As spring arrived, March was a month full of activity for Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness. We spent time out in the community, gathering feedback, sharing project updates and connecting with local groups to ensure your voices are heard.
From important conversations about women’s health to collaborating with our Healthwatch colleagues across the North East, we’ve been working hard to make a difference.
In this edition, we’re looking back at everything we got up to in March - plus, we’ll share a sneak peek at what’s coming up in April. So, grab a cuppa (or maybe an Easter egg!) and catch up on all the latest news.
Where we've been
March has been a busy month for our engagement team as we traveled across Westmorland and Furness, connecting with local communities and gathering valuable insights into health and social care. From attending key forums to hosting our first 'Conversation and a Cuppa' event, our team has been working hard to ensure people’s voices are heard.
Here’s a look at where we’ve been and what we’ve learned.
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Where we're going
Our engagement team is out and about again this April, connecting with local communities across Westmorland and Furness. We’ll be gathering feedback on health and social care services, sharing updates on key projects and offering advice and signposting support.
From dementia hubs to autism awareness events, we’re covering a range of important topics - so if you see us, stop by for a chat!
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'Raising Voices Together': Healthwatch teams Unite in Newcastle
On Monday, we headed to Newcastle for ‘Raising Voices Together’, a networking event bringing together Healthwatch teams from across the North East and North Cumbria. With representatives from 14 local Healthwatch groups, the event was a fantastic opportunity to share ideas, explore collaborations and discuss how we can better amplify patient voices.
We welcomed Healthwatch County Durham, the newest addition to People First, and heard from key speakers, including Chris McCann from Healthwatch England and Claire Riley from NENC ICB, about the challenges and opportunities ahead. Through workshops, we explored ways to engage underrepresented communities, improve care services and strengthen our impact.
Read on to find out what we learned, the key takeaways from our discussions, and what’s next for our Healthwatch network!
Bringing services together at our Health & Wellbeing event
We recently hosted our first-ever health and wellbeing event in Appleby, bringing together local groups and services to support the community.
The event provided a valuable opportunity for people to connect, share information and highlight key health and wellbeing concerns.
With great feedback and engagement on the day, we hope to expand these events to other areas in Westmorland and Furness.
Healthwatch response to NHS England reform
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to abolish NHS England, with its functions moving to the Department of Health and Social Care over the next two years. The aim is to reduce costs and improve patient care by bringing NHS management under ministerial control.
Healthwatch England has emphasised the need to protect patient care during this transition, ensuring that improvements in access and experience continue. Locally, Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness remains committed to amplifying patient voices and advocating for better health and social care services.
Triple A Event: Celebrating neurodiversity
We were delighted to attend Triple A’s Reconnect event in Penrith on March 18th, celebrating Neurodiversity Week and highlighting the experiences of autistic and ADHD individuals. The event featured inspiring discussions, creative exhibition and a showcase of local services supporting neurodiverse communities.
Our Manager, Kate, shared insights from our Adult Autism Pathways report, discussing the challenges of diagnosis and access to support.
Want to know more about what we do?
Visit our website to learn more about Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness and the work that we do to champion better services in our area.
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