News and reports

Welcome to our Summer 2019 newsletter. In this edition, we have updates on our Healthwatch projects, including language services at GPs, the Long Term Plan for the NHS, our safeguarding reviews at care homes and much more.

All Barnet GP practices have access to language interpreters through Language Line Solutions; an over the phone interpreting service. However, we have received anecdotal feedback that this interpreting service is not widely used by GPs.

Our annual report shows how our Healthwatch Barnet team of volunteers and staff have been at the forefront of changes brought about in the health and social care services, bringing local voices and experiences to the attention of decision makers.

During the CCG’s consultation period, we received emails from patients and carers of patients currently registered at Ravenscroft Medical Practice. All the emails raised concerns about the proposed move and the impact on patients. We attended three of the open consultation sessions to listen to the feedback from patients and carers and to CCG’s and Ravenscroft Medical Centre’s response to this feedback. As a result we identified several issues and recommended action to help support patients, should the proposed move take place.

This visit to Cricklewood Walk-in Centre, was a follow up to the visits made in January and March 2018 and was arranged with the recently appointed Practice Manager to discuss the recommendations of those reports. The report also talks about the future of the centre, which is on the border of Barnet, Brent and Camden. We were told that about half the patients come from Brent, about 40% from Barnet and 10% from Camden.

This announced E&V visit was part of a planned set of visits reviewing safeguarding at a range of care and nursing homes within Barnet. In this visit we focussed on identifying any signs of abuse as described by the Social Care Institute for Excellence. This ‘at a glance’ briefing which aims to help people who come into contact with people with care and support needs to identify abuse and recognise possible indicators. Many types of abuse are also criminal offences and should be treated as such.

In summer and autumn 2018, we were contacted by community organisations, individuals and some GP staff about the difficulties patients were experiencing in using hospital transport for their journeys to and from Royal Free Hospital sites.

This report is part of a planned set of Enter & View visits reviewing safeguarding at a range of care and nursing homes within Barnet. The care home is run by Ventry Residential Care providing accommodation and care for up to 21 older people.

The NHS Long Term Plan, a ten-year plan created by NHS England, sets out a vision to make sure that health services are fit for purpose in the future. A significant part of the plan is around preventative action against illness and disease.

The low uptake of Cancer screening tests for patients with learning disabilities is not only a local issue in Barnet, but a national issue and health priority.

Our Enter and View team conducted this announced visit to Acacia Lodge Care Home as part of a planned set of visits reviewing safeguarding at a range of care and nursing homes within Barnet.

Four questions staff should ask you or a loved one about your oral health if you’re a care home resident, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence quick guide.