June 2024 News from Healthwatch Bucks

Join us as Honorary Treasurer!

Do you live in Bucks, have a background in finance and a passion for Healthwatch? If so, we'd love to hear from you! We're on the lookout for someone special to be our new Honorary Treasurer. Find out more and apply

Webinars - coming soon

Keep your eyes peeled?on our website and social media for details on our new webinars - coming soon.

Volunteering

At the beginning of June, we celebrated Volunteers' Week by recognising the amazing individuals at the core of Healthwatch Bucks, who generously dedicate their time and energy to making a difference. We also highlighted their volunteering experiences, including the insights from Jenny Cassidy featured in the image. Find out more about what you could gain from volunteering with us.

Your voice counts

Have your say on Womens' Health Hubs - survey now live

There is still time to have your say on women's health in Bucks. What would you like to see from Women’s Health Hubs? Tell us in our latest survey. Have your say and take the survey

Hearing from you

We've had an incredibly busy and rewarding few weeks, and it was wonderful meeting so many of you and hearing your valuable feedback!

This week, we attended?the Windrush event organised by the Caribbean Lunch Club in Aylesbury and spent time at the Elgiva in Chesham. We’re looking forward to our upcoming visits to the Hilltop Community Centre in High Wycombe, Buckingham Library, and High Wycombe Library.

Recently, we co-hosted a Patient Participation Group meeting with the Integrated Care Board at the Community Wellbeing Hub in Aylesbury. We also celebrated the Hub’s one-year anniversary, launched our Community Connectors report (stay tuned for more details in our next issue), attended the Castlefield Ward partnership meeting in High Wycombe, and took part in the Festival of Wellbeing organised by Wycombe Mind.

Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) ?

Last week was Patient Participation Group Week. Have you heard of PPGs? Did you know that your GP surgery has one? A PPG is a group of patients, carers and staff who meet to discuss service issues, new innovations and patient experience to support in improving services.?You can get involved by contacting your local surgery. We are working to?support PPGs across Bucks and will be featuring more about what they do in coming issues. Find out more.

Come and meet us

Do you need some help with getting the right health or social care? Perhaps you have views on local services you’d like to share with us? Join us at any of the events on our calendar to chat with a member of the Healthwatch Bucks team. We look forward to meeting you! Find out where we'll be?next.

In the news

New Skin Cancer centre at Amersham Hospital

The new Amersham Skin Cancer Centre has opened. Officially opened on 14 May, the Centre aims to?provide?patients with swifter diagnosis and treatment in an easy to access, modern environment. Read more.

New Primary Care Strategy published

Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB) has published its new Primary Care Strategy following engagement with patients, the public, partners and stakeholders.

The new strategy sets out how BOB ICB will develop a new model of primary and community-based care to improve access to general practice, dentistry, community pharmacy and optometry services, and to provide continuity of care for patients with more complex conditions.

It will also focus on health prevention to keep people well and healthy.

You can read the final strategy, together with a report on the public engagement and how BOB ICB responded to this feedback, via its?engagement website.

Have you heard of Healthy Libraries?

Healthy Libraries provide a range of activities, events, and information to help promote healthier and happier lives for Bucks residents. Whether you want to learn about healthy eating, find ways to look after your mental health, or connect with other people in your community, there are many ways that libraries will be able to support you with your health and wellbeing.

See what's happening at your local library.

Get a free NHS health check

Having a free NHS Health Check is an easy way to spot the early warning signs of conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. If you're aged between 40 to 74 years old, without a pre-existing condition, you may be eligible for a free NHS Health Check. Find out if you're eligible and how to book yours.