News

Outstanding contributions to patient experience, inclusivity and innovation in health and social care were celebrated at the Kent and Medway Healthwatch Recognition Awards.

Pictured: NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board Chair, Cedi Frederick.

NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) Chair Cedi Frederick spoke at the awards about the importance of patient and public voice in healthcare. He highlighted the role of the ICB's People and Communities Champion Bali Rogers, as well as the ICB's People and Communities Advisory Group - Community Health Voices. He said: “Our job as a strategic commissioner can only be made possible if we listen to people in receipt of services.”

This year's awards highlighted exceptional work to improve access, empower communities and champion lived experience.

NHS Kent and Medway was represented in several categories: Excellence in inspiring individuals, excellence in innovative approaches to prevention, excellence in inclusivity and equal access, recognition for excellence in enabling local people to monitor standards and make improvements, recognition for excellence in listening to people's views and thoughts about services, recognition for excellence in integrated working at a local level and recognition for excellence in addressing health inequality and inequity.

Excellence in Inspiring Individuals - Marie Hackshall

Pictured:  System Programme Lead - Learning Disability and Autism, NHS Kent and Medway, Marie Hackshall.

Marie is the System Programme Lead for Learning Disability, Autism and ADHD and was honoured for her leadership in developing the Neurodiversity (ND) Hub.

NHS Kent and Medway, Kent County Council and Medway Council heard from people through a series of engagement events to understand the needs of neurodivergent people, and what would help. They then worked with a group of people with lived experience to co-produce and to co design webpages and resources aimed at improving the experience of neurodivergent people across Kent and Medway.

The website was recognised nationally at the Transforming Autism Assessment Services webinar.

This work was possible thanks to Marie, who recognised the power of listening to people with lived experience, embedding their experiences, and working with them in partnership to develop services.

Excellence in Innovative Approaches to Prevention - Cancer Smart Programme

Pictured left to right:  Tracey Squire (Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance), Lisa Bates (SEK), Rebecca Smith (SEK CEO), Kay Devine (SEK), Laura Campbell (SEK), Jo Bailey (Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance).

Social Enterprise Kent's (SEK) Cancer Smart initiative was celebrated for boosting cancer screening uptake among communities facing health inequalities.

Over the past year, the Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance and Social Enterprise Kent (SEK) have been promoting the Cancer Smart programme and sharing information on early diagnosis and the symptoms of cancer.

With a focus on encouraging self-checking, knowing the signs and symptoms and how to reduce the risk of cancer, this targeted initiative has provided communities with the knowledge and confidence to recognise early signs of cancer, make informed health choices and contributed to an increase of screening attendance in priority areas.

Find out more about Cancer Smart by visiting the Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance's website and Social Enterprise Kent's website.

Complex Care Remote Monitoring Service

The Complex Care Remote Monitoring Service aims to support frail and complex patients at home using remote monitoring, enabling early detection of deterioration and reducing avoidable hospital admissions. Patients use digital devices to submit weekly readings and EBPC monitor results. It advises patients, escalates issues to GPs, or contacts emergency services if needed.

Evidence suggests that reductions were seen in emergency admissions, urgent treatment centre visits and A&E attendances. It also reports 75.5 per cent reduction in long hospital stays (>21 days).

This initiative was led by East Kent Health and Care Partnership, New Hayesbank Surgery, Newton Place Surgery, Sydenham House Medical Centre, Mid Kent Primary Care Network, Oaklands Health Centre, Hawkinge and Elham Valley Practice Folkestone, Hythe and Rural Primary Care Network, Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, Graphnet Health, East Berkshire Primary Care and Integrated Care 24.

Excellence in Inclusivity and Equal Access - Children's Dentistry Recovery Programme

The Children's Dentistry Recovery Programme was recognised for leading the post Covid-19 recovery of children's dental general anaesthetic services.

NHS Kent and Medway and Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust's Community Dental Service worked with East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust and Medway Community healthcare on the programme.

The coordinated approach has restored waiting times to pre-pandemic levels, making sure children with complex needs receive timely care.

The awards reflect the shared commitment to improving care by listening to and acting on the voices of local people.

Thanet Community Health Hub

The Thanet Community Health Hub is recognised for its work in enabling local public voices to shape the design of the hub through considerable involvement of over 1,000 residents, patients, carers, NHS staff, school children, voluntary sector groups and seldom heard communities.

An established citizens' panel ensures ongoing community engagement and influence.

The project was led by East Kent Health and Care Partnership, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust and St Peter's Surgery.

Recognition for excellence in listening to people's views and thoughts about services - Community Power and Self-Organisation Project

The Community Power and Self-Organisation Project has been recognised for bringing together people at neighbourhood level in the NHS Core20 areas, with the plus groups, to help develop skills and confidence to self-organise and feel empowered to lead on matters that are important to them and their communities.

Medway and Swale Health and Care Partnership and Medway Voluntary Action worked with communities to support early cancer diagnosis, in a way that suits them and their communities' needs. Resources and initiatives were designed and developed by communities to help improve early cancer diagnosis rates, resulting in increased awareness of symptoms and screening support and pathways.

Recognition for excellence in integrated working at a local level - The Medway and Swale Self-Harm Programme

The Medway and Swale Self-Harm Programme has been recognised for its integrated approach to understand how children and young people who self-harm are supported across Medway and Swale, with young people reporting that they felt heard, respected and empowered.

