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Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 6h

The BBC published an article about the best and worst-performing NHS Trusts, which highlighted that Leeds is not meeting its waiting time targets. This makes now more important than ever for Trusts to take a look at what people have told us about the impact:
healthwatchleeds.co.uk/reports-reco...

Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 1d

Gemma, our Communications Manager and George from West Yorkshire Voice are running a stall today at AutistiCon at the Nexus building in Leeds city centre. Come say hi and talk to us about your health and care experiences, ask us questions and get autism friendly advice. We will be here 9:30am to 4pm

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Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 2d

The Mental Health Day event at Kirkgate Market has come to an end. Our staff and volunteers had really interesting conversations with people and were able to offer advice and information to passers by. If you missed us, you can always contact our friendly team by phone, email or text.

Staff and volunteers at the healthwatch leeds stall.

A person and volunteer laughing together at the Healthwatch Leeds stall.

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Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 2d

Have you seen our video called 'See things differently'? It uses different lenses to show what it is like for people with various eye conditions as they access health and care services. This is so important for creating accessible environments for everyone.
youtu.be/GExjlUj0iIE
#WorldSightDay

An example of loss of central vision, common in congential sight conditions and age macular degeneration.

An example of total loss of peripheral vision (tunnel vision) is common in retinal pigmentosa and glaucoma or from brain injury. This is similar to what Alison can see.

An example of patchy vision, common particularly in diabetic retinopathy.

An example of cateracts - hazy vision with scatter light and glare.

Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 2d

We are currently at Kirkgate Market in Leeds city centre, along with many other stallholders, for World Mental Health Day. Come find us and say hi 👋

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Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 2d

We caught up with Mercy one year later to find that she is now receiving increased support for her health appointments. Mercy has cataracts and dry macular degeneration, so the extra support has made a real difference for her.
youtu.be/Ai2T7OInhfc
#WorldSightDay #ResonableAdjustments

Mercy's update, May 2025

This video is part of the How does it feel for me? video programme, following the journeys of people through health and care. In this video, Mercy discusses receiving increased support for her healthcare appointments from the Health and Wellbeing Team at Westfield Medical Centre, following the widespread sharing of her previous videos. Mercy talks about how that support has made a real difference and why it has been so helpful for her.

youtu.be

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Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 3d

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

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Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 4d

“Older people are not techno-savvy… this is ageist and unfair.”
We’ve heard from people across Leeds about barriers to digital healthcare. Read our new report on why choice still matters.

Ensuring access beyond digital in health and care - Your Healthwatch Leeds

With the NHS 10-year plan focusing on the shift from analogue to digital in health services, this briefing considers the risk to people.

healthwatchleeds.co.uk

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Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 5d

This is not a glossary and we shouldn't expect the public to look up everything following an appointment to be able to understand their own health and care. The resource is to be used to identify the terms that are used and suggest alternatives.

Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 5d

Calling all health and care professionals - We created a resource for you!
We have made a jargon buster resource which highlights common words and phrases that we have seen slipping into professional conversations, reports and public-facing documents.
healthwatchleeds.co.uk/reports-reco...

#Jargon

A man looking confused and scratching his head while looking at a large plan on a wall.

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Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 6d

We will be holding a stall at Kirkgate Market on Thursday, 9 October, from 11 am to 3 pm to support #WorldMentalHealthDay.
Come find us.

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Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 7d

We are pleased to once again hold an information stall at the Leeds #AutistiCon event. It is a free information and celebration event all about autism. This year, it is taking place on Friday 10 October at Nexus. Come join us between 9:30 am and 4 pm.
#ActuallyAutistic #AutismEvent

Autisitcon. A Leeds autism event 2025. information stalls, guest speakers, performers, digital art exhibition. Friday 10th October at 9.30AM to 2PM. Nexus, Discovery Way, Woodhouse, Leeds, LS2 3AA. Free entry, no tickets required.

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Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 7d

This great work has made lots of improvements across West Yorkshire to ensure more appointments are offered for children and young people. healthwatchleeds.co.uk/ywl-reports-...

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Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 7d

As today is #WorldSmileDay, we would like to share the 'Taking Care Of Your Smile' project, where our young volunteers went out and spoke to children and young people across Leeds to find out about their access to a dentist and how they are looking after their teeth.

Children holding up props with teeth and smiles on them.

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Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 10d

Thank you for having us. It was such a lovely visit to the service with lots of happy faces and positive feedback 😀

Aspire CBS @aspirecbs.bsky.social · Sep 10

💛Pudsey had a wonderful visit from @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social ! They enjoyed sharing their experiences & feedback about the services we provide.

💛💬 It was inspiring to hear such positive thoughts from the group. Thanks to everyone for their openness and Health Watch for joining us.

