1. Your ambulance stories need to be heard

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    Have you been picked up by an ambulance recently, or treated by a paramedic? We need to hear your story.

  2. Last chance to get your views heard about the drug and alcohol service in Kent

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    Do you, or someone you know, have experience of using drug and alcohol services in Kent?

    Kent County Council have published their new five-year Drug and Alcohol Strategy and they need to hear what you think.

  3. Helping people who are homeless to see a GP

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    Every day people contact us because they are unable to register with a GP in Kent.

  4. Helping Jane to get a housing review

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    When Jane contacted us, she didn't know what else to do. Her health was getting worse, and she needed a review of her housing.

  5. Healthwatch Kent comments on the Kirkup Review

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    Today the Government has published the outcome of the Kirkup review following an independent investigation into management and care provided by the maternity and neonatal services at East Kent Hospitals.

  6. Food vouchers for families

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    If you’re entitled to free school meals, then you’ll be delighted to hear that the vouchers have been extended. Not only are vouchers being given out for this October half term but will also cover the next three school holidays.

  7. Transport for children and young people with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities

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    A review of the transport that enables children and young people who have SEND (Special Needs and Disabilities) to attend school has just been published.

  8. Covid Bus comes to Sheerness

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    The Covid vaccination bus is coming to Sheerness this week.

  9. We've been shortlisted for a national award!

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    We've been shortlisted for a national award for the work we've done to help the Nepalese community in Folkestone to get online and access health and social care services.

  10. The needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities are not being met in Kent

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    Inspectors from Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission have published a report which states that the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities are not being met.

  11. Cast your vote to decide a new name for the mental wellbeing service

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    Thousands of us use the IAPT service every month to help us deal with anxiety and depression, but few of us actually know what IAPT stands for. You can help to change that.

  12. Do you use Children’s Centres, Youth Hubs or the Gateways?

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    What about other buildings owned by Kent County Council such as services for people with learning disabilities or public health services for children and their families?

  13. Have you experienced a mental health crisis?

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    Has urgent help become essential to support in the management of your life? If this has meant you have been on Section 136 we would value your thoughts.

  14. Are you receiving care in your own home or in the community?

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    Or did you reach pension age before 6th April 2016?

  15. Helping more people get health and care information the way they need it.

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    Healthwatch is committed to ensure healthcare information is clear and understandable to help you make decisions about your health and care and get the most out of services.

  16. Have you heard of NHS Talking Therapies? (Formerly IAPT)

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    Thousands of us use the mental wellbeing service every month to help us deal with anxiety and depression. If you, or someone you know, have used the service, we want to hear your story.

  17. Help decide what services should be offered at the new health centre in Edenbridge

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    A new health centre is currently being built in Edenbridge.

  18. Have you used community navigators or social prescribers recently?

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    Thousands of you across Kent & Medway have been supported by social prescribers or community navigators.

  19. Celebrating excellence at the Healthwatch Recognition Awards

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    32 people and organisations were winners last night at the prestigious Healthwatch Recognition Awards in Ashford.

  20. Covid-19 spring booster vaccinations

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    More than a million people will be eligible for a spring Covid-19 jab in the south east, as the NHS begins to roll out the next phase of the vaccination programme.

  21. Support during pregnancy and when caring for those under 5years old

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    The theme this month is about support during pregnancy and when caring for those under 5years old which you can download at the bottom of the page.

  22. Heroic individuals and organisations working within our Mental Health Community

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    At the end of last month, organised by both Healthwatch Kent & Healthwatch Medway, 200 guests came together to celebrate the best in health & social care.

  23. New orthopaedic service being developed for all patients living in the Kent & Medway area

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    A new orthopaedic service providing extra outpatient clinic appointments and operating theatres is being opened for all patients living in Kent & Medway.

  24. Have your say on the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Strategy

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    The Integrated Care Board (ICB) are creating plans to improve health and care in Kent and Medway. NHS organisations, local councils, care organisations and the voluntary sector in Kent and Medway are working together to improve health and care for you.

  25. What have we achieved this year?

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    35,316 people came to us for advice and information about topics such as mental health, accessing dentists and the cost-of-living crisis.

  26. Primary care work

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    In May, Healthwatch England shared their initial response to the Government's Primary Care recovery plan and what it would mean for you and your loved ones.

  27. Our impact in dentistry

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    In June we released out Annual report, which you can download at the bottom of this page. It shows the various ways Healthwatch continues its efforts to ensure the public experience is heard.

  28. Listening to seldom heard voices

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    Last month we shared about how West Kent’s community larders continue to grow. The Shepway larder supports an average of 300 people and provides more than 500 bags of shopping a month. A second community larder now supports Park Wood.

  29. How Healthwatch support seldom heard voices

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    We continue our support of the NHS and Kent County Council in hearing from the public to codesign the future of their Integrated Community Equipment Services (ICES).

  30. Supporting joined up and equal social and health care provision and access

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    Healthwatch Kent works to improve the experience of being a Kent resident regarding social needs, health and wellbeing. To do this we support the Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) which are the NHS organisation form that replaced Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in 2022.

  31. How Healthwatch addresses Health inequalities

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    Healthwatch has adopted a more structured approach to help those most affected by differences in the provision of and access to health and social care.

  32. A wedge approach to tackling health inequalities: Women’s Health

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    Earlier this year Healthwatch England published it’s position on Women’s Health. They outlined what they were calling for to improve and tackle health inequalities for women.

  33. Stammer is one of the biggest challenges in accessing healthcare services. 

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    People with stammers face a variety of challenges in accessing healthcare services. In the UK a survey showed 1.8% of people have stammer.

  34. Accessibility to healthcare can vary significantly based on the needs of the individual.

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    Stammer is one of the biggest challenges in accessing healthcare services. 

  35. Are you a carer? Are you getting the help and support available? 

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    In the UK it is believed seven million people are voluntarily providing care and/or support to family and/or friends. And that many of these are either not accessing or are not aware of the help and support available to them. 

  36. What barriers women report to experience when accessing healthcare?

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    Women have a wide variety of experiences when accessing healthcare. However, a majority of women found that healthcare professionals were not listening or respecting them. There are several reasons that have been reported for these issues.

  37. Public consultation on Health Based Places of Safety

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    In February 2023, Kent and Medway ICB and Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) launched a public consultation on Health Based Places of Safety. These are the facilities KMPT provides for adults needing emergency care and assessment under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act.

  38. We continue our support of the NHS and Kent County Council in hearing from the public to codesign the future of their Integrated Community Equipment Services (ICES)

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    ICES aims to maximise independence of Kent residents and enable them to carry out everyday activities at home.

  39. How Healthwatch making a difference ?

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    Early this month a piece by Healthwatch England CEO Louise Ansari, explaining how Healthwatch helps the NHS engage with local people, was published in the Health Service Journal.

  40. The team at Healthwatch Kent have been shortlisted for a national award for their work helping to improve care for local people.

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    The National Healthwatch Impact Award recognises outstanding examples of where the views of local people have been used to make positive changes to local NHS and social care services.

  41. Annual Recognition Awards evening is back this year

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    Healthwatch Kent and Healthwatch Medway are pleased to announce the return of its annual Recognition Awards evening, now in its third year.

  42. Healthwatch Kent service receives national award for improving care

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    Healthwatch Kent was recognised at the National Healthwatch Impact Awards this week for helping to improve care for local people. 

  43. Healthwatch Kent and Healthwatch Medway annual Recognition Awards evening return for the third year.

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    This annual awards evening aims to recognise and celebrate the people, innovations and collaborations that listen to the public and deliver successful projects and programmes across Kent and Medway.