Fareham and Gosport Voluntary Sector Health Forum 22 Feb 2023

The (virtual) Fareham and Gosport Voluntary Sector Health Forum was held on Wednesday 22 February 2023 – with c37 attendees. Following on from attendees being welcomed, Jackie Hartless, Health & Wellbeing Manager, Community First, provided a Community & Voluntary Sector update. She updated on Hampshire’s Mental Wellbeing Strategy, the Hampshire & IoW VCSE Health and Care Alliance, the Raises Voices in Health research and clarification about the Household Support Grant.

Jackie described some of the health & wellbeing work that Community First and Gosport Voluntary Action are involved in across the area. This included Community First’s work with QA hospital’s Drug & Alcohol Unit, initiatives to reduce social isolation, engaging with Coastal re Advocacy support and finally, how Community First are recruiting/working with Digital Champion volunteers to address digital isolation and improve digital access to health services including Drop-ins potentially at Fareham Library.

Re Gosport Voluntary Action are delivering a health inequalities project across Gosport and Fareham – two key cohorts are Severe Mental Health for (under 30s) and Hypertension (over 30s). New Coordinator started on 1 March. Larysa Minihane is GVA’s new Ukraine Coordinator – creating an Ukraine Hub to provide connections and support/signposting for a range of identified issues or needs.

Dr Robin Harlow, Clinical Director, Gosport Primary Care Network (PCN), provided an update about the Gosport PCN Willow Garden, a few new PCN roles including Care
Coordinators and GP Assistants and cancer or cervical screening. There is a project re consistency re Care & Nursing Homes and engagement with MIND.

Dr Ros Sexton, Clinical Director, Coastal Primary Care Network (PCN) updated about the new staff across their three practices – 27 new staff including Pharmacy Technicians to help the patients eg with regular medication renewals for longer, post coordinated annual reviews. The Health & Wellbeing team also support specific needs eg Mental Health, Dementia, diet exercise and lifestyle. Re Enhanced Access – it includes online health coaching, Physio’s can assess patients without the need to see a GP. Integrated Neighbourhood teams will involve wrap-around/community care, home visiting team is also growing (including housebound) & proactive care. QOFF is the Quality Outcomes Framework – targets are more challenging each year and they are linked to payments. Estates is a real challenge re face to face.

Sarah Taylor, Transformation Lead (Fareham and Havant), Hampshire, Southampton & IoW, Integrated Care Board (ICB) introduced herself and her role across Havant and Fareham. Sarah mentioned the early March local Primary Care Recruitment Events and the Middle Years Programme (Public Health England) event (8 March, 10.30-12.30pm at Gosport town hall) re supporting those in their ‘middle years’ re self-care for disadvantaged communities who are time poor and those who are socially isolated. ‘Warm Bods’ – ICB funded includes electric blankets and is delivered by Citizens Advice colleagues. Spinnaker View is a new Extra Housing site – Fareham and Havant residents can apply if eligible. Solent MIND are launching a new project to support children and young people experiencing selfharm.

On behalf of the Urgent Community Response (UCR), Fareham and Gosport, Southern Health, Angela Gill explained that they provide urgent community response services for health and care, to support patients to stay at home where possible. This is achieved by a multi-professional team – patients are allocated to a ‘virtual ward’ where they are concerned about medically who are reviewed daily. Appropriate referrals take place including the Extended Primary Care Team. A short URC video was then played.

Hazel Agombar, Senior Outreach Officer, the Environment Centre (tEC) highlighted the aims and what affordable warmth services are available. tEC services focus upon those on low income (means tested) ill-health – chronic physical and mental health conditions and those 65+ or families with children under 5. Hazel highlighted the areas they provide advice on, mentioned their links to Citizens Advice’s ‘Home and Well’ Project, the referral criteria and offered to deliver more detailed awareness sessions.

The Fareham and Gosport Health Forum ended by the contributors being thanked, a request for any future theme or presenter ideas and by confirming the next Health Forum 2023-24 dates and times as follows:

Tuesday 16 May, 1-2pm
Wednesday 13 September, 10.30-12.30pm (Face to Face – Market Place and Networking – Fareham, Venue TBC)
Tuesday 6 February 2024, 1-2pm

For more information, please contact Jane Bray:- healthforums@cfirst.org.uk