Posts
Rising cost of living – local resources
The rising cost of living is having an effect on households and organisations across the country. With energy bills rising, it can be difficult to afford household bills, food and other living expenses.
VONNE – Voluntary Organisations’ Network North East – has put together a list of useful resources and information to explain more about the rising cost of living with tips on how to reduce your bills and stay safe this winter.
Online event – Qwell
Join us on Friday 11 November to hear from Andrew Poinen, Engagement Lead for Kooth and Qwell.
In this free, online public event Andrew will provide an overview of Qwell, the online service available for adults aged 18 and over in Northumberland which provides free, safe and anonymous mental health and wellbeing support.
We will hear what it involves, how to access it and there will be a chance to ask questions.
Register now and we will send you a link to join closer to the event:
This event has now passed
Share your experiences of GP referrals
Have you been referred by your GP practice to a specialist for tests, diagnosis or treatment? Or have you expected or requested a referral but didn’t get one? We’d like to hear about your experiences to help the NHS understand what is working and what could be better.
The survey will only take a few minutes of your time and any information you share will be anonymised.
What is a GP referral?
It’s when a GP or other medical professional at a GP practice sends you to a specialist at a hospital or community clinic for further tests, diagnosis or treatment. Your GP could make a referral for many reasons, such as a hip replacement, MRI scan, physio, mental health services, endoscopy and more. A referral can happen during a phone or face-to-face appointment.
Online event – Royal Osteoporosis Society
Join us on Friday 14 October, 1pm-2pm, to hear a presentation from Janet Boyd, a volunteer from the Royal Osteoporosis Society.
In this free, online public event Janet will provide an overview of osteoporosis, including signs and symptoms, risk factors, effects of osteoporosis and how to maintain good bone health.
We will also hear about local and national Royal Osteoporosis Society services, including support for people with osteoporosis and their carers, how to access advice and information and opportunities for volunteering. There will be a chance to ask questions.
Register now and we will send you a link to join closer to the event:
Share your views about GP referrals
Have you or your loved one struggled to get a GP referral for tests or treatment?
Healthwatch England has been hearing from the public about how hard it can be to get a GP practice referral to another NHS service, and they would like to hear about your experiences.
GPs are the first point of call for many health issues and the gateway to specialist support. But with many GP surgeries stretched thin and under pressure, NHS decision-makers need to understand if people are finding it difficult to get the right help.
Examples of services your GP can refer you to include:
- Scans or tests for a diagnosis of a condition or health issue
- Mental health support
- Surgery for knees, hips and eyes
- Support like physiotherapy for back pain or arthritis
- Non-urgent heart problems
- Wellbeing services, like smoking cessation or diabetes management.
The impact of delayed referrals
GP referrals affect people of every age group, every background, and every region across the country. Some of the things patients have said include:
- People feel like their symptoms are dismissed
- They have to try multiple times before they’re successful
- They are left in the dark about how serious their condition is.
Share your views
As the independent champion of health and social care services, we want to hear your experiences of trying to get specialist NHS support, like physiotherapy, talking therapies, hospital scans and consultations.
By sharing your story, we can use your feedback to help the NHS better understand your challenges and improve how people access the care they need.
Find out more about GP referrals
This piece of work has now ended.
Have your say on Northumberland’s Family Hubs
Northumberland’s Children’s Centres will relaunch as Family Hubs in Autumn 2022 and residents are being asked for their views to help shape the plans.
The Children’s Centres currently provide a wide range of support services for children aged 0-5 and their families. As Family Hubs, this support will be rolled out to all young people extending the age range to 0-19 and to 25 for anyone with additional needs.
The Hubs will be in the heart of their communities, with midwives, health visitors, early years and mental health professionals, youth workers, and a host of other services – including relationship, parenting, and financial advice – brought together into a one-stop-shop that meets the needs of family life for young people of all ages.
Family Hubs will build on lessons learned during the pandemic and will offer online and virtual services too, so that support can be accessible in the right way, and the right place, at the right time.
Online Event – Asthma+Lung UK
Join us on Friday 12 August, 1pm-2pm to hear a presentation from Nick Powell from Asthma+Lung UK.
In this free, online public event Nick will provide a brief overview of asthma, COPD, mesothelioma and other lung conditions.
We will also hear about the national and local support available from Asthma+Lung UK. There will be a chance to ask questions.
Register now and we will send you a link to join closer to the event:
This event has now passed.
Have your say on diabetic eye screening
NHS England would like to hear from people with diabetes and those who support them, about their views on diabetic eye screening and how to improve the service in the future.
The Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP) aims to reduce the risk of sight loss amongst those living with diabetes by early identification and effective treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
The screening programme invites anyone with diabetes aged 12 years or over for digital eye screening once a year. Your views will help shape the way the screening programme is delivered going forward.
You can also give your views for improving the service by emailing: Trudie.metcalfe@nhs.net
All feedback should be submitted by Saturday 6 August 2022.
Read more about diabetic eye screening (including Easy Read)
If you would like to tell us about any diabetes or eye health services you have used recently please get in touch.
Home care services in Northumberland
Home care services are a vital way to support people by meeting their health and social care needs in their own homes.
