Healthwatch Stockton-on-Tees Annual Event 2023-2024

The event was attended by the public, a wide variety of community and voluntary organisations, representatives from Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Stockton-on-Tees Public Health Team, North East & North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, Tees Esk & Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust, volunteers, and colleagues.

Natasha Douglas, Healthwatch Stockton-on-Tees Project Lead shared an overview of the achievements of Healthwatch Stockton-on-Tees this year, including:

• Views & Experiences of People Accessing or Requiring ADHD Support Services.
• Views & Experiences of People Accessing Drug & Alcohol Services.
• Growing Older Planning Ahead – For Adults with a Learning Disability.
• Access to Dental Services.
• Views & Experiences of Pharmacy Services.

• Youthwatch – Working together across Tees Valley – in collaboration with Youth Focus North East – feedback from young people helped to support two additional reports. These are.

  - I need a Doctor
  - Insight into Youth Sexual Health

Natasha spoke of the commitment she had observed from partners to collaborate in an open and transparent way, sharing challenges and learning with a keen desire to enhance knowledge and expertise to support positive change and accessibility of health and care services.

Since the commencement of Healthwatch in 2013 the voice of service users and the public has remained embedded in decision-making processes, partners recognise the value of lived experience in service delivery and planning, promoting the best wellbeing outcomes for individuals, carers and families.

As Integrated Care Systems (ICS) begin to take shape it is understood that only through partnership working, meaningful engagement and combined resources will we make a positive difference to the health, wellbeing, and care of the communities we represent.

The event provided an opportunity for reflection of the journey of Healthwatch Stockton-on-Tees so far. The trials and tribulations, the growth, the changes and more importantly the successes that demonstrated the passion that remains with us on our journey to change.

The morning consisted of a variety of guest speakers who spoke of health and care projects that they are involved with.

Summary

In summary to the questions asked, there was a strong sense of partnership working across the borough, people felt we need to continue to build on existing relationships and continue to strive to develop new ones.

There was very positive feedback about the event and the value of similar events to share best practice. We were told that people felt that health inequalities were driving priorities and that there was a strong desire in Stockton-on-Tees to ‘get it right’. People felt positive that the stigma surrounding mental health was improving, with better awareness, and that lived experience was considered an important part of service development.

Areas that were discussed as not working well were, delays in medication from some pharmacy services and the use of Patient Participation Groups were not effective. Accessibility to services were considered to be challenging, language barriers, ability to access online services and communication were considered an area requiring improvement. There was concern surrounding current waiting times for many health services, including GP access, mental health support and secondary care.

There were discussions regarding the potential value of Mental Health Passports, to prevent people from having to repeat traumatic experiences and improving information sharing. We were told that people would like to see an increased awareness and understanding of drug and alcohol services, including the need to alleviate stigma and improve support and a better understanding within maternity and post-natal services.

There was concern raised about the reliance on the voluntary sector without adequate funding and the need for continued joined up working to avoid duplication and increase capacity.
We asked attendees within their groups to help prioritise the areas they felt should be considered in the Healthwatch Stockton-on-Tees work plan 2024-2025.

Findings were:

• Improved access to services, including health literacy to address health inequalities.
• Improved GP access, including sharing best practice across practices.
• Improve community reach to health and care services.
• Improved migrant health outcomes.
• Continual development of peer-led support services.
• Improved communication and information about end-of-life care and support available.
• Better access to cancer care services.
• Improve access to dentistry services.
• Raise awareness of gluten free options and need
• Improved mental health pathways, including access, reduced waiting times, improved collaboration between services.
• Improved access to medication and pharmacy services.
• Improve stigma surrounding substance misuse services and improve access and awareness of services.

We wanted to know how our annual event could be improved, although most of the feedback was very positive, people did express the bright lighting of the room due to full glass windows made some PowerPoint presentations difficult to see and the use of a microphone would have also been beneficial. These factors will be taken into consideration for the planning of next year’s event.

Next Steps

All information gathered will be shared with our partners and form part of the work planning 2024-2025 process for the Healthwatch Stockton-on-Tees Executive Board.

Healthwatch Stockton-on-Tees would like to express their thanks to everyone who gave their time and skills to help make it such a positive and valuable day.