Public Engagement Network (PEN)

#WorldHomelessDay aims to raise awareness about the needs of people who currently experience homelessness.

Visit www.worldhomelessday.org/ for more information

It’s World Mental Health Day 🌎

This year’s theme is Access to Services, mental health in times of global instability.

We gather the voices of people who are not usually heard and who use mental health services in England.

Join us www.choicesupport.org.uk/public-engag...
#WMHD

“Our lives and deaths matter too”

LeDeR looks into the lives and deaths of people with a learning disability and autistic people in England

Members of the PEN Advisory Group came together to discuss the report. Read about their views: www.choicesupport.org.uk/public-engag...

Healthwatch Leeds logo. 22% of the enquiries that we received were about GPs. Themes were: Appointments and difficulty getting appointments and long waits, Digital (patchs and other online platforms not being available and difficult to use), People not feeling supported by their practice and staff attitudes and mental health support. April to june 2025.

22% of people who contacted us during April to June were about GPs & Primary Care. These included:
• Difficulty getting appointments/long waits
• Problems with PATCHS & online systems
• People feeling unsupported & staff attitudes
• Mental health support

#HealthwatchLeeds #GPAccess #PrimaryCare

📰Our latest news:

- PEN Advisory Group members share their views on the Lives and Deaths of People with a Learning Disability and Autistic People (LeDeR)
- Have your say in our engagement survey
- Dates for your diary

Read more mailchi.mp/1caf333b0232...

⚕️September is #WorldAlzheimersMonth

Alzheimer’s is a physical illness which damages a person’s brain and eventually causes dementia.

@dementiauk is promoting open conversations about dementia. Learn more: www.dementiauk.org/information-...

It’s #YouthMentalHealthDay with a focus on how to #ShareSupport

👉Find Stem4 youth mental health support resources: stem4.org.uk/wp-content/u...

And have your voice heard on children and young people’s mental health at our advisory group for 12-25 year olds.

👉Join: bit.ly/4lTP8k7

🩺This #WorldPatientSafetyDay focuses on acting early and preventing harm during childhood.

We work to hear the experiences of children and young people in health and care.

Find out how bit.ly/4lTP8k7

Opening Doors Presents Safeguarding Report to the Care Quality… How CQC heard the views of adults with learning disabilities on safeguarding in Norfolk

🤲 How do adults with learning disabilities understand and experience safeguarding?

We were delighted to support @openingdoorsld.bsky.social
in sharing their research findings on safeguarding with the
Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Read more bit.ly/46F7vF5

Healthwatch Leeds Logo. 1306 visits to our finding an NHS dentist webpage. 21 individual dentistry enquiries through our information, advice and signposting service. April to June 2025.

Finding an NHS dentist remains a big issue.
From April–June, 1,306 people visited our webpage on NHS dentistry, and 21 people contacted us directly for support.
Need advice? Visit healthwatchleeds.co.uk/advice-and-i...

#HealthwatchLeeds #NHSDentistry

Our Children and Young People's Advisory will meet this Wednesday to discuss youth experiences of health and social care.

🙋‍♀️12-15 age group: 5-5:45pm
🙋‍♂️16-25 age group: 6-7pm

New members welcome!

Learn more bit.ly/4lTP8k7
To attend, please complete our consent form: bit.ly/4n4jMIZ

This #WorldSuicidePreventionDay, we're sharing an important message from @samaritans.bsky.social: If you think someone might be suicidal, take action, interrupt their thoughts and show them you care. 💚

To find out how, visit samaritans.org/WSPD

Vaginal access procedures: patient experience survey. We would like to hear from anyone who has had a healthcare procedure/s in the last 10 years that required access into or through the vagina and: took place in the UK, was not done under general anaesthetic or with a spinal block, did not take place during or around labour or childbirth. Share your experience & help improve care The survey link is in the post...

Please take part if you can, and share as widely as possible.

forms.office.com/e/4KtU2VdZiu

Designed to capture patient insights and experiences of vaginal access procedures & help guide improvements. It only takes 5-10mins.

#WomensHealth #PatientSurvey #Gynaecology #PatientEngagement

“I was referred by my GP for an ultrasound on my neck in November 22. After a long wait the referral was rejected. I was eventually re-referred in March 24 and found to have medullary thyroid cancer.”

