ECS has been awarded the Advocacy Quality Performance Mark (QPM) from the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi). The QPM is the UK’s only independent quality performance mark for organisations offering independent advocacy; an essential service for people who need support to express their needs and have increased choice and control in their lives.
Read MoreChannel 4 documentary programme Dispatches aired this week on 24 June at 9pm ‘Undercover A&E: NHS in Crisis. Healthwatch Telford and Wrekin is asking people ‘What has your experience of care been like in Telford and Shrewsbury Hospitals A&E Departments?’
Read MoreAs the next round of junior doctors' strikes approaches, residents of Shropshire, Telford, and Wrekin are reminded of the significant impact their support can have during what is anticipated to be a busy period for the local NHS.
Read MoreNews - 24 June 2024
Norman Holding has been appointed as the interim Chair of the Healthwatch Warrington Independent Strategic Advisory Board. The news follows the recent departure of Pat McLaren who resigned at the end of May.
Read MoreWe are excited to announce the launch of our Citizens Involvement Charter, a new initiative which aims to strengthen community engagement and amplify the voices of those within the community.
We have designed this charter because we want to recognise and celebrate local organisations that have been silent supporters, helping to share surveys and gather your stories and experiences of local health and social care services. We recognised the need for a more structured approach that allows us to identify, celebrate and measure the impacts of local organisations within our projects.
Interested in signing up as a charter champion? Click here to find out more.
Read MoreOn 6th June I attended the Social Research Association Conference (SRA). As a member of SRA for some years now, I have benefited greatly from the training that they offer but this was the first time I had attended the conference. So armed with my ECS branded water bottle, I set off at a ridiculously early hour, on the train from Stoke-on-Trent.
Read MoreAs we celebrate Volunteers' Week 2024, we want to take a moment to put a spotlight on and say thank you to our amazing volunteers. We are very grateful for the time that they generously give, along with their support and efforts, to help to create positive change within our communities.
Read MoreThe NHS Constitution outlines your rights as a patient and the NHS's commitments to you.
The Government is planning changes to the Constitution – like introducing the right for families to ask for a second opinion if their loved one’s condition worsens while they’re in hospital.
They’re running a public consultation on these changes, where you can tell them what you think.
Now’s your chance to learn more about the Constitution and suggest any other changes you'd like to see.
Let’s build an NHS that works for everyone.
The Government has launched a consultation on the NHS Constitution, which sets out your rights as an NHS patient. Read why it's important to have your say.
Read MoreHere at Engaging Communities Solutions (ECS) employee wellbeing is at the core of everything that we do, as we are a community interest organisation which works to create a culture of inclusiveness, openness, and support within the workplace.
This week we held our first employee wellbeing event at the Wolseley Centre, a beautiful tranquil location, tucked away in the Staffordshire countryside, run by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.
Read MoreThe team at Healthwatch Stoke-on-Trent arranged a focus group with members of Staffordshire Sight Loss Association (SSLA) and spoke with those attending appointments during an observational visit to the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust's (UHNM) Eye Clinic to find out about the health and social care experiences of those with visual impairments in Stoke-on-Trent.
The report we have produced features a background of why Visual Impairments was decided as a priority project for this year, key findings from the Staffordshire Sight Loss Association (SSLA) focus groups discussions and our observational visit to University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust's (UHNM) Royal Stoke University Hospital Eye Clinic, and concludes with recommendations for local services as a result of our findings. You can read the full report here.
Read MoreHave we got news for you……
How many projects did Healthwatch Walsall complete in the 2023-2024 work programme you ask??
Lets take a look…..
Read MorePharmacy First Service Survey launched by ECS
The Pharmacy First scheme was launched by the government and NHS England on 31 January 2024 to give patients quick and accessible care and ease pressure on GP services. Pharmacy First builds on previous service provision under the Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS) and enables the public to access community pharmacies and be provided with advice, prescription medication or referral to another healthcare professional by a pharmacist. There are seven common conditions that community pharmacists are now able to provide prescription medication directly to patients for when appropriate as well as the services that were provided under the previous CPCS.
The new service can be accessed directly as a walk-in to a participating pharmacy where they can offer an appointment or see people immediately depending on service capacity. The public can also be referred to a pharmacist by GP practices; NHS 111; Urgent or Emergency care; or ambulance services.
Read MoreWe’re joining in on ‘Wear It Green Day’ today to help raise awareness for Mental Health Awareness Week. For more information about Mental Health Awareness Week please click here: https://mentalhealth.org.uk #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #WearItGreen
Throughout ECS, staff have been wearing green to show their support and also making a donation. We have raised £50 which we are pleased to be able to donate to such a good cause.
By going green, we can support the Mental Health Foundation in carrying out vital research and delivering programmes for different communities. The campaign is part of Mental Health Awareness Week (13-19 May) and ECS have been happy to turn the organisation green to support good mental health!
Read MoreOur team at Healthwatch Walsall welcomed a special guest to their public board meeting on 15 May, when Professor David Croisdale- Appleby, Chair of Healthwatch England visited. This visit marks the campaign being undertaken by Professor Croisdale-Appelby to visit as many Healthwatch as possible throughout the network.
Read MoreHealthwatch England today launched three new video animations to help increase the public’s awareness of Healthwatch and its functions.
The videos have been produced to explain who we are as Healthwatch and what we do to encourage people to share their views and experiences of NHS health and social care. By sharing experiences, Healthwatch can help to ensure that NHS health and social care services are designed by and for local people and people get their voice heard.
Read MoreIn January 2024 the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) published their report 'Healthy Places, Prosperous Lives'. At ECS, this made us reflect on the health outcomes and levels of deprivation in our seven local Healthwatch areas-what challenges are there in those areas and how do they differ?
The statistics show us that what impacts in each area is different and that the need for a localised approach to engagement is vital to ensure that all members of our communities are able to provide feedback to improve access and experiences of health and social care services.
Read our full report by our Research Manager, Deb Faulks here.
Read MoreThe NHS is encouraging local dental practices with the highest demand to hire new dentists using a new recruitment incentive scheme.
Around 240 dentists will be offered bonus payments of up to £20,000 to work in under-served areas for up to three years, with NHS guidance issued to practices today to encourage them to advertise the “golden hello” scheme.
The scheme - first announced in the dental recovery plan - will fund incentives for up to 240 dentists who join practices that can prove they have found it difficult to recruit staff. Golden hello payments will be phased over three years - £10,000 in the first year and £5,000 each for the next two, to persuade them to stay in the area.
Read MoreHealthwatch Bedford Borough joins with the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (BLMK ICB) and Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership at Bedford Academy for an in-person discussion on the findings of the Denny Review and what it means for our community.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to be part of the conversation and make your voice heard! To book your place please visit: https://eventbrite.co.uk/e/creating-a-fairer-blmk-a-spotlight-on-the-denny-review-in-bedford-borough-tickets-896334770427… #FairerBLMK #DennyReview
Read MoreThe Government has launched a public consultation on the NHS Constitution. It's crucial everyone takes part in the consultation to voice what's most important to them. Find out more. https://healthwatch.co.uk/news/2024-05-07/responding-nhs-constitution-consultation…
Read MoreLast year Healthwatch Walsall was pleased to have been contacted by Walsall Manor Hospital Trust to invite two cohorts of service users from our sensory loss and disability groups to visit the new department during the latter stages of its construction. The purpose of this was for the Trust to hear first-hand the views of these groups with regards to the suitability of the facilities. Following on from this and six months after the opening of the new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre, Healthwatch Walsall wanted to hear from patients directly to find out about how the new facilities and services were working for them.
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