This project by, Medway and Swale Health and Care Partnership, Healthwatch Medway and Healthwatch Kent, Medway Voluntary Action and Medway Council, brought together cross sector organisations to ensure community voices were at the heart of its research and saw an early impact, through reductions in hospital attendances for self-harm among children and young people.

Recognition for excellence in addressing health inequality and inequity - The Medway and Swale Social Regeneration Programme

This programme has been recognised for its work to improve health equity, providing a community-led approach to tackling wider determinants. It has demonstrated the strength of collective action and the power of involving organisations from across the wider economy to shape meaningful, long-term change.

Partners include Medway and Swale Health and Care Partnership, Healthwatch Medway, Healthwatch Kent, Involve Kent, the VCSEF, local authorities, primary care, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Medway Community Healthcare, HCRG, housing providers, schools, youth organisations and the creative sector, National Energy Action, Green Doctors and Net Zero Hub.

Categories recognised

Recognition for excellence in involving people in commissioning and delivery of services

• Voices in Action: Participation Project 2024-2025 - Kent All Age Eating Disorder Service - North East London NHS Foundation Trust
• Perinatal Mental Health Services - The Rosewood Mother and Baby Unit, Perinatal Mental Health Community Service, Thrive Psychological Support for Birth Trauma and Loss - Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust
• Peer to Peer Project, Medway - Pathways to Independence

Recognition for excellence in enabling local people to monitor standards and make improvements

• West Kent Single Point of Access - Frailty Team, Rapid Response Teams, Home Treatment Team, Therapy Teams, Digital CIPHA Teams, Pharmacy Teams, Medicine Optimisation Team - Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Foundation Trust, Kent Community Health Foundation Trust, West Kent Health and Care Partnership, Luscii.
• Annual Residents' Survey - HIVE Team, Late Shift Team, Front Office and Support Team, AMAT UK
• All Age Eating Disorder Service ARFID Pathway - The ARFID Team, North East London NHS Foundation Trust.

Recognition for excellence in listening to people's views and thoughts about services

• Community Power & Self-Organisation Project - Involving Medway & Swale Project - Medway Voluntary Action and Medway and Swale Health and Care Partnership
• Guru Nanak Memory Café - Guru Nanak Darbar Wellbeing Centre and Alzheimer's & Dementia Support Services
• Breaking Barriers: Women in Water - Gravesham Community Leisure Limited.

Recognition for excellence in integrated working at a local level

• Living Better - Porchlight
• The Heron Neighbourhood Team - Adult Social Care, Family Hubs, Kent County Council, Canterbury City Council, Social Enterprise Kent, Herne Bay PCN, Kent Police, Department for Work and Pensions, With VCSE organisations: Canterbury Food Bank, Red Zebra, Mayas Community Support Centre, Head in the Game, Beach Creative, Fusion/Active Life, East Kent Mind and many more.
• The Medway and Swale Self-Harm Programme - Self-Harm Working Group, Medway & Swale Health and Care Partnership, Healthwatch Medway and Healthwatch Kent, Involving Medway & Swale Project, Medway Voluntary Action, Public Health Team, Medway Council.

Recognition for excellence in addressing health inequality and inequity

• The Medway & Swale Social Regeneration Programme - Medway & Swale Health and Care Partnership, Healthwatch Medway, Healthwatch Kent, Involve Kent, the VCSEF, local authorities, primary care, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Medway Community Healthcare, HCRG, housing providers, schools, youth organisations and the creative sector, National Energy Action, Green Doctors, Net Zero Hub
• Dartford Health Hub - Porchlight, St Edmund's Church, With: Temple Hill GP Surgery, North Kent Mind, Change Grow Live, Dentaid and Ark Dental Practice, Forgotten Feet, One Optics, Foothold, Beauty Bank, Live Well Kent, Greater Change, Medi Tech Trust, JP Barber Bus, Hep C Unit, Key Changes, Youth Unity, Unique Talent, Mental Health Together, Kent Association for the Blind, Bexley Deaf Centre.
• Promoting Inclusivity, Heritage and Empowerment Across Communities - Swale CVS, KCC, Swale Borough Council, Kent Fire & Rescue, Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, Macmillan Crossroads Volunteer Service, Event volunteers of Swale, Diversity House.

Recognition for excellence in innovative approaches to prevention

• Cancer Smart Programme - Social Enterprise Kent, Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance
• Lung Cancer Screening Programme - Lung Cancer Screening Team, Information Team, Infoflex Team, Patient Voice Team, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Crossroads Care, One You Smoking Cessation Team, Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust.
• Complex Care Remote Monitoring Service -  Project Team, East Kent Health & Care Partnership, New Hayesbank Surgery, Newton Place Surgery, Sydenham House Medical Centre, Mid Kent Primary Care Network, Oaklands Health Centre, Hawkinge and Elham Valley Practice, Folkestone, Hythe and Rural Primary Care Network, Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, Graphnet Health, East Berkshire Primary Care, Integrated Care 24.

Recognition for excellence in inspiring individuals

• Charmain Wright - Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
• Jo Rodda - Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust
• Baton of Hope Team - Megan Abbott-Weston, Sophie Kemsley, Emily Cowan-Knott, KCC Public Health, Sara Moreland and Scott Elliott, Medway Public Health, Alice Scutchey, Baton of Hope
• Marie Hackshall - NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, Kent and Medway Councils.