Healthwatch Torbay is the independent champion for health and social care in Torbay, South Devon, home to over 130,000 people in the three main coastal towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.
We take your experiences of using health and care services - both good and bad, and share these with those who have the power to make change happen.
From all of us here at Healthwatch Torbay, we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year!
From next week our offices will be closed to the public from 4pm Thursday 22nd December 2022, re-opening at 10am on Tuesday 3rd January 2023.
As a reminder, and we hope you don’t need these numbers over the festive period, but should you suffer a medical emergency please call 999, or for all non-urgent enquiries please call NHS 111.
NHS tells patients to continue to access emergency care during industrial action
People should continue to come forward for the care they need during industrial action, the NHS has said today.
Deputy chief nursing officer Charlotte McArdle said it is “vital” they come forward for emergency care during strikes.
The call follows messaging issued by the NHS last week across NHS websites and social media telling patients that those needing urgent medical care should continue to come forward, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
The NHS will contact anyone whose appointment has to be rescheduled due to strikes. If the NHS has not contacted you, please attend appointments as planned.
Patients should call 999 if it is a medical or mental health emergency (when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk), with ambulances prioritising situations with an immediate risk to life.
In non-life threatening situations alternative support will be available through NHS 111 online or through the NHS 111 phone line.
General Practice, community pharmacies, and dentistry are not impacted by the action.
Healthwatch Torbay are supporting Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust (TSDFT) to gather feedback from men about what matters to them about their health.
The information you share will be anonymised and shared within a report to TSDFT, which will help to inform them about the changes required to services they provide.
TSDFT provide joined up care across the community, delivering services from Torbay Hospital and community-based health and social care.
TSDFT are keen to find out what matters to men and help them improve their understanding of their health. They would be grateful if you could take the time to complete a short survey and share your views.
Are you suffering from low mood, anxiety, panic, fears or depression?
Has your experience of using NHS mental health and wellbeing services been good, or could it have been better? Are you getting the support you need?
Whatever your experience is, we would like to hear from you!
Pat Harris, Strategic Lead for Healthwatch in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, explains:
“Since the pandemic, we have seen a rise in public feedback on accessing services for help with low mood, anxiety and depression. A recent report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) highlighted very few positive experiences from patients using mental health services, with their findings suggesting that patient experience of them is at its lowest point in eight years.
“Ifyou, or someone you know, have been able or unable to get the mental health support needed from the NHS or a local service provider, please have your say by filling out our survey.
“Your voice will make a difference.We listen to your experiences and share these with organisations like NHS England because we all want to improve services and make a difference to people’s lives.
“We have read other useful recent reports about mental health services, but they haven’t yet reached people who have been unable to access the help they need in the first place. We would like to hear from you. Please have your say.”
It’s quick and easy to have your say, the first stage of the Healthwatch consultation is a survey, which is available to fill out online, or you can request a printed version by emailing info@hwdevon-plymouth-torbay.org or calling our freephone 0800 520 0640.
Come along to the Torbay SEND virtual drop in session
If you are a parent or carer of a child or young person aged from 0 to 25 years, with SEND (special educational needs or disability) we would like to invite you to join our next drop-in session with the Torbay SEND Team, Tuesday 3 January, 6-7pm .
They will be sharing with you the ways they are continuing to improve how they deliver as a partnership, services for children and young people with SEND, and their families. This session is also a place to share your views with them.
Please be mindful that as this is a group event, we will be unable to discuss individual children/young people.
HANDi Paediatric app: advice for common childhood conditions
Are you a parent, carer or guardian?
NHS Devon has developed the HANDi App to provide easy access to advice and support for the most common childhood healthcare conditions.
Parents can answer a series of questions about the symptoms their child is experiencing and the app then advises on the best course of action, whether that’s to treat at home, to make a GP appointment, or to head to A&E. This app gives parents more confidence in dealing with minor conditions at home.
Flu vaccination is important because, while flu is unpleasant for most people, it can be dangerous and even life threatening for some people, particularly those with certain health conditions.
The flu vaccine is given free on the NHS to adults who:
are 50 and over
have certain health conditions
are pregnant
are in long-stay residential care
receive a carer's allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick
live with someone who is more likely to get a severe infection due to a weakened immune system
If you're eligible for the free flu vaccine, it's likely you can get the COVID-19 seasonal booster.
SignHealth are a passionate and caring Deaf-led team working towards a future where there are no barriers to good health and wellbeing for Deaf people, they partner with the NHS and service providers across the country.
In 2020, we changed the way we produce our email newsletters, and will be using this version to share purely Healthwatch Torbay bulletins from now on.
If you would like to continue to receive a local in-depth email newsletter like this one from Engaging Communities South West, please click the link below to subscribe.
Healthwatch Torbay
Paignton Library & Information Centre
Great Western Road
Paignton
TQ4 5AG
Telephone: (Freephone) 0800 052 0029
Text Message: 07469 244112
Email: info@healthwatchtorbay.org.uk
Healthwatch Torbay is the independent champion for health and social care in Torbay, South Devon, home to over 130,000 people in the three main coastal towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.
