Welcome to the July issue of your Healthwatch Barnet newsletter

This month's newsletter is full of news and updates, including special events from our partners. Included in this issue:

• A welcome message from our managers
• Core 20 Plus 
• Alcohol Awareness Week
• Annual Report
• Primary Care Complaints
• What social media platforms interest you?

As always, you can get in touch by email or phone if you would like to share your views on health and social care in Barnet.

A welcome message from our managers

The first quarter of this financial year has seen lots of changes at Healthwatch Barnet including welcoming two new employees who are sharing the role of manager. Both bring lived experience of the healthcare system, something which is a pre-requisite for employment with us. 

Sarah Campbell has 15 years of experience in engagement, research and advocacy. This has included working with social housing residents, refugees and survivors of domestic violence to change policies and improve services. Sarah also has lived experience of disability, and is passionate about using her personal and professional experiences to serve the residents of Barnet.

Joining Sarah is Jon Bartlett. Jon has a wide and varied experience in public service including the RAF and London Underground before working freelance as a coach and facilitator. Living and working with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder led him to become a patient advocate and activist and then finally into the coproduction of NHS services so a natural fit for the work we do at Healthwatch.

Sarah and Jon are busily getting to grips with the many and varied responsibilities of the role. Both managers have appreciated the warm welcome they have received from voluntary sector partners, other North London branches of Healthwatch, and the Care Quality Commission. They are looking forward to working closely with residents and partner organisations to make a difference to health and social care in Barnet. 

Core 20 Plus

We have one Core 20 Plus event lined up for the 23rd of August, in partnership with Age UK Barnet, at Ann Owens Centre, Oak Lane, N2 8LT.

Annual Report

Throughout 2022/23, Healthwatch Barnet championed local residents' voices and advocated for improvements to services. Read our Annual Report to find out more.

Alcohol Awareness Week

This week is Alcohol Awareness Week. If you are thinking about cutting down, but not sure where to start, click on the link below for some useful tips. There are lots of tools available, including apps, a variety of different support groups and even reviews of the best-tasting low alcohol drinks. 

In the current hot weather, it's important to stay hydrated and carry a bottle of water. Remember that during extreme weather, excessive drinking can have dangerous effects such as heat exhaustion. 

Primary Care Complaints

Since the 1 July 2023 the way members of the public make a complaint about primary care services to the commissioner has changed.

By primary care services, we mean GPs, dentists, opticians and pharmacies. If you have a formal complaint to make, it is always advisable to try and resolve an issue directly with the provider in the first instance. For example, speaking to a practice manager in a GP surgery. 

If you cannot resolve the matter through speaking with the provider, and wish to continue to make a formal complaint, you will need to contact the North Central London Integrated Care Board instead of NHS England. 

You can do this by:

Telephone: 020 3198 9743

E-mail: nclicb.complaints@nhs.net

Post: North Central London Integrated Care Board
Complaints Team
Laycock PDC
Laycock Street
London
N1 1TH

Members of the public with ongoing complaints received on/after 1 July 2023 will receive a letter from NHS England informing them that the ICB is now handling their complaint with confirmation of their case handler.

Members of the public who submitted a complaint before 1 July 2023 will receive a letter from NHS England informing them that their complaint is being retained by NHS England with confirmation of their case handler.

If you would like support with this, please contact the advocacy and complaints charity Pohwer. Their help hub is open from Monday to Friday 8 am to 6pm. Their phone number is 0300 456 2370. They can also be contacted via email at pohwer@pohwer.net. 

What social media platforms interest you?

In light of Twitter changing the way people view posts, we are looking to diversify our social media offerings. We want to pose the following questions:

• Which social media platforms do you use for health and social care information?
• What types of content interest you? 
• What platforms interest you? 
• What else would you like to tell us? 

Please click below to fill in our quick survey