Date of Meeting: 25 June 2015

From:Anne Nicholls, Chair of the CEG

Community Engagement Group: Updates from Lay Member

1Purpose

Information: An update to CEG members from the Lay Member for Patient and Public Engagement.

2EDS2 Meeting

We held a meeting on 2 June in Stowmarket for the public to score us against how we are delivering against our objectives of the Equality Delivery System 2. This workshop was held in partnership with NHS Ipswich and East Suffolk CCG, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (mental health providers), and West Suffolk and Ipswich Hospitals. East of England Ambulance Trust and Suffolk Community Healthcare were involved in the planning but then withdrew.

The objectives focussed on were those at the ‘Developing’ stage that need to be improved. The four West Suffolk objectives were:

  1. Embed effective equality analysis into all of the CCG’s workstreams
  2. Review and use existing equality information about West Suffolk’s diverse communities. This can include relevant existing local and national information as well as information from healthcare providers
  3. Establish better links with diverse groups specifically in West Suffolk
  4. Make available and publicise different formats for diverse groups to share their experiences

The attendees agreed with out ‘Developing’ ranking for each of these except for number 2, which saw us upgraded to ‘Achieving’. We will be meeting with partners shortly to discuss what actions points to take from this workshop.

3Engagement events

Below are details of the engagement events that are coming up and have recently been attended. You are welcome to join us at these events to engage directly with members of the public on healthcare.

3.1Suffolk Show – in partnership with Suffolk County Council and others

We had a stand in the ‘Suffolk at your service’ marquee for the Suffolk Show on 27 and 28 May, which was shared with other public sector organisations. We focussed the first day on diabetes and the second day on mental health. We are currently evaluating this experience.

3.2Summer Fairs

  • Newmarket Carnival Saturday 4 July
  • Lark in the Park, Mildenhall Saturday 11 July
  • Summer Bash, Haverhill Sunday 19 July

3.3Market Stalls

We have held 4 of our market stalls for 2015 at Mildenhall, Brandon, Haverhill and Bury St Edmunds. In Tuesday we will be in Newmarket and on Thursday in Sudbury. We are using these events to distribute the health service guides, direct people to Patient Revolution, get feedback on proposed ophthalmology services, and speak to the public about healthcare generally

4Patient Revolution update

As previously reported this event will take place onWednesday 15 July and this year people have three opportunities to join us:

  • Morning: 10:00 – 12:00 at Newmarket Memorial Hall, High St, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 8JP
  • Afternoon: 14:30 – 16:30 at Clare Town Hall, Market hill, CO10 8NN
  • Evening: 19:00 – 21:00 at West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 3YU

Invitations have been sent and recipients have been invited to forward the invites on to any who may be interested. So far signed up we have:

-42 in Newmarket

-30 in Clare

-22 in Bury St Edmunds

Members of the CEG are encouraged to attend the Patient Revolution.

We are promoting Patient Revolution through our market stalls and social media – Twitter users can share their views using the hashtag #joinourpatientrevolution

5Children and young people

Last Wednesday we held the last of our drop-in lunchtime sessions at Castle Manor Academy in Haverhill, focussing on exam stress.We have also been running youth engagement at West Suffolk College. We have held these sessions in partnership with Abbeycroft Leisure, also working closely with Live Well Suffolk, Turning Point (formally Mathew Project), the school nurse and our GPs. We are currently working to evaluate these sessions ahead of refining youth engagement once the new school year starts in the autumn.

Author: Jack Tappin, Engagement and Consultation Officer.