December 2022 - January 2023 what have we been hearing?
We are sharing the key things we hear each month, so that services and commissioners of services can hear from you. We have collated enquiries from members of the public, feedback from voluntary sector colleagues, and stories shared on Care Opinion.
This briefing includes:
- Experiences of GP practices
- Patient hospital care including maternity services
- Community pharmacy issues
- NHS dentistry
- Insights from the Community Champion Scheme.
Read the briefing below for more detail
If you need these documents in a different format, please email info@healthwatchsheffield.co.uk or call 0114 253 6688.
Who are the Sheffield Community Champions?
Insights from the Sheffield Community Champions are a new inclusion to our monthly briefing, designed to shine a light on the issues local people are telling the community champion volunteers.
Originally set up at the start of the Covid lockdown, the Community Champions operate across selected communities in Sheffield, partnering up with community organisations that support those communities.
These include:
- Aspiring Communities Together
- Darnall Wellbeing
- Firvale Community Hub
- Flower Estate Family Action
- Heeley Trust
- Longley 4 Greens
- SACMHA
- Sharrow Community Forum
- The Terminus
- SOAR
- Zest
During lockdown and into the vaccination phases, Community Champions reinforced positive health messaging and vaccine take-up within their communities.
People also began speaking to them about other health topics, and the Champions have adapted to people's developing needs, now focusing on a range of issues and not solely Covid. Currently 98 Champions are involved in engaging in health conversations and activities, including drop-in health checks, coffee morning health chats, food bank chats, pharma delivery chats, fitness activities and wellbeing sessions.
Champions now cross over a broader health spectrum, engaging in conversations, signposting to health providers and service agencies as well as providing information. A range of training is on offer for champions to develop their confidence, awareness and knowledge.
