme and it will
be really important that local authority social care and public health responsibilities are taken
into account in formulating these plans.
Finally, many of you will be aware that there has been a public consultation on the future of
Healthwatch Staffordshire. Engaging Communities Staffordshire has been delivering this
service since April 2013, and our contract will be up for renewal later this year. Staffordshire
County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council have been consulting on whether there should
be one service or two for the two local areas, and also whether Healthwatch should be
delivered alongside NHS Complaints Advocacy. The ECS Board is very supportive of joining up
the services both geographically and across Healthwatch and Complaints Advocacy and their
response to the consultation can be seen here - http://bit.ly/1sYuhCs. The consultation
period has now closed, and we understand that a decision on the future of the service will be
made later this summer.
Continued on next page...
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In the meantime, Healthwatch Staffordshire continues to develop – we have our new
engagement team fully up and running now reaching out to communities across the county
and we know that using the powers of Healthwatch, we can make a difference. I was really
heartened this month when we received a phone call to thank us for the difference we had
made to one young man’s life from his mother – this young man had been struggling with
anxiety for many years without being able to get any answers on why he had these problems.
He and his mother suspected he had undiagnosed autism, but they had discovered that the
NHS in Staffordshire does not have a service available to diagnose autism in adults. Following
escalation by Healthwatch and our Complaints Advocacy team, this has now been addressed,
and the young man has now been assessed as autistic, which has both helped him understand
his difficulties, and to find appropriate support. We wish him all the best for the future, and
this example shows the way in which Healthwatch can use its influence to help people in
Staffordshire.
Jan Sensier - Chief Executive
Healthwatch Staffordshire Annual Conference
This year the Healthwatch Staffordshire’s Annual Conference will be taking place on:
30th of June. 5:00 - 8:00 PM at Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, ST13 6AD
To book a place - http://bit.ly/HealthwatchStaffsAGM
Telephone: 01785 224819 or 0800 051 8371
The Healthwatch Staffordshire Annual Conference will celebrate the work that we have done
over the last 12 months, engage with the public on a variety of topics and set out what some
of the next steps for our organisation will be.
The theme for this year’s event is “Voice of the Community”, we will be supported by stand
holders from a variety of organisations and we hope that we can make it an informative and
engaging event for the people of Staffordshire.
As the independent consumer champion of health and social care services in Staffordshire, we
look into services and hear from the people who use them. Right now we’re working on our
plan of work for the next 12 months and we need your views about services in your area. What
do you think our priorities should be? We would be extremely grateful if you would take a few
minutes to complete the following survey;
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HWS-Priorities. The survey is open until Monday 27th of
June.
It’s an open meeting and all are very welcome. Please feel free to share this event with those
who you think will be interested.
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Surveys and Consultations
Healthwatch Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are working with various organisations including
the Staffordshire Neurological Alliance to better understand people’s experiences of
neurological services.
We would be extremely grateful if you would take a few minutes to answer the following
questions; http://bit.ly/Neurological-Survey which is planned to run until mid-June.
This survey is intended for a variety of neurological conditions and these are quite different
in their nature. For example, some may develop slowly and others suddenly. Therefore, some
questions may not feel like an exact fit but please fill in as best you can.
We don’t require any personal details; this is an anonymous survey. Everything that you share
with us in this form, along with everyone else’s responses will contribute towards the writing
of a report. This report will be used by service providers and commissioners to inform their
work when designing better services for neurological patients.
You contribution to this effort is invaluable.
Thank you for your help.
Partners across Staffordshire and Stoke in Trent are working on a programme to improve the
health and wellbeing of those living with a learning disability and/or autism, in line with the
national programme ‘Building the Right Support’ launched in October 2015.
They want to meet with families and carers who can tell them what challenges they face,
what support they would like and how they feel their lives could be improved.
We will be holding a series of engagement events where families and carers can talk to health
and social care staff involved in the programme about a range of issues and to work with them
to design some solutions.
If you would like to have your say and maybe are part of a group that we could come along to
talk to please let us know.
