1. Do you use Children’s Centres, Youth Hubs or the Gateways?

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    What about other buildings owned by Kent County Council such as services for people with learning disabilities or public health services for children and their families?

  2. Have you experienced a mental health crisis?

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    Has urgent help become essential to support in the management of your life? If this has meant you have been on Section 136 we would value your thoughts.

  3. Are you receiving care in your own home or in the community?

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    Or did you reach pension age before 6th April 2016?

  4. Helping more people get health and care information the way they need it.

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    Healthwatch is committed to ensure healthcare information is clear and understandable to help you make decisions about your health and care and get the most out of services.

  5. Have you heard of NHS Talking Therapies? (Formerly IAPT)

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    Thousands of us use the mental wellbeing service every month to help us deal with anxiety and depression. If you, or someone you know, have used the service, we want to hear your story.

  6. Help decide what services should be offered at the new health centre in Edenbridge

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    A new health centre is currently being built in Edenbridge.

  7. Have you used community navigators or social prescribers recently?

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    Thousands of you across Kent & Medway have been supported by social prescribers or community navigators.

  8. Celebrating excellence at the Healthwatch Recognition Awards

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    32 people and organisations were winners last night at the prestigious Healthwatch Recognition Awards in Ashford.

  9. Covid-19 spring booster vaccinations

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    More than a million people will be eligible for a spring Covid-19 jab in the south east, as the NHS begins to roll out the next phase of the vaccination programme.

  10. Support during pregnancy and when caring for those under 5years old

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    The theme this month is about support during pregnancy and when caring for those under 5years old which you can download at the bottom of the page.

  11. Heroic individuals and organisations working within our Mental Health Community

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    At the end of last month, organised by both Healthwatch Kent & Healthwatch Medway, 200 guests came together to celebrate the best in health & social care.

  12. New orthopaedic service being developed for all patients living in the Kent & Medway area

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    A new orthopaedic service providing extra outpatient clinic appointments and operating theatres is being opened for all patients living in Kent & Medway.

  13. Have your say on the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Strategy

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    The Integrated Care Board (ICB) are creating plans to improve health and care in Kent and Medway. NHS organisations, local councils, care organisations and the voluntary sector in Kent and Medway are working together to improve health and care for you.

  14. What have we achieved this year?

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    35,316 people came to us for advice and information about topics such as mental health, accessing dentists and the cost-of-living crisis.

  15. Primary care work

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    In May, Healthwatch England shared their initial response to the Government's Primary Care recovery plan and what it would mean for you and your loved ones.

  16. Our impact in dentistry

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    In June we released out Annual report, which you can download at the bottom of this page. It shows the various ways Healthwatch continues its efforts to ensure the public experience is heard.

  17. Listening to seldom heard voices

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    Last month we shared about how West Kent’s community larders continue to grow. The Shepway larder supports an average of 300 people and provides more than 500 bags of shopping a month. A second community larder now supports Park Wood.

  18. How Healthwatch support seldom heard voices

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    We continue our support of the NHS and Kent County Council in hearing from the public to codesign the future of their Integrated Community Equipment Services (ICES).

  19. Supporting joined up and equal social and health care provision and access

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    Healthwatch Kent works to improve the experience of being a Kent resident regarding social needs, health and wellbeing. To do this we support the Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) which are the NHS organisation form that replaced Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in 2022.

  20. How Healthwatch addresses Health inequalities

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    Healthwatch has adopted a more structured approach to help those most affected by differences in the provision of and access to health and social care.

  21. A wedge approach to tackling health inequalities: Women’s Health

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    Earlier this year Healthwatch England published it’s position on Women’s Health. They outlined what they were calling for to improve and tackle health inequalities for women.

  22. Stammer is one of the biggest challenges in accessing healthcare services. 

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    People with stammers face a variety of challenges in accessing healthcare services. In the UK a survey showed 1.8% of people have stammer.

  23. Accessibility to healthcare can vary significantly based on the needs of the individual.

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    Stammer is one of the biggest challenges in accessing healthcare services. 

  24. Are you a carer? Are you getting the help and support available? 

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    In the UK it is believed seven million people are voluntarily providing care and/or support to family and/or friends. And that many of these are either not accessing or are not aware of the help and support available to them. 

  25. What barriers women report to experience when accessing healthcare?

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    Women have a wide variety of experiences when accessing healthcare. However, a majority of women found that healthcare professionals were not listening or respecting them. There are several reasons that have been reported for these issues.

  26. Public consultation on Health Based Places of Safety

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    In February 2023, Kent and Medway ICB and Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) launched a public consultation on Health Based Places of Safety. These are the facilities KMPT provides for adults needing emergency care and assessment under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act.