Agenda item

To receive an update on the work of Healthwatch Wokingham Borough.

Alice Kunjappy-Clifton and Sarah Deason, Healthcare Wokingham Borough, presented the Healthwatch Wokingham Borough work programme.

During the discussion of this item, the following points were made:

·       Sarah Deason indicated that the work programme demonstrated the scope of the work that Healthwatch was undertaking.

·       Healthwatch had been working to bring more staff and members of the advisory group on board. 

·       Volunteers played a big part in Healthwatch’s work, helping to seek people’s views and undertake Enter and Views.  Enter and views were based on feedback received from the public.  It was noted that an Enter and View of a local organisation would be taking place in the near future, and the results reported back.

·       Healthwatch England had had a campaign regarding maternal mental health.  Healthwatch Wokingham Borough had followed this up to ascertain local experience.  The closing date for the survey was 27 January.

·       Work was taking place with Building Berkshire Together who were seeking views across Berkshire regarding the new build.  Healthwatch would assist with the engagement piece.

·       Healthwatch would jointly plan and present a session on self-neglect to the local voluntary sector with the West of Berkshire Safeguarding Adults Board VCS sub-group.

·       Another priority was specialist health support for people with learning disabilities.  Discussions had been held with local voluntary sector organisations and the NHS about access to support from professionals with a special interest and training in supporting people with learning disabilities.

·       Alice Kunjappy-Clifton went on to highlight a number of local priorities.

·       Alice Kunjappy-Clifton referred to concerns raised about the physical and mental health and wellbeing of asylum seekers living in local Home Office Contracted Accommodation.  Feedback had highlighted concerns about nutrition and isolation.  Healthwatch was working with Public Health to improve experiences.

·       With regards to GP access, Healthwatch was working with the Primary Care Networks to get messages about self-care and the new way of working out to the community.

·       Access to dental services continued to be an issue both locally and nationally.

·       Whilst experiences with maternity services had been flagged up at national level, Healthwatch had heard little on this matter locally.  It remained on the watch list.

·       Healthwatch England was shortly undertaking a campaign about the cost of living and the impact on access and physical and mental health.

·       Healthwatch Wokingham Borough would be part of the ICB review of CHC.

·       Support for carers to have time out to pursue interests outside caring, through provision of respite and other support services, was under review.

·       Mental health support for children and young people had also been identified as a priority.

·       Members were pleased to note that access to dental services remained on Healthwatch’s watchlist, and asked how they would escalate this.  Alice Kunjappy-Clifton indicated that they tried to offer support and signposting.  They had put a vulnerable person in touch with the Community Dental Service for instance.  They also provided feedback to Healthwatch England who were creating a national picture and talking to the Health Select Committee.

·       In response to a Member question, Alice Kunjappy-Clifton clarified that Healthwatch had been asked to look at themes rather than the number of people who had interacted with the service.  Lots of people did not like giving feedback as they were concerned that their care or services may be impacted.  Members sought information on the level of engagement achieved.  Sarah Deason agreed to provide this and indicated that the annual report would be brought to the Committee’s July meeting.

·       The Committee asked about the number of volunteers and were informed that there were now 5 advisory board members and 3 normal volunteers.  They continued to recruit and would be attending a forthcoming volunteer fayre.

·       With regards to asylum seekers a Member commented that a local charity had helped to provide funding for dental care for an asylum seeker that Healthwatch had found a dentist for. 

·       Members asked whether there was a list of asylum seekers coming in and out of accommodation provided, as asylum seekers could be moved with little or no notice.  Alice Kunjappy-Clifton indicated that this was a perceived Home Office issue.  Public Health had been very supportive, helping to find GP services and translation services, amongst others.  This was a Berkshire West wide issue.  A report would be reported by the West Berkshire Healthwatch and its recommendations would be shared with the Council.  Discussions were in progress with contracted providers to reduce issues with service.  Ingrid Slade added that information was provided about who was coming in and out.  However, it was often not as timely as required.  There was not a great deal of movement within the Borough accommodation.  Barriers existed around the national commission structure of that type of facility.

·       A Member referred to unaccompanied child asylum seekers going missing in Brighton, and questioned what measures Wokingham had to in place to ensure that something similar did not occur.  Ingrid Slade responded that there was a structure within the Council which had cross Council representation such as housing and safeguarding.  The largest area of risk around asylum seekers, was the lack of transparency, but work was being undertaken with the Home Office, to improve this.

·       A Member asked about health provision for asylum seekers and referred to a specific individuals who had experienced difficulties in Reading.  Alice Kunjappy-Clifton indicated that this issue had been escalated to the ICB, the ICP, and Reading Borough Council.  Ingrid Slade commented that medical provision was commissioned for all asylum seekers in accommodation in the UK.  In Wokingham Borough this was done through Brookside Practice in Earley.  A health check was undertaken on all those that arrived.  Brookside would be notified when a new patient was added to their list.  Accommodation had always intended to be short term so isolation was an issue when placements lasted some time.

·       In response to a Member question regarding the specific forthcoming Enter and View, Alice Kunjappy-Clifton indicated that they had received a number of correspondences about a particular organisation, with people unhappy with the service provided.  A conversation had also been had with the CQC.  Those undertaking the Enter and View would have undergone training to be able to do so.  People would be offered an alternative means of contacting Healthwatch should they wish to put their views in a different way.  Wesley Hedger added that there was  Care Quality Team within Adult Services, a layer below the CQC, in terms of compliance with legislation.  This supplemented the work of Healthwatch.

·       The Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee would be asking members of the public and partners, what matters the Overview and Scrutiny Committees should be looking at in the new municipal year.  The Committee asked Healthwatch what they felt that the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee should be looking at.  Alice Kunjappy-Clifton suggested maternal mental health, GP access and communicating different ways of working with the public and self-care.  There was a greater need for resilience as workforce issues in the health service continued.

·       The Chair indicated that he had attended a meeting of the BOB joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and there was a strong desire to work with Healthwatch.  He questioned how this would take place in Berkshire West.  Sarah Deason indicated that there were five Healthwatches across BOB.  Discussions were being had between the Healthwatches prior to different meetings, and where appropriate one representative would put views on behalf of all five Healthwatches.  In Berkshire West it was important that the voices of all three local authorities were heard.

RESOLVED:  That

1)    The Healthwatch work programme be noted.

2)    Alice Kunjappy-Clifton and Sarah Deason be thanked for the presentation.