Community Voice in health and care

The Community Voice in health and care Involvement Forum meets quarterly and is open to everyone.

It aims to:

• Provide a space for local residents to share their views
• Gather and collate feedback from a range of sources, identifying key themes and things that matter to local residents
• Support the Integrated Care Partnership Board in embedding the views of residents and the public in its commissioning decisions and delivery of services

ECGs made available at St Barts following Golden Lane Community Voice Forum

In February 2023, the Community Voice team carried out a Public Forum at the Golden Lane Community Centre, featuring a dialogue between local residents and GP Dr. Anu Kumar, which proved to be a catalyst for change in addressing healthcare challenges faced by these City patients.

Key issues such as communication barriers, patients’ choice of hospitals, and the nuances of digital healthcare were discussed. Residents shared their concerns about transportation difficulties, especially for older persons, and the need for a more patient-centred healthcare system.

An impactful outcome of this consultation and report was the introduction of local ECG services at St Barts Hospital, a direct response to the community’s feedback at the forum. This outcome marks a considerable improvement for local residents, who previously had to travel across London to Homerton University Hospital (often during early hours) for such services. This development will not only ease the burden of travel for patients but also exemplifies how effective community engagement can and should influence healthcare policies and services.

In March 2023, the Community Voice team launched a consultation to assess the feasibility and community response to introducing mobile spirometry testing in City and Hackney. An online survey, completed by 1,862 residents, and a focus group of 9 residents provided the following feedback.

Key Findings:

• • Accessibility and Convenience: Participants emphasised the importance of close proximity, citing difficulties in traveling long distances, especially from the City to Homerton.
  • Impact on Engagement: Proximity of services was deemed crucial for increasing healthcare engagement for those balancing work or family commitments.
  • Dedicated Service: The mobile unit was perceived as offering a more focused service compared to hospital environments.
  • Support for Special Needs: The service was seen as particularly beneficial for individuals with conditions like asthma, COVID-19, and for those requiring regular check-ups.

This consultation played a pivotal role in strengthening the business case for the project. As a result, the proposal received approval, leading to the establishment of the spirometry testing unit in City and Hackney, scheduled to be operational from January 2024. This significant development is a testament to the effectiveness of resident engagement in positively impacting healthcare access in the community.

This November 2023 report delves into the experiences of patients using the Patient Transport Service (PTS) to and from Homerton University Hospital (HUH). It highlights the essential role of PTS in patient care but also acknowledges the challenges faced by users. The goal was to identify areas for improvement and spotlight best practices.

The report identifies key themes such as logistical challenges, the impact of delays on medical appointments, vehicle cleanliness, equipment availability, staff interactions, and the need for better communication and punctuality. It also emphasises the need for a more patient-centred approach, to enhance patient satisfaction and overall healthcare outcomes.

Collaboration & Response from HUH

Homerton University Hospital responded proactively to the report, proposing a set of actions to be implemented in response to each recommendation (see report).

This Healthwatch Hackney report, following a public forum on mixed-sex ward accommodation breaches at Homerton University Hospital, highlights the complexity of this issue, involving patient safety, consent, and cultural sensitivities.

It reveals that the frequency of mixed-gender accommodation breaches may be overestimated due to reporting methods. The hospital has largely and effectively maintained single-gender bays, especially post-COVID-19.

Patient concerns about information and communication are acknowledged, with plans to improve protocols. The report underscores the evolving nature of gender representation and the hospital’s commitment to patient dignity, safety, and comfort, emphasising the importance of considering patient feedback and choice.

The Community Voice Summer Health Promotion Fun Day, held at Frampton Park Baptist Church Community Centre on August 2, 2023, was a family-oriented gathering aimed at educating and engaging City & Hackney residents about local health and social care services.

The event featured workshops, health care promotion stalls from many local providers and offered an interactive and informative experience. Attendees, ranging from grandparents to young children, participated in feedback surveys, children’s entertainment, and health-related activities.

A fun time was had by all, local health services were promoted and community feedback was gathered to inform future service development.

This Community Voice public forum focused on the healthcare needs of the marginalised and often misunderstood LGBTQIA+ community in City & Hackney. The forum and report set out to provide a platform for LGBTQIA+ voices to inform local healthcare policy and provide actionable recommendations for systemic changes.

The London Borough of Hackney Equality Plan and Sexual and Reproductive Health strategy in City & Hackney (presented by guest speakers at the forum) aim to address systemic inequalities through community-informed approaches.

Critical community feedback has pinpointed service gaps and the need for adaptation to meet LGBTQIA+ needs effectively. The council’s willingness to embrace this feedback and focus on mental health challenges within the LGBTQIA+ community is a positive step towards inclusive healthcare provision.

The Community Voice team have advocated for continued community engagement to shape these initiatives.

Bowel cancer, the fourth most common cancer in the UK, poses a significant health challenge. Despite this, early detection through screening can significantly improve survival rates. This community Voice Public Forum, held on December 12, 2023, aimed to inform members of the public regarding prevention through screening and offer a platform for them to feed back on their experiences to the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Service.

As of the latest UK statistics, nearly 43,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer annually. But as many as 54% of these cases can be prevented, with early detection. This report, stemming from the forum’s discussions, aims to promote understanding of bowel cancer screening with a view to increase the uptake of the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) in City and Hackney.

This report follows on from the December online Community Voice LGBTQIA+ Public Forum held for City & Hackney residents, providing detailed insights from members of the Hackney LGBTQIA+ community. The forum highlighted the unique healthcare challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community, emphasising the need for a more inclusive and understanding healthcare system.

The focus group, held online on January 18^th, conducted by the Community Voice team, aimed to delve deeper into people’s individual experiences, further informing the development of London Borough of Hackney’s Equality Plan by capturing first-hand accounts of healthcare interactions, with a further focus on mental health, within the Hackney LGBTQIA+ community.