Welcome to our monthly newsletter. Please forward this on to anyone who may be interested in health and social care in Rutland.
Healthwatch Rutland Board Member featured in Government report on loneliness!
The UK Government has just published 'A connected society: A strategy for tackling loneliness - laying the foundations for change', which sets out their approach to tackling loneliness in England. It builds on the work of many organisations and individuals over the years, and is government’s first major contribution to the national conversation on loneliness and the importance of social connections.
Healthwatch Rutland Board Member Jacqui Darlington and the voluntary work she does with Carers UK is featured on page 21!
Late last year, Jacqui represented Carers on Good Morning Britain. Click on the picture below to watch the clip.
Healthwatch Rutland Annual Meeting
Thank you to all who came to the Healthwatch Annual Meeting on 19 September. At the meeting, we heard from Lee Brentnall from East Midlands Ambulance Service and Tim Sacks from East Leicestershire and Rutland CCG.
After the presentations and Q&As we asked attendees to record their top three issues in health and care. The themes that emerged were:
Keeping services local and better utilisation of community hospitals at Oakham and Melton
Problems of rural transport
GP appointment access – phone problems and waiting times
Our next Healthwatch Rutland board meeting is 12 December at the Rutland Community Hub. Email info@healthwatchrutland.co.uk for more information.
Job vacancy!
We are looking to recruit a part-time (25 hours per week) Healthwatch Officer who can lead on gathering the views and experiences of the people in Rutland and support the Healthwatch Rutland Manager. Full details are on our website - please spread the word!
We are looking for volunteers to join our operations and planning group to help with some exciting new projects that relate to maternity services and the health and care needs of armed forces personnel and their families. In addition, we are interested to hear from anyone who would like to volunteer to help us engage with the public at events, gather views via comment cards, invite participation in surveys and explain the purpose and function of Healthwatch Rutland to improve public awareness of our activities. Read the volunteering section on our website to see if this could be you!
We want to hear your experiences of health and social care services locally. You can do this by leaving feedback in our feedback centre or by calling us on 01572 720381.
Top Level Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Reconfiguration
Following public concern that people have not had the chance to give their views on the plans to reconfigure Intensive Care Level 3 bed provision across the three Leicester hospital sites, the Joint Health Scrutiny Committee for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland recommended that there should be a pause in plans to take top level ICU beds out of Leicester General and a full public consultation on plans to reconfigure the Leicester Hospitals’ ICUs. Healthwatch Rutland released a press statement in support of this.
On 18 October the three CCGs in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland issued a statement confirming that they are committed to seeing through the planned changes. They also restated their commitment to greater involvement of patients, the public and stakeholders in discussion of future proposed changes – particularly those that are likely to result in significant changes to the way in which services are delivered.
In recognition of the concerns raised by members of Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the public, the Collaborative Commissioning Board supported the plans to use the Better Care Together engagement events in late October and November to engage in a broader discussion with patients and the public on the intensive care proposals before contracts with the preferred provider are concluded. Find out how to get involved at www.bettercareleicester.nhs.uk/getinvolved/come-and-join-our-events-in-october-and-november/ and read more below
The Better Care Together Partnership (previously known also as the Sustainability and Transformation Partnership) is inviting the public to a series of open engagement events to hear about, and discuss, what is happening in health and care services in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The events will be held between 5pm and 7.45pm and people can attend the whole event or drop in for the informal discussions on NHS plans for improvement between 5pm and 6pm or attend the formal presentations and Question and Answer session at 6pm. Follow this link to see the dates/times and to register your place: http://www.bettercareleicester.nhs.uk/getinvolved/come-and-join-our-events-in-october-and-november/
Moving Rutland Forward: Consultation on Rutland's draft Local Transport Plan
Rutland County Council has created a number of strategies and plans that constitute the Draft Transport Plan (titled Moving Rutland Forward) and are now consulting with the public on the draft plans. Over the years Healthwatch has received much feedback from people about how much public transport availability affects their proper access to health services – to get to GP appointments in the county and hospital appointments in Leicester and Peterborough for example. This is your chance to give your views on the draft Local Transport Plan by completing the online survey or by picking up a paper copy at the Council Offices or your local library. The survey runs to 11 January 2019 and you can read all the plans here: https://www.rutland.gov.uk/my-community/transport/local-transport-plan/
Healthwatch England is carrying out a survey to find out how you think the NHS will develop in the future. What kind of support do you think you might need to stay well? What do you think about using technology more? Give your views at https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/nhs-100
New Chief Executive for the hospital trust that runs Peterborough City, Hinchingbrooke and Stamford and Rutland Hospitals
Caroline Walker, who was the Trust’s Deputy Chief Executive, moved into the post following the retirement of former CEO Stephen Graves on 1 October 2018.
People with learning disabilities are more likely to become seriously ill or die if they get the flu. The current mortality review into the deaths of people with a learning disability reported this year that 31% of deaths investigated had an underlying respiratory cause.
NHS England is working to increase uptake of the flu vaccination for people with learning disabilities and those who care for them this winter. Paid carers who are employed by a registered care provider are eligible for a free flu vaccination this year, as well as primary family carers. So don’t delay – make sure that you get your free flu jab if you are a carer and encourage the person you care for to do the same!
There is also published guidance about flu vaccinations for people with learning disabilities aimed largely at health and social care professionals.
Goodbye to NHS Choices
You may have used the NHS Choices website in the past – the health website that gives you all sorts of information you need to make choices about your health, from service details such GPs and Dentists in your area to dietary advice and information about specific illnesses and medicines. All the information is still there, and being improved all the time, but the website is now just www.nhs.uk and called ‘the NHS website’. If you have not used it before, have a look to see all the help and information it offers.
Healthwatch Rutland is managed by Connected Together CIC
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