Welcome to the latest update from Healthwatch Bradford and District, your voice on health and social care, bringing together the latest news and information about local services and how your feedback is making a difference. Get a quick summary from our Lead Officer Helen in the video below:
Our work in the spotlight in new annual report
We've just published our annual report for 2022-23, bringing together our activities during the past year, our current priorities and our plans for this year.
The report highlights our work in helping to ensure the voice of people using local services is at the heart of the new health and care system responsible for our area, plus how we're hearing from all of our communities and working together with other Healthwatch across West Yorkshire to ensure your voice is heard at the highest level.
Did you know that in 2022-23 we've been talking to local people about "virtual services" at Bradford Royal Infirmary, and working with local South Asian communities to understand their views on NHS vaccines? We've also been responding to your top priorities around access to NHS dentists and GPs (watch this space for more on this work in the coming weeks).
The report also gives us the opportunity to highlight the less visible ways we're ensuring the public voice is heard by those responsible for designing, commissioning and delivering local health and care services. You can find out about all the local boards and committees where we represent public feedback on a regular basis, plus important projects we're involved with - like a System Quality Learning Summit we co-designed and co-hosted following the death of a mental health service user in hospital - and Dying Matters events for people with learning disabilities.
Helen Rushworth, our Lead Officer, says in our annual report: "When Healthwatch was introduced, the public were promised 'no top-down reorganisation of the NHS'. In reality it has been one of the most significant periods of change in the history of the NHS.
"In that first year, 2013, primary care trusts were swept away to be replaced by new clinical commissioning groups. Regional organisation through strategic health authorities was done away with, and decisions made locally or nationally.
"Ten years on, little of that reform remains except Healthwatch. That is in itself, I think, testament to the great work we do, the commitment of our staff and volunteers and the willingness of the public to make themselves heard in the corridors of power."
Could you be one of our new Enter and View representatives and visit local health and care services?
Are you interested in making a difference to local health and social care services? Do you enjoy talking to people from all backgrounds? Can you listen to and understand other people's views and experience?
We have several vacancies for Enter and View (Authorised Representatives) Volunteers, who will visit health and social care settings across Bradford district to gather feedback and see how well the services are working.
This is a great opportunity to get involved and influence improvements in local health and social care. Training and support will be given by Healthwatch staff.
Enter and View is the one of the tools available to Healthwatch to find out people’s experiences of health and social care. It’s not an inspection - our authorised representatives go into settings where health and social care services are delivered, like care homes, doctor’s surgeries, hospitals, nursing homes, residential units, and day centres, and assess the services from a lay perspective and the point of view of the community.
They talk to people using services as well as relatives and staff, and make recommendations to the providers of the services.
Tell us what you think about non-surgical cancer care in Bradford district
Healthwatch is working with the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance on a new project about non-surgical cancer care and treatment.
We want to talk to local people to get your views about local non-surgical cancer care like chemotherapy and radiotherapy services. What you tell us will be used to improve the way these services are delivered in the future.
You don’t have to have knowledge or awareness about non-surgical cancer care - we will give you all the information you need at the session. We’d like to hear from anyone who wants to be involved and the sessions will be informative and relaxed, with refreshments provided.
We're looking for a new Associate Director in West Yorkshire
Are you passionate about improving health and care services for the people who use them? Are you driven by your belief in getting the voices of people, especially those with the greatest health inequalities, into health and care decision-making?
Healthwatch organisations working together in West Yorkshire are on the lookout for a talented and driven person to work with us, and our partners in the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership.
Together we want to ensure that the voices of people living across all our communities in West Yorkshire are central to the new West Yorkshire health and care decision-making structure, and for Healthwatch’s role to be strong and robust at a West Yorkshire level.
This role will build on lots of good work already undertaken. It is an exciting Healthwatch leadership position that will allow the selected candidate to make a difference in the health and care experiences of people across West Yorkshire. Based at Healthwatch Leeds but working across the area, we’re looking for someone with bags of energy, drive, commitment and experience to provide challenge, expertise and insight on a strategic West Yorkshire level.
Your work will ensure that key relationships and structures are in place so that services in West Yorkshire are designed with and for people. To do this, you will have the opportunity to work with a variety of new and existing mechanisms, and local and West Yorkshire partners so that the area’s diversity is reflected in all its decision-making.
