We recently received the sad news of the passing of Dr Isaac Suleman MBE. He was a volunteer with Healthwatch for 10 years. In that time he has made a real difference to the residents of East Sussex.
Using his knowledge and experience as a GP in the local area he helped inform our work.
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He enjoyed talking with patients and the public to better understand their experiences of health and care, ensuring they were heard, represented and listened to by decision makers.
He was well liked and respected by all staff, board members and volunteers at Healthwatch East Sussex and will be greatly missed.
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Our January newsletter
This month our newsletter includes:
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We’ve had a busy start to the year here at Healthwatch East Sussex.
Alongside planning our work programme for 2024-25, we’re finalising the report of our 2023 Rye Listening Tour and have recently published a number of new reports on our website here.
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We’ve also welcomed a new member to the team, Matthew Ryan who has joined us as our new Senior Engagement Officer. Matthew started in January, having previously worked in Adult Social Care for 15 years, including in a Neighbourhood Support Team in East Sussex.
He began his career in public and patient involvement and is passionate about supporting people to make a difference to local services, including people from marginalised communities. Matthew brings a wealth of skills and knowledge to Healthwatch, and we will draw on these over the next 12 months and beyond.
Veronica Kirwan
Executive Director
East Sussex Community Voice, delivering Healthwatch in East Sussex
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Healthwatch Poll:
Tells us your experience of using the 'Patient Knows Best' platform
This month we want to hear your experiences of using the digital platform Patient Knows Best, which is used by NHS practices and Hospitals in Sussex to host My Health and Care Record.
What works well? What could be improved? How has it helped you?
Please share your experience with us via our short poll.
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Quit Smoking this January
Quitting smoking is much easier with the right support. There are lots of options to choose from.
The Better Health website has lots of free tools and tips to help you get started and stay on track, including:
- Links to the NHS Quit Smoking App
- Details of the local quite smoking service
- Tips and Hints to support quitting smoking
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Keep warm this winter with a warm home check
The cold 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.
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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.
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National HIV Testing Week starts Monday 5th February
National HIV Testing Week is a campaign to promote regular testing in England.
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Regular testing helps to reduce the number of people living with undiagnosed HIV and those diagnosed late.
During the testing week people will be able to order either a free self-test kit for HIV or a self-sampling kit for HIV and syphilis.
For more information visit the link below.
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Older people’s mental wellbeing campaign: Don’t brush it under the carpet
A campaign to improve mental wellbeing and raise awareness of self-harm and suicide in older people has been launched by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust who deliver mental health, learning disability and neurodevelopmental services in Sussex.
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The ‘Don’t brush it under the carpet’ campaign aims to:
- reach and support older people who may be feeling depressed and alone, and guide them to the right support.
- raise awareness of the issue of self-harm and older people, amongst carers, family members and health professionals to enable them to support someone they know who may be struggling.
You can find out more about the campaign and the support available on the campaign webpage.
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Healthwatch England:
'What people told us about outpatient appointments'
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Healthwatch England looked at 879 pieces of feedback about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to outpatient care.
The stories people shared showed that people experience issues the whole way through the process, from first trying to book all the way up to attending their appointment.
The key themes in the feedback they looked at included:
- Poor administration
- Waiting times for appointments
- Getting to appointments
- Finding the right department
- The importance of staff attitude
- Service integration
As a result, they’re calling for:
- Integrated Care Boards (e.g. NHS Sussex) to support people waiting for NHS treatment, including support or signposting to help for their mental health.
- Services to improve communications with patients, so nobody feels forgotten or in limbo following delays and cancellations to outpatient appointments.
- NHS England and Integrated Care Boards to work together to ensure everyone choosing to travel for faster treatment is given support. This must include the costs of transport and accommodation. Otherwise, this option risks deepening health inequalities by only providing solutions to people who can afford to contribute towards the additional costs of travel.
- NHS England to restart their review of the Healthcare Travel Cost Scheme (HTCS). This must include work to reduce reimbursement time, improve usability, and support providers to offer to patients more proactively.
- NHS England and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to restart their annual outpatient survey, so people’s experiences of appointments can be benchmarked year on year. Work should also be announced to collect, report, and analyse real-time experiences of NHS care.
- GP and hospital teams to give patients a real choice at the point of referral to appointment types and times.
- ICBs to hire care navigators in secondary care to help guide patients through their care journey, including booking and modifying appointments.
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Are you a young person living in Sussex?
Becoming a Youth Consultant with NHS Sussex
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NHS Sussex are looking for young people aged 16-24 years to become Youth Consultants and help shape future NHS health and social care services in Sussex.
Youth Consultants support NHS Sussex to understand what is important to children and young people, and work to make sure that local health and care services are what they need. This could include:
- Going to meetings with healthcare professionals to talk about plans for services and sharing a young person’s perspective.
- Helping consult other children and young people by designing surveys or helping run workshops.
- Designing or reviewing information and communication materials aimed at children and young people.
This is a voluntary role, but NHS Sussex cover expenses and offer reward and recognition payments for some activities to make sure you aren’t out of pocket for taking part, and to recognise the valuable contribution you are making.
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