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Newsletter - April 2022

Welcome to our April newsletter

This month our newsletter includes:

Directors Update
As I write this update, the sun is shining and it’s almost warm enough for shirtsleeves for what feels like the first time since last year. The streets of Hastings, Eastbourne and Lewes are thronged with people shorn of their coats and the rural beauty spots are buzzing with insect life and the excited chatter of people enjoying the outdoors.
 
For Healthwatch, this return to something not unlike normal life after the horrors of COVID means we have turned our thoughts to resuming our face to face contact with members of the public. Our almost total reliance on online engagement over the past two years has meant we have not been able to communicate so much with people who choose not engage online or are not able to.
 
Our plans for resuming face to face activity have already started, most recently with our presence at the Voluntary Sector Alliance conference in Uckfield on the 20th April. Here we were able to see three dimensional versions of colleagues for the first time in two years and in some cases meet partners in the flesh for the very first time.
 
In July we will be holding our annual event in Uckfield and for the last two weeks in October we will be on the streets of Eastbourne as we resume our annual ‘Listening Tour’ where we engage with the public in multiple and diverse locations. We will also be resuming our ‘enter and view’ activity this year in multiple health and care settings.
 
We welcome working in partnership with individuals and organisations interested in learning more about the experience of the public when accessing health and care services or how they prevent ill health through their lifestyle choices. If you would like to join us in our face to face engagement activity this year, please get in touch!

Latest news and updates

Healthwatch Poll: 
 

As of April 1st free lateral flows tests (LFTs) are no longer available, except for those over-75s and over-12s with weakened immune systems and social care workers and NHS staff. For more information about the changes click here.
 
Please complete our simple one-question poll and tell us if these changes have affected your COVID-19 testing activity. 

We'll share the results in our next newsletter. 
Click here to take our poll!

Results for our March Poll

In March we asked you about any experiences you had using NHS 111 over the last 12 months. Please find a summary of the responses received below:

New videos explaining people's rights to an interpreter and how to access services


Sussex Interpreting Services (SIS) has created some short videos for people with language needs in Sussex. 
The videos explain:
  • People’s rights to interpreting at appointments with public services
  • How to contact SIS to book an interpreter for an appointment
  • How to contact SIS for other support e.g. making GP appointments, registering with a GP surgery, getting access to other public services or support.
There are currently seven different language versions: English, Arabic, Bengali, Farsi, Polish, Romanian and Spanish.
 
To view the videos please click here.

Information on health services for people arriving from Ukraine

As East Sussex welcomes people from Ukraine, Healthwatch East Sussex has drawn together some key information and advice on accessing health services and some key documents that have been translated into Ukrainian. 
 
The information can be found on the Healthwatch East Sussex website here.

NHS continues with spring booster vaccinations


The NHS has launched its COVID-19 Spring Booster Vaccination programme.
 
Across the UK, a second booster is being offered to:
  • adults aged 75 and over
  • residents in a care home for older adults
  • people aged 12 and over with weakened immune systems
The NHS will contact those who are eligible.
 
For more information about COVID-19 booster vaccinations click here

Mental Health Awareness Week 2022
 

Mental Health Awareness Week will run from 9th to 15th May.
 
The theme this year explores the impact of loneliness.
For more information about the awareness week, its focus and how you can support it please click here.
 
For further information and advice about loneliness please visit the Every Mind Matters Loneliness webpage here.

People who speak little or no English struggle at all points of their healthcare journey says new Healthwatch England research
Healthwatch England has published new research shining a light on the barriers and delays people with little or no English often experience during their healthcare journey.
 
The research includes information and recommendations aimed at supporting the NHS and health and care providers in ensuring everyone has equal access to health and care services, regardless of their communication and language needs.
 
Click here to read the findings.

Free 12-week digital weight loss platform from One You East Sussex


One You East Sussex has launched Gloji, a new free 12-week digital weight loss platform helping to re-educate people about their habits and behaviours around food.
 