This is an amazing opportunity to lead a key piece of work and to ensure that West Yorkshire is leading the way across the country in terms of making people’s voices central to health and care decision-making!
- Associate Director
- Part-time, 4 days per week (30 hours)
- Healthwatch across West Yorkshire
- Salary: PO4 £41,496 - £44,539 (pro rata based on 37 hours FTE)
- Download an application pack here.
- Or to request a pack: Email: info@healthwatchleeds.co.uk
- Or call 0113 898 0035
- For an informal conversation please contact Hannah Davies at hannah@healthwatchleeds.co.uk
- Closing date: 11:59pm Friday July 28, 2023
Could you help make a difference with West Yorkshire Voice?
A West Yorkshire network has been launched, bringing together individuals, groups and organisations. It aims to ensure the voice of people is at the heart of decisions made about health and care by the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB).
This network, called West Yorkshire Voice, will build on all the great work already taking place in local areas.
It will link into existing networks and groups and be a platform from which to share the views and experiences of people and communities across West Yorkshire. The aim is for everyone to be involved in a way that works for them and to include the voice of those with the greatest health inequalities.
There will be a quarterly newsletter highlighting opportunities for involvement and sharing feedback about the impact of previous involvement. As the membership grows the hope is that this network can become a valuable resource for supporting engagement, involvement, people voice and coproduction across West Yorkshire.
Join us today by completing a short online form here.
For more information about West Yorkshire Voice or to subscribe to the newsletter, please email info@westyorkshirehealthwatch.co.uk or telephone 0113 8980035.
Tell us your experiences of mental health support and services
Mental health support and services will be the key topic for decision-makers in West Yorkshire at the integrated care board (ICB) meeting in September.
To put people’s voice and experience at the centre of these discussions, we need to hear about your or your loved ones' experience of mental health support in West Yorkshire.
We want to hear about what has worked well and what could be better. You can do this in several ways:
- Fill in a short survey to share your story/experience
- Attend an engagement session on September 19 to talk to decision-makers about your experience or that of a loved one (contact us for more details)
- Tell us about the experience of people you have been supporting
- Talk to us about your experience as staff offering mental health support.
You can call us on 0113 8980035 to find out more and share any experiences or email info@westyorkshirehealthwatch.co.uk for further information.
Latest from Healthwatch England
Why listening is integral to improving the quality of care
With the NHS turning 75 this week, our chief executive reflects on why listening to users of health and care services is so integral to improving the quality and safety of care.
The NHS in England at 75: priorities for the future - our response
Our advice to the Government on the NHS objectives for 2023
Using your feedback on care, we share with the Government the issues we believe should be included in the objectives for the NHS for the years ahead.
NHS workforce plan - the response from Healthwatch England
Thousands of doctors, nurses, dentists and other healthcare staff will be trained in England every year as part of the first ever Long Term Workforce Plan published by the NHS and backed by the Government.
Healthwatch England chief executive Louise Ansari said: "All too often, we hear stories of people whose care is delayed, cancelled, or postponed, putting many in danger, due to severe staffing gaps across health and care services.
"The much-needed funding and resource for the NHS workforce will be essential to underpin NHS recovery in the longer term."
Stories from new mothers: accessing maternal mental health services
Research shows mental health issues are widespread and of significant concern for new parents. Yet the new mothers we interviewed faced substantial challenges in accessing mental health services.
The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services Spring Survey - our response
The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services Spring Survey has been published. This crucial annual report outlines the many pressures facing social care today, their impacts for people, the workforce and providers, and the views of directors of adult services.
Latest news from local health and care services
Have a say on future of outpatient physiotherapy and community therapy services
Local people are being asked to have a say about what’s important to them when outpatient physiotherapy and community therapy services are moved from Shipley Hospital.
Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership is planning to move outpatient physiotherapy and community therapy services from Shipley Hospital to alternative sites in and around North Bradford.
Hospital trust is 'Veteran Aware'
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has announced it has been accredited as Veteran Aware, formally recognising its commitment to the armed forces community.