‘Understanding the experiences of people using home care services, then, now and in the future’ was a project designed to find out the experiences of people using services and their family carers in Northumberland. We wanted to find out what is working well for people and also make recommendations for changes or improvements to services, based on what people told us.
This is particularly important at present given the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on those using home care services and their families, and the need to prepare for similar situations in the future.
We also wanted to follow up and extend on our previous work which focused specifically on the Coquet Valley, by gathering the views of people throughout Northumberland. Read Home Care Provision in Coquetdale.
This report is an overview of the findings and draws out key recommendations on the issues raised by those who use services and their carers. We have indicated where the recommendations are for Northumberland County Council Adults Social Care commissioners (ASC) or service providers (SP).
Read our findings and recommendations below:
Events
Monthly Drop-in – Blyth Community Hub
Each month we’ll be holding drop-in sessions, in all five local council areas of the county. These new drop-ins are a chance for residents to tell us 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
You can also tell us your thoughts and experiences of NHS and care services over the last 12 months in our short survey – get a free pen or stress ball in return for leaving feedback. Or
Monthly Drop-in – Berwick Sports and Leisure Centre
Each month we’ll be holding drop-in sessions, in all five local council areas of the county. These drop-in sessions are a chance for residents to tell us 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 Berwick Sports and Leisure Centre, TD15 2AS on the second Wednesday of the month, 11.00am – 1.00pm.
See details of other drop-in sessions
You can also tell us your thoughts and experiences of NHS and care services over the last 12 months in our short survey – get a free pen or stress ball in return for leaving feedback. Or
Online event – ME/CFS and Long Covid
Join us to hear from Russell Fleming, Communications Manager from the ME Association. This is the rescheduled date for December’s cancelled event.
Russell has had ME/CFS for 22 years but in recent years has been able to return to work for the national charity. The ME Association provides support and information to those affected, training and advice to health and social care professionals and funds medical research in the hope that one day there will be effective treatments and even a cure.
It also provides advice and support around Long Covid due to its many similarities with ME. We will hear an overview of ME and Long Covid, management techniques and support available nationally and locally.
There will also be a chance to ask questions.
Register now and we will send you a link to join closer to the event: bit.ly/ME-Association-event-Jan-23
SeaFit health drop-in event in Amble
We’re joining the Fishermen’s Mission‘s health drop-in event in Amble on Wednesday 25 January, 1pm-3pm. SeaFit events bring together organisations providing health information and health screening for fishermen and the wider community.
Call by and pick up some information, leave feedback about using health and social care services and grab yourself some of our giveaway items.
Also there on the day will be a GP, health and wellbeing coaches, First Contact physiotherapy, a mental health practitioner, pharmacy technician, and information about prostate cancer.
Care Home Online Forum
Please join us for our next online care home forum on Monday 9 January, 10am – 11.30am via Zoom.
At our next forum we will be hearing from Alan Curry, Senior Manager – Commissioning Northumberland County Council who will be there to give us an overview on the current situation for Northumberland care homes including information and guidance around care home respite and planned hospital discharge into care homes and associated challenges.
We would also like to hear from you about your current experiences of visiting your loved ones in care homes and your experiences of accessing care home respite or care home placement following a planned discharge from hospital.
To register for a space or give feedback outside the forum please email: info@healthwatchnorthumberland.co.uk or call us on 03332 408468.
Online event – ME/CFS and Long Covid
Join us to hear from Russell Fleming, Communications Manager from the ME Association.
Russell has had ME/CFS for 22 years but in recent years has been able to return to work for the national charity. The ME Association provides support and information to those affected, training and advice to health and social care professionals and funds medical research in the hope that one day there will be effective treatments and even a cure.
It also provides advice and support around Long Covid due to its many similarities with ME. We will hear an overview of ME and Long Covid, management techniques and support available nationally and locally.
There will also be a chance to ask questions.
Register now and we will send you a link to join closer to the event: bit.ly/ME-Association-Dec-22
Monthly drop-in – Prudhoe Spetchells Centre
Each month we’ll be holding drop-in sessions in all five local council areas of the county. These drop-in sessions are a chance for residents to tell us 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 the Spetchells Centre, Prudhoe, NE42 5AA on the third Thursday of the month, 11.00am – 1.00pm.
Monthly Drop-in – Blyth Community Hub
Each month we’ll be holding drop-in sessions, in all five local council areas of the county. These new drop-ins are a chance for residents to tell us 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.
Monthly Drop-in – Berwick Sports and Leisure Centre
Each month we’ll be holding drop-in sessions, in all five local council areas of the county. These drop-in sessions are a chance for residents to tell us 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 Berwick Sports and Leisure Centre, TD15 2AS on the second Wednesday of the month, 11.00am – 1.00pm.
Carer Workshop – Planning Ahead
Join Carers Northumberland to find out more information about planning for the future. The session will discuss Emergency Care Plans, Lasting Powers of Attorney and more.
Venue: Newcastle Building Society, 1-2 Beaumont St, Hexham, NE46 3LZ
Booking is essential for this event. For further details and booking please call 01670 320 025.
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.