It has been designed by GPs, dieticians, psychologists and health coaches and can be accessed online or via a phone, all your need is an internet connection.
 
For more information and to sign up click here.
 

HOSC review of proposals for Cardiology and Ophthalmology in East Sussex


The East Sussex Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC) has begun two separate reviews of the proposed changes to both acute cardiology and ophthalmology services in East Sussex and is looking to hear from residents.
The HOSC reviews are separate to the NHS public consultation which recently concluded.  The NHS public consultation outcomes are currently being independently analysed and will be used by HOSC as part of its evidence gathering.
 
Submit any comments to HOSC about either or both proposals by Friday 29th April 2022, please email: healthscrutiny@eastsussex.gov.uk.
 
For more information please click here.

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month


We're supporting Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, to raise awareness of the symptoms of bowel cancer:
  • bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo
  • a persistent and unexplained change in bowel habit
  • unexplained weight loss
  • extreme tiredness for no obvious reason
  • a pain or lump in your tummy
Most people with these symptoms don't have bowel cancer. But if you have one or more of these, or if things just don't feel right, see your GP.
 
For more information click here.

Sussex Health and Care Partnership: help improve community mental health across Sussex
 

Have you ever experienced mental health difficulties or do you provide care and support for someone who does?

The Sussex Health and Care Partnership want to hear from people who represent local communities to provide valuable expertise and guidance across a number of projects to transform Adult Community Mental Healthcare in Sussex.

Paid & Voluntary roles available. For more information view the leaflet here.
If you are interested in this work, please email: CommunityTransformation@sussexpartnership.nhs.uk

Health and Wellbeing Tips from our staff: Anywhere wellbeing
 

5 Minute Moments  - invite people to use 5 minutes per week or day to do a mini breathing exercise, mini stretching exercise, or to simply sit and do nothing - which is the beginning of the meditation process.
 
Meditation as a form of mindfulness can improve your well-being at no tangible cost.
 
More information on meditation and mindfulness is available from the charity Mind here.

Surveys and Engagement 

Healthwatch East Sussex survey into experiences of NHS 111
 

We have launched a survey to capture East Sussex residents’ experiences of using NHS111 services over the last 12 months (since March 2021).
 
We are particularly keen to hear:
  • Did the service meet your needs?
  • What was good?
  • What could be improved?
You can complete the survey in the following ways:
Online: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/HWESNHS1112022
 
By phone: 0333 101 4007 (lines open Mon-Fri 10am-2pm)
 
A copy of our survey can be downloaded here and returned to us via the address below:
 
By Post: Freepost RTTT-BYBX-KCEY, Healthwatch East Sussex, Greencoat House, 32 St Leonards Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 3UT
 
We can also set up telephone interviews by request.
 
The survey is open until the midnight on Sunday 15th May 2022 and all responses will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Healthwatch -  What we have heard about health and care services in East Sussex
During March, our Information and Signposting service received 37 enquiries related to health and care services, we heard most about GPs and Dentists.

GPs – you told us:

  • A key theme of the enquiries we receive continues to be about limited access to appointments. We are also continuing to hear about a limited availability of face-to-face appointments.
  • We have also heard from people this month who were not satisfied in the service received from their GP surgeries. 

Dentists  – you told us:

  • This month the majority of dental enquiries we received involved people struggling to find and registers with a dentist offering NHS appointments treatment.
  • Dentistry remains a key cause of concern for many local patients.
  • Last month we published two reports detailing people’s experiences of dentistry in East Sussex since March 2020. You can read the full reports and our recommendations here.
Remember – each and every time you use a health or care service you can leave a review on our Feedback Centre telling us and the public about your experience.

Our volunteer activity

Our volunteer activity this month
 

This is the start of an exciting time for our volunteers as we are busy planning to re-start our visiting services programme.

