For just over a year now, Inclusion Barnet has been delivering Barnet’s local Healthwatch service.
Healthwatch Barnet exists to help local people get the best out of their health and social care services. We gather information and feedback from patients and service-users to shape care, and we run events and projects to bring Barnet people and health professionals together.
Here’s a round up of recent Healthwatch Barnet activity.
Last month we ran an event with Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust, who provide Barnet’s NHS mental health services. Heads of service including Deputy Chief Operating Officer Barry Day answered questions in an online Q&A. Read a summary on our website or watch the event in full at a time that suits you on our YouTube channel.
We also conducted a focus group with deaf residents in Barnet to gather in-depth qualitative data on their experiences with GP surgeries. You can read our report and recommendations on our website.
Now we are working on a project to understand the experiences of people suffering from Long COVID in Barnet.
Our findings will be shared with healthcare providers and the local Clinical Commissioning Group to help inform their on-going response locally and shape the available support so if you have Long COVID or live with someone who has Long COVID, please complete the survey.
We’re also holding a special Barnet-wide online zoom event in association with Barnet COVID-19 Health Champions, to provide information and support for residents with Long COVID and a question and answer session. Tickets are free and available to book via Eventbrite.
And finally, we’re also working to gather insight into Barnet residents’ experiences of using GP practices remotely. At the start of the pandemic, GPs had to change the way they delivered care, moving more to online and telephone appointments to help manage infection risks whilst still caring for their patients. For many people, remote care options work well, and make getting care quicker, more efficient and easier to fit around their lives. Others struggle with it and are left feeling frustrated.
Let us know what you think. Complete our survey or drop us an email.
We are always keen to hear from Barnet residents, whether it’s with questions, suggestions or information requests, and we’d love to hear from you too if you’d be interested to join our team of volunteers. Email us and someone will get back to you.
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