Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Healthwatch Board members complete historic first online meeting

The Board of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Healthwatch held an historic first online meeting (Wednesday, May 13), summarising the work being done during the last 50 days of the coronavirus emergency.

Chairman, Val Moore said: “Through the use of technology it’s wonderful to see so many friendly faces after so long. I want to acknowledge the work that has come from all of you during these unprecedented times.

“The Covid-19 emergency has stretched our health colleagues to their limits and I’m amazed at the sheer amount of work that has been done under such difficult circumstances.

“We have a new system command infrastructure in place which includes daily meetings convened by the clinical commissioning group (CCG) and is overseen weekly by its governing body.

“We’re in contact with key people in the health and care system sharing feedback from the public and hearing first-hand from leaders how services are changing.

“Our directors have participated with staff in two discussion meetings about treatment accessibility for non-Covid patients, and about wellbeing and mental healthcare issues for the population.

“Healthwatch team involvement in community resilience hubs across the area has highlighted examples of how we are responding to listen and support the system.”

Jonathan Wells, Healthwatch Peterborough Director and mental health professional with 34 years’ experience, said: “I’m now involved in a new mental health collaborative, ensuring that the voices of service users and the community influence the service changes at the current time of emergency. The new Covid-19 Ethical Committee will produce recommendations and guidance for previously unprecedented scenarios.”

Sandie Smith, CEO added: “As a response to the Covid-19 emergency the organisational Business Continuity Plan came into action on March 17, and all our staff moved to home working with all face to face engagement cancelled.

“New ways of working are evolving, focussing on digital channels and new ways of connecting with communities: for example, actively supporting our local and NHS volunteering schemes.

“We’re already sharing people’s feedback on patient transport arrangements for the more vulnerable or those who need shielding to attend hospital, especially cancer treatment.

“We’ve been passing on information about what treatment is and is not continuing, checking with our hospitals about calls regarding operations.

“Where people have been told to attend but then had their operation cancelled, concerns were that they could be at risk from Covid-19 by going to the hospital unnecessarily.

“The hospitals have welcomed our feedback on this and as a result, the CCG will send out public messages to reassure people about correct infection control measures.

“Healthwatch England guidance has been developed and circulated to all our partners as a result of our Healthwatch raising a concern about people being inappropriately contacted to sign ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ forms, and people have been reassured regarding access to diagnostics, especially where they may need urgent treatment.”

Healthwatch England is a body established under the Health and Social Care Act 2012, made of up of local Healthwatch groups across the 152 local authority areas.