Healthwatch Sunderland

Regions NHS steps up plans to tackle Coronavirus, https://bit.ly/3aEJvmj

Maternity Care in Sunderland is excellent! Maternity services at Sunderland Royal Hospital have been rated as the best in the NHS in a national survey which measures patient satisfaction in maternity care.
The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) 2019 national survey of ‘women’s experiences of maternity care’ has revealed maternity services at Sunderland Royal Hospital as the best performing nationally with the most positive responses to the survey (88%) when compared to all other... Trusts and a national average of 78%.
Sunderland Royal Hospital has also been rated as the best performing across the whole of the North East and North Cumbria when it comes to the care and attention women received in hospital after the birth of their babies.
Read more http://bit.ly/2TLSHir
See More

Personal Health Budget now available for Section 117 aftercare - From 2 December 2019, you can get a personal health budget if you are entitled to Section 117 aftercare.
But what is Section 117 and are you eligible for it?
Follow this link for all the details - http://bit.ly/34OCeML

Send us your ‘Thank You’ to the brave individuals working to save lives and keep our lives safe during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Email: healthwatchsunderland@pcp.uk.net along with the name of the service and why you would like to say "THANK YOU!"
EG - NHS staff, Carers, GPs and GP surgery Staff, Pharmacists, Volunteers, Supermarket Staff, Shop Workers, Police Officers, Ambulance Staff , Fire Service Staff, School Staff, Nursery Staff, Farmers, Manufacturers, Food Suppliers, and ...Distributors, Vets, Refuse Collectors.........
Please let us know if there is anyone else we should include?
See More

Well done to the girls at Lansbury Court for keeping up the spirits of their residents and for getting a mention on GMTV this morning!
Go girls!
Please like and share this fabulous video to say thank you to all our Care Works!
... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1dm_RCZY yU
See More

Age UK Sunderland supporting the most vulnerable during Coronavirus https://bit.ly/2ULVgAk

Free to use Coronavirus Information Service available on WhatsApp. Providing official, trustworthy and timely information and advice, further reducing the burden on the NHS https://bit.ly/3asxxfb

Did you know? Over the past months people have been telling us that the way they order their repeat prescriptions has changed.
Repeat prescriptions now have to be ordered directly though your GP practice, which some people do find difficult. If you are struggling to do this, please get in touch with your practice to see how they can adjust their system to work for you.
... We have now worked with many people who have done this and have been able to come to a suitable solution for them and their practice - It's worth getting in touch!
Read more about the changes and why they have happened here! http://bit.ly/30j2jTL
See More

Healthwatch Sunderland - how we can help you during the Coronavirus outbreak
We would like to update you on a few things happening at Healthwatch Sunderland at this very difficult time for us all.
Read more here https://bit.ly/3e6RISj

Did you know? 40% of people who call 999 don't need a trip to hospital...
NHS North East and North Cumbria has launched a major public awareness campaign in a bid to help ease pressure on busy front line teams and make sure people use our valuable NHS resources wisely.
As the NHS prepares to manage the increase in demand which is expected at this time of year, health chiefs are making an important appeal by urging people:
... * To keep hospital emergency departments free for those who are in immediate need of emergency treatment or life-saving care
* Not to abuse emergency 999 ambulance services - with over 40% of people calling 999 not needing to go to hospital
*To ‘think pharmacy first’ for many common winter illnesses which can be safely treated with over the counter medication and advice from a pharmacist
*To use extra appointments which are available on evenings, weekends and bank holidays by contacting their GP practice, find more information here http://bit.ly/2vPzTG9
*To use NHS 111 online or call NHS 111 for urgent medical advice before turning up to any front line services.
Read more...http://bit.ly/2TIC1IQ
See More

Your prescriptions - What you should know!
While we were out and about a member of the general public asked us a couple of interesting questions about prescribed medications. Here they are and what the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) told us: http://bit.ly/31OP2mr

What does shielding mean during Coronavirus and how to get food and medication whilst shielding https://bit.ly/2UWy2ro

We can help you find the information you need. Patient Transport - What you need to know!
When we visited one of Sunderland’s sheltered accommodation, one lady there asked us if it would be possible for one of her relatives, who has a terminal cancer diagnosis, to have someone travelling with them on Patient Transport as they had been travelling alone to all of their appointments and needed some support.
... We asked the North East Ambulance Service this question on their behalf and they said; "The Clinical Commission Group (CCG) criteria usually does not allow for people to bring an additional person. However, there are some extenuating circumstances when a care giver can travel with a patient. If the individual needs a carer to support them on their journey and while at hospital it is worth informing the booking line of this requirement and see what type of response the person receives."
See More

Did you know? Adjustments can be made if you need special arrangements for your hospital appointments times.
This could be if you require an appointment after a certain time of day, or you rely on Patient Transport to get you to your appointments and therefore need them between 9am - 5pm.
To make the hospital aware you can ring the appointments team at either Sunderland Royal Hospital or South Tyneside District Hospital and they will mark your records so that any future appointments will take this into account.

Hospital text appointments update.
Over the past couple of months we have been working to understand and influence improvements with the South Tyneside and Sunderland Hospital Trust's appointment via text, which many of you are now receiving. Some of you told us that you have found them to be confusing and worrying.
This sparked off a piece of work here in the Healthwatch office and several meetings and communications with the Sunderland Royal Hospital Appointment Team, so we... wanted to tell you all what has happened as a result:
Read more by clicking on the link below
See More

Coronavirus information in a range of languages
Centres of disease control and prevention - https://bit.ly/2VeBMVn
Doctors of the world have provided the latest Coronavirus guidance into 43 different languages - https://bit.ly/3c5FQhz
... Unite against Covid 19 website - https://bit.ly/2RpADJx
See More

Send us your ‘Thank You’ to the brave individuals, or organisation/group working to save lives and keep our lives safe during the Covid-19 outbreak. Email healthwatchsunderland@pcp.uk.net
eg - NHS staff, Carers, GPs and GP surgery Staff, Pharmacists, Volunteers, Supermarket Staff, Shop Workers, Police Officers, Ambulance Staff , Fire Service Staff, School Staff, Nursery Staff, Farmers, Manufacturers, Food Suppliers, and Distributors
Please let us know if there is anyone else we should include?

What does shielding mean during Coronavirus and how to get food and medication whilst shielding https://bit.ly/2UWy2ro