Taking health and care to communities: Healthwatch Stockton-on-Tees launch Health Ambassadors Programme
We have been busy in our communities finding out what is important to people and how we can help to bridge a gap in access to health services and care.
We were told trust, language barriers, lack of interpreters, clear communication and knowledge of where and who to seek help or advice from were all barriers to accessing health and care services.
We have now developed the Health and Care Ambassadors Programme.
On Friday 11th October 2024, dedicated and passionate health and care services came together at Purple Rose - a Stockton organisation which supports asylum seekers, refugees and anyone who needs help - to deliver a health and care road show directly in the heart of the community.
Building trust, overcoming barriers, and collaborating as service providers to reach people who need our support.
Over 100 people had the opportunity to speak directly to services, supported by peers to overcome translation barriers.
Over 100 people had the opportunity to speak directly to health services, supported by peers to overcome translation barriers, building collaborative relationships and improving outcomes for our communities.
Over 50 people accessed the Arrival Practice to have their blood pressure checked and will now be triaged appropriately to important heath care.
People spoke to Northern Cancer Voices, NHS 0-19 Service, Public Health, Prostate Cancer, NHS Smoking Cessation, Bowel Screening, Safer Communities and the Arrivals Practice.
This will now take place quarterly with the support of Purple Rose, whose dedication and support for the local community is unwavering.
We had an absolutely wonderful time at the event, engaging with so many people and hearing such powerful stories. Personally, it was a real eye-opener for me.
The event was such a success with attendees and professionals, there is now a commitment from all services to ensure continued relationship building with our communities, developing robust partnership working to help overcome barriers people face accessing health and care services.
Thank you for inviting us. It was a very well attended event with lots of interactions from the attendees, they were very engaging and receptive to the information given to then around bowel health.
It was great to be involved with the migrant health event. An excellent opportunity to reach people and let them know about the support available from VCAS.
The programme will continue to run throughout the borough, with additional support from other service areas as identified by the needs of service users, including diabetes awareness and wellbeing support.
If you would like to join the team of ambassadors or would like the Health and Care roadshow to come to your community, please contact Healthwatch Stockton-on-Tees.
info@healthwatchstocktonontees.co.uk
0300 180 0660
Downloads
You can download the Healthwatch Stockton-on-Tees Health and Care Ambassadors document below.