Our volunteers, known as ‘Authorised Representatives’ can visit health and care services as part of ‘Enter and View’ activity. Visiting services allows us to identify what is working well with services and where they could be improved.
 
We are recruiting new Authorised Representatives to support our ambitious plans for 2022/23 and you can read more about the role here.  There is lots of training on offer to support recruits as well as opportunities to make new friends. No professional experience is required, but you need to be over 18yrs and have an interest in health and care services.
 
We do have other roles available including supporting our Information and Signposting service in the community and undertaking Mystery Shopping activity.
 
For an informal chat, please contact Elizabeth Mackie on 07794 097719 or via elizabeth.mackie@escv.org.uk 
 
Not to be outdone… our Young Healthwatch Volunteers are also planning their next activity looking at how young people interact with their GP, knowledge and understanding of the role of GPs and how we can work with local youth and community groups to champion young patient experience and promote good mental health awareness. Check back soon for more.
 
Other key issues our Young Healthwatch seek to focus on in the future are:

  • Long referral times for Child and Adolescent Mental Health services (CAMHs)
  • Issues around eating disorders with young people being missed; and
  • The impact the pandemic has had on increased loneliness and anxiety within young people

For queries or suggestions regarding Young Healthwatch, or to become a Young Healthwatch volunteer or work with us on a project or activity, contact Ed Peasgood on ed.peasgood@escv.org.uk 
 
Find out more about our Young Healthwatch provisions by clicking here.
 
More information around all the activities we plan to look at this year will be published as part of our Priority Setting process together with a summary of last years priorities and achievements in our Annual Report for 2021/22.

Jobs

East Sussex Community Voice: Information and Signposting Advisor

Our host organisation East Sussex Community Voice currently has an exciting opportunity for a Information and Signposting Advisor, to deliver a core element of the Healthwatch East Sussex function.

This involves providing information, signposting, and non-clinical advice to the public on health and social care services in the East Sussex area.

For further information and to apply, please click on the job role below. Please note that the application form included in the job pack must be used and that CVs will not be accepted.

The deadline for applications is midnight 24th April
Information and Signposting Advisor

Events

Save the date - Healthwatch East Sussex Annual Event - 14th July 2022
On Thursday 14th July 2022, we are holding our Annual Event at Uckfield Civic Centre, 10am - 2pm. 

Please add the date to your diary now. More information and booking details will be coming soon!

Children and Young People’s Trust Partnership Event


The annual Children and Young People’s Trust partnership working event will be held at The Welcome Building, Devonshire Quarter, College Road, Eastbourne on Tuesday 3rd May.
The event will be an opportunity to
  • Hear directly from young people about their priorities
  • Showcase how organisations have worked in partnership to deliver better outcomes for children, young people and families
  • Contribute to the refresh of the Children and Young People’s Plan
For more information and to book your free place please click here.

Rother Community Network


The next Rother Community Network will be held on 20th May 2022 at Rye Creative Centre.
 
The day will be based around opportunities to network and join in conversations hosted by a range of local organisations and groups.
 
For more information and to confirm your place click here.

Training

Free Video Conferencing technology Training


Want to learn how to use Video Conferencing technology like Zoom?

Diversity Resource International (DRI) have put together some free Video Conferencing training to help East Sussex communities with remote communication and business meetings. 
Made possible with funding from the National Lottery, the free 20 minute videos hosted on YouTube can be made available in other foreign subtitles for anyone whose first language is not English.
 
For more information and to register click here.

Free ‘Think Carer’ Training


Care for the Carers deliver free Carer Awareness Training for professionals and volunteers in East Sussex to help people understand carer related themes.
Forthcoming 2022 dates:
  • Thursday 28th April, 10am – 12.30pm
  • Monday 16th May, 1.30pm – 4pm
  • Tuesday 7th June, 10am – 12.30pm
For further information or to book a place, please contact Carole Gregory:
Tel: 01323 738390
Email: caroleg@cftc.org.uk
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