#TeamKCHFT scoops nine Healthwatch Kent awards

Healthy Communities Steering Group

Visiting cattle markets to deliver health checks to farmers and a peer support group for people with HIV were just two Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) projects commended at the Healthwatch Kent awards.

In total, KCHFT won nine Healthwatch awards, for projects that have improved the patient voice, enhanced inclusivity and equal access to our services and boosted collaboration across the system, as well as recognising inspiring individuals.

KCHFT Health Visitor Jemma Scott was recognised for her inspirational outreach work with Roma families in Margate, while Specialist Nurse in Complex Care Theresa Tester was awarded as an ‘inspiring individual’ for her work with homeless people. Theresa holds drop-in clinics at outreach centres across east Kent and offers anything from a referral to a hospital, GP appointment or mental health and drug and alcohol service.

Talking Together Peer Support Group

Our Patient Participation Team was celebrated for the difference it has made to patient care for people living with HIV through their Talking Together peer support group, which provides a safe space for people to share their experiences.

Participation and Engagement Services Manager Sharon Picken said: “People living with HIV sadly still face discrimination for their condition; our group provides a vital platform for them to share their lived experiences, speak openly about their diagnosis and become more confident to live the lives they choose.”

“We are proud to be the first specialist peer service to offer the emotional and practical support to empower members to take control of their own health and wellbeing.”

The positive impact of the group was summed-up by one of its members: “I finally feel part of something. My confidence has been boosted and I have a place where I don't have to hide that side of myself.”

NHS Health Checks Service

For the second year running, our NHS Health Checks Team was recognised for their innovation in providing access to their service for harder-to-reach communities.

This included visiting cattle markets to deliver blood pressure checks to local farmers and working out-of-hours to set up pop-up cholesterol reading clinics for shift workers.

NHS Health Checks Specialist Service Manager Kimberley Lloyd said: “Year-on-year we continue to create innovative solutions to make sure the people who need our help, receive it. This year we have exceeded the number of health checks we were expecting to deliver, which will help reduce the number of people with undiagnosed high blood pressure. I am so proud of the team.”

The Healthwatch Kent and Healthwatch Medway awards promote excellence in health and social care schemes and system collaborations and are supported by Kent County Council, Medway Council and the NHS in Kent and Medway.