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BUSINESS NAME

Health and Care Together

Wigan Borough Local Involvement Network Summer 2009

Health and Care Together

Wigan Borough Local Involvement Network (LINk) Newsletter 22 November 2012

www.healthandcaretogether.co.uk

Health and Care Together’s Visitors at Royal Albert

Edward Infirmary:

looking at patient care

.

On Thursday 13 September, in preparation for a visit to the wards, some of the Health and Care Together lay visitors were shown around the hospital and met

nursing and catering managers.

Continued on page 2.

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A Visit to the Wards

Health and Care Together’s volunteers base their work on what the local population tells them is happening to patients and individuals accessing care services. One of the ways of finding out local people’s views is through their lay visiting team who are CRB checked, trained and authorised. They have the right to visit places where care takes place and observe the support provided. On October 10

th 2012, members of the lay visiting team visited four hospital wards,

Lowton, Shevington, Standish and Ince at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary.

A lay visitor spokesperson said:- “After listening to what local people have said about their care in Wigan we looked at nursing care and food provision on four ward areas at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary. We met patients on those wards and would be interested to hear from anyone who has recently been a patient at that hospital and has a good, or not so good, view of their care.”

Chris Arkwright speaking as Chair of Health and Care Together said:- “Being independent and visiting on the wards we really hope to be able to give patients confidence that their views will be listened to by our lay visitors, passed on to the responsible organisations and used to influence care given here in Wigan. We want to be able to celebrate good care where it is being provided and help staff understand how well their care meets patients’ needs. Our team of visitors is able to give the ordinary person’s view of care and make sure it is heard by the organisations who care for us.”

“Representing patients in Wigan we are looking forward to plans to develop new Department of Health patient led inspections locally and strengthen how patients’ experiences and views can contribute to the quality of care. We are asking anyone who has something to say about care to contact our office, in confidence, on 01942 705522”.

A report is currently being produced and will be shared with Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust (WWLFT) at the earliest opportunity. Health and Care Together will be working with local health care organisations to take forward their findings. Please contact us if you would like a copy of the report which will be published in the New Year.

Thank you We would like to take this opportunity to thank all

the staff at WWLFT who gave the lay visitors a

warm welcome and particularly the ward staff who

responded with openness. May we also thank all

the patients and visitors who took the opportunity to

talk to the visitors about their care.

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Chair’s Letter

Hello all, Well isn’t the year passing quickly, and what about all that rain? I hope that none of you have suffered in the floods that affected Wigan.

Last time I compared my home preserving regime to preserving our relationships with all the different sectors in the borough. This newletter, forgive me, but I’m doing the same again.

Having just made my Christmas cake I was thinking along the lines of being prepared early, which is exactly what we are trying to do, be prepared early for the transition into Healthwatch.

I am continuing my early Christmas preparations knowing that if I do things at an easy pace now there will be no need to panic as the event draws closer, giving me a chance to relax more and enjoy Christmas. The same applies to our early preparation for Healthwatch. I feel very strongly that we need to prepare early so that we can hit the ground running next year, building on the work currently happening in LINks.

I know that I do go on about this but we do need your commitment and help so that we can create a really effective Local Healthwatch for Wigan !

Chris Arkwright , Chair of Health and Care Together.

The Health and Care Together Mental Health Crisis Card

Health and Care Together have produced a handy pocket sized card with the contact telephone numbers for the Mental Health Assessment Teams, Police, NHS Direct and Carers Centres. There is also space to add your own priority contact numbers and other information which may be useful at a time of crisis. If you would like a Mental Health Crisis Information Card(s) please contact: Julie Darbyshire: julied@thebha.org.uk or telephone 01942 705522.

Mental Health Experiences—Life Stories

We are interested in hearing about your experiences of using mental health services in Wigan. This information will help the organisations that buy in, plan and provide services. If you currently use services and would like to tell us about your experiences, good or not so good, we would be very happy to hear from you. Please contact: Julie Darbyshire: julied@thebha.org.uk or 01942 705522.

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Your Voice Counts

The Healthwatch stand at Wigan Business Expo 2012 on 12th October 2012

From April 2013, Local Healthwatch will be the new independent local champion for people who use health and social care services building on the work of Local Involvement Networks. It is hoped to have a Shadow Healthwatch in Wigan by January 2013. Check out the Healthwatch Wigan Website: www.healthwatchwigan.org or e: mail: info@healthwatch.org for more information Wigan Borough will be shortly advertising for Members of the Board of Trustees of Wigan Healthwatch (these are voluntary positions).

