FRIENDS OF AVISFORD – SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY – avisford.friends@gmail.com
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
Advice changes frequently and we request that all patients follow the government advice which can be found at – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public.Here you can also sign up for regular governmental updates. If you want information from your local surgery please check the website for local arrangements – https://www.avisford.co.uk
Some Good News – Award for one of the Friends Committee
One of the FAMG Committee Members – John Thompson was made an MBE in the 2020 Birthday Honours List for services to the community in West Sussex. He has been on the Committee since 2014 and has contributed to fundraising and the review of the Group’s Constitution. He writes:
“Over the years I have worked with some amazing people and this award is as much for them – my contribution has been to provide support and encouragement, challenge when needed and be there for them. Over the next 20+ years I have been a Governor in several schools: my focus being helping schools out of special measures and improving provision for children who struggle in school. Between 2006 and 2014 I was a Director of the Aldingbourne Trust providing training and supported living to young people with special needs. I have been the Lay Member of the West Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership since 2010. In 2015 I was elected a Trust Governor at Western Sussex Hospitals, and was Lead Governor from 2016 to 2019, where I have been involved in improving the patient experience. I also work with several local authorities.”
FRIENDS OF AVISFORD – AFFILIATED TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PATIENT PARTICIPATION (NAPP)
Did you know that the Friends are affiliated to NAPP? A certificate is displayed on our noticeboard in each surgery. On a regular basis NAPP send out a bulletin about national issues this is also available in the surgery on our noticeboard or from the website: NAPP
FRIENDS OF AVISFORD – MEMBER OF THE REGIS COMMUNITY BOARD
The Friends are part of the NHS initiative to promote closer collaboration between those who need the services and those who provide them, with the focus on the services our community really need. A representative from each of the local Patient Participation Groups (PPG) in our area sit on the Regis Community Board (RCB) which, in turn, reports to the Local Community Network (LCN). [How the NHS love their acronyms!] The LCN reports through the normal NHS structure. at the current time the monthly meetings are being held virtually via Microsoft Teams
The system is a like a ladder, with each Group reporting upwards with any problems or issues causing concern and collecting information on the various services available. The initiative should speed the flow of information in both directions – helping patients to air their concerns and thereby aiding the NHS to focus on providing or transforming services in areas of importance to local people – moving from a reactive to a proactive system that prevents ill-health rather than simply treating it and promotes physical, mental & social well-being.
Three areas specifically identified in our area are:
- Prevention;
- Frail & Ageing Population
- Urgent Care
The RCB meet once a month and although only in place for a few months, has already proved how valuable it could be with topics discussed so far covering means of communication – including translation and poster services to broadcast services available to patients, and information on other services available to patients. Of particular interest in our area is the relatively new Carer’s Health Team, with information on how their Carer’s Clinics can help carers. Other subjects for discussion are in the pipeline, including dementia provisions and hospital discharge processes.
Our representative on the RCB can raise any questions or issues you may have with the health system. We cannot guarantee the outcome but can, and will, air your concerns and let you know of any resulting changes or improvements. If we are not made aware of problems, we can do nothing to help, so please ‘talk’ to us – via our website or email avisford.friends@gmail.com or drop a note into either surgery and we will do our best.
FRIENDS OF AVISFORD – CONNECTING WITH THE CQC
Did you know that the Care Quality Commission sends out a monthly bulletin?
The bulletin covers:
- Latest publications that you can use to help drive improvement locally
- Resources for PPGs to use to have conversations with their practices
- Information on how to get signed up to receive alerts about new reports for services you’re interested in
- Details of consultations where your views can help shape how the CQC monitor services
The latest newsletter can be downloaded from or you can subscribe to their email service: http://www.cqc.org.uk
FRIENDS OF AVISFORD – CONNECTING WITH NHS CLINICAL COMMISSIONING GROUP (CCG)
A clinical commissioning group (CCG) is a NHS organisation that brings together local GPs and experienced health professionals to take on commissioning responsibilities for local health services.
As commissioners of local health services, a CCG is responsible for planning the right services to meet the needs of local people, buying local health services including community health care and hospital services, and checking that the services are delivering the best possible care and treatment for those who need them.
A CCG has to work within a local budget from the NHS for local health services and work closely with other NHS colleagues and local authorities to ensure local people are receiving the best possible care.
We are part of the Sussex NHS Commissioners and there is a lot of information on: West Sussex CCG