Welcome to our monthly newsletter. Please forward this on to anyone who may be interested in health and social care in Rutland.
Healthwatch Rutland awarded bursary to set up Young Healthwatch Rutland
Healthwatch Rutland is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a bursary from the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EMAHSN) to set up Young Healthwatch Rutland. Through the group, young people can raise their issues and concerns on health and social care, give their feedback and engage with commissioners to ensure services are relevant to them.
Click on the photo below to read more.
Help us understand how well people with hearing loss are supported in Rutland
We are working with Rutland County Council to find out more about where people in Rutland with hearing loss go for support. Please help us by answering these quick questions if you have hearing loss or care for someone who does (it's five questions and takes just a minute or two).
Reminder: Consultation on Rutland's draft Local Transport Plan
The Rutland County Council draft Local Transport Plan is being consulted upon now. 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 plans by completing the online survey or by picking up a paper copy at the Council Offices or your local library. The survey runs until 11 January 2019.
Proposals to reconfigure top level Intensive Care services across Leicester Hospitals
Healthwatch Rutland has been closely following Leicester Hospitals’ plans to reconfigure Intensive Care and dependent services across hospital sites. In early October we wrote to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to raise the issue of public concern over lack of proper public consultation by the local Clinical Commissioning Groups. As advised in his department’s response, we then wrote to the Rutland Adults and Health Scrutiny Committee in early November requesting that it refer the lack of public consultation to the Secretary formally.
The Scrutiny Committee has advised us that it is not able to make a referral to the Secretary of State at this stage.
Whilst disappointed at this outcome Healthwatch Rutland has taken the matter as far as we can. We will continue to work with providers and commissioners to ensure that the voice of the public is heard through timely and appropriate engagement and full consultation on proposals for major service changes going forward.
Date for your diary
Our next Healthwatch Rutland board meeting is 12 December at the Rutland Community Hub. Email info@healthwatchrutland.co.uk for more information.
Are you a Carer?
Come along to Caring for your Future event at Oakham Castle on Friday 30 November
This free event will take place at Oakham Castle on Friday 30 November between 10am and 1pm. You can drop in any time for information about health and care services that are available to support you. There’ll be some special treats for Carers including mini manicure, hand massage and art therapy, so come along and enjoy some coffee and cake too.
Sharing your medical record with other health and care services
Did you know that your Summary Care Record, although shared between health and care organisations to help treat you quickly outside your GP practice, only includes basic information such as recent medication, allergies and sensitivities?
Although this information is extremely helpful, if a patient needed emergency treatment, or care outside of normal GP hours, access to an enhanced version of the Summary Care Record could assist health and social care professionals even further to treat patients more appropriately and quickly.
You can contact your GP to add any extra health information that you think may be useful, such as long-term or rare health conditions, preferences over communication if you have additional needs or a disability, immunisation history etc. The information will only be used in times of need, to ensure the care being provided to you is appropriate.
A dedicated group offering advice and support to those living with and beyond a bladder cancer diagnosis has been launched. This is the first group of this type in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Patients and relatives can come along to discuss their experiences and talk through their questions. Topics for discussion may include diagnosis, treatments and living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis.
Help for deaf people attending A&E at Peterborough City and Hinchingbrooke Hospitals
Hinchingbroke and Peterborough City Hospitals have introduced SignLive in their emergency departments. This provides an emergency online British Sign Language Interpreter for deaf people via a tablet. It is now available 24 hours a day.
New provider of wheelchairs, orthotics and prosthetic services for patients in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
People living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland who use specialist mobility and control equipment will now receive this service from Opcare, part of the Ability Matters Group. The service will now be easier to access as patients will be able to refer themselves. Wheelchair, orthotics and prosthetics were three services previously provided by Blatchford. Opcare were appointed following a procurement process earlier this year.
Letters have been sent out to all patients of the service. Any existing appointments arranged with Blatchford will now be carried out by Opcare.
The Care Quality Commission's report 'The state of health care and adult social care in England 2017/18', is out now and shows that most people are still getting good care – when they are able to get to it. But the report warns of growing 'care injustice', with access to good care becoming more about how well local systems work together.
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!
Healthwatch Rutland is managed by Connected Together CIC
Registered in England and Wales. Company No: 8496240
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