Five projects run by NHS Kent and Medway have been recognised in awards that celebrate the best in health and social care.
The Healthwatch Recognition Awards commend the very best in health and social care – nominations are chosen from patient stories and feedback.
NHS Kent and Medway winners are:
- engagement with patients to develop the Long Covid Assessment Service
- development of a new pathway for people with Complex Emotional Difficulties
- the Primary Care Contracting and Quality Teams
- the health and wellbeing bus
- partners involved in the hypertension heroes project
Recognition for excellence in involving people in commissioning and delivery of services – NHS Kent and Medway for the work to involve people in the Long Covid service.
More than 900 people with Long Covid were involved in co-designing, from an early stage, the development of the Post Covid Assessment Service which offers support and information for those with Long Covid.
Darren Winch (pictured), who has Long Covid, accepted the award on behalf of the team. Watch our Long Covid film on our YouTube channel.
“Being listened to and taken seriously has had a big impact on me.”
The service has had more than 2,000 referrals. As a response to patient feedback, it is being improved to offer more proactive and face-to-face support. A continuing patient reference group helps make sure the service continues to meet the changing needs of people with Long Covid.
- Kent County Council and Medway Council were also winners in this category.
Recognition for excellence in listening to people’s views about services – NHS Kent and Medway for its work to listen to people with lived-experience of complex emotional difficulties.
More than 150 people with lived experience of mental health were involved in the development and creation of a new care pathway for people with complex emotional difficulties.
More than 350 hours of recordings of people talking about what the new model should look like were incorporated into the development of the service.
“That then team called me, after my comments, to ask more about them is new – usually people stop inviting me to events.”
- Kent County Council Public Health Team and Medway Council Public Health Team were also winners in this category.
Recognition for excellence in helping people get the information they need – NHS Kent and Medway Primary Care Quality Team for quickly responding to recommendations.
The Primary Care Contracting and Quality Teams were rewarded for helping people receive a written response to complaints; making sure people have a British Sign Language interpreter at their appointment, if needed; updating phone lines and systems to make it easier to make a GP appointment; increasing the amount of information about other primary care staff and how they can help, and supporting people who are homeless register with a GP.
- East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust, NHS England Dental Team and Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust were also winners in this category.
Recognition for excellence in making sure there is equal access to services – NHS Kent and Medway Vaccination Team's health and wellbeing bus.
The health and wellbeing bus has been travelling to communities making it easier for people to have their Covid-19 vaccine, but also blood pressure checks and
BMI checks.
With no appointment necessary and parked in busy public places, it’s a great example of how services can reach people in a different way.
“This bus is a great idea; it’s very convenient especially for busy people. I spotted it as I drove through town, and I wanted a health check, so this is amazing for me.”
- Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, Kent Association for the Blind and East Kent Mind were also winners in this category.
Recognition for innovation and excellence in Kent and Medway voluntary sector – NHS Kent and Medway, Medway Public Health and a range of community organisations for their committment to encouraging people to get their blood pressure checked.
The hypertension heroes is a group of committed volunteers who are working
within their communities to reach people who wouldn’t normally go to their GP. They are empowering people to check their own blood pressure.
In just six months, volunteers helped 830 people to take their own blood pressure. 206 of these people had high, or very high blood pressure.
Nearly 50 per cent of participants classed themselves as being from a non-White ethnic background and nearly two thirds were from the most deprived areas of Kent and Medway.
"I had no idea I have high blood pressure. I don’t go to a GP, and I wouldn’t have thought to check, so thank you."