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Healthwatch England Officially Launches

October 1st saw the official launch of Healthwatch England. Healthwatch England

will be the national independent consumer champion for health and social care it will work with local Healthwatch and be responsible for

advising the NHS Commissioning Board, English local authorities, Monitor and the Secretary of State.

and

have the power to recommend that action is taken by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) when there are concerns about health and social care services.

The Healthwatch England website has now been updated with information on Healthwatch England's overall purpose and vision. The website is easy to navigate and split into clear sections allowing you to keep up-to-date with local and national developments regarding both Healthwatch England and Local Healthwatch together with a series of frequently asked questions. The website address is: http://www.healthwatch.co.uk/

An Invitation from the Wigan Borough Clinical Commissioning

Group (WBCCG)

Are you a member of a Patient Participation Group (PPG)? Dr Tim Dalton, the Clinical Chair of Wigan Borough Clinical Commissioning Group, would like to invite you to an information & development session.

Following the success of previous Wigan Borough Clinical Commissioning Group (WBCCG) development and information sessions, the session on 'Understanding

NHS Commissioning & Finance’ is being repeated.

The session will run from

6.00 – 8.30pm on Wednesday 21st

November at the Park Inn, Leigh Sports Village, Sale Way, Leigh. refreshments will be provided

'Understanding NHS Commissioning & Finance’ has been developed in response to the feedback from PPG members who attended introductory sessions on NHS reforms in May. This session will be of interest to those people who want to understand more about how the NHS and CCG Commissions services and how the money follows the patient.

For further information and to book a place, please contact: Lynne Calvert 01942 481725 Lynne.Calvert@alwpct.nhs.uk or Craig Hamilton 01942 481722 Craig.Hamilton@alwpct.nhs.uk Directions can be found on the following link http://www.parkinn.co.uk/hotel-leigh/location

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PPG Network News Our Healthwatch Pathfinder Work

Shevington Surgery PPG

Shevington Surgery PPG was formed in September last year with fourteen members to represent over 13000 patients and we are now looking back on the progress we have made in our first year.

We started by helping with the Practice Survey which went very well and took a load off doctors and surgery staff and was much appreciated.

From the beginning, we decided the issues we needed to concentrate on in our first year were ‘Care in the Community’ and acting as a conduit between the Practice and its patients. As a result two of our members have set up a Dementia Carers Support Group which will meeting monthly in the local church hall. This will give dementia carers, from the practice, a chance to meet together to exchange news and views and just have a well earned break and chat. Light refreshments will be supplied by the PPG. The first meeting took place in October.

To help get Practice news across to patients, we have been able to purchase a display screen for the waiting room. The PPG have taken on the job of keeping it up to date with practice news and highlighting health care campaigns such as the Annual Flu Jab campaign, which we are also helped with in the surgery on Saturdays in October.

From the beginning, the PPG and its members have benefited from the total support we have received from the Practice; financially which has enabled us to purchase the screen and support the Dementia Carers Support group, also by the Practice staff, with doctors, nurses and the Practice Manager and her staff giving up their Wednesday evenings to attend our monthly meetings.

We are now looking forward to building on our first year’s progress.

Patient Participation Group (PPG) Network Meeting The next meeting of the PPG Network will take place on

Thursday, 10th January 2013, 2pm to 4 pm

St. Peters Pavilion, Hurst Street, Hindley, Wigan WN2 3DN (For Sat Nav. use WN2 3DF)

Dr. Tim Dalton, Chair of Wigan Borough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) will be attending the meeting to update the Network on CCG activity and the authorisation process. All CCGs are supported through the authorisation process by the National Commissioning Board to develop clear plans and progress to become an authorised CCG.

If you require further information contact Karen Wilson on 01942 705839 or email karenw@thebha.org.uk

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Patient Engagement/Public Involvement

The development of the PPG Network has highlighted the potential of PPGs in the future as part of Healthwatch. There is an opportunity for the Health & Wellbeing Board and Wigan Borough CCG to recognise the value of working with the PPG Network as a good investment in patient and public engagement and involvement.

What do PPGs and LINks have in common? Both are formed by volunteers or lay people, providing local involvement for patients and public who want to represent people’s voices and be heard. They both want to improve the health system at every level, working with existing structures. They both have a role providing information, carrying out quality monitoring and advising on campaigns and consultations.

What can PPGs do that LINks cannot, and vice versa PPGs are very local and can provide information focused on GP provision and practice-based information and, because of this, they can effect rapid changes or improvements.