You can contact Healthwatch Staffordshire on Freephone on 0800 051 8371 or email
enquiries@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk
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NHS COMPLAINTS ADVOCACY
How our services are making a difference
In April and May we took 696 calls on our Freephone telephone number. Some of the
complaints we have received over the last couple of months relate to the NHS 111 service,
problems people are experiencing in getting access to GP appointments, particularly for
people who work shifts, we have seen an increase in prison complaint referrals needing
advocacy support, as often prisoners are not getting their medication or getting adequate and
timely access to doctors, and we have also received complaints about hospital discharges,
with people concerned about inadequate care provisions being implemented before elderly or
vulnerable patients are discharged from hospital, back home.
We are continuing to receive really positive feedback about the advocacy support that is
provided. This is what our service users have been telling us:
It is a good service for people with disabilities when you
have problems of concerns over the services you are
receiving. I found my advocate to be kind and
helpful and they showed concern over my case and they
were keen to help me as much as possible.
My advocate provided information and support
throughout the process when we would otherwise have
been alone with our doubts and apprehension.
Without her, it would have been difficult to achieve the end
result where our complaint was upheld.
Excellent first class service- re-assuring, friendly, great
professional help and advice.
The feedback received really highlights that people need support to make complaints as the
NHS complaints process remains a complex and challenging area for people to try and
navigate. Without the support of an advocate, people sometimes give up and decide not to
pursue a complaint as they can become apprehensive about their ongoing care or worry about
having to meet with professionals, which often people find intimating.
You can send us your feedback via email: advocacy@ecstaffs.co.uk or write to us at the office
address; Healthwatch Staffordshire, Suite 2, Opus House, Priestly Court, Staffordshire
Technology Park, Stafford. ST18 0LQ.
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Volunteer Recruitment
Volunteers are vital to our work here at Healthwatch
Staffordshire (HWS) and we are always seeking new people
to get involved with the many different areas of our work in
Staffordshire.
In addition to helping support Healthwatch, volunteering is
a great way to meet new people and to gain valuable work
experience and build your skills and confidence.
We have a range of volunteering opportunities available
with Healthwatch. We hope the various roles we have on
offer will give you the opportunity to:
Make a difference to your local community
Meet new people
Enhance your skills and knowledge
Access training and support
Use your existing skills
Add valuable experience to your CV
We welcome a diverse range of volunteers from all walks of
life, from sixth form students looking to gain experience to
put on UCAS applications, university students doing health
and social care related degrees, and professionals looking
to donate some of their spare time to a good cause. We
welcome job seeker looking to gain experience.
Training and support is available for every role, and
experience is not essential. The most important thing we
look for is a belief that people in Staffordshire should have
the best health and social care services possible, and a
desire to be part of making that happen.
Our current volunteering opportunities are:
Marketing and Promotions
Events and Engagement
Enter and View Authorised Representative
Complaints Advocate
Researcher
Reading Panel
If you are interested in a volunteering position please
contact Jackie Owen on 01785 221705 or email;
Jackie.Owen@ecstaffs.co.uk explaining the type of work
you are interested in.
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Relaunching of our new website
After weeks of research, planning and
development, we are pleased to announce
that our greatly improved website;
www.healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk – is
ready to go live on 3rd of June. User-friendly
and easy to navigate with a fresh design,
images and simplified functionality. The new
website will deliver timely, well-organised
information to a diverse audience and it is
easier to navigate and allows greater
interaction with the public.
The site upgrades, which featured both
enhanced content and a redesigned format,
provides a better overall user experience.
With the redesigned website, user access
will also be greatly enhanced with a new
format that provides multiple points of entry
for site visitors to get content. With this
upgrade, various components of the website
allow for users to more easily access
content that are placed front and centre.
Other highlights of site enhancements
include a Young people’s Healthwatch and
information and signposting section.
This new website design has been
developed with the clear intention to
simplify and streamline processes
creating an easy to use interface which is
more visually appealing and enhanced focus
on content delivery.
We believe that a website is a fluid and
never truly finished. In the next weeks and
months, Healthwatch Staffordshire will
continue to improve its website. We invite
you to come back often to check out the
latest developments.
