In our final newsletter of the year, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who has engaged with us during 2024.
Your contributions are invaluable in understanding people’s experiences of health and care and have helped to identify what is working well and where improvements are needed for you and others across East Sussex.
I would also like to thank our incredible team of staff, volunteers, board members and our partners who have all contributed so much to our work over the past year. We look forward to working with you in 2025 to support the continuous evolution of health and care services.
Keep safe and we hope you have an enjoyable festive period.
Veronica Kirwan
Executive Director
East Sussex Community Voice delivering Healthwatch in East Sussex
Latest news and updates
Accessing health and care services over the festive period
Many health and care services change their working hours over Christmas and the New Year period.
We have drawn together some key information to help people navigate which services are open when, and how to get help and support if you need it.
Read the full article by clicking the button below:
What are your experiences of screening for bowel, breast and cervical cancer?
The three Sussex Healthwatch regularly collaborate as Healthwatch in Sussex to carry out short surveys to gather the views of people about health and social care services across East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton & Hove.
This month we’d like to hear people’s experiences of cancer screening during the last 24 months.
Tell us:
Which cancer screening, if any, you’ve accessed
How cancer screening is for you
Any barriers to cancer screening you faced
What you’d improve?
We'll use your responses to understand what is working well and where services can be improved.
Healthwatch East Sussex Information and Signposting Service Christmas Closure
Our Information and Signposting Service will be closed from 12pm on 24th December and re-open on Thursday 2nd January 2025.
During the closure, a voicemail service will be available for you to leave a message, or you can email it to enquiries@healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk.
Any enquiries received during our closure period will be responded to as promptly as possible when the service re-starts in January.
Our telephone service, 0333 101 4007, is normally available between 10am and 2pm, Monday to Friday.
If you would like to leave feedback about a specific health or care service, you are invited to submit a Feedback Centre review via our website.
New Care Quality Commission Inspection Reports Published
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.
Their reports tell the public and patients what they think about the quality of care provided by services. They are regularly published on the CQC website.
In the last month, 5 services in or serving East Sussex have had reports published about their CQC inspection. These relate to:
It’s normal to have days when you feel sad, anxious, or low. If you are struggling, remember that you’re not alone. Local mental health support is available to help you navigate tough times.
Take a moment to prioritise your mental health this holiday season.
Visit the Sussex Health & Care website to find resources, tips for looking after your mental wellbeing, and details about accessing support by clicking the button below.
East Sussex Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise Alliance: Our Journey – 12 months on.
The East Sussex VCSE Alliance have published ‘OurJourney – 12 months on’; a reflection on the work that has taken place in the last year.
The document provides a reminder about the Alliance, an update on their work and highlights the three principles of collaboration, accountability and generous leadership that all members are committed to.
This document demonstrates how the Alliance have been able to influence at strategic levels across Sussex, to improve local health, care and wellbeing and ensure the best outcomes for the people of East Sussex.
To read Our Journey – 12 months on, please click the button below.
Healthwatch East Sussex - Dentistry and Oral Health in Care Homes Report
In June 2024 Healthwatch East Sussex undertook ‘Enter and View’ visits to residential homes in East Sussex, talking to residents and staff about their experience of dentistry and oral health care.
We also engaged residents and staff on NHS Sussex proposals to pilot a domiciliary dental service to care home residents using dental therapists, with remote support from dentists.
Our report provides an overview of residents’ and staff views, including their broad support for the pilot project.
Our findings included:
different levels of access to dentistry amongst care home residents. There was a distinct difference between those who could afford private dental care and those residents who needed to access NHS dental services.
residents often reduced the regularity of their visits to dental care once they moved into a care home.
some residents reported having issues with oral health care.
issues with care homes getting residents to dental appointments.
there was general approval from both residents and staff for the concept of dental therapists carrying out visits to care homes and making oral health assessments.
all managers and senior staff in care homes thought that some form of training would be required for dental therapists to ensure they were suitably prepared and equipped to engage with the range of people living in care settings
all care homes stated that they carry out assessments of oral care for all residents.
