Welcome to the latest news from Healthwatch Bradford and District, your voice on health and social care. Hit the play button below for the latest update from our Lead Officer Helen.
Here, Helen shares the latest Healthwatch news and views including our 10th anniversary and our current priorities.
It's been a busy month talking to people about their experiences of local health and care services, including as part of the latest phase of the Listen In programme with Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership. We've met a range of people in the city including homeless people, community groups and shoppers at Oastler Shopping Centre to find out what really matters to them. You can read reports from previous Listen In weeks here.
Healthwatch news
We're marking our 10th anniversary by thanking our Healthwatch Heroes
Health and care champion Healthwatch Bradford and District - part of a network of 152 local organisations plus Healthwatch England, the national body - is marking its 10th anniversary.
We're celebrating by thanking everyone who has shared their care experiences, and the professionals who have acted on feedback since we started work in 2013 - you can find out more in the video with our Lead Officer Helen Rushworth above.
However, there's so much more to do. Our research shows that people are nearly four times more likely to share their thoughts on a dinner out or takeaway than on NHS services.
Patient feedback can enable the NHS to spot issues and identify where services may need more resource or other support. It can also help address inequalities in access to care, the extent of which has been laid bare by the pandemic.
With NHS and social care services under pressure, we're calling on more people to tell the NHS when they are doing a good job and when services can be improved.
Helen hits the airwaves
Helen appeared in her regular slot on local radio station BCB Radio 106.6fm to discuss the anniversary, the need to hear more feedback on local health and care services and our current priorities.
Help improve NHS dental care in West Yorkshire
We know that many people across Bradford district and West Yorkshire are struggling to find a dentist. The West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) will be looking at ways to make this better for people at their next meeting on the May 16 in Halifax.
The way that NHS dentist services will be planned and organised is changing from July. NHS England, the national organisation that has led NHS dental services, will give the ICB the responsibility to lead on this. This is an important opportunity to potentially improve services here in West Yorkshire.
As part of May's meeting, there will be a joint session where people from West Yorkshire can share their experiences of accessing dental care with the Board, to think through what needs to happen next. The session will focus on understanding the issues and then thinking through together how to improve services. Get in touch to find out more or to share your story. Email info@westyorkshirehealthwatch.co.uk or call 0113 898 0035.
Do you have an NHS dentist in Bradford, Craven, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds or Wakefield? Let us know how they have been. Sharing your experience can help improve dental services across West Yorkshire.
Talk to us about your or your family member's end-of-life care
We want to help make end-of-life care better for everyone. We want to talk to you about your or a loved one's end-of-life care in West Yorkshire.
We can visit you, talk on the phone or if you prefer you can give feedback online.
Email insight@healthwatchbradford.co.uk to arrange for us to hear your anonymous feedback, which will be used to make services better.
We're hiring - West Yorkshire Voice Coordinator
Are you passionate about improving health and care services for the people who use them?
Do you believe that the voice of people, especially those with the greatest health inequalities, should be at the heart of health and care decision-making?
Healthwatch organisations working together across West Yorkshire are developing a people’s panel, called West Yorkshire Voice to ensure the voice of people is at the centre of decision-making. West Yorkshire Voice will bring together individuals, groups, local panels, networks, and organisations from across West Yorkshire.
We are looking to recruit a coordinator for West Yorkshire Voice. This exciting new role is responsible for the ongoing development, facilitation, and coordination of West Yorkshire Voice.
If you enjoy working with a wide range of people, are efficient and organised and committed to bringing people’s real experiences to the centre of decision making then this may be the role for you.
Employed by Healthwatch Leeds but working across West Yorkshire, there is flexibility on where this role can be based.
Download the application pack on the Healthwatch Leeds website.
