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.
The latest data released by NHS England shows that number of people waiting more than 12 hours in A&E departments in England from a decision to admit to actually being admitted went down by more than a fifth in a month.
In total, 42,735 people waited longer than 12 hours in January, which is down 22% from a record 54,532 in December.
Healthwatch England have responded:
“A&E departments have been under great pressure this winter, and public confidence in urgent and emergency care has fallen.
Last week NHS England published their urgent and emergency care recovery plan, which sets out concrete ambitions to ensure patients are seen more quickly by ambulances and in emergency departments.
Yet, at the same time, NHS England lowered the national performance target against the four-hour waiting time standard from 95% to 76%.
While the latest figures show signs of improvements to the four-hour target and indicate that the heroic efforts of doctors, nurses and paramedics have started to turn the tide, there is still a long way to go.
Importantly, managing pressures and focusing on short-term improvements should come alongside a longer-term ambition to return to previous levels of service, as promised to patients in the NHS constitution. We know this won’t happen overnight, but we need to see a trajectory of recovery, taking patients and families on a journey with the NHS without compromising on quality of care.
To help rebuild public confidence while tackling systemic challenges, including workforce pressures, the NHS can also share additional information with patients on the areas we know are most important to patients when seeking urgent care. People have told us these include: how long they will wait to get assessed, and being prioritised if their condition is more serious.”
Show NHS people some love – please vote for your winner of the Our People’s Choice Award
Members of the public are being called on to vote for their local NHS star in Torbay and South NHS Foundation Trust’s Our People’s Choice Award.
Since Torbay and South Devon launched its renewed staff recognition award scheme (Our People Awards) last year, local people have been nominating for the Our People’s Choice Award category.
It is awarded annually, with people asked to nominate if they have received excellent care, service with a smile, kindness and understanding or exceptional service from a person or team.
All the nominations have been considered by a judging panel and six have been shortlisted. Members of the public can now read the nomination and vote for their choice, with the winner announced at Torbay and South Devon’s award celebration event in May.
Eleven-year-old organ donation campaigner made honorary NHS director
Eleven-year-old Lottie Bryon-Edmond has today been made an honorary director of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust in recognition of her commitment to raising awareness of organ donation and recognising the life-saving and life-changing contributions of organ donors and their families.
Lottie received a liver transplant at just five weeks old, making her, at the time, the youngest person in the world to successfully receive a liver transplant.
Have you struggled to access health and care services this winter?
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.
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.
Loneliness is an issue that can affect us all, young or old, at any point in our lives. We might live in a busy city or a rural location, on our own or with others and still feel isolated.
We all experience feeling lonely in different ways. This means there are a range of ways we can try to overcome loneliness, and we need to identify the help and support that works for us. It's really important to remember that loneliness and difficult feelings can pass.
Know someone who might be feeling lonely?
There are some simple things you can do that could give them a lift. Like inviting them for a walk, catching up over coffee or sending a text. And as over half of us have felt lonely at some point, it may help you feel less lonely too.
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