To read the full report including a response from the British Society of Dental Hygiene & Therapy click the button below:
Christmas helplines for cancer patients and their loved ones
This Christmas there are several helplines available to support cancer patients and their loved ones including:
Macmillan Cancer Support: Their national support line will be open daily from 8am to 8pm. If you or someone you know is impacted by cancer, call their free helpline at 0808 808 00 00.
Marie Curie Support: Dedicated to patients with terminal illnesses, their loved ones, and those who are bereaved, Marie Curie’s support line is also open every day throughout the holidays. Call their free helpline at 0800 090 2309. For specific opening hours, visit the Marie Curie website.
NHS England South EastDiabetic Eye Screening Survey
NHS England South East want to hear people's experiences of Diabetic Eye Screening across the southeast of England.
Are you aged over 12 and diagnosed with diabetes, or do you care for someone who is?
Whether you have ever attended a diabetic eye screening appointment or not, NHS England South East want to hear from you!
By completing the short survey, you can help to improve local diabetic eye screening services.
The survey should only take 10 minutes, and you don’t need to give your name. You can get involved by completing the online survey via the button below:
Healthwatch East Sussex responds to Adult Social Care and Children’s Services savings proposals
Over the last few weeks, East Sussex County Council has been undertaking consultations on proposed changes to services across Adult Social Care and Health and Children’s Services.
We have published our response to the consultation on our website, setting out our reflections on the proposals, along with questions for the Council to consider during its decision-making.
Healthwatch uses your feedback with health and care decision-makers to seek a positive difference, and this document sets out the issues you raised and any changes you have helped us to deliver during November 2024.
You Said:
We heard from an enquirer no longer able to make their appointment with Health in Mind due to their caring responsibilities and unclear on how to contact them to reschedule.
We Did:
We provided contact details for Health in Mind and advised calling to discuss options. We also shared details of ESCC mental health supportpage for details of other mental health support and low-cost counselling.
You Said:
We were contacted by a person concerned they no longer received regular blood tests to check kidney and liver function, blood count and cholesterol.
We Did:
We acknowledged their concerns, contacted Sussex ICB on the individual’s behalf to ask what a patient should expect when on this medication and shared the feedback we received.
You Said:
We spoke to an individual who needed to lose weight for a planned operation, and wanted to know what support options were available to help them achieve this.
We Did:
We shared details of One You East Sussex, who offer weight management and healthy lifestyle support, and suggested speaking to their GP if specialist weight management services are needed.
You Said:
We heard from someone who was concerned their mobility was deteriorating and were struggling to move around their house. They may need a walking aid, but don’t know where to go.
We Did:
We shared details of Health and Social Care Connect, where they can request a care needs assessment and an adaptations and mobility assessment which aim to help people remain independent at home.
Tell Us Your Experiences
Please tell us your experiences of local health and care services via our Feedback Centre and let us know how this has been for you.
We want to hear if it has been good, bad or indifferent.
Help and support with Health and Care
If you need help or support related to health or care, then please contact our Information & Signposting Service via
Our volunteers have participated in engagement and partnership work with health and social care colleagues across East Sussex over the last month, which has included:
Two new volunteers being recruited following a successful visit to the University of Sussex Jobs and Volunteering Fair. Healthwatch and Young Healthwatch will continue to explore the recruitment of other young volunteers who could participate in future projects.
Young Healthwatch volunteers have participated in a visit to departments in Eastbourne District General Hospital that provide services to paediatric patients to better understand how services adapt to their needs.
Healthwatch volunteers revisited the Emergency Department's at the Conquest Hospital and Eastbourne District General Hospital in the first half of November to engage people on the factors that led them to attend.
Healthwatch has started a hospital discharge project with volunteers visiting the discharge lounge at the Conquest Hospital in Hastings to hear more about people's experiences.
Do you want to make a difference to health and social care in your area?
Then join our wonderful volunteer team!
Our volunteer opportunities are flexible, you can do as much or as little as you want and it can fit around what you already do.
We work across the county and can match you with opportunities that work for you.
Whatever your age or background we would love to talk to you.
If you are interested in becoming a Healthwatch volunteer, then please visit our website by clicking the button below.
