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In February we held our first Community Assembly of the year, which gave us the chance to update you on the latest from Healthwatch Southend as well as inviting speakers from local NHS organisations to talk about their services.
Karen Samuel-Smith, Chief Officer at Community Pharmacy Essex gave an us update on some of the challenges local pharmacies face, ranging from financial and supply chain issues to the struggle to recruit and retain staff. She also spoke about some of the opportunities on offer, such as Pharmacy First which we will look at later in this newsletter.
We ended the session by hearing from two colleagues at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), Charlotte Dillaway, Director of Delivery and Partnerships and Carolyne Dawson, Stroke Matron. They explained NHS Mid & South Essex’s consultation on the future use of beds at the Cumberlege Centre in Rochford. Those of you who joined us were able to give feedback on your thoughts and opinions, and have helped us shape our response to the consultation.
And in other news...
Neonatal care in Southend
You've got until Sunday 5 May to complete our survey and have your say on Mid & South Essex Hospitals Trust's proposal to make permanent changes to the neonatal care unit in Southend Hospital.
Our latest findings
We've prepared a report looking at the experiences of unpaid carers’ when accessing services in primary care.
We conducted a survey to hear if carer’s assessments are being carried out, and people’s overall experience of visiting their GP.
Pharmacy First
Did you know you can now visit your pharmacist for treatment for 7 common conditions? This includes: sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles, and urinary tract infections.
What's going on in Southend?
Check out the latest data about GP appointments in Southend for the month of February 2024.
People aged 75 years and over, in a care home, or aged 6 months and over with a weakened immune system are being offered a spring dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Come and meet us at your local library!
We're holding several sessions in libraries in and around Southend over the next few months. Come and meet us, share your feedback, and get information about health and social care services available to you.
Change one thing
To help us shape our work for the coming months, we're asking you to let us know what one thing you'd like to see changed within the NHS or health and social care services to improve care for us all.
Spend a quarter with Healthwatch Southend
Healthwatch Southend in the news
Yellow Advertiser: Health watchdog seeks views on neo-natal unit changes
Yellow Advertiser: Significant rise in domestic violence
Echo News: Southend Hospital handover target 'rarely achieved'
Essex Live: Mid and South Essex NHS Trust cancels cancer treatments amid NHS strikes
