Welcome to our Summer Newsletter

Dear Healthwatch Members

A Message from Our Chief Executive

I hope you and your families have kept safe and well at this unprecedented and challenging time.
When I last wrote an article for the newsletter it was April, lockdown was in operation, and the NHS and Social Care focus was on managing the pandemic. Three months on, our health and care services are implementing ‘restart’ and this includes addressing people’s non-covid health and care needs, alongside continuing to manage covid-19.
In this article, I have reflected on learning from the pandemic from a Healthwatch and patient perspective. I have also written about the disparities of the impact of the virus particularly on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. I also cover the other big international development of the last few months - the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Stay Alert, Control the Virus,
Save Lives

COVID-19 Sources of Help

Latest Information from the Government and NHS
Coronavirus (Covid-19): what you need to do: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
The latest medical advice from the NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

If you need our help, we are still available and we will aim to respond within 5 working days.
Phone: 01707 275978
Email: info@healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk
Website Contact Form: https://www.healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk/contact/

Helping to shape and improve Health and Social Care Services in Hertfordshire

Healthwatch Hertfordshire Annual Report 2019/20

Our Annual Report 2019/20 is now published and available to read by clicking on the front page image above.

The report is full of information about the work that we have been doing over the past year to hear the patient voice in Hertfordshire and to recommend improvements to health and social care services. A lot has happened in health and social care, even before the pandemic occurred, and the report highlights some of our achievements at both a national and local level.

Healthwatch Hertfordshire – Annual General Meeting (AGM)

To hold an AGM is important for Healthwatch Hertfordshire and other charitable organisations. The agenda includes certain mandatory activities, for example:

Appointment or re-election of Trustees
Receiving and signing off the Annual Accounts and
Hearing about the highlights from the past year

The AGM historically takes place during the summer at an external venue and we invite a Keynote Speaker. Last year, Imelda Redmond CBE, who is the National Director of Healthwatch England, was able to join us and we were delighted with a good attendance from our members and volunteers.

This year for the first time and due to the pandemic it was a very different experience as we held the 2020 AGM virtually via Zoom on Tuesday 21 July 2020. We focused on the formal business with Trustees attending to fulfil their governance responsibilities.

Opportunities to get involved...

Veterans to have their say about Access to Healthcare

Did you know that according to ONS data, there are approximately 36,000 veterans living in Hertfordshire? However, as in other parts of the country, there is relatively little data on specific health issues or priorities of the veteran community.
We have just launched a new project working in collaboration with the Hertfordshire Armed Forces Covenant Board, promoted locally as Hertfordshire Heroes, to improve our understanding of the healthcare experiences, needs and priorities of veterans in Hertfordshire.
The aim is to support the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a promise from the nation to treat members of the Armed Forces fairly, including ensuring that veteran’s healthcare needs are being met.
The evidence we gain from engaging with veterans will help to inform service providers and commissioners and make positive changes to services for veterans.
If you are a veteran who is accessing health services in Hertfordshire and would like to get involved, please click here,
or call us on 01707 275978.

Hertfordshire & West Essex Integrated Care System Personalised Care Programme

The Hertfordshire & West Essex Personalised Care Programme supports the delivery of the National Health Service England (NHSE) Universal Personalised Care model and, is focused on embedding person centred care across our integrated care system in partnership with commissioners, physical and mental health, social care and the voluntary sector. As part of this programme, we are exploring payroll provider solutions to support the delivery of personal health budgets locally.
If you are in receipt of a personal health budget, direct payment or use a payroll provider we would really like to hear from you. We need your experience and knowledge to assist with influencing, shaping and coproducing a solution to meet the needs of people locally. If you would like to participate and share your views please contact us on 01707 275978 or email us at info@healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk.

Shaping our Future - Your Views on Adult Care Services

Hertfordshire County Council, Adult Care Services are running a short survey to give people an opportunity to comment on how they have delivered services over the last couple of years, where they need to improve and what your priorities are for the future.
The Adult Care Services Three Year Plan runs from April 2018 to March 2021 and is available to read here on their website.

If you have experience of using Adult Care Services, they want to hear your views on what has worked well, what could be done differently and what they need to prioritise in the future. This will help them to improve services and shape their next plan for the future.
Please complete the short survey, which is available here before the 7^th August 2020.

Projects by Partner Organisations

New stakeholder Newsletter
The East of England Ambulance NHS Trust Service (EEAST) has recently published the second edition of a new stakeholder Newsletter. The newsletter, called InTouch EEAST, contains an update from their new Chief Executive, Dorothy Hosein and highlights of their most recent news and information. To receive a regular newsletter by email you can sign up here.

Viewpoint is a user involvement charity for people to share their personal experiences on drugs, alcohol and mental health in order to influence positive change.
They are the only organisation of its kind (dealing with drugs, alcohol and mental health) in Hertfordshire to focus on giving people a voice to influence change. Hearing user feedback and carrying out surveys provides Viewpoint with valuable advice to help others.
Digital Questionnaire
Their latest survey for users of the service is a digital questionnaire, which aims to test out access to technology. The survey is available on their website using this link and runs until the end of September 2020.

Viewpoint's Virtual Activities and Volunteers

"Our Zoom activities are for everyone; our aim is to reduce isolation and stay connected during this hard time. An example of some of the activities we are running are Poetry, Mindfulness, Spirituality, Knit and Natter, Quizzes and Peer support. You can find a link to our schedule and step-by-step guides on using zoom on our website: www.hertsviewpoint.co.uk

Our volunteers are also calling Viewpoint members each week to provide a listening ear, links to other services and to monitor general well-being during these unprecedented times. We wanted to provide telephone support to alleviate loneliness and social isolation and help to build confidence and social connections.

If you would like a call from one of our telephone volunteers or you are interested in becoming a Viewpoint telephone volunteer yourself please contact Leslie Billy on 01707 386136 or info@hertsviewpoint.co.uk"

Please continue to visit our website and we will continue to keep you informed of developments. Everyone at Healthwatch Hertfordshire wishes that you stay safe and healthy.