We hope you enjoy our new website and find
it useful and informative. Your suggestions
and ideas are welcome - please contact us at
mohammed.arabo@ecstaffs.co.uk to help us
keep improving.
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UPCOMING
EVENTS
1st and 2nd June 9 - 4pm
Staffordshire County Show, Stafford – We will be having a Healthwatch Staffordshire promotional stand
to promote and raise awareness of Healthwatch Staffordshire and its range of services. We will also be
seeking feedback on health and social care services to support some of our specific projects, to engage
with the public and find out what is important to them, promote our volunteering opportunities and sign
up new members.
Friday 3rd June- 9.30-12.30pm
Healthwatch Drop in South Staffordshire District Council, Offices, Codsall – meet your Community
Outreach Officer (South Staffordshire, Cannock & Stafford).
Mon 6th – Sat 12th June
PPG Awareness week. We would like PPG groups to get in touch regarding any joint
engagement that they would like to do in the community with our Outreach Officers to
raise awareness of PPG Groups
Wednesday 8th June 9.30- 14.30
Stoke Market 9.30- 14.30 Healthwatch Stand for volunteer Week, organised by Voices.
Thursday 9th June 11am – 3pm
Shared Lives Staffordshire relaunch event, 11am – 3pm White Eagle Polish Club, Stafford, ST16
3TH.We will be having a Healthwatch Staffordshire stand.
Friday 10th June 10:00 - 1:00pm
A Celebration of Volunteering – Friday 10th June 2016 The Guildhall, Bore St, Lichfield, WS13 6LU
Friday 17th June 10:30am to 3pm
Health Information Event, The Pensioners Hall, Church Street, Audley, ST7 8DE.
Organised by Staffordshire & Stoke -on-Trent Partnership NHS Trust (SSOTP). Newcastle
Adult Services. We will be having a Healthwatch Stand.
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EVENTS
Thurs 23rd June 10.30 – 12pm
Rugeley Community Helping Hands “Coffee and Cake Morning” in aid of the St Giles Hospice Charity. The
meeting will be held at the Rugeley Community Centre, Rugeley Community Centre on Burnthill Lane.
Admission to the public from 10.30 – 12pm. Healthwatch Staffordshire is having a Stand.
Thursday 23rd June 10 – 4pm
Lets Do Business Event, Uttoxeter Racecourse Wood Lane, Uttoxeter ST14 8BD, organised by Burton
Albion Community Trust. The event is due to attract 1000 business people and will have a health village
where countywide providers such as Healthwatch, Hospital Trusts etc. will have a stand.
Saturday 25th June 10-1pm
Health Awareness Event, Barton Family Practice, Short Lane, Barton-under-Needwood,
Burton-on-Trent DE13 8LT Burton on Trent. Healthwatch Staffordshire is having a Stand.
Thursday 30th June 5-8pm
Our Annual Conference is on 30th June, 2016 5:00 - 8:00 PM at Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, STS ST13;
to book, http://bit.ly/HealthwatchStaffsAGM … or call 01785 224819/0800 161 5600
Engaging Young People in Staffordshire.
Healthwatch Staffordshire Young People Poster Design competition
The Design Brief
We want to hear more about what young people think about their health and social
care services and get involved in helping to shape and influence the way they are
planned and delivered. To do this we want you to design a POSTER that will help
get the Healthwatch message “your voice improving your services” across to young
people. It needs to include: a LOGO and a STRAPLINE.
The Prizes
The best designs will be exhibited at the Healthwatch Annual Conference on the
30th June and our overall favourite will receive a £25 Amazon voucher!
How to Enter
Entries can be sent via post to: Aileen Farrer, Engaging Communities Staffordshire,
Suite 2, Opus House, Priestly Court, Staffordshire Technology Park, Stafford ST18 0LQ
or Email: enquiries@healtwatcstaffordshire.co.uk
Closing Date: All entries must be received by June 29th
Design competition
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Experience Exchange Your feedback counts
Healthwatch Staffordshire would like to hear your views!
