Health and social care leaders will be open to question at an event in Norfolk this autumn.
Healthwatch Norfolk Live will see them taking questions from the public on all issues at the event at The Forum in Norwich on October 5 from 9.45am.
Those already confirmed to be on the panel include Tracey Bleakley, the chief executive of the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB) which ensures close links between health and social care, her colleague Tricia D’Orsi who is the ICB’s Chief Nurse, Queen Elizabeth Hospital chief executive Alice Webster, James Paget University Hospital chief executive Jo Segasby, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital director of nursing Professor Nancy Fontaine, and Ian Hutchison, the chief executive of East Coast Community Healthcare.
Questions can be submitted for the event via [email protected] marking the email Healthwatch Norfolk Live 2023 Questions or you can submit them by telephone via 0808 168 9669.
You can also book free tickets for the event online by clicking here or call Healthwatch Norfolk on 0808 168 9669 and one of the team can reserve tickets for you.
The agenda
During the meeting, Healthwatch Norfolk will also give a full update on its last 12 months work looking at the key areas of concern highlighted by people, the project work it has undertaken, and what it has been hearing from the county’s communities when out talking to people face-to-face.
This includes a major programme of work visiting GP surgeries to find out patient feedback, ongoing work looking at mental health care, a series of visits to residential sites across Norfolk for those with learning disabilities and/or autism entitled My Views Matter, and highlighting the need for accessible information when consulting about the future of the Norwich Walk-In Centre.
Healthwatch Heroes
The event, which also helps mark the first decade of Healthwatch Norfolk, will see awards presented to people who have gone the extra mile to help the organisation during its first 10 years.
Healthwatch Heroes will be formally recognised for their efforts in helping the organisation in different ways.
These include Tony Edwards, a volunteer who supported the My Views Matter project. His perspective, love of talking to people and dedication helped the team gather some rich feedback from those with learning disabilities in residential care and helped to shape a report setting out a wide range of recommendations, which has been taken up locally, regionally, and nationally.
The event will also see the launch of a new formal partnership scheme between Healthwatch Norfolk and its partners within health and social care. Trusts, businesses, and organisations including GP surgeries, dentists, pharmacies, and hospitals which commit to regular visits and engagement will be formally recognised, and be given stickers and posters so people know they are being given regular patient feedback.
Alex Stewart, chief executive of Healthwatch Norfolk, said:
“Our first 10 years has certainly been busy and varied, and this event will be an opportunity to reflect and celebrate what we have achieved with the help of the many patients and their families who have got in touch with us, and our partners across health and social care.
“It is also a chance importantly to look forward and people can put their questions to those at the head of Norfolk’s health and social care network and find out more about their concerns.
“I would welcome as many people as possible to join us at The Forum in Norwich or online to participate.”