LINks are independent, more strategic, covering a wider geographical area and more importantly, cover social care as well as health care. LINks have statutory responsibilities, including the ‘right to enter’ and have more power to ‘make things happen’ at an organizational level. They have access to decision makers and are able to influence national policy, and have more resources than PPGs.

The two are complementary rather than being in competition.

Working Together The PPG Network, has now met on a number of occasions. New members are always welcome and each PPG can send along representatives from both its membership and practice and clinical staff.

The PPG Network, can : • offer a ‘one-stop’ pool of knowledge and patient experience , good practice and

information to draw upon • help establish strong processes for engagement, communication and build strong relationships for PPGs • support easy access and use feedback from PPGs and patients • build the capacity of PGGs to engage with the CCG • support the CCG to access diverse and seldom heard perspectives across the patient population

Recognising Outcomes from the PPG Network and LINks : • well informed patients able to play a real part in the commissioning process • a cost effective approach to patient and public engagement • strong two-way dialogue and relationships with local patients • support for the CCG to demonstrate capability for their assessed areas and to provide evidence to the NHS Commissioning Board for their authorisation process.

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Alcohol Awareness Week—19-25 November

Many of us like to have a drink or talk about drinking, but are we having the right kind of conversation? For this year's Alcohol Awareness week, Alcohol Concern has set the theme 'it’s time to talk about drinking'. The aim is to allow conversations to address the health risks, social problems, stigmas and taboos associated with talking about the dangers of alcohol. If you would like to find out more about Alcohol Awareness week visit http://www.alcoholconcern.org.uk. Alcohol Awareness week runs between the 19

th and 25

th November.

Baby Boomer Drinking More Costly than in Youth

The treatment of alcohol related illness in baby boomers is costing the NHS ten times more than the treatment of 16 to 24-year-olds. According to the latest figures alcohol-related hospital admissions amongst 55 to 74-year-olds cost £825m annually.

Don’t Shut Your Feelings Out

It’s normal to feel down or depressed sometimes, and half of us will have an episode where we suffer from very low moods at one point or another. However, it’s important to speak to your GP about them if these continue for more than two weeks

There are a number of signs to look out for that suggest you may be depressed or anxious:

• Negative or gloomy thoughts • Finding it hard to relax • Lack of enthusiasm for everyday life

If you notice or are experiencing any of these talk to your GP. They may refer you to: the Primary Care Psychology Service (IAPT) Ashton, Leigh and Wigan who are improving access to psychological therapies, and providing adult patients with a choice of support. The Service helps patients to:

• Manage and recover from mild to moderate anxiety and depression • Understand and change currently unhelpful actions and/or patterns

of thinking • Avoid long-term mental health problems

By offering a choice of local clinics or surgeries, and daytime and evening appointments the service should be convenient for patients.

If you feel you need our help, please speak to your GP. He or she can help decide if services are right for you and support you through the ‘opt-in’ referral system.

website http:www.5boroughspartnership.nhs.uk/iapt/ 01942 264051 Leigh, 01942 255675 Wigan.

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Healthier Together to Review Greater Manchester Care

Healthier Together is a review of health and care in Greater Manchester.

The purpose of the review is to improve the quality and safety of clinical care and its integration with Local Authority services, emphasising prevention, screening, early detection and early intervention, and promoting greater responsibility by the public for their own health.

The Healthier Together review will consider what ‘best care’ for patients may look like in a range of clinical areas such as district general hospitals, in the community and in primary care.

To get involved visit http://www.manchester.nhs.uk/aboutus/healthiertogether/

Wrightington Hospital Open Day

On Saturday 24th November Wrightington Hospital are holding an open day

allowing visitors to see behind the scenes.

Take a tour, following the patient journey through the Information Centre and operating theatres

Look round the Charnley museum and see the world’s first clean air operating theatre

Join in with talks from our leading Consultants Take part in interactive demonstrations on how surgery was performed and how

techniques have changed View displays on Orthopaedic Surgery and medical equipment Enter our competition and win prizes!

Wrightington Hospital, Hall Lane, Appley Bridge, WN6 9EP. For further details and to register interest contact Clare Northall 01942 822590.

Look out for the Feelwell Bus touring Wigan in November

Would you like an opportunity to influence your local health Services? Then visit the Feelwell bus in November.

The bus will initially be parked up and manned in key locations in ‘Wigan, Leigh and Ashton town ‘centres on

Wigan – Tues 13th

Nov Leigh – Thurs 22

nd Nov

Ashton – Thurs 29th

Nov

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Autism Awareness Raising Training

♦ What is Autism? ♦ How would you recognise a person with autism? ♦ Top Tips on ways to support people with autism?

