It's January! The Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness team are rested and raring to go.
This month we are talking about Volunteer Responders and also the impact of taking part in Dry January. We have our Board of Trustees meeting coming up later this month and invite you to join us. We are always here to listen and would love to hear about your experiences when using local health and social care services, please visit our feedback centre, and follow the instructions.
Lending a hand to support your mental health and wellbeing
We have a range of information and links to local services and NHS advice on our website including staying well this winter, cost of living support and services for mental health support. New to what we can do is refer local people to get help from NHS and Care Volunteer Responders.
NHS and Care Volunteer Responders have over 35,000 volunteers who support people in their local community with activities including friendly phone calls, shopping and prescription delivery.
NHS and Care Volunteer Responders take on a range of activities including, Check-In and Chat which provides telephone support to people in need of companionship and encouragement to improve their mental health and wellbeing. Community Response provides support with collecting and delivering essential shopping, prescriptions or lateral flow tests.And Pick Up and Deliver Which is help to transport equipment, supplies and medication between NHS services and sites.
If you or someone you know could make use of this service contact Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness.
Would you like to find out more about what we do?
Our Board of Trustees are meeting on January 23rd at the People First Conference Centre and you're invited!
Our Board of Trustees meets twice a year to hear about our recent work; give feedback, ask questions and ensure we are providing the best possible service to the public. The meetings take place in public to make the process open and transparent.
Representatives of Healthwatch teams in Cumberland, Westmorland & Furness and Lancashire will be in attendance to provide an update on the work that has taken place over recent months and progress towards performance targets.
Our Board of Trustees acts as a critical friend, pushing us to find new and innovative ways to carry out this duty to the public.
You will have an opportunity to ask questions of the board, however, if you would like an answer on the day, please send your questions five working days in advance.
If you would like to join the board meeting, call us on 0300 303 8037 or email: [email protected]
Are you taking part in Dry January?
31 days of not drinking a drop of alcohol – can one month really make a difference to your overall health and well-being?
Yes, it turns out. It has been discovered that taking a month-long break from drinking alcohol can have significant benefits for your overall well-being, even if you have no plans of maintaining your sobriety beyond January 31st.
In 2023, around 175,000 people in the UK signed up for the official Dry January challenge, organised by Alcohol Change UK, although the actual number of individuals giving up alcohol for the month was likely to be much higher. With the growing trend of sober curiosity, the number of people participating in Dry January in 2024 is expected to be even greater. Completing Dry January also means you’ll save quite a bit of money and your sex life may also improve. So, it’s worth giving it a try!
If you’re enjoying Dry January, there’s no reason to stop. One month sober doesn’t have to be the end of your journey. If you’re concerned about your relationship with alcohol, there’s no harm in extending your break from the booze. Doing Dry January might make you reflect on how much you drink and why.
Committing to Dry January can have positive effects on your health. Better sleep, feeling more energised, improved digestion and reduced blood pressure, to name a few. Click the link to read the positive benefits you can expect week-by-week
Read the full article.
"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.
Feeling blue? You're not alone
Blue Monday is known to be the "most depressing day of the year." This concept was first introduced in a press release by British travel company, Sky Travel, in 2005. After the hustle and bustle of Christmas, many people tend to struggle financially, while the weather is far from perfect. Failed new year resolutions are also quite common, which can result in a low mood for many.
Blue Monday is a term used to describe the third Monday of January, which is considered to be the most depressing day of the year. This designation was made by considering factors such as debt levels, temperatures, days until the next bank holiday, the number of days since pay day, and average hours of daylight. However, it is important to note that there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that this day is actually the most depressing of the year. Instead of being a day to feel sad, Blue Monday is now used as an opportunity to promote mental health support and self-care.
Click the 'Read More' button below for tips to beat the winter blues. If you’re struggling to cope, don’t suffer in silence, there is lots of helpful signposting and information Read more.
David is CEO of both Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness and People First Independent Advocacy, which hosts Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness. Here he opens up about the challenges facing the sector:
"At its heart advocacy is simply about giving someone the support they need to have their voice heard.
In my view some people will need help throughout their lives, an ongoing independent partner or ally who’s there for the long haul, who will help a person navigate a complicated life and system. A friend who will be there no matter what.
Leaders in advocacy must stay focused on the founding principles of our work, remembering why we are here and advocating for the types of support and funding that’s needed for so many people.
I have witnessed firsthand advocacy transform lives, over and over again. I have seen people take control and do it their way, push back and express their wishes and desires. But I have also seen people bounce from crisis to crisis in a complicated and unfair world which is difficult to understand.
The power of advocacy is that it is about people supporting people, and there is nothing more powerful than when we work together to support each other."
