Welcome to the People's Hub |
Want to help shape health and care in your area? The People's Hub shows how you can get involved and make a difference. You can also find out here about the impact you have by getting involved. This is a monthly newsletter – please invite people to sign up! |
University Hospitals Tees is developing a health equity access questionnaire (HEAQ). |
What is HEAQ?
Before a person attends a hospital appointment, they will fill out the HEAQ. This helps staff know about any barriers you may have to attend. These are real life barriers, such as:
- Transport
- Ways you communicate
- Caring responsibilities
- Anxiety
- Not knowing the hospital
- Not having access to a computer
The aim is to stop appointments being missed or people having poor experiences.
Your insight is essential to making these questions meaningful, respectful, and useful.
What you can help do
The survey has not yet been developed. You have the chance to say what questions you think need to be asked. From your own experiences, or those close to you. If you can think of just one question, it would be really helpful.
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South Tyneside: Help improve hospital discharge |
Healthwatch South Tyneside want to know what would make going home from hospital easier. Also, what support carers need.
Staff in health and care are working together with patients and carers to plan early and support the patient at home where possible.
Give your views in the survey before 27 February. |
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Shape the future of maternity and neonatal services |
Have you used maternity or neonatal services in England?
Share your experience of these services with this National study. You could help shape the future of care for women and families across the country.
To have your voice heard, get in touch by 17th March 2026. |
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South Tyneside and Sunderland: Helping people have their say |
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust has a new online community. It is called Connect. It gives people a simple way to share views and help improve local NHS services.
Connect is a space to take part in short polls, surveys, and online discussions.
By joining, you can help shape health services and make a real difference.
You will also get chance to win vouchers in the monthly prize draw. |
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Young people’s advisory group |
Inclusion North is starting a Young People's Advisory group.
It is for anyone;
- Aged 16 to 25 years old
- With a learning disability or are an autistic person
- Live in Yorkshire, the Humber or the North East
- The group will meet six times a year.
The group will share ideas with Inclusion North. Helping them to do work that is important to young people with a learning disability or young autistic people.
To find out more, you can contact Melissa on 07958 216183 |
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Share your voice: National survey for disabled people |
Disabled people across the country can say what using health and social care is like for them.
The Big Check In project aims to gather feedback from across the country. It will show what is working well and where we need improvements. Issues that people share will be sent to those in charge of services. This includes the NHS, local councils, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Ofsted and Government.
If you work with disabled people, please share this chance to give views. People can share their own experience, or that of family and friends. |
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Newcastle: Families and carers workshops |
Help shape Newcastle City Council's priorities for families and carers of people with learning disability and autistic people.
First Workshop Dates:
• Wed 25th Feb, 1.30–3pm: Online
• Wed 4th March, 1.30–3pm: Online
There will be more workshops in March.
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Cancer support and learning disability: webinar |
Where do people with a learning disability get help or support after a cancer diagnosis?
The Learning Disability and Autism Network are hosting a webinar. It is on: Monday 9th March 2026, 12:30 – 1:30pm.
The webinar will;
- Share what people who have had cancer and their families have said.
- Look at where people with a learning disability get help and support
- Talk about how we can improve services or make a difference
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Urgent dental treatment campaign feedback |
Local groups shared their views on posters and leaflets about urgent dental care. This led to a number of changes.
The team:
- Used simpler words used to describe urgent dental problems
- Made the steps to getting help clearer
- Created an Easy Read leaflet for people with learning disabilities.
- Worked with libraries and local organisations to help people who need support to access digital info and online booking
- Changed the colour scheme so the leaflets look different from other ICB materials.
Thank you to everyone who took part. |
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County Durham: Community mental health transformation evaluation |
This report is from Healthwatch County Durham. It presents the findings of an independent review of the Community Mental Health Transformation.
It brings together what people using services and those working in them have said. Highlighting what is working well and any ongoing challenges. Plus key suggestions to support more joined-up, accessible and person-centred mental health support
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Cumberland: Community co-researchers |
We're watching out for Cumberland Council's new community co-researchers.
They will support work that reduces health inequality. They will make sure research reflects real life experience.
The co-researchers will be making links with communities, universities, Healthwatch and council teams.
Once they start research, they will work with the voluntary sector and communities to develop questions and connect them into research. |
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Launch of the Learning Disability Menopause Passport |
Women with learning disabilities have co-developed a Learning Disability Menopause Passport. This is an easy read document to help women with a learning disability to:
- learn about menopause
- recognise symptoms
- stay well
- explore treatment options
- feel confident discussing their needs
This was launched by the Learning Disability and Autism Network.
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Northumberland: Pharmacy first |
Healthwatch Northumberland asked people what they know about Pharmacy First.
Pharmacy First lets you get prescription medicine for some conditions without seeing a GP.
About two thirds of people in the survey knew about the service. Some groups were less aware. Overall, feedback was positive. Some people said they would like more privacy when using the service. |
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Transforming Together: Building place-based networks to improve services for women |
Transforming Together came together to improve support for women with multiple unmet needs. Women with lived experience were at the heart of the group.
The funding has now ended. People came together to talk about what the group meant to them. Also, their hopes for the future. People talked about how much work was done in a short time. They also talked about the relationships, trust and safe space in the network. People with lived experience felt their voices were equal with professionals.
There are three documents about the work:
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Your voice matters. Share your views directly with the people who plan and pay for health and care services - the Integrated Care Board (ICB). Tell us what you think about:
- Local healthcare services
- What we could do better
- If something went well for you or your family
- What matters most to you
Your voice matters!
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Boost, Pemberton House, Colima Avenue, Sunderland Enterprise Park, Sunderland, SR5 3XB
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