Healthwatch Lambeth News

Championing what matters to you

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Healthwatch Lambeth is your health and social care champion. We listen to what people like about services and what could be improved. We share those views with NHS leaders and care providers to make change happen.

Our highlights:

A Word from our CEO
Volunteer with Healthwatch Lambeth
HWE Seeks Feedback
Strike News
Mental Health Support for Children & Young People
St. Thomas' Maternity Service CQC Report
Healthwatch England Response to NHS Performance Stats
King's Employment Clinic

A Word from Our CEO, Mairéad Healy

Following a well-earned rest over the Christmas period, we're back to work at Healthwatch Lambeth and excited for the coming year, albeit with an understanding of the challenges ahead. The ongoing cost-of-living crisis and related strike action are set to impact on health and social care a great deal. As such, we're contacting service providers regularly for news and updates in order to keep Lambeth residents well-informed.

Although the New Year has brought with it challenging and, for many, worrying developments, we have cause for optimism at Healthwatch Lambeth. This year, we're looking to get a number of exciting projects off the ground which will, it is hoped, result in better health and social care outcomes for residents throughout the borough. We're also looking to boost our outreach and engagement work in the coming months in addition to working with more wonderful volunteers in 2023.

We understand that this is a time of great uncertainty for many of you. Nonetheless, we believe that together we can face the obstacles ahead. We hope you will be there with us and would like to thank you once again for your ongoing support,

Mairéad Healy

CEO Healthwatch Lambeth

Volunteer with Healthwatch Lambeth

With 2023 well under way, a number of Healthwatch Lambeth projects should get off the ground in the months ahead. As passionate as we are about health and social care, we can't do the work that needs to be done alone, which is where our excellent volunteers come in.

If you're already registered as a volunteer, please make sure that you have completed and returned your Safeguarding training. We're also on the lookout for new volunteers who are interested in working for us in various areas both at Healthwatch Lambeth and out in the community.

If this sounds like you, please get in touch to learn more.

Volunteer

Healthwatch England Seeks Feedback

With health and care services under greater pressures than ever before, NHS and social care staff are working hard to keep us well. Of course, there will be times when under such constraints, room for improvement can be found.

Healthwatch England wants to hear people's thoughts on health and social care services, particularly if you've struggled to access them this winter. If you've used (or helped someone to use) GPs, hospitals, pharmacies, care homes or other support services, they want to hear about your experience. Both positive and negative feedback can help services understand issues that need to be addressed in order to provide better care.

Get in touch now

Strike Action

January 2023 has seen strikes taking place by the Royal College of Nursing and the London Ambulance Service, with both due for further strike action on 19th and 23rd January respectively.

Healthwatch Lambeth has contacted representatives of both services for details of contingency planning as well as Guy's & St. Thomas and King's College hospitals.

We will keep you informed of any response we receive from services, and post regular updates of any developments you may need to know about that may affect your ability to access health or social care.

Strike News

Mental Health Support – Children & Young People

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, children and young people face severe pressures, with many experiencing mental health difficulties as a result.

We regularly update our page to signpost mental health services for children and young people in Lambeth. If you are concerned for the mental health of a child or young person, take a look at our guide.

And if you are aware of a service in Lambeth that we haven't listed, please get in touch and we will add it to our page if we believe it may benefit the mental wellbeing of children and young people.

Support

Good Rating for St. Thomas' Maternity Service

St. Thomas' Maternity service has received a good rating following a CQC inspection. The service was commended for its infection-control and incident management, with recommendations for improvement in staffing levels and waiting times for triage assessment.

The report noted that leaders ran the service well and supported staff to develop skills and that teams worked well together for the benefit of women and understood how to protect women from abuse. Areas of outstanding practice were found in how staff are trained, the management of incidents and the bereavement care and facilities provided to patients.

Read Here

Healthwatch England Responds to Latest NHS Performance Statistics

Healthwatch England's national director, Louise Ansari, has labelled pressures on the NHS as 'intolerable.'

Statistics revealed that the number of patients waiting more than 12 hours in A&E for treatment have exceeded 50,000 a week for the first time, though waiting lists for routine care have fallen for the first time since the pandemic began.

Read more about Healthwatch England's response here.

King's Employment Clinic

King’s and PwC Employment Clinic is a free advice-only legal service run by students at King’s.

Students work under the supervision of qualified lawyers to:
• Interview you face-to-face.
• Help identify and analyse your legal problem.
• Research the law and relevant legal procedures
• Send you a written letter of advice.