On Wednesday Engagement Officer Leila travelled to the top of the county to hear about health and social care provision on Alston Moor.
As an organisation which exists to champion the views of patients and people who use health and social care across Westmorland and Furness it is important that we speak with communities across our area, from Walney Island to Alston Moor. We take this commitment seriously, and this is valued by Westmorland and Furness Council, which commissions us.
Raising awareness
Leila went to Alston to speak with people at a regular coffee morning, but first she visited Alston GP practice, dropping off flyers for the practice waiting room, as well as speaking with staff about what Healthwatch does. Practice Manager Tanya kindly invited her to the Alston Social Day Unit, a new service for Healthwatch to learn about.
At the Masonic Hall coffee morning Leila spoke to members of the community, who raised concerns as well as compliments about services locally, and generally praised the GP surgery in Alston. One lady said, “I absolutely love this surgery”.
Local feedback
Generally, it is easy to get an appointment, but some said they wished there was better continuity of care. With Cumbria Health running the GP practice, patients can see a range of GPs. One man said, “People in Alston don’t have a local doctor”.
There was a lot to praise. The falls clinic at the hospital was described as very good. The pharmacy was rated ‘five star’ by one lady, who uses it in preference to the GP as a first port of call.
There were comments about the services that Alston lacks, such as a hearing aid clinic and Parkinson’s disease support. Some people focused on the loss of palliative care services and convalescence beds that could, they said, help with bed blocking in larger hospitals if people could come back closer to home.
Transport issues
Many people held the social car scheme in high regard. It allows them, at a small cost per mile, to access healthcare outside Alston. Some said without the scheme they would be ‘stuck’. Many people described journeys to Carlisle, Kendal, Whitehaven, Hexham and Newcastle for care, and many don’t qualify for the hospital transport so have to make their own way. There was a lot of talk about rurality and public transport and how difficult it is to attend appointments outside of Alston using the bus.
Award-winning care
Finally, Leila took up the invitation to the award-winning Alston Social Day Unit, which provides all-important social contact, conversation, games and a hot lunch for housebound Alston Moor residents. Leila said:
“It was wonderful to speak to people using the service, one of whom had been born in the building, and others had worked at the community hospital. And yes, staff go and pick people up and drop them off afterwards. A brilliant service!”
Our impact
It is important that your Healthwatch is seen out and about across Westmorland and Furness, to raise awareness of how we can support patients and public. It is also vital that communities know we do something with what we hear, relaying that patient experience to those who commission and provide services.
On our last visit to Alston, in October 2024, we spoke to 10 people at The Chat Room, one of whom told us about the challenges of using the bus to get to West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven. We have relayed that information to the joint council Enhanced Partnership Forum on public transport. It has also helped shape our own workplan, which will include ‘Patient journeys’, a project following people’s use of public transport to get to health appointments, spotlighting challenges and what is working well through personal stories.
Do you use public transport to get to health appointments?
Do you have to travel long distances?
Please contact us on 0300 3732820 or email [email protected]