Hampshire Hospitals Health Focus event Andover
We attended a Health Focus meeting at Andover War Memorial Hospital with our colleagues from HHFT to share plans for the re-provision of the Andover Health Centre GP practice.
Hampshire Hospitals Engagement Strategy
We support our providers to engage with their service users. In January 2020 we took part in a workshop at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital to help HHFT develop a patient engagement strategy. We heard patient stories and had input into how local people can be more involved in planning services. Co-production was the word of the day!
Reducing communication barriers for ethnic minorities
During January 2020 the CCG met with five groups of adult learners who are completing English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses. This work is part of an ongoing partnership between the CCG, Eastleigh Borough Council and Eastleigh College.
Students that speak limited English and require an interpreter were issued with personalised communication need cards (pictured). The card is designed to help people get access to an interpreter when they use health services. The card was developed by the CCG, Healthwatch Hampshire and ethnic minority community groups in 2017.
Whilst with the students we took the opportunity to explain the importance of registering with a GP, as well as when and how to use different NHS services. We also asked about their experiences of using local health services so we better understand the impact of language difficulties and can plan services accordingly.
Andover Older Peoples Forum
We shared healthcare messages with the Andover Older Peoples Forum at their Independent Living Fayre in October. We encouraged attendees to keep active and shared tips and ideas on how to stay mobile.
AGM 2019
This year we held two Annual General Meetings, the first in Winchester in July and the second in Lyndhurst in September. This meant more members of the public were able to attend a meeting closer to where they live.
Both meetings were well attended with lively interaction and some probing questions from the floor. Our colleagues in partner organisations supported the meetings with stands outlining their services, including Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust and Healthwatch Hampshire.
Patient Focus Groups
In April 2019 we organised two patient focus groups in Eastleigh and Lymington to help us develop the messaging needed to promote extended urgent primary care services and local urgent treatment centres. We know how easy it is to become entrenched in NHS jargon, terminology and acronyms which mean nothing to the general public, so groups like these really do help us get a sense check from local people.
We had a good turnout at both events and each gave us much food for thought. What did we learn? To avoid words such as ‘extended,’ ‘access,’ ‘primary care’ and ‘hubs!’ In Eastleigh, ‘hub’ is associated with the existing facility at Bishopstoke and people thought that could be confusing– a great example of why local knowledge is invaluable. Suggestions included using simple terms like ‘extra GP appointments’ or ‘evening and weekend appointments.’
All the comments and suggestions made by the groups were taken into account and we launched a promotional campaign for the new service in July.
Working with young people
We are currently working with students at Barton Peveril College in Eastleigh to produce as series of YouTube videos offering health advice to young people on a range of topics including mental health, visiting your GP and healthy eating.
PPG network meeting
We held our latest Patient Participation Group (PPG) network meeting at Romsey Golf Club on Saturday 26 October 2019. Around 40 people attended, representing 20 GP practices across West Hampshire.
Speakers included Judy Gillow, a Lay Board member, and Professor Mark Rickenbach, a local GP. They updated the group on the development of Primary Care Networks and research in GP practices.
Dot Croall from the Red and Green practice in Hythe gave a presentation about the ‘Living after Loss’ bereavement service run by the PPG.
College Wellbeing Fayres
We were invited to take part in sixth form college events at Brockenhurst College and Barton Peveril College in Eastleigh. Our GPs were delighted to go along and talk to the students about a range of healthcare issues and hear the experiences of young people using GP services.
Big Band event in Romsey
On 20 July 2019, WHCCG (Sam and Helen) attended the Big Band Buffet armed with a host of information about services for patients. The event took place at the Mountbatten School and was supported by Test Valley Borough Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner. The event was fully booked and those attending were treated to some excellent music and a buffet lunch.
Afternoon tea with the Board
The sun came out for the third annual West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) volunteers’ tea party in June this year. Local people, who gave up their time to share their experiences of healthcare services in the area, met with Chief Officer Heather Hauschild and her team at the CCG to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea at the Point in Eastleigh.
The event was supported by local businesses who generously donated raffle prizes. Each volunteer was given a thank you card from Heather on behalf of the organisation.
Everyone Counts workshop
On 28 February 2019 we held an Everyone Counts Workshop with patient and community representatives from across West Hampshire. Together we discussed the experiences of equality groups when using local NHS services, and looked at the progress made by the CCG on fairness and inclusion. Workshop attendees also identified actions to remove barriers and improve services for equality groups. We completed this work using the Equality Delivery System (EDS2) which all NHS organisations, including the CCG, use to improve equality and help them meet the Public Sector Equality Duty.