I WAS in Manchester last week attending the NHS Health and Care Innovation Expo, where there were some very interesting presentations discussing the plans and opportunities the proposed ten-year NHS plan will bring and a presentation, Why should we care about Carers?, led by Prof Jane Cummings Chief Nursing Officer NHS England.

You can find out more about what happened at the 2018 Expo at england.nhs.uk/expo/

Were you aware that the NHS is currently carrying out a consultation about proposals to stop some clinical procedures and reduce the delivery of others by introducing new criteria for when they are performed?

The Evidence Based Intervention Programme will include procedures such as tonsillectomy, grommets for glue ear in children, varicose vein surgery and carpal tunnel syndrome release, among a number of other procedures.

Further information about how to give feedback can be found via our website – under National Consultations. We would also be keen to hear your views to include in our Healthwatch Worcestershire response – so do email us using the details below.

Last week we spoke to staff at the Alexandra Hospital as part of a disability awareness session about our work on autism spectrum conditions. We discussed the feedback we had received from people with autism and their carers about difficulties they experience when visiting hospital and the adjustments that staff can make to support them.

On Friday, September 14, we will be holding our Public Board Meeting at Evesham Town Hall from 10am-12.30pm. We will be joined by West Midlands Ambulance Service, so if this is an area of interest to you please do come along.

We will also be discussing diabetes and stroke services. All members of the public are welcome to attend our attend our meetings. Please keep an eye on our website for the agenda and any other information related to this meeting.

If you would like further information on our work or have an experience of health or social care to share with us in confidence, please contact us on 01386 550 264 or info@healthwatchworcestershire.co.uk

For details of our upcoming meetings and events we will be attending, as well as further information about our work and reports, please visit our website, healthwatchworcestershire.co.uk