Have you accessed any health or social care services throughout April & May 2016, such as attending a
Hospital or GP Appointment, or visiting your local dentist or pharmacy? If so Healthwatch Staffordshire
would really appreciate it if you could share any new experiences on our Experience Exchange f
eedback platform.
As you know, Healthwatch Staffordshire needs to collect feedback on service provision, to ensure that
it is aware of any and all issues throughout the county, as well as any experiences of good practice.
Healthwatch Staffordshire cannot do this without your help and assistance. Since we launched
Experience Exchange, we have received over 600 unique experiences from residents and service users
across Staffordshire, which has proven to be both helpful and insightful, you can see some of this feedback
by visiting the website; http://x2.healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk/
We have over 1000 services listed on Experience Exchange, in order for you to find your local service
you can either type the name of the service in the search bar, or filter services by geographic location
by clicking on the relevant district of the Staffordshire map. Services are listed in alphabetical order,
and if you wish to access the next page of services, page numbers are listed at the top of the service
listings. Experience Exchange can also act as a signposting directory, so you can find local services in
and around your area.
You can access Experience Exchange by clicking following the link below:
http://x2.healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk/
We would really appreciate your feedback, and if you are aware of any services which are not listed
please let us know by calling 0800 161 5600 or email enquires@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk.
Thank you for the support.
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Shared Lives Staffordshire
Join us as we relaunch our service.
We’ll be welcoming:
Shared Lives Plus,
PSS CEO Lesley Dixon &
PSS Director of Services Chris Barker
There will also be workshops throughout the
day that you can attend while networking and
meeting new people.
refreshments will be available.
When?
Where?
9th June 2016
11am — 3pm
White Eagle Polish Club, Riverway,
Stafford, ST16 3TH
Call us to find out more: 01543 448 380
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Tell us
now
CQC is inspecting
West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS
Foundation Trust
in June 2016
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Self advocacy in Staffordshire
Self advocacy is when people
speak up for themselves and others to share
views, opinions and concerns.
works in Staffordshire with:
• adults and young people from age 14 with learning
disabilities and / or autistic spectrum conditions
• young people (age 14 to 24) with special
educational needs and disabilities
asist
You can contact
0300 800 1000
reach@asist.co.uk
www.asist.co.uk
Reach
Winton House
Stoke Road
Stoke-on-Trent
ST4 2RW
advocacy services. Registered Charity No. 1048075. Company No:3068125
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6

Have you been a patient here
in the past two years?
We recognise that an important part of getting things right
is to listen to you and really understand what it’s like to be a
patient or carer in our hospitals.
All the feedback heard at our ‘In Your Shoes’ listening
events will help us to learn what we need to do to make a
difference to patients in the future.
Please book your place!
See below for details
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Registered Charity number: 1062548
Please obtain vouchers stated above at NSCA information stand
MAC Sports and Leisure
Rosetree Ave, Trent Vale, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 6NL
Images may be captured during events organised by NSCA using
film photography, digital photography, video or other mediums.
Images may be used as publicity material and may be
provided to the media for publication. Unless express objections
are received, individuals attending an event organised by
NSCA are deemed to have given their consent by attending or
remaining at the event.
15

Healthwatch Staffordshire has some great volunteering
opportunities. Would you like to help shape the health and
social care services provided in Staffordshire? We are looking
for enthusiastic people to make the voices of Staffordshire
people heard. All training and travel expenses are provided. To
join our team Call 0800 051 8371 or email;
enquiries@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk to request an
application form.
NHS Complaints Advocacy Service
We provide a free, confidential and independent health
complaints advocacy service to support residents of
Staffordshire make complaints about their NHS care and
treatment. You can talk to us free on 0800 161 5600 or text 07724172811
for help with making a complaint. Talk to us - Make your voice count.
Introducing a new way
to share your views on
healthcare
We can also signpost you to local services and give you information on
what is available. For more information, visit our website at
www.healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk
@HWStaffordshire 08000518371
Healthwatch-Staffordshire
Impartial
Anonymous
Free
Experience Exchange lets you search for
and provide feedback on hundreds of health
and social care providers in Staffordshire.
www.healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk/x2
enquiries@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk
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