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NHS Cumbria exists to improve the health and wellbeing of the 500,000 residents of Cumbria. We do this by:
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Working with others to improve health.
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Making the best use of all available resources.
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Achieving core standards and targets.
NHS Cumbria is a listening organisation. We are committed to working with local people, finding out what they think and involving them in planning local health services. In your area, there is a Locality Public Engagement Lead (details below) who works with GPs and other NHS staff to make sure Cumbrian residents have a chance to get involved. We help plan good engagement so that it is accessible to everyone, clear, honest, realistic and is focused on improvement.
In your district, NHS Cumbria's Locality teams are working on truly local responses to the health and wellbeing issues specific to your area. Here are some of the activities we're working on as a part of our plans to provide more healthcare, closer to people's homes:
Allerdale
Allerdale's first Community Dermatology Service is now up and running in Maryport, providing people with skin conditions access to tests and treatment nearer to where they live. Self Care for You courses are helping patients in Allerdale to develop their skills to improve their and their family's health. The courses help people to build their confidence and learn how to manage their own health better.
Barrow
Mums and babies in Barrow will benefit from a new programme of Breast Feeding Support with midwives and health visitors offering support through workshops, community groups and one to one sessions with new mums.
Furness College is delivering Health Trainer Courses to 29 people from Age Concern, Children's Centres and the Barrow Healthy Living Centre. Health Trainers are themselves local people who provide advice, motivation and support to help individuals make lifestyle changes that will improve their health.
Carlisle
In Brampton, we're working with partners and the community to develop a new Health Campus with GP surgery, cottage hospital, residential care, and a range of health and social care services.
It's estimated that the Stop Smoking Service helped over 2,000 people to quit in 2007/08 in Cumbria. Carlisle is an important target area for the initiative.
Copeland
We're improving access to vasectomy and ultrasound services in Copeland by providing them in a GP practice, so people don't have to travel to hospital.
A strong team of Medicines Managers are working in Copeland GP practices to look at the way medicines are prescribed and improve quality, reduce waste, enhance safety and build patient satisfaction. Last year we saved £450,000, which we are reinvesting in services.
Eden
A new Integrated Community Cardio-Respiratory Service will offer patients with breathlessness access to tests and a diagnosis in Penrith Community Hospital within two weeks.
Patients in Eden who feel that they might benefit from learning deep relaxation and positive thinking will be able to benefit from a Positive Mental Training self-help programme.
South Lakeland
We're supporting older people in South Lakeland with a Successful Ageing Project. The partnership project will help older people live independently by making it easier for them to get involved in activities, get home adaptations, access services and develop healthy projects.
Working out of Westmorland General Hospital, the Community Respiratory Service will provide a team with a range of skills to provide high quality care for people with respiratory diseases.
These examples are part of our vision for people who need health care to get the best possible treatment and support closer to home.
Contact your local Public Engagement Lead for more information if you have comments to make or if you want to get involved in improving services.
South Lakeland & Barrow
Judith Deft
Locality Public Engagement Lead
01539 797806
0782 686 9156
* judith.deft.@cumbriapct.nhs.uk
Jayne Goodfellow
Locality Public Engagement Lead
01539 797806
0782 686 9156
*jayne.goodfellow@cumbriapct.nhs.uk
Allerdale & Copeland
Christine Harrison
Locality Public Engagement Lead
01900 324244
0778 557 8574
* christine.harrison@cumbriapct.nhs.uk
Carlisle & Eden
Anna Scamans
Locality Public Engagement Lead
0778 551 8520
* anna.scamans@cumbriapct.nhs.uk
Alternatively, you can contact Shirley Forrest at the:
Public Engagement Unit,
NHS Cumbria,
Tenterfield,
Brigsteer Road,
Kendal,
LA9 5EA
01539 797878
* publicengagement@cumbriapct.nhs.uk
In April 2008 a Patient Voice Group (PVG) was established to support NHS Cumbria to be sensitive to, and informed by, the voice and experience of users of health care services.
The members of the group do this through participation in relevant corporate processes of the primary care trust, including the Board and Quality and Standards Committee, through monitoring and review of particular initiatives, constructive challenge regarding policies, plans or processes and through the provision of advice and comment from a patient perspective.
The nature of its role is that it is 'embedded' in ongoing work of the organisation, seeking to prompt and challenge in the course of routine work of the committees and working groups (relating for example to Quality and Standards, Provider Governance, Information Governance, Infection Control, Equality and Diversity) and commenting on draft policies, procedures and patient information material.
Cumbria LINk gives you the opportunity to influence your local health and social services. You can:
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Contribute to on line polls
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Take part in surveys
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Join in focus groups
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Get involved with special groups to look more closely at health care services
For more information and for information on how to get involved, go to:
An online survey has been set up to try and gage the views of people with diabetes so they can be used to shape new health services.
The survey which has been created by Cumbria’s Diabetes Service User Group (SUG) on questionnaire website, Survey Monkey, aims to collect views on people’s experiences of health treatment and how things could be improved.
Patients with diabetes are invited to fill in the survey online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/diabetessug