Patients often share positive experiences for cancer services, but people told us about delays getting a referral, GP's not listening to concerns about cancer symptoms and long delays for scans and test results. Find out more about people's experiences- https://bit.ly/486fDPY

Tomorrow is #worldsuicidepreventionday

Every 90 minutes, someone in the UK or Ireland dies by suicide and 1 in 4 has had suicidal thoughts.

To get involved, visit @samaritans.bsky.social or samaritans.org/WSPD

🏫It’s #BackToSchool week and we’re looking forward to hearing the voices of children and young people!

Our advisory group for 12 - 25 year olds will be meeting to discuss experiences of healthcare on 17 September.

New members welcome. Join: www.choicesupport.org.uk/public-engag...

It’s International Day of Charity 🤲

We are thankful to all our charity members who support our mission to enable people who are not usually heard to engage with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Join us: www.choicesupport.org.uk/public-engag...

A close-up of a patient in a hospital bed receiving intravenous treatment, conveying healthcare and recovery.

The #Leder report tells us that people with learning disabilities are still dying younger than everyone else.

It found 37% of deaths involved some form of delay in care or treatment, while 28% reported instances where diagnosis and treatment guidelines were not met.

bit.ly/Leder2025

⚕️Access to accurate and factual information on sexuality and health is vital for sexual justice.

Discover Supported Loving's great toolkit this World Sexual Health Day: bit.ly/3uuf9C0

🌍#WSHD2025 #SexualJustice

🌈United Pride Friends supports LGBT+ people with autism and learning difficulties.

The group is now holding in-person socials on the first Saturday of the month in Manchester.

Find them: bit.ly/3JLX21

Details of next week's webinar, alongside the cover of the 10 year health plan for England

Remember to join us via Zoom on Tuesday 16th September from 1pm, for our latest webinar, to learn more about the 10 Year Health Plan for England: healthwatchoxfordshire.co.uk/news-and-eve...
Our webinar will give you the chance to hear from the speakers, and to ask questions about the changes ahead.

Are you passionate about improving children and young people’s health and care?🏥

If you’re aged between 12 and 25, we want to hear your views!

🚸 Learn more and join our Children and Young People’s Advisory Group here: tinyurl.com/y44kaeh6

New members very welcome!

#health #children #youngpeople

🏆Congratulations to PEN member Bushbury Hill EMB for winning the National Federation of Tenant Managed Organisations Project Award 2025!

This recognises Bushbury Hill's transformation of derelict land and buildings into a thriving community hub

Read more: www.choicesupport.org.uk/public-engag...

🎊 It’s International Youth Day which celebrates the contributions that young people make to society.

Our Children and Young People’s Advisory Group supports youth engagement with the Care Quality Commission to enable young voices to be heard.

Learn more: tinyurl.com/y44kaeh6

🙋Are you a charity or community group supporting people who are not usually heard?

Network with other third sector organisations and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) at the PEN regional event near you!

Join us this September: www.choicesupport.org.uk/public-engag...

🙋Are you a charity or community group supporting people who are not usually heard?

Network with other third sector organisations and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) at the PEN regional event near you!

Join us this September: www.choicesupport.org.uk/public-engag...

📰In this month's newsletter:

- PEN member, Bushbury Hill EMB, wins Project Award for the creation of its thriving community hub
- Book your place for our regional networking events
- New Community Engagement Officer for London and the East

Read more: tinyurl.com/4arckuv6

📰News

The Care Quality Commission has appointed the fourth of 4 new Chief Inspectors who will lead on regulation across mental health, hospitals, primary and community care, and adult social care and integrated care.

Read more: tinyurl.com/39ctx9sw

🗞️News

The NHS will publish information looking into health inequalities in their waiting lists, for the first time.

Read more: tinyurl.com/3a8fwbjz

🤲 How is the Care Quality Commission (CQC) working to rebuild trust with people who use health and social care services?

The CQC’s CEO, Sir Julian Hartley, details how England’s health and adult social care regulator is changing.

Read more: tinyurl.com/3vp4unvs