A recent report by Healthwatch England has highlighted why people's experiences of healthcare communication is a stark reminder of why NHS England and the 42 new Integrated Care Systems need to ensure services abide by the Accessible Information Standard.
A report by Healthwatch England has published new findings, which show services are failing in their legal duty to provide accessible information for people with physical and learning disabilities.
Read MoreThe Digital Transformation Award recognises businesses at the cutting edge of digital design and the use of technologies that are boosting Staffordshire’s growing reputation as a digital hub. Judged on compelling examples of how digital technology has been used to transform business processes, and customer experience or to create exciting, effective campaigns.
Read MoreThe Community Connectors programme is part of Core20Plus5, a national NHS England and Improvement approach to support the reduction of health inequalities and builds on many other community-based initiatives recognising the importance of connecting people with lived experience with decision-makers.
Read MoreDiabetes if not managed correctly can severely affect a person's health and in the worst cases can seriously affect a person's sight, hands, and feet and can even cause nerve damage. However, there are tons of resources to help people manage the condition as well as a plethora of support groups and technological tools.
Read MoreThis is a funded project looking and creating and equitable health care service for people with a learning disability and or autism. This project is a pilot and funding by the Transforming Care Programme – Healthwatch Sandwell and three other partners, Autism West Midlands, Dudley Voice for Choice and Healthwatch Dudley.
Read MoreBack in 2018 Engaging Communities Solutions CIC (ECS) were approached by Dr Ross Millar to be part of the work he was leading looking at how NHS bodies were working together to improve services and outcomes. The work funded by the NIHR needed to include a public and patient perspective and as a Healthwatch provider, ECS were asked if we could provide that aspect of the research.
Read MoreWe are now looking for an energetic and committed full-time Community Outreach Lead, someone who is keen to make a difference to the lives of the people of Leicestershire by ensuring that health and care services are geared to their needs.
Read MoreEngaging Communities Solutions CIC is proud to celebrate its 10th birthday! Established as an Independent Community Interest Company in 2012, called Engaging Communities Staffordshire CIC, the organisation has evolved and grown into a national organisation, leading to a rebranding in 2019 to our new name of Engaging Communities Solutions CIC to reflect the success of the organisation’s growth and continued success in delivering Healthwatch, Social Research, Engagement and Consultation services and Advocacy.
Read MoreHelp us make sure more people get healthcare information in the way they need it. People want clear, understandable information to enable them to make informed decisions about their health and care in other to get the most out of services. For example, without proper communication support during GP or hospital appointments patients and their families can suffer psychologically with long-term consequences for their health and welfare.
Read MoreSince COVID-19 struck, the work of the Healthwatch network to support and listen to local people became more crucial than ever. An extraordinary and productive year when reflecting on last year, it is satisfying to recognise how much our network of Local Healthwatchs has achieved despite the pandemic. Our staff has been wonderfully flexible, diverting their energy to projects that helped our partners in health and social care respond to the needs of local people, despite the restrictions.
Read MoreMEN are being encouraged to talk to their friends about their feelings, as part of a campaign that aims to tackle the high levels of male suicide across Leicester and Leicestershire.
A total of 455 deaths by suicide in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland were recorded between January 2015 and June 2021. Of these, 353 were males, which represents 75.1% of all deaths.
Read MoreWe have an exciting opportunity for an Advocate to join our team covering Halton and Warrington. Your role will require you to travel to locations such as hospitals and care homes across the area to meet with clients and professionals and be home-based for administrative tasks. Part-time Advocates will work 18.5 hours a week, between Monday and Friday 9 am - 5 pm.
Read MoreAccess to NHS dental care continues to be a problem for people across the East Midlands, with Healthwatch Leicester and Healthwatch Leicestershire recording a rise in calls and complaints about dentistry over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our latest report on Dentistry (Coming soon) Highlights the issues patients are facing.
Read MoreWe are looking for an enthusiastic, experienced, and self-motivated Volunteer Coordinator to oversee our Healthwatch Volunteers across all areas of Leicestershire. Working flexibly from both a home base and out of our central office in Leicester city centre, with the need to travel extensively throughout Leicestershire, the Volunteer Coordinator will work closely with all teams across Healthwatch Leicester and Leicestershire to ensure volunteer roles are fulfilled and effective in achieving our strategic aims
Read MoreOne of our “Core Values” is “giving back”- we share our successes by giving back to the community around us – to people who can use the help. As a part of this endeavor, ECS supports the UK government Kickstart Scheme, by helping young people into employment, develop their skills & employability, and hopefully move into exciting new careers.
Read MoreWe found that most people had experienced telephone consultations and that they were not given a choice in the type of appointments that they received; there was a strong preference for face-to-face appointments as people felt more comfortable seeing someone face-to-face or felt that the quality care would be better if they were seen in-person.
Read MoreWe are currently recruiting families and loved ones to share their experiences and ideas with us and guide the development and implementation of the new strategy. Now we are working closely with Barnardo's, Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT), and other Family Intervention Teams so that we can attend visitor centres, family meetings, and family days to engage with families. We are also planning to hold regular Family Forum meetings for each site with the first meetings being planned for January 2022.
Read MoreThe network of ECS Healthwatch offices will close from 5pm on Thursday 23rd December 2021. Offices will reopen for business as usual on Wednesday 29 December, but you can still get in touch by sharing your experience of local health and social care services on our websites, completing our online form, or sending us an email, and we will reply as soon as possible once we’re back in the office in January.
Read MoreGary has been appointed as Chair and brings with him a wealth of experience from more than 40 years of working in Warrington as a journalist and managing director of a family business, while taking on various roles in the town, including being a long-serving trustee at Warrington Disability Partnership and a director of Warrington & Vale Royal Chamber of Commerce.
Read MoreThis year, on International Day of People with Disabilities we are recognising that those with disabilities are among the most affected populations, where discrimination and vulnerability can be everyday factors for some.
According to the WHO World Report on Disability, 15 percent of the world’s population, or more than 1 billion people, are living with a disability. Of this number, it’s estimated 450 million are living with a mental or neurological condition.
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