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Hello and welcome to the first edition of the West Yorkshire Voice newsletter.
We'd like you or your organisation to get involved. We really look forward to hearing from you about the things that matter to you in health and care.
Launched in March, West Yorkshire Voice (WYV) is a new network that aims to hear from people, groups, local panels, networks, and organisations. It aims to ensure the voice of people is at the heart of decisions made about health and care by the new West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB).
Cathy Elliott, Chair of the ICB said:
 “We really want to reach as many people as possible, so that we can make sure people’s feedback and experiences of local services are heard at the highest level. This is ultimately all about making the right decisions and ones that make a positive difference to everyone’s lives”.
In each newsletter, we will let you know about what is happening and ways to get involved at a West Yorkshire level and really encourage you to share your experiences and feedback.
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The Integrated Care Board (ICB) have been meeting and working together since July 2022 and has already focused their meetings around two key issues, the health and care experiences of Children & Young People in the West Yorkshire Youth Collective and what it's like accessing GP surgery services in West Yorkshire.
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Key messages from the children and young people work included:
- Significant issues with accessing mental health support for children and young people, with waiting lists growing all the time especially after and as a result of the covid pandemic
- Significant issues around waiting for assessments for neurodiverse conditions including Autism and ADHD
- The complexity of trying to navigate services to get support, particularly for families and carers
- Climate change and its impact on young people's mental health
- Period poverty
- Violence against women and girls
The young people reported attending the Board workshop as being a very positive experience for them. The young people enjoyed the small group work and felt that they were definitely heard by the board members in attendance, as well as finding out more about the working process of the Board.
A Youth Collective member who attended the board workshop said:
"The board meeting was very informative and productive, members from both the collective and the board learned a lot, and it was great to show the incredible work both completed and underway. The board were inviting and invested in what can be done better when working with young people in the future, and I'm sure going forward they will utilise the advice we gave."
Click on the button to read the Youth Collective's annual report for 2022 to 2023.
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Accessing GP services
The number one theme we hear across all our Healthwatch work is that people have different experiences of being able to access their GP services, with some having good access and some not.
You can see findings about GP access in the Healthwatch Insight report. Click on the button to listen to quotes from people about their experience trying to access the GP.
Key themes included:
- People struggle to book an appointment since new systems have been introduced
- People not knowing why the receptionist might ask personal questions (triage)
- Some people not feeling like they were able to see their GP face-to-face anymore
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The ICB will be looking at the following topics over the next few months
- Dental services (more info below)
- Social Care services, for example, care home experiences, and home care support
- Mental Health Services
It would be great to hear from you about the issues above, or anything else that you or the communities that you work with would like to share about health and care services. Click the button below to let us know by filling in a quick survey.
Alternatively, you can call us on 0113 898 0035 to have a chat and share any experiences with us over the phone.
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Focus on NHS Dental Services
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The way that NHS dentist services will be planned and organised is changing from July. NHS England, the national organisation that has led NHS dental services, will now give West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) the responsibility to lead on this. Currently, many people struggle to get NHS dental services so this is an important opportunity to potentially improve services here in West Yorkshire.
The next ICB meeting is on the 16 May in Halifax. As part of this meeting, there will be a joint session where people from West Yorkshire can share their experiences of accessing dental care with the Board, to think through what needs to happen next. The session will focus on understanding the issues and then thinking through together how to improve services.
If you would like to get involved and share your story in a way that works for you, please get in touch by emailing info@westyorkshirehealthwatch.co.uk or telephoning 0113 898 0035. Full travel expenses can be covered too if you would like to join on the day.
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The plans for West Yorkshire and what the people of West Yorkshire said
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Over the past year, the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership have also developed an updated plan about what the priorities should be in West Yorkshire health and care services. People were asked to share their thoughts and Healthwatch produced a report which highlighted all the things that people talk to us about.
Please click on the buttons below to read the Healthwatch report which highlights the importance of GP access, dental access, timely mental health services and more, for the West Yorkshire report and a useful graphic that summarises the West Yorkshire report.
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Are you receiving end-of-life care or know someone who is or has? We would love to hear your experience.
We are particularly keen to speak with people who perhaps haven’t had their voices heard in the past, such as people from different ethnic backgrounds, LGBT+ people, people with disabilities, veterans, and people who have experienced homelessness or the criminal justice system. By sharing your experiences, you will help to make end-of-life care better for everyone in West Yorkshire.
We understand that talking about end-of-life care can be difficult. We can support you to talk about your experience, good or bad, over the phone, in person, by email, text or online, whatever works better for you.
To take part or find out more information, please contact Anna on 0113 898 0035, text 07717 309 843 or email: anna@healthwatchleeds.co.uk
or you can also click on the button below to fill in the survey before Friday 12th May.
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We want to build on all the great work already taking place in local areas. We will link into existing networks and groups and be a platform from which to share the views and experiences of people and communities across West Yorkshire. We want everyone to be involved in a way that works for them and especially want to include the voice of those with the greatest health inequalities.
The purpose of West Yorkshire Voice will be:
- To bring the real voice of people with lived experience and unpaid carers to decision-making
- Give opportunities to those that may not normally be involved and include the voices of those with the greatest health inequalities
- Form a key part of how the Integrated Care Board (ICB) is held to account by the people of West Yorkshire
- Connect the real lives and experiences of people with decision making
As West Yorkshire Voice grows and develops we want to ensure it is reflective of all the people in West Yorkshire. We want this to be an opportunity for individuals, groups, networks and organisations to be able to share their experiences and have their voices at the heart of decision-making.
Please share this among your contacts and networks and if anyone is interested in joining us or has any questions they can get in touch or fill out the form by clicking the button below.
Email info@westyorkshirehealthwatch.co.uk or telephone 0113 898 0035 or text 07717 309 843.
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