A key part of the trust’s Veteran Aware plan is to recruit veterans as volunteers within the Trust, to meet and greet patients from the armed forces community and provide advice and support if required. It is estimated that more than 9,000 people are from the armed forces community in the Bradford area.
New wellbeing garden opens at Bradford Royal Infirmary
A brand new garden – made in Bradford, for Bradford – has opened at Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) for staff, patients and visitors to enjoy.
The outdoor space, next to Costa on the BRI’s main concourse, offers everyone ample space for the chance to relax, reflect and enjoy the lovely weather in a calm environment.
Shared memories service offers support to bereaved families
Bradford Teaching Hospitals colleagues are once again organising a poignant memorial service to bring comfort to families affected by the loss of a baby or child.
The ‘Shared Memories Service’ is aimed at helping bereaved parents overcome their grief and will take place at the Listening for Life Centre, Bradford Royal Infirmary, part of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, on Saturday, July 8 at 11am.
Bradford COVID booster study recruits first participants
The first participants have been recruited to a new COVID-19 vaccination trial which has launched in Bradford.
Helen Bousfield, a medical secretary at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and her 12 year-old daughter, Evie, were the first to volunteer for the NextCOVE study, which is being run at the trust’s Patient Recruitment Centre.
New non-executive director joins hospital trust board
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has announce the appointment of its new non-executive director (NED) from the University of Leeds, School of Medicine: Professor Louise Bryant.
Louise is a Professor of Psychological and Social Medicine at the University of Leeds, and Deputy Dean for Equity Diversity and Inclusion in the University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health. She is an academic psychologist by background and her research focuses on screening in pregnancy and health inequalities experienced by people with a learning disability.
Airedale appoints construction industry leader with OBE as new non-executive director
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust has appointed construction industry leader Mark Andrews OBE from a strong field of more than 30 candidates to join the board as a non-executive director.
Mark is a chartered engineer with extensive experience in construction, most recently with Laing O’Rourke. He has previously been chief executive of NG Bailey and managing director at Balfour Beatty.
He was awarded his Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2010 for services to apprenticeships, training and education in the construction industry. At that time, Mark was chair of the Regional Work and Skills Board for Yorkshire and the Humber.
Latest visiting arrangements at local hospitals
Celebrate as One - awards nominations open for teams across our local health and care partnership
The first Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership Awards, called Celebrate as One, will take place on Thursday October 19from 6.30pm at The Aagrah, Midpoint, Bradford, BD3 7AY.
Entries are now open for the awards. There are 12 categories in total.
The awards are open to anyone across the partnership from the NHS, local authorities, VCSE and independent care sector organisations. The partnership is particularly keen to recognise and celebrate individuals, teams or projects that demonstrate the Act as One ethos - by working together we can deliver our partnership’s vision of helping to keep people ‘happy, healthy at home’.
The latest message from Elaine - 'keep on moving'
In her latest blog, Elaine Appelbee, the independent chair of the Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership Board, focuses on a "brilliant campaign" from Living Well that helps us thing about how we can include some movement in our daily routine.
She says: "The campaign encouraging people of all ages, across Bradford district, to move their bodies more – just 20 minutes every day can make a positive impact on our mental and physical health.
"How you complete your 20 minute movement is up to you – you can break it up into five minute chunks through the day, you can do it at home, on the way to work or to see friends or even in the office."
Celebrating lives of service as the NHS turns 75
Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust was celebrating "selfless service, a can-do attitude and a willingness to step up when needed" in long-serving staff as the NHS turned 75 this week.
Support and information
How to access mental health support if you have gender, sexuality or relationship diversity
Mental health problems are more common among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) people. If you are struggling, feel alone or need a little help, then check out our guide on how you can get the support you need.
How do I get a fit note?
Nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists and physiotherapists can now legally certify and issue a statement of fitness for work, or informally known as a ‘fit note’.
Find out what a ‘fit note’ is, when you might need one and how to go about getting one. Previously only GPs or hospital doctors could issue fit notes.
Latest newsletter from Yorkshire Cancer Community
In the latest newsletter from Yorkshire Cancer Community, Carol Beardmore, CEO of local charity SNOOP (Special Needs Objective Outreach Project) and a Cancer Champion, explains what motivates her to speak out about cervical cancer and campaign for better access to screening for people with learning disabilities and autism.