Dear Healthwatch Members
Welcome to our Winter Newsletter
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A Message From Our Chief Executive
‘Lockdown’ has been named the 2020 Collins Dictionary word of the year.
Others that made the top 10 list included furlough, key worker, self-isolate, social distancing and Coronavirus.
Most of us wouldn’t have ever used these words in everyday conversation before 2020, but now we are all too aware of them. I think they sum up what has been a really tough year for everyone and I hope you have managed to stay safe. Work, family and health have been disrupted in ways we couldn’t have imagined and the challenges continue.
That said, the seasons have come and gone with all their beauty and many of us have found a new appreciation for the outdoors and what our local communities offer. Other things changed too – for example the impact of Black Lives Matter led to greater understanding of injustice and racism and a drive to address issues. Across the country, applauding front line workers on Thursday evenings provided a communal way of thanking those who did such a brilliant job.
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Staying Well This Winter
Our local NHS services are here to help you stay well, safely. Do not delay getting help for your health this winter.
If you are worried, remember NHS and Social Care services are contactable and remain open. Depending on your symptoms, you can get advice from your local pharmacy, GP practice or NHS 111 (see story below). For minor health concerns, your local pharmacist can help. GP practices offer remote consultations online or by phone, or if you need a face-to-face appointment, they will tell you what to do to get this.
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NHS 111 First
To keep urgent NHS services safe and to make sure that they are available for everyone who needs them, an appointment system for urgent and emergency care is being introduced across the country from 1 December.
Unless you are very seriously ill or injured and need 999 emergency services, please go online to NHS 111 or ring for advice before leaving home.
From December onwards, if you arrive without a booked appointment at an emergency department, minor injury unit, urgent care or urgent treatment centre, you will be assessed by a senior nurse before being asked to contact NHS 111 to be triaged.
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Healthwatch Hertfordshire New Website
It’s time for a refresh!
The Healthwatch Hertfordshire website will be updated with a new look and feel in 2021, along with an easier, user-friendly navigation.
We are very excited about this change, and look forward to sharing it with you!
Further updates in the next newsletter.
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Getting Local Dentistry Back on Track
Healthwatch Hertfordshire has been rallying to help people struggling to access urgent dental care services during the pandemic, ensuring they get the treatment they desperately need.
When dental practices were forced to close their doors as Covid-19 hit, we started to hear from a lot of dental patients who had been denied help - even when in urgent need for assistance.
These experiences echoed those nationally, so we took your concerns directly to NHS England and Improvement (NHSEI) and the Local Dental Network for action to see what could be done.
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Covid-19 Patient Experiences – What did Hertfordshire learn?
During lockdown and beyond, communities celebrated the NHS and all those who put their own health at risk to deliver services during the pandemic. However, there were also considerable challenges and concerns raised both nationally and locally about how patients had been affected.
In surveys done by Healthwatch Hertfordshire during Covid-19, local people said poor access to dental services, an increase in mental health problems, communication failings and potential over-use of technology were key health issues that needed to be addressed as a result of the pandemic.
Healthwatch Hertfordshire undertook three surveys between May and July 2020 and key findings were published in the Covid-19 Patient Experience: Learning from Hertfordshire Report.
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Digitally Excluded During the Pandemic
During the Covid-19 outbreak, when Healthwatch Hertfordshire carried out its three online surveys, we wanted to ensure we also heard from those who did not have access to, or did not feel competent using the internet. So we carried out an additional piece of work to speak to those who had been digitally excluded during the pandemic and how it had affected their experiences.
What is digital exclusion?
Digital exclusion is the inability to access or use online products or services, which can result from multiple factors such as affordability, accessibility, lack of confidence, skills and trust.
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Don’t Rely on GP Websites for Cancer Information…
Speak to your GP
With the help of our volunteers, we checked 103 local GP websites and found that while most offered advice for patients about cancer, the quantity and quality of that advice was not always very good.
The aim of the audit was to find out how up to date GP websites were and if there was easily accessible cancer advice available for patients, particularly at a time when there would be an increase in people accessing online information.
We found that the best websites had a Cancer heading on the front page that took patients to the ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ page, telling them what to do if they had a symptom they thought might be cancer and when to contact their doctor. However, some sites had very outdated information and in some cases the links to online cancer information didn’t work.
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Bereavement Survey
Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care System would like to invite you to take part in a bereavement survey to gather information about your experiences of health care services in the last months and days of your loved one’s life.
If you would like to discuss this survey please contact Sue Plummer on the following details – sue.plummer@ghhospicecare.org.uk or on 07377 875384.
Your thoughts and comments will be greatly valued. Any information you provide is anonymous and will be used only for the purpose of monitoring and improving bereavement services.
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Travel with confidence during the pandemic in Herts taxis
Thanks to the new ‘Travel with Confidence’ scheme, people can feel more confident taking a taxi or minicab in Hertfordshire during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Drivers and operators are being offered free online training to keep themselves – and their passengers – safe during the Covid-19 pandemic. Those drivers who successfully complete the course and become accredited can display ‘Travel with Confidence’ stickers on their taxi or private hire vehicle.
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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.
It is 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.
New Monthly Groups
Caturday Cat Café
Make Do & Mend Group
Animal Magic
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