Or to request a pack email: info@healthwatchleeds.co.uk or call 0113 8980035
For an informal chat, contact Sharanjit Boughan at sharanjit@westyorkshirehealthwatch.co.uk
▶️ Closing date: Thursday May 11, 2023
▶️ Part-time 3 days per week (22.5 hours)
▶️ Salary: £30,151 - £32,020 (pro-rota)
Latest news from Healthwatch England
- Analysis of experiences of 2,693 new mothers and birthing parents shows that six-week postnatal checks – required of GPs in England - are failing many new mothers. Healthwatch is calling for action
- The Board of NHS England approved a plan to improve the quality and safety of maternity and neonatal services. The plan includes key steps, such as improving the guidance GPs get to carry out postnatal checks and better access to specialist community perinatal mental health services. Our response
- Take a look at our work on women's health concerns, and what we're calling for to improve and tackle health inequalities.
- The latest NHS data shows that a record number of people are waiting for care. However, our new research indicates that there is also a hidden waiting list, and more needs to be done to understand what it's like for people trying to get referred.
- Our latest research follows people's experiences of getting a GP referral. The process for many is long and often confusing. We need to address issues around people's GP referral journey so that it works for everyone.
Latest news from local health and care services
COVID-19 spring booster vaccination programme gets under way in Bradford district
Everyone aged 75 and over and people aged five and over who have a weakened immune system due to a particular health condition or treatment can book their COVID-19 spring booster at various locations across Bradford district.
Eligible people will be contacted by the NHS or their local GP with information on how to book an appointment. Alternatively, they can book an appointment at a centre of their choice using the online booking service or by calling 119. Appointments started on Monday (April 17) and will be available until the end of June.
The Reducing Inequalities Alliance - working to stop people dying early and to help people have a healthy and happy life
Lives in Bradford District and Craven are being cut short. People living in deprived areas of our district are more likely to die sooner than those in more affluent areas – this difference can be as much as 10 years.
The Reducing Inequalities Alliance has been created to support and coordinate collective action to reduce inequalities in Bradford District and Craven. It is made up of allies across partner organisations in Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership.
NHS team dedicated to supporting people with bleeding disorders marks World Haemophilia Day
A specialist NHS team dedicated to supporting people with bleeding disorders across the Bradford district raised awareness of the condition this week.
The Haematology team is based at The Meadows haematology and oncology day unit at Eccleshill Community Hospital, part of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Offering support, treatment and advice to patients and families affected by haemophilia and other bleeding disorders, the team of nurses, doctors and counsellors work with inpatients, outpatients and emergency cases, and treat people of all ages.
New £100,000 scanner installed at St. Luke’s Hospital
A new £100,000 scanner which assesses the strength of patients’ bones and allows specialists to calculate their risk of fractures and osteoporosis has been installed at St. Luke’s Hospital.
The new DXA scanner (which stands for dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) has been funded by Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. It uses low-dose x-rays to take measurements to work out the strength (density) of a patient’s bones.
DXA section manager and clinical technologist Jane Threlkeld said: “The scanner will be used to monitor patients for osteoporosis and will also be a valuable addition to new, NHS-funded research that we are planning to undertake."
Appeal for soft dolls to support patients living with dementia
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust is calling out for keen knitters and crafty crocheters to create and donate soft dolls for patients living with dementia.
The dolls will be used to support patients at Airedale by giving them something to hold to help ease their anxiety whilst in hospital.
Support and information
National Emergency Alert to be tested this weekend
An emergency alerts system is being launched by the UK Government to warn people, through their mobile phone, about serious nearby imminent risk to life, such as wildfires or severe flooding.
An Emergency Alert looks and sounds very different to other types of notifications or messages such as SMS ‘text messages’.
In an emergency, your mobile phone or tablet will, depending on its settings:
- make a unique loud siren-like sound, even if it’s set to silent
- vibrate
- read out the alert
- the sound and vibration will last for about 10 seconds
If you receive an alert, it may also include a phone number or a link to the GOV.UK website for more information.
There will be a national UK Emergency Alert test on Sunday April 23 at 3pm.
Such an alert, including the sound, could cause anxiety for a number of vulnerable people.
Those experiencing domestic abuse, who for their safety have a secret or secondary mobile phone, are being advised to turn off Emergency Alerts.