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
Staff Update
Volunteer with Healthwatch Lambeth
Safeguarding Guidance
Cost-of-Living Crisis Support
Streatham Grants
Every Mind Matters
Neighbourhood Nursing
Street League

A Word from Our CEO, Mairéad Healy

The new year has heralded some welcome changes here recently, with the addition of two new colleagues, Raks and Sue, to the Healthwatch Lambeth team. Raks, an experienced manager, will head up our engagement team, while Sue joins as a PCN engagement officer.

New colleagues bring new ideas and, with the days getting longer and spring approaching, we're excited to see several projects get off the ground in the coming months.

With the cost-of-living crisis continuing to affect many, we've put together a page with useful organisations and resources that may be able to help, as well as a safeguarding page you can use if you have concerns for yourself or someone else. Plus, there's also news of grant opportunities for voluntary or faith organisations in Streatham.

We hope you all have a productive February and look forward to updating you about our upcoming projects.

Mairéad Healy

CEO Healthwatch Lambeth

Staff Update

We're delighted to announce the arrival of Raks Patel, our new Engagement Team Manager. Raks will lead the delivery of Healthwatch Lambeth’s community engagement programme, engaging local people, gathering and collating their feedback, and working to improve local health and care services.

An experienced manager, Raks has a strong track record of engaging successfully with diverse and seldom heard communities and tackling health inequalities. She has previously worked as a senior manager in the NHS, the Civil Service and the charity sector, including the Terrence Higgins Trust, St Martin’s in the Fields Charity, and Alzheimer’s Society. She joins Healthwatch Lambeth from Healthwatch Haringey, where she was the Research and Engagement Manager.

Neighbourhood Nursing

In 2021, Guy’s and St Thomas’ made changes to the district nursing service in Lambeth. Healthwatch Lambeth worked with Guy's and St. Thomas' (GSTT) to speak to unpaid carers in the borough to understand more about their experiences before the changes were made.

Whenever there's a change to healthcare services, we like to assess impact and gauge what's working as well as what can be improved. To do so, we'd like to speak to those of you caring for somebody who have used Neighbourhood Nursing services in Lambeth.

If you are interested in taking part, please contact Sara at Healthwatch, email: sara.lyon@healthwatchlambeth.org.uk or call: 07943 986 256. You will be offered a shopping voucher to the value of £30 as a thank you.

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

Safeguarding Resources

Abuse and neglect can take many forms, but it's not always obvious and it can be difficult knowing where to turn.

We've put together a resource page with advice on organisations which may be able to help if you need to escalate safeguarding concerns for yourself or others.

Safeguarding

Lambeth Support

With the cost-of-living crisis exacerbating existing inequalities, we want to signpost those needing further support in Lambeth.

Our guide includes links to organisations that may help with nutrition, mental health issues, fuel debt or other financial hardship.

Cost-of-Living

Streatham Grants

Are you a local (voluntary or faith) organisation working to improve the health and wellbeing of local residents in Streatham?

You can now apply for to the Streatham Health & Wellbeing Small Grants fund (up to £2,500) and help people in your area.

Grants

Every Mind Matters

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has launched its new loneliness campaign activity as part of the Better Health - Every Mind Matters campaign. The campaign primarily aims to reach 16-34 year olds by encouraging them to ‘Lift Someone Out of Loneliness’, knowing that this will likely help their own feelings of loneliness.

This is based on recent research that shows that people in this demographic are at higher risk of feeling lonely compared to other age groups, but less likely to seek advice and support.

If you’re feeling lonely this winter, search ‘Every Mind Matters; for support and advice or click below.

Every Mind Matters