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Reposted by Healthwatch Leeds

Aspire CBS @aspirecbs.bsky.social · Sep 10

💛Pudsey had a wonderful visit from @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social ! They enjoyed sharing their experiences & feedback about the services we provide.

💛💬 It was inspiring to hear such positive thoughts from the group. Thanks to everyone for their openness and Health Watch for joining us.

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Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 11d

10% of the people who contacted us in April to June were about Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The 3Cs – Communication, Coordination, Compassion - are essential to good health care experiences. When they are not done well, they have a detrimental impact on people's experiences.

#3Cs #LTHT

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Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 11d

It is heartwarming to see so many smiling faces during our visit to one of the Aspire day services.

People told us that the staff looked after them well and they enjoyed outings in local areas.

A happy picture of Healthwatch Leeds volunteers with Aspire customers.

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Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 12d

Digital healthcare can make life easier – but not for everyone. Our new briefing Keeping Every Door Open looks at why choice beyond digital matters & how to make sure no one is left behind. healthwatchleeds.co.uk/reports-reco...

#DigitalHealthCare

A man on the phone while using a laptop.

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Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 18d

We will soon publish Diane and Gemma's next video update, in which they speak highly of the support they received from BID Services, particularly valuing the staff who knew sign language and the technology support.

Daine hopes that sharing her experience can help other Deaf people. Please share.

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Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 18d

Have you heard of BID Services? They provide a range of specialist support services for Leeds residents who are d/Deaf, hard of hearing, sight impaired, severely sight impaired or deafblind and their family/carers.

youtu.be/bkBJrBtJVxY?...
#InternationalDayOfSignLanguages #Deaf

Leeds Local Services

youtu.be

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Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 18d

We are an organisation that is here to listen to people’s experiences of health and care and give people a voice to shape and improve health and care services for everyone.
We want to share our solidarity and support in light of recent anti-migrant and racist events.

Healthwatch Leeds statement of solidarity and support.
We are an organisation that is here to listen to people’s experiences of health and care and give people a voice to shape and improve health and care services for everyone.

We have recently seen a rise in anti-immigration protests across the country, including against refugees and asylum seekers. We are deeply concerned about the toll that recent acts of racism and violence are having on individuals and communities. These events have made many people feel worried, marginalised and unsafe, which we know will result in a negative impact on their health and wellbeing.

We are proud to be part of a diverse city, helping a mixture of people, cultures and communities, as well as the diversity within our own staff team and volunteers.

Whilst we acknowledge that people may have legitimate concerns, we have no tolerance towards acts of racism, violence and discrimination. These acts are hate crimes and are illegal.

People seeking sanctuary often face significant barriers to accessing health and care services (facing significant health inequalities). At Healthwatch Leeds, we believe everyone has the right to access high-quality, welcoming and safe health and care services.

Now is a crucial time to create a respectful and inclusive environment. We are taking action to ensure that our staff and volunteers feel supported and safe, and we are here to support the people in Leeds to access the health and care that they need. Part of our role is to offer information and signposting so we can help connect people with local services.
We want to assure you that everyone feels safe at Healthwatch Leeds. We are here for everyone, and we will make sure everyone’s voice is heard.

For mental health
• Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service – providing talking therapies and mental health support to people of Leeds.
• Together Women Leeds – offers support to women affected by isolation and discrimination
• Mindwell – a website listing all local mental health support services in Leeds, as well as self-care advice.

For community groups and safe spaces
• Leeds Refugee Forum – A safe and inclusive space for refugees, asylum seekers and allies.
• Forum Central – A network of local groups supporting community health and inclusion.

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Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 18d

We raised this with the Integrated Care Board Primary Care Team, who gave us some reassurance that Dals offer on-demand video remote BSL interpreting. That means that if you need an interpreter for your GP appointments, you can get one on the day through this service.

Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 18d

Happy #InternationalDayOfSignLanguage and #InternationalWeekOfTheDeaf.
Between April and June, someone contacted us, raising that their GP practice was struggling to book a British Sign Language Interpreter with the new language booking service, Dals.

#DeafCommunity #BSL #SignLanguage

“I’ve been in touch with the practice and they understand that Dals offer on demand video remote BSL interpreting and pre booked face to face and video remote BSL interpreting and understand how they can access all of these.

Thank you for raising this, it’s important we understand these concerns and are able to clarify the issues.”
Integrated Care Board Primary Care Team following an enquiry about interpreting services. April to June 2025.

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Healthwatch Leeds @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social · 18d

Happy Rosh Hashanah to our Jewish followers. This is a celebration to reflect and marks a fresh start and a sweet new year.

Have a good year. Happy Rosh Hashanah from all of us at Healthwatch Leeds. The text is circled by a wreath of flowers and pomegranate fruits.