Healthwatch Torbay is the independent champion for health and social care in Torbay, South Devon, home to over 136,281 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.
Are you suffering from low mood, anxiety, panic, fears or depression?
70% of respondents, so far, rated their experience of mental health and wellbeing services in Torbay as POOR.
Have you, or someone you know, been suffering from low mood, anxiety, panic, fears or depression? Are you getting the support you need? Has your experience of using NHS mental health and wellbeing services been good, or could it have been better?
It’s quick and easy to share your experience with us by completing this anonymous online survey
YOUR voice will make a difference.
Healthwatch listens 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.
Healthwatch in the Commons: what our Healthwatch England national director told MPs
Healthwatch England’s national director has told MPs that integrated care systems (ICSs) need to value people’s experiences as much as numbers on a spreadsheet.
Louise Ansari was giving evidence in person on 17 January to the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee, which has been holding an inquiry session on the accountability and autonomy of the 42 new ICSs that launched last July.
Louise set out Healthwatch England’s position on various themes in answers to MPs, including:
GP services to open at Brixham Community Hospital in February
Two GP practices will be opening branch sites at Brixham Hospital next month, meaning there is improved access for people in Brixham and surrounding areas.
Compass House and Mayfield Medical Centre are co-locating at the hospital site, after a period of refurbishment, to offer local GP services from 20 February.
Mayfield Medical Centre, who took on the contract for the St Luke’s site in Brixham, had to make the difficult decision to temporarily close the Brixham site at the start of the pandemic as it didn’t meet the necessary safety measure for infection control. This meant that people registered with the practice who needed to be seen, had to travel to neighbouring Paignton for GP appointments.
With financial support from Brixham Hospital League of Friends, patients of both practices can now access GPs, phlebotomy, nurses and healthcare assistant appointments at Brixham Hospital as both practices expand their service.
Are you struggling to access health and care services this winter?
With the NHS under extra pressure this winter, we need to hear your experiences of care to help services understand what is working and spot issues affecting support for you and your loved ones.
The NHS is facing added pressures this winter. This means that it can be more challenging for people to receive the care they need.
Feedback from the public can play a vital role in helping health and social care services understand what is working and spot issues affecting the care of local people. This is why we have launched a campaign to get more people to share their experiences of care this winter.
If you or a loved one have used GPs, hospitals, pharmacies, care homes or other support services this winter, we want to hear about your experience.
NHSquicker was designed by the Health & Care IMPACT Network, a collaboration between health and care organisations and universities, primarily in the South West of England.
The purpose of the network is to improve delivery of health and care through applied research, knowledge dissemination and decision support. The IMPACT Network was founded through a collaboration between Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Exeter Business School.
The information is available based on your GPS location or the postcode you type in. Currently, NHSquicker covers information for people living, working or visiting Devon and Cornwall.
Multi-million-pound trial running at hospitals across the South West will help rapidly find flu treatments this winter
A new national trial platform aims to use pandemic lessons to help quickly find effective treatments for people hospitalised with severe flu.
There may be record numbers of flu cases this winter, and there is no clear evidence about how best to treat severe cases. Although many people with flu get better on their own without needing hospital treatment, it can make some people seriously ill and even be life threatening. Health officials and NHS leaders have warned 60,000 people could die this year from flu.
The following hospitals in the South West will be running the study: Derriford Hospital, Plymouth; Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton; Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro; Royal Devon University Hospital in Exeter; and Torbay Hospital.
It will be led by researchers and clinicians from Imperial College London and the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in collaboration with other national experts and is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and supported locally by the NIHR Clinical Research Network South West Peninsula.
Additional new courses coming up with potential for full funding (free tuition)
From South Devon College:
Level 2 Award in Suicide Awareness, gain an understanding and empathy if you may be personally or professionally called upon to support someone.
Contact Louise - louisenorthcott@southdevon.ac.uk
Level 2 & 3 Diploma in Adult Care Work - we are still asked about NVQ's and do we do them? Yes we do!! Speak to Sally sfreeman@southdevon.ac.uk if you are an employer looking to provide education and training or an individual looking to retrain, we are in contact with employers who may support you with a training placement.
Level 1 Higher Development Award - are you a health and social care employee/employer within Devon or Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust with support staff who would like to start their career progression journey.
This funded training will provide the opportunity to introduce skills to include, communication, problem solving, personal development, maths and English development and a project based in your current role supported by your manager.
The map shows the locations of all of our Healthwatch Assist Network members.
Our Assist Network allows us to build links with communities so we can gather information about the health and care services they use. We simply want to know what is and is not working. This information is fed back into the community and shared with key healthcare decision makers who can learn from good practice and make improvements to local services.
Can't see your community group on the map? Join the Network today and become an Assist member to join the map with so many others!
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.
Engaging Communities South West (ECSW) are the inclusive, innovative and independent champion for the aspirations of local people who manage the contract for Healthwatch Torbay and run other different community projects.
If you would like to receive the ECSW email newsletter, 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 136,281 people in the three main coastal towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.
