Healthwatch Voices Winter Issue - have you read it yet?

Join our Think 111 First forums

15 people have already secured their place in our forum. They want to share their thoughts on the awareness and the effectiveness of the ‘Think 111 First’ marketing materials to help improve the service.

Would you like to join them and have your say? Please contact David Kinross, email dkinross@hwdevon-plymouth-torbay.org

Call for people aged 70 and over to contact NHS for a COVID jab

People aged 70 and over who have not yet been vaccinated against COVID and who would like to be are today being asked to contact the NHS to arrange a jab.

Until now the NHS has asked people to wait until they are contacted to help ensure that those who are most vulnerable are protected first – and that remains the case for most people.

However, to ensure absolutely everyone is offered the vaccine, people aged 70 and over can now contact the NHS so they can be vaccinated by the middle of this month.

The easiest way to arrange a vaccination is through the national booking service which can be accessed at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination.

The system allows patients to choose a time slot and location that suits them.

Anyone unable to book online can call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week.

NHS sets out how to access the coronavirus vaccination in Devon

The NHS in Devon is giving details on the different ways local people can access the life-saving coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination in the county, as thousands of people are vaccinated every day.

Healthwatch England warns of dentistry crisis as public concerns continue

• New data gathered by Healthwatch England shows access to NHS dentistry remains a huge problem for the public amid the COVID-19 pandemic
• Low-income households at greater risk of being denied treatment where only private appointments are available
• Healthwatch calls on Government, the NHS and the dental profession to work with patients to fix systemic issues in dental care

Healthwatch England warns urgent action is needed to address issues with access to NHS dental care as public concerns persist. Healthwatch continues to hear concerns about dentistry which were highlighted at the end of last year in the Dentistry and the impact of COVID-19 report after the patient champion saw a 452% rise in calls and complaints over the summer (July – September). In a follow-up review, Healthwatch looked at 1,129 people’s experiences of accessing dental care received between October and December 2020.

NHS Easy Read Newsletters

Find information about staying safe from Coronavirus and news about Key Workers for children and young people.

You can email engage@nhs.net if you would like a paper copy, or copies for group members.

Virtual HOPE Programme for Postnatal Emotional Wellbeing

Have your say on your local Community Equipment Service

It’s Torbay Prostate Support Association donates £65,000 to Torbay Hospital

Torbay Prostate Support Association (TPSA) have recently donated £65000 to the Urology Department at Torbay Hospital for a new BK3000 Ultras High Resolution Ultrasound System.

FROM TORBAY COUNCIL

In Torbay, Torbay Council has the responsibility to provide a range of services to promote healthy behaviours. This service is provided by the NHS and is called ‘Torbay Healthy Lifestyles‘ Service.

It provides help to people in Torbay for things like:

• stopping smoking
• weight loss support,
• advice and information on how to become physically active,
• advice on alcohol use
• advice on emotional health and wellbeing.

Torbay Council has designed a feedback survey for people who have recently had contact with, or have used the Healthy Lifestyles Service, to find out what works and how it could be improved.

We want to understand your views and experiences with the service(s) you used and would be grateful if you could help us improve them by completing this survey.

Your response is anonymous. We will not be able to tell who has completed the survey.

If you need this survey in another format please email publichealth@torbay.gov.uk

Congratulations to our very own Ola, who has just completed her MSc in Health Psychology at the University of Derby, accredited by the British Psychological Society and has been awarded the Degree of Master of Science MERIT in Health Psychology.

Ola completed seven different modules and a research dissertation on various topics, including Psychology of Health and Illness, Health Promotion and Behaviour Change, Living with Long Term Conditions and a Research Project dissertation in Health Psychology – exploring the psychosocial impact on family members of living with someone with alcohol problems.

Ola is currently working with BBC Radio Devon on producing a series of health updates in her native language – Polish.

You can read more about her role with Healthwatch by clicking the button below.