Information Round Up Wednesday 27th March 2024
Welcome to this week's Healthwatch Stockport Information Round-up (IRU). Our Round up brings together news, updates, training and events from us at Healthwatch, local health and social care services, community groups and more.
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Healthwatch Stockport Phone Lines Down
Due to technical issues, our Healthwatch phoneline (0161 974 0753) is currently down. We are trying to resolve this problem and hope to have our regular phoneline up and running soon.
If you need to contact us please email info@healthwatchstockport.co.uk where possible.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Thanks for your support.
Team Healthwatch Out and About
To mark World #AutismAcceptanceWeek (2 - 8 April) we will be joining the Autism programme at their community event on 3 April.
The event plans to showcase the local support/ services available to our autistic community, run sensory sessions and offer refreshments and a raffle. We'll be there to share what Healthwatch Stockport do and how we can help you, listen to your experiences and more.
Ladybridge Connect Ivy Cafe, Cheadle Hulme SK8 5NZ
Wednesday 3 April, 10am-12 noon
Healthwatch Afternoon Tea - Feedback Events
Have you or a loved one been recently discharged from hospital? If so, did you receive a package of care? We’d like to hear your experiences; positive or negative at one of our afternoon teas later this month.
Our afternoon tea feedback events will be taking place on:
23 April, 1pm - 3pm at Ladybridge Connect, Cheadle Hulme
25 April, 1pm - 3pm (venue to be confirmed)
Places are limited for our afternoon teas, so please ensure you book your place at info@healthwatchstockport.co.uk
More details will follow, including our flyer.
Final Call: Have Your Say on Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services
Details from Healthwatch Greater Manchester
Healthwatch in Greater Manchester (GM) have identified children’s mental health as one of its joint GM priorities working alongside the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board. .
Collectively we want to know more about the pathway to accessing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), as well as the Autism/ADHD diagnostic paths.
Our focus groups have now passed (thanks to those who joined us) but the survey is open until 31 March......don't miss your chance to share your experiences.
If you're a child aged 13 and over who started looking for support within the past 2 years, you can take part in the survey below:
Children and young people's survey
If you're a parent or who has supported a child or young person trying to access care, please use the link below:
The information collected will always be anonymised. Our findings will help decision-makers in statutory NHS and Care services, as well as in the education and voluntary sectors, to effectively prioritise services.
Get up to date: MMR Vaccinations
Details from NHS England
More than 900,000 adults aged 19 to 25 in England are being invited to book an appointment for their missed measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, as the NHS catch-up campaign continues.
The NHS campaign is targeting young adults in three areas – West Midlands, Greater Manchester and London – with these areas more at risk due to the number of people who are not up to date with their MMR vaccinations.
This follows on from 200,000 16-19 year olds in the same areas being sent NHS reminders to get their jab.
Measles is one of the world’s most infectious diseases with estimates showing that one infected adult or child can pass the disease onto around 15 other unvaccinated people.
There is currently no medical treatment for measles, however, two doses of the MMR vaccine can give someone effective lifelong protection against becoming seriously unwell with the disease.
NHS Blood Pressure Check for People Aged 40+
Details from NHS Greater Manchester
Raised blood pressure is the number one cause of pain and disability in Greater Manchester. It can increase your risk of experiencing a serious health problem like a heart attack, stroke, or dementia. High blood pressure usually has no symptoms and millions of people will be living with raised blood pressure without knowing it.
The NHS campaign is urging people aged 40+ to get a free blood pressure check at their nearest participating pharmacy.
Eligibility criteria
- aged 40 or over and live in England
- You won’t be eligible if you've had your blood pressure checked by a healthcare professional in the past 6 months.
Whooping Cough Vaccination in Pregnancy
Details from NHS England
Whooping cough (pertussis) cases are rising and babies who are too young to start their vaccinations are at greatest risk.
If you are pregnant, you can help protect your baby by getting vaccinated – ideally from 16 weeks up to 32 weeks pregnant. Talk to your midwife or GP and make an appointment to get vaccinated
Somebody's Dad Counselling
Details from Somebody's Dad
At Somebody's Dad they offer free outdoor counselling session to men living without their children in the Stockport area. Walk and Talk therapy gives you the opportunity to discuss what you're going through with an experienced counsellor.
Get in touch somebodysdad.org
Thank you to Christopher Hughes (Stockport Homes), Lizzie Austin and Ellie Unwin (Pure Innovations), Charlee Fitzgerald (Stockport Council), Sector 3 and more who continued to send 'what's happening' across Stockport each week. Sandra Davenport (Heaton Norris Community Centre) has also shared a great variety of activities.
There are a number of community groups, events and activities taking place across the borough. Please see the details and/or attachments and continue to share with others.
Cake Sale in Aid of Local Charities
On 6 April, from 2pm, there will be a charity cake sale and raffle at the Fingerpost Hotel pub in Offerton, Stockport.
Laura Whitaker, who is running the event has Usher Syndrome Type 2, which is a genetic blind and deaf condition and is driving further awareness and funds for the following:
Guide dogs: helping people with sight loss live the life they choose
Bury tandem club for blind and partially sighted people: helping blind people with their physical and mental health.
Cure Usher trying to find a cure for the rare genetic condition that causes combined hearing and sight loss.
Walthew House's Sensory sports and social: helping people with sensory losses to build confidence and join activities
Walthew House 'Eye2Eye' Sessions
Walthew House are running another six-week Eye2Eye,group session for anyone who is visually impaired and looking for emotional or practical support.
This will start on Monday 22 April, 11.00am - 12.00pm and will be led by one of our specialist sight loss counsellors.
Places are limited so if you would like to book a place, or would like more information, please contact Walthew House:
0161 480 2612
Training Courses Coming Up
Details from Christopher Hughes, Stockport Homes
Answer Cancer Free Training Opportunities
Details from Answer Cancer
Why not top up your knowledge and confidence so that you can help yourself, your family members, you work colleagues and community leaders?! All sessions are fun, interactive, and informative.
You need to register in advance to attend any of the sessions. Sessions include:
- Difficult Conversations- Talking about Cancer: The Why and How to do it
- How to Run Brilliant Cancer Screening Awareness Sessions
- Bowel and Prostate Cancer Awareness
- Workplace wellbeing: Cancer and Cancer Screening
- Planning and Measuring Success
- NHS Cancer Screening Programmes
- Cervical Cancer Awareness
Please see the Answer Cancer newsletter (see newsletter section of this Round Up)
Information and Signposting
For up to date health and social care information, signposting and guidance call Healthwatch Stockport on
0161 974 0753 10am - 2pm or email info@healthwatchstockport.co.uk
Visit our Information and Signposting directory
Do you have a health or social care experience you want to share – how did your last appointment with your GP or dentist go? Are you happy or frustrated with the service you received – let us know so we can work with local services to influence better commissioners and better outcomes for you and your family.
