Working collaboratively, and launching new projects🎉
This month has been as busy as ever at Healthwatch Lancashire as we have announced our Phase 2 Disability, Transport and Accessibility project and travelled through the lakes to Carlisle for Summer Operations Day🔅
Scroll to see more of what we've been up to👀
Joining Up With East Lancs Voices Peer Advocacy💪
This weekend, we teamed up with the East Lancashire Voices Peer Advocacy with support from People First at Accrington Carnival!
Our day was spent talking to the residents of Accrington about Community Safety for People with Learning Disabilities.
Working collaboratively to raise awareness and amplify the voices of local people is key for Healthwatch to drive change📣
Phase 2 of Disability Voices, 'Disability, Transport and Accessibility'.
We have recently conducted a research project into the barriers affecting disabled people in Lancashire when accessing health and social care services.
Our Disability Voices Phase 1 report revealed that transport and accessibility posed significant challenges to disabled people and, in many ways, affected their experience and access to health and social care services.
We want to investigate this further, so we have launched a survey to explore transport and access to health services for disabled people in Lancashire with the support of our Steering Group.
This Steering Group was an opportunity to review our survey questions and ask those who work in services, or are disabled, to steer us in the correct direction to gather the most important data we can.
This steering group was also attended by Tony from the North West Ambulance Service Patient Transport Service to share his insights on current procedures and give us a glimpse of how they could look in the future.
Summer Ops Day Celebrations
Thankfully for us, the unreliable weather held up for Summer Ops day, which was celebrated in Carlisle with the Healthwatch Stockton, Healthwatch Cumberland, Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness, Healthwatch County Durham, and the People First team.
Dr Andy Knox talked about leadership in the community and 'Not being a cock, being a hen' when advocating for our communities. This was a really inspiring and thought-provoking talk.
The Well Community also talked to us about how addiction changes people's lives and the work that The Well Community do to support individuals.
We were also treated to some delicious fish and chips, group games, goody bags, and some of our team even bagged some awards in the People First 2025 Awards Ceremony🏆
Emmy Walmsley - Snack To The Future Award
Jodie Carney - Inspiring Leadership Award
Cora Dixon - Rising Star Award
Enter and View: Kirkham Health Centre
Healthwatch Lancashire Enter and View Representatives made an announced visit to Kirkham Health Centre and spoke with 29 patients and 2 staff members who provided feedback on the organisation.
We found that staff and patients both shared a positive outlook on the care provided at Wesham Rehabilitation Centre, with one patient explaining: “The staff are really attentive and caring, all of them, that’s really important."
Some expressed that technical issues with screens often lead to communication issues: “It’s ok when the screen is working, otherwise it’s hard to hear them when they call out."
Kirkham Health Centre has approximately 10,000 registered patients, including patients in local nursing/care homes and those who may be housebound.
Maternity: Personalised Care and Support Planning (PCSP)
We are currently supporting the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board by promoting a Personalised Care and Support Planning survey based on maternity experiences in Lancashire.
This survey will allow hospital trusts like Lancashire (including East), Blackpool and Morecambe Bay to understand the views of women across Lancashire and make vital changes to care and support to improve their maternity experience.
Have your say here. https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/...
"Every voice counts when it comes to shaping the future of services and improving them"
Share your experiences of accessing local health and care services by visiting our online Feedback Centre.