Welcome to our June newsletter
This month our newsletter includes:
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Isn’t it lovely to finally see the sunshine - as always, the month of June is a busy one for us here at Healthwatch East Sussex as we are in the process of putting the final touches to our 2023-24 Annual Report, finalising plans for our 2024 Annual Event and continuing work on a range of projects listening to and sharing your experiences of local health and care.
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The first week of June is also Volunteers Week, an opportunity to say a huge thank you to our wonderful volunteers, who are essential to all that we do. On the 3rd June we held a thank you event to celebrate the hard work of our volunteers. The event included a guest speaker who shared with us, the history of the banoffee pie, which was created right here in East Sussex.
To find out more about volunteers week you can visit our website here, or if you are interested in volunteering with Healthwatch and want to find out more click here.
Veronica Kirwan
Chief Executive
East Sussex Community Voice delivering Healthwatch in East Sussex
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Healthwatch East Sussex Annual Event 2024:
'Building Better Health and Care'
Thursday 18th July - 12.30pm to 4.00pm
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Join us at our 2024 Annual Event to hear about our work and to share your experiences.
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With local people's feedback, Healthwatch will continue to champion patient voice and help improve health and social care services for everyone.
Patients, partners and the public are welcome to join us at The View Hotel, Eastbourne in:
- Discussing key health and care themes
- Celebrating our activity from the last year
- Setting out our plans for 2024-25
Bookings for the event are via Eventbrite, and you can book a place by clicking on the link below and following the instructions:
Healthwatch East Sussex 2024 Annual Event Eventbrite
Please note that places are limited and will be provided on a first-come-first served basis.
The deadline for booking places is midnight on Sunday 14th July
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Tell us your experiences of using eConsult
eConsult is a free online platform that allows you to get help and advice from your NHS GP practice.
You can use it to let a GP know about any symptoms you’re having, ask a question or follow up about something. This could be either your own health or on behalf of someone you care for.
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Healthwatch in Sussex as the local independent watchdog for health and care would like to hear about your most recent experience of eConsult, including what works well and where it could be improved, through our short six question poll.
Tell Us:
- How useful eConsult is for you?
- Whether eConsult meets your needs?
- What you’d improve?
Closing date: midnight on Sunday 30th June 2024.
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Get the help you need with the dental helpline
The Sussex Dental Helpline is available to help people access the dental care they need, as quickly and conveniently as possible.
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If you, or people you support, need an NHS Dentist, you can search for one on the NHS Find a Dentist website.
You can also call the Sussex Dental Helpline to speak to a trained professional who can help you find a dentist taking on NHS patients or refer you for urgent care.
Call the Sussex Dental Helpline on 0300 123 1663 between 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, for free help and advice, or email: kcht.dentalhelpdesk@nhs.net
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heatAlert Service now live
heatAlert is a free service for the people of Sussex that alerts you by text, voicemail or email when there are heatwaves or very hot temperatures forecast in your area.
It provides information about when, where and how long the weather is forecast. By providing advance warning of heatwaves there is time for you to plan and take preventative action.
The service runs from June to September.
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NHS Sussex welcomes 14 new Youth Consultants
In late May, NHS Sussex welcomed 14 new Youth Consultants.
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Youth Consultants are volunteers aged 16-24 available to help shape health and care services.
The group came together to learn more about the health and care system, the Youth Consultant role and how they can support tackling health inequalities and improving services.
Stephen Lightfoot, Chair of NHS Sussex, briefed the group on the work being done through the Improving Lives Together Strategy, and explained why it’s so important that they hear the views of children and young people as part of their commitment to working with people and communities.
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FREE ONLINE EVENT: Diabetes and Kidney Health
Join Diabetes UK South East Coast and London for an online event for people living with and affected by diabetes.
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The event will be joined by Hellena Habte-Asres, Lead Clinical Academic Research Nurse in Diabetes & Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), who will be discussing the link between diabetes and kidney disease, and why it’s important to have your kidney health checked at your annual diabetes review.
If you are living with or affected by diabetes or are a healthcare professional, please join us for this free, online event.
When: Tuesday, 2 July 2024, 12 noon to 1.30pm
Where: Zoom
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Are you seeking information for support with the cost of living?
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To help people find and navigate the information they may need on cost-of-living, East Sussex County Council have a one-stop website which brings together links to key information.
The page draws together details on:
- Money help and advice
- Your mental health
- Help with benefits
- Your home
- Employment and learning
- Transport
- GOV.UK Help for Households
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Learning Disability Week, 17th-23rd June:
Supporting people with a learning disability to access healthcare
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This year’s Learning Disability Week (17th to 23rd May), run by MENCAP, focuses on the theme ‘Do you See Me?’, which highlights the importance for people with learning disabilities in being heard, seen and valued.
People with a learning disability can suffer poorer health outcomes than the general population, due to inequalities in access to healthcare services.
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If you have a learning disability, you can ask to join your GP’s learning disability register to help you get the health care you need. This will make it easier to ask for support such as extra time at appointments, help to understand what your doctor says, and ensure you get your invite to an annual check-up.
The East Sussex Learning Disability and Autism Health Facilitation Team offer support to people aged 14 and above to access health services and stay healthy. An information leaflet with further information is available here.
The team can be contacted by:
Email: sxicb.ldahfteastsussex@nhs.net
Phone: 07717 421948
To find out more about the learning disability register and annual health checks, follow the link below:
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Hellingly Young @ Heart Group
Are you over 55, live in Hellingly, like to stay active, socialise and make new friends?
Hellingly Young @ Heart social group on a Monday morning is a free, fun, friendly & entertaining social group.
When: Mondays 10:30am -12:30pm
Where: The Hellingly Community Hub.
New members are welcome.
For more information contact Sue via:
sue@communityclubs-pc.org.uk
01323 449415
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