Are you a “patient in waiting” for hospital treatment?

News - 24 January 2022

Have you been referred by your GP to hospital for an appointment, treatment, or operation? Are you still waiting? If so Healthwatch Sandwell would like to hear from you.

The Covid-19 pandemic has contributed to delays and backlogs in hospital treatment which will take extra time to address. HWS is seeking to understand the impact of the longer delays on patients’ health and well-being, and the experience of services while waiting for treatment.

We would like to hear what is good, what is poor and what is needed to improve the experience of being a “patient in waiting”. We would like to identify what adjustments to services would help make the patient in waiting experience more positive and enable patients to be fully informed and prepared for their treatment journey.

How to get involved:

We have a short questionnaire that you can complete and send to us, and we will hold conversations with individuals and groups by phone, email, face-to-face or virtually to suit participants. Please contact us to share your experiences.

Complete the questionnaire:

You can take part by completing our short questionnaire about your experiences. You can download the questionnaire here:

V1.-Questionnaire-Hospital-Treatment-Pathways-Download

Once you have completed the questionnaire, you can either email it to us at: sophie.shuttlewood@healthwatchsandwell.co.uk

or send it to us in the post:

Healthwatch Sandwell

Walker Grange

Central Avenue

Tipton

DY4 9RY

 

Join us in conversation:

You can join us at one of our online conversations, please see the details below including the Zoom link to join us.

“Patients in waiting” for hospital treatment – share your experiences and views on services             

28th January 2022 11 am -12.30 pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83464667401

Patients in waiting” for hospital treatment – delays and cancellations – how does it feel for you?

24 February 2022 2:45 pm – 2:30 pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81184231657

“Patients in waiting” for hospital treatment – how could the wait be improved?

2nd March 2022 2 pm – 3. 30 pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82212054044

If you are not able to join our conversation events, you can contact us to discuss your experiences and take part in the project individually. If you are part of a community group that would like to take part, we are happy to discuss how we can work with you to gather the views of your group.

Please contact :

Sophie Shuttlewood, Projects and Partnerships Lead

Email: Sophie.Shuttlewood@healthwatchsandwell.co.uk

Call: 07732 683483

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Come and see us!

Come along and talk to Melissa at one of the locations shown below! We want to listen to your patient experiences. We can also offer information, advice and support.
News

Have a Happy and Healthy Ramadan

As Muslims begin to prepare for the month of Ramadan, the NHS has shared a reminder about how to stay safe and healthy during the holy month. Ramadan is expected to start on the evening of Sunday 10 March, subject to moon sighting, and end on Tuesday 9 April, during which time many Muslims will fast and not eat or drink during daylight hours. Fasting during Ramadan can be challenging, especially for those living with a long-term health condition such as diabetes, those who take prescribed medicines or anyone who needs a medical appointment during the holy month. The NHS has issued important advice to ensure a healthy and safe Ramadan, including:

If you have a long-term health condition:
Having a medical condition doesn’t mean people can’t fast, but they may need to take precautions such as reviewing their medication and closely monitoring how they’re feeling. There is also an exemption for people with diabetes, especially for those on insulin or those with any medical complications. If you have diabetes and want to fast during Ramadan, please speak to your GP or diabetes nurse about the safest way to do this. If you monitor your blood glucose levels, you should continue to do so while fasting.

If you take prescribed medication:
If you are taking prescribed medicines to control an illness, you should continue taking them during Ramadan to prevent further, serious complications developing. You can check with your GP or pharmacist if the doses need to be adjusted or the times that you take them need to be changed. This will allow you to control your illness while completing a fast safely. Those who are unsure about fasting should always seek advice from their healthcare professional.

If you have a medical condition:
It is important that people keep all medical appointments where possible in Ramadan. If you feel you are unable to keep your appointment, please contact your GP or hospital to re-schedule your appointment for as soon as possible after the Holy Month ends.

If you are due an MMR vaccine:
Vaccines play an important part in maintaining our health and with an increase of measles across the West Midlands, getting your measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is vital. Measles is a highly infectious disease which can lead to serious complications if it is not treated. The British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) scholars have confirmed that getting an MMR vaccine will not invalidate the fast, so if you or your child has missed the first or second dose of MMR vaccine, you should still have the vaccine during Ramadan to stay protected. In the UK, there are two types of MMR vaccines. One of these, (Priorix®), does not contain pork and can be requested from your GP practice.

If you become unwell during fasting:
The BIMA advises that if you become unwell during Ramadan, you should stop fasting and seek medical advice. Your local pharmacy can offer advice and some medicines, and this can help you treat your condition yourself at home. Pharmacists can also help you see the right person, if you need to see someone else. If you have a more serious illness, you should visit your GP practice website or NHS 111 online for advice. If you cannot access the internet, call 111 or your GP practice directly. It’s important to remember fasting is not considered compulsory for many groups, including people who are unwell, people with learning difficulties, people who are travelling and women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or menstruating.
Advice and Information