A board that looks after the health and wellbeing of North Tyneside’s residents have spent time engaging with the local community.
North Tyneside’s Health and Wellbeing Board has held a ‘day of action’ to focus on how it engages with the public.
The board brings together the local authority, health providers, patient representatives and the voluntary and community sector to agree goals and lead change.
And members recently took time out to visit different community groups, organisations and charities to learn more about what they do and listen to any concerns they may have.
Some members spent time chatting to the general public in a shopping centre, finding out their views on health and social care, while others met with the Young Person’s Health and Wellbeing Board to hear about the work their do with professionals to make sure health services are accessible to them and their peers.
Other members joined in with a carers’ coffee morning, took part in a GP patient forum and met with a learning disability steering group.
Chair of the board, Cllr Lesley Spillard visited All Together Better, a parents’ group that’s passionate about improving the lives of children and young people with a disability.
After the visit, Cllr Spillard, who’s also the cabinet member for Public Health, said: “The Health and Wellbeing Board is committed to working with the community to make sure residents’ opinions are at the heart of decision making.
“We’ve held three different action days on the specific themes to give members the chance to see how different organisations run and to talk to patients, families and carers.
“By spending time with the various groups and organisations, we gained a greater understanding of strengths, as well as the challenges, in North Tyneside and this will now help to inform the action we take.
“I was really pleased to have the opportunity to spend time with All Together Better and hearing about all the excellent work they do.
“I look forward to discussing all the findings from the day at our next board meeting.”
A number of board members also visited North Tyneside Voluntary Organisations Development Agency (VODA), to hear about the Good Neighbours project. The project involves volunteers helping those who are vulnerable, elderly or isolated with day-to-day tasks, like shopping, picking up prescriptions or gardening.
VODA’s chief executive, Lisa Goodwin added: “The voluntary and community sector has a huge positive impact on health and wellbeing across the borough, and this was a very welcome opportunity to be able to demonstrate to members of the health and wellbeing board how we engage with local people, and to show the value of some of our work.”
The ‘day of action’ is part of a series of events the Health and Wellbeing Board is holding around three themes; mental health, alcohol and looking at ways to strengthen engagement between the board and the public.
The main themes of the board for the year include:
- Preventing and reducing demand – what keeps people out of formal care and support services
- Promoting good health and wellbeing and encouraging people to take responsibility for this
- Engagement and involvement – how the board understands existing engagement opportunities and how it can strengthen its approach, making the board everyone’s board.
More information about the board and meeting dates can be found atwww.northtyneside.gov.uk.