To find out the answer to these questions, why not attend a free Autism awareness event? Delivered by The National Autistic Society in partnership with Wigan Council and Ashton, Leigh & Wigan PCT, the event will be suitable for staff working in the fields of health and social care, housing, leisure, employment, benefit support, voluntary and private agencies as well as community groups.

Events to be held between 10am-3pm on Monday 3rd

December 2012 and Wednesday 23

rd January 2013 at Hindley Learning Centre, Park Road, Hindley,

Wigan, WN2 3RY.

To attend please contact the Learning Centre on 01942 486435.

British Red Cross Care in the Home Scheme

Care in the Home is a free service delivered by the British Red Cross providing short-term care and support in the home for people following a change in circumstances, such as an accident or illness, giving them the confidence to independently continue their daily lives. This service can be provided following a stay in hospital or to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions. It would especially benefit older, vulnerable, individuals.

If you are interested in participating in this scheme, or would like further details, please contact the Care in the Home team on: 01204 369 640 or 01204 369 620.

H.O.P.E – Helping our parent to enjoy their children

Disability support sessions for parents/carers, siblings and their children with autism or other related conditions are being organised on the last Saturday of each month from 1-3pm on: November 24th, January 26th, February 23rd and March 30th

At St Thomas School Hall, Astley Street, Leigh WN7 2AS Tel 01942 487048 Providing a quiet area, sensory play, crafts, soft play area and refreshments

Parliamentary Partners in Care Debates

The Patients Association are launching a CARE week from Monday 26th November to Thursday 29th November 2012. Find out about their Partners in Care debates taking place in the House of Commons on | Thursday 29th November. http://www.patients-association.com/Default.aspx?tabid =359

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NHS Health Check Flaws have "dire consequences" for Type 2 diabetes

Thousands of people with Type 2 diabetes in England are missing out on being diagnosed because of the failure to properly implement the NHS Health Check programme, according to a new report by Diabetes UK. During the last financial year, less than half (only 40 per cent) of people who could have benefitted from an NHS Health Check—which tests people aged 40 to 74 for risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and kidney failure—actually had one.

For more information about living with diabetes visit: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/.

www.healthandcaretogether.co.uk

New fund to help homeless services prepare for the future

The Homelessness Transition Fund has recently launched a new fund to help homelessness charities respond to their cost pressures.

Under ‘Future Ready’, voluntary sector organisations that work with homeless people can apply for grants from £5,000 to £25,000 to help them respond to the challenges they face.

Administered by ‘Homeless Link’, the umbrella body for homelessness charities, and supported by the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Fund has distributed £11.6m since it first launched in 2011.

To apply for the Future Ready fund visit: www.homeless.org.uk/fund.

In Case of Emergency!

The East Anglian Ambulance Service have launched a national ‘In case of Emergency’ (ICE) campaign, with the support of Falklands war hero Simon Weston and in association with Vodafone's annual life savers award.

The idea is that you store the word "ICE" in your mobile phone address book, and against it enter the number of the person you would want to be contacted ‘In Case of Emergency’.

In an emergency situation, ambulance and hospital staff will then be able to quickly find out who your next of kin are and be able to contact them. It's as simple as that, for more than one contact name you can use ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 etc.

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Health and Care Together is . . . a Local Involvement Network (LINk),

(every Borough in the country has a LINk). These have been set up to give all individuals the opportunity to comment on the health and social care services they receive.

Here at Health and Care Together we listen to your views and pass them on to the people who plan and run services with the intention of making them better. We are the network that can give you your voice to make a positive change to the care you receive.

Anyone can get involved with Health and Care Together. If you would like to contribute to our newsletter please contact the office.

Do you want to LINk up? So many ways to get involved—come along and have some

fun whilst making a difference!

If you would like to be kept informed about Health and Care Together’s events, would like to participate, or require any further information, write to us at: Freepost RRZR-ACRS-BAJT, Wigan Borough Local Involvement Network, CT3, Wigan Investment Centre, Waterside Drive, Wigan, WN3 5BA. Tel: 01942 705522, 01942 705839, or e-mail info@healthandcaretogether.co.uk Alternatively you can text your views on 07525 237731. Name ................................................................................ Address ................................................................................ .................................................................................................. Postcode ................................................................................ Telephone Number ............................................................. Email ................................................................................ Comments ................................................................................ .................................................................................................. ..................................................................................................