Newsletter - December 2023

Welcome to our December newsletter

Thank you to everyone who has engaged with us during 2023. Your contributions are invaluable in understanding people’s experiences of health and care.

We look forward to working with you in 2024 to support the continuous evolution of health and care services.

Keep safe and we hope you have an enjoyable festive period.

The Healthwatch East Sussex team.

This month our newsletter includes:

• Directors Update
• Latest news and updates
• Healthwatch -  What we have heard about health and care services in East Sussex
• Our volunteer activity

Directors Update

Your feedback and views have helped to identify what is working well and where improvements are needed, making a difference for you and others across East Sussex.

I would also like to thank our partners and our dedicated team of staff, volunteers and board members who have all contributed so much to our work over the past year.

Wishing you and your loved ones the best for 2024. 

Latest news and updates

Healthwatch Poll: Results for last month's poll

Last month we wanted to hear how confident you felt about accessing out-of-hours pharmacy services to obtain medication.  

Responses showed a majority of respondents (63.7%) possessed doubts (Not so confident/Not at all confident) about their ability to obtain prescription medication from a Pharmacy out-of-hours.

This contrasts with 36.4% respondents who felt Very or Somewhat Confident. No respondents felt Extremely confident. 

Remember, you can also share every experience you have with a pharmacy on our Feedback Centre here.  

What now?

Not having the right housing can be a huge challenge to mental health recovery and result in individual's mental health needs being met in inappropriate locations, such as inpatient mental health wards or emergency care settings.  

New processes now help clinical teams to quickly identify housing and homelessness needs as soon as people come into contact with SPFTs adult mental health services.

A new team of housing specialists, located with local authority housing partners, then work alongside people with housing needs to deliver housing advice, support, and interventions that prevent or relieve homelessness.

• The areas they hear about the most, including GPs, dentists, hospital discharge, elective care and social care.
• What it’s like to get help for life-changing issues, like cancer and mental ill health.
• Broader societal changes, including the cost of living, accessibility and advancing technology, and how these impact those using services.

The Endometriosis UK East Sussex Group will offer peer-to-peer support, and a chance to share stories, information and advice, both online and at in-person meet-ups and events.   

They welcome anyone impacted by the disease, including the friends and loved ones who support someone with endometriosis, and those who do not yet have a formal diagnosis. 

Anyone interested in joining the new group should request to join the ‘Endometriosis UK East Sussex Group’  Facebook page or email EastSussexGroup@endometriosis-uk.org.  

To find an open pharmacy near you over the Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays, you can visit the NHS England website here, or click the link below.

Sussex Pharmacy Opening Times 

A digital map of the pharmacies that will be open on the Bank Holidays has also been created, you can access the map via the link below.

Map – Sussex Pharmacy Opening Times 

It is a good idea to contact the pharmacy before attending to make sure they have got what you need.

The cold is not just uncomfortable but can be dangerous for those with pre-existing health issues such as heart and breathing conditions or children who are asthmatic. It also can have a negative impact on your mental wellbeing. 

The East Sussex Warm Home Check service provides free impartial energy advice and support and is available all year round. It helps you to improve the energy efficiency of your home meaning you can stay warm for less and reduce your home’s carbon emissions. The service also provides help, including heating repairs and small home improvements for those who are eligible.  

If you, or someone you know, is concerned about staying warm this winter, find out more about the Warm Home Check service.

You can apply by visiting the Keep Warm and Well website, texting WARM to 80011 or calling 0800 464 7307. 

Two types of volunteer roles are available, and you can give as much or as little time as you have available:

1. Engagement Community Ambassadors work alongside the Public Involvement team to reach into their local community, connect with local people and gather views on health and care services in the area.  

2. Strategic Community Ambassadors work with clinicians and managers on specific programmes, projects and tasks to represent the public and act as a “critical friend”. 

All volunteers have access to training and support and are reimbursed for reasonable expenses.  

NHS Sussex embraces diversity and equality and are committed to building a team of volunteers with a variety of backgrounds, skills and views.  

For further information and to apply please contact sxicb.canvolunteer@nhs.net   

The proposed initiatives are part of NHS England’s Outpatient Recovery and Transformation Programme, namely:

• Advice and Guidance – consultants providing advice to GPs directly.
• Utilising System Capacity (also known as patient choice) – offering alternative appointments outside the local area.
• Patient Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU) – patients given the choice to decide if and when they need a follow-up appointment.
• Reducing ‘Did Not Attends’ (DNAs) at Outpatient appointments.

More information on the four initiatives can be found here. 

Healthwatch -  What we have heard about health and care services in East Sussex

You Said: 

We heard from an individual who experienced trauma and neglect. After re-locating they felt lonely and isolated. They had sought mental support but were concerned about the wait. 

We Did: 

We listened to their needs and discussed the national and local support options available, giving details of the Sussex Mental Healthline. We also gave details of Eastbourne Samaritans who offer drop-ins, which the enquirer said they will attend. 

You Said: 

We heard from a vulnerable housebound enquirer seeking a COVID-19 vaccination at home. They had contacted their local NHS services, but not managed to arrange a visit. 

We Did: 

We acknowledged the caller’s anxiety and shared details provided by NHS Sussex indicating housebound patients will be contacted to arrange a visit by the Vaccination Team by the end of December 2023, which reassured them. 
 

You Said: 

We were contacted by a person with mental health issues, who wanted to discuss their medication with their GP and explore further support, but who was struggling to access appts. 

We Did: 

We suggested persevering with seeking an appointment with their GP to discuss their medication and needs, but also provided contact details for urgent mental health support options, which may help in the short-term. 

You Said: 

We received a request from a health and care service asking us to share any information we hold on a specific individual, especially their medical history. 

We Did: 

We clarified that Healthwatch doesn’t provide clinical services, nor do we hold or manage any patient records. Our role is to gather patient and public experiences and offer information and signposting support. 

Tell Us Your Experiences

Help and support with Health and Care

Our volunteer activity

We champion public and patient voice in health and care, we listen to people’s views and make sure they are heard by the people in charge.
 
Volunteer with us and make a real difference. We want to ensure all voices are heard and communities are represented.
 
Volunteering with Healthwatch East Sussex is very flexible and is designed to fit around your life.

Why volunteer with Healthwatch East Sussex?

 
When you volunteer with Healthwatch you will:

• Make a difference to your local community
• Use existing skills, knowledge and networks to help people be heard in your community
• Meet new people
• Enhance your skills and knowledge
• Have access to training and support 

Here’s what some of our volunteers have to say about their experience:
 
“I get a lot of satisfaction knowing what I am doing is ensuring that the patients voice is heard and represented in a constructive way. I also like working as part of a volunteer team making a difference to health and social care I have made lots of friends and met like-minded volunteers who also believe that patients need to be represented and heard to enable change in our community.”
 
“Young Healthwatch has given me insight into the importance of the public voice in improving the health and social care services they use…Young Healthwatch has motivated me to take forward what I’ve learnt (specifically about having independent champions of patient voices) to my career.”
 

For more information

For an informal chat about our volunteer roles, please email volunteer@escv.org.uk or call 0333 101 4007.