Increasing numbers of people are finding themselves to be 'de-registered' by their regular dentists and this was also the case in both Halton and Stoke-on-Trent. Once people have found themselves in this position they then struggle to find another NHS dentist. People are travelling long distances to access NHS dentists, with our research echoing findings from other local Healthwatches. People in Halton reported that they were travelling out of the area and in some cases travelling up to 60 miles to access NHS dental care.

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How often do you hear people share their stories of long waits for hospital appointments or short notice cancellations or difficulty in getting to see their GP? Then the glowing stories where people feel the service they have received at a hospital or from their GP has been brilliant.  Ever thought ‘…if only people at the top could listen to what’s its actually like for people who are unwell, frail, or vulnerable struggling to access services and what would they change if it was their close family…’ Or to equally tell them ‘…what’s working well and ask why can’t you do some of the same for other services?’

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We are committed to supporting our employees in the workplace and caring for their health and wellbeing. While no two people experience menopause in the same way, menopause represents a significant well-being concern for many. That is why we recognise the importance of raising awareness of the potential impacts of menopause as a first step towards ensuring everybody gets the help they need to safeguard their health and wellbeing at work.

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We are looking for applicants who have a passion for health and social care, and especially welcome people with lived experience, insight and understanding of different backgrounds, cultures, and lifestyles as we believe that this will equip staff to deliver a high standard of care to local people.  

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As part of the research, ECS carried out a focus group and interviews that contributed the patient and public voice to the project that evaluated the use of inter-organisational co-operation to make improvements in the NHS. Fieldwork was disrupted by the pandemic which meant that the completion of the research was to some extent delayed, but the report has now been published by the NIHR and can be accessed here.

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The report was commissioned by the (then) Bedfordshire CCG in 2019, was led by Reverend Lloyd Denny and has involved extensive engagement with local residents and their communities.  

 The review looked to understand which residents experienced the greatest health inequalities and what steps could be taken to achieve greater health and care health in equality for local people across Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes. 

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As our Health Inequalities Officer, you will work alongside the Community Outreach Officer to create and implement initiatives that tackle health inequalities. You will engage with various community members, analyse disparities, and develop strategies to improve health outcomes.

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A key takeaway from our work with Healthwatch is that patients want a greater understanding of their treatment journey. To meet this need we have commissioned an extensive suite of resources from leaflets to dedicated information packs. These resources will provide patients with detailed guidance on how to manage the early stages of their condition. This is being supported with an easy-to-use app, providing flexibility and accessibility when the patient needs it the most.

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ECS through its delivery of local Healthwatch, remains committed to improving health and social care services for local people, making sure people are at the design and delivery of services to ensure they remain effective and fit for purpose. We strive to maximise the impact we make through our research, and you can read our local project reports, specific to our service delivery areas of ECS Healthwatch here through these links:

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As part of the research, ECS carried out a focus group and interviews that contributed the patient and public voice to the project that evaluated the use of inter-organisational co-operation to make improvements in the NHS. Fieldwork was disrupted by the pandemic which meant that the completion of the research was to some extent delayed, but the report has now been published by the NIHR and can be accessed here.

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Corporate, Partnership, and Volunteering Manager, Tracy Cresswell said: “Volunteers are at the heart of Team ECS, Volunteers' Week is a chance to celebrate and recognise the fantastic contribution our volunteers make. I would like to thank all volunteers who generously give their time and efforts to support ECS and its network of ECS Healthwatch. I encourage everyone to take the time to appreciate our incredible volunteers for all they do and consider volunteering to help build stronger and more inclusive communities.”

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We are recruiting right now for new Advisory Board Members and for a Chair of the Advisory Board. Engaging Communities Solutions CIC (ECS) has been awarded the contract to deliver Healthwatch in Bedford Borough at the start of January 2023.  ECS retains contractual responsibility for the service and takes care of all infrastructure requirements like HR matters and finance. That means the Advisory Board focusses on agreeing on the work programme and providing oversight to ensure the work programme is achieved as well as supporting with the promotion of Healthwatch and collection of intelligence.

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We are recruiting right now for new Advisory Board Members and for a Chair of the Advisory Board. Engaging Communities Solutions CIC (ECS) have been awarded the contract to deliver Healthwatch in Telford and Wrekin from April.  ECS retains contractual responsibility for the service so takes care of all infrastructure requirements like HR matters and finance. That means the Advisory Board focusses on agreeing on the work programme and providing oversight to ensure the work programme is achieved as well as supporting with the promotion of Healthwatch and collection of intelligence.

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Successfully renewing our IiV standard doesn’t mean we pressed the pause button until the next time – there is always more that can be achieved.  We are committed to developing and improving our volunteering framework, investing in our volunteer’s future and skills because we know by doing so, we will enhance their experience.  We want to retain volunteers and strike new partnerships, build upon our established corporate relationships, and attract a diverse group of volunteers throughout our organisation.

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At ECS, our mission is to inspire change and improve outcomes and we are delighted that we will be working with the people of Telford and Wrekin to deliver a high quality Healthwatch service. We believe that health and social care providers can best improve services and reduce health inequalities if they listen to people’s experiences, and we want everyone in Telford and Wrekin to be included in the conversation.

 

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We’re thrilled to have successfully passed our Cyber Essentials Plus certification. CE+ is an important certification for us to given the rate at which crime related to cyber-related activities is increasing and as such, is becoming a paramount concern for UK businesses and everything going on in the world. It is with great pleasure that Engaging Communities Solutions are pleased to announce that we have passed our Cyber Essentials Plus Certification.

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It has been busy few months for the Research Team at ECS. In the Summer and into the Autumn we commenced work on new commissions from NHS England and Improvement; Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust; and Stoke-on-Trent City Council, as well as working on projects that were already underway. We have been commissioned by Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust to undertake work on patient and staff experience and Birmingham and Midlands Eye Centre, using a combination of observation and semi-structured interviews.

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From January 2023 when we take over the contract, we will work hard to build on the great work that has already been achieved by the current provider and focus on implementing and delivering our plan for the contract to maximise the impact Healthwatch Bedford Borough can have. We will work with the public, voluntary and community groups, Bedford Borough Council and the local health and care sector, to make sure that Healthwatch Bedford Borough is an effective and representative champion for local people.

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We are enormously grateful to all those of you who have continued to support our work over the last year, be it by sharing your experiences of care, giving up your time as a volunteer or acting on people’s feedback.  You have helped us be a champion for local people through our delivery of local Healthwatch and Advocacy services.  On behalf of ECS, I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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Giving our employees, a decent living wage is very important to ECS. While we have always paid our employees above the living wage as standard, it’s brilliant to make a formal commitment and be recognised for paying above and beyond what we believe is a fairer minimum than the National minimum wage. Beyond our own staff, we also have a plan in place to maximise the commitment to the Living Wage across the Contractors we use.

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