Information gap in trans healthcare
A new report by the TRANSforming Futures partnership highlights the issues trans people face when accessing healthcare.
Research participants said they found it difficult to access information about trans healthcare and got most of their information online from trans forums or informally from friends.
This means trans people often rely on people with no medical training for important medical information and some are cut off from knowledge completely.
Trans fertility, pregnancy and parenthood were highlighted as areas where there is particularly poor information and understanding.
Other key issues identified in the report include:
- Access to healthcare being dependent on identity and level of privilege
- A lack of understanding from healthcare practitioners
- A lack of research into transition healthcare
The report also includes ideas for improving healthcare for trans people including:
- Creating resources to help GPs provide thorough care
- Creating resources to help trans people navigate healthcare and transition pathways
- Providing simple information on key challenges within trans healthcare
Easy read guides to health choices
PIF member Health Education England has worked with people with lived experience to produce two easy read health guides for people with learning disabilities.
- Get ready to talk about your health prepares people for what to do before they go for a consultation with any health or care provider. It includes important information about their rights and what they can ask for.
- 3 questions for better health suggests what to ask when people have a healthcare appointment. Adapted in consultation with experts by experience from the NICE shared decision making guidance, the main emphasis is making sure people understand they have a choice about their health and care.
While designed for people with learning difficulties, the guides are also useful to help professionals understand the needs of people with disabilities or learning difficulties.
They also provide a useful guide for anyone planning or receiving healthcare.
GP Patient Survey 2022
NHS England and Ipsos have published the results of the latest GP Patient Survey.
Approximately 3 in 5 patients (60.4%) had tried to use their GP practice website to access information or services – an increase from 52.7% in 2021.
Of patients who had tried to use their GP practice website, 2 in 3 (66.7%) found it easy to use. This was a decrease from 75.4% in 2021.
The majority of patients (72.4%) rated their overall experience of their GP practice as good. This was a decrease from 83% in 2021.
Engaging and supporting marginalised communities
A report published by the Health Creation Alliance includes examples of collaborations between the NHS and communities to address health inequalities.
It focuses on engaging and supporting marginalised communities to support earlier diagnosis of cancer and improve cardiovascular disease diagnosis and prevention.
The report draws on learnings from the community response to the COID-19 pandemic.
Long Covid Lived Experience Network launched
The ALLIANCE is establishing a network for people affected by Long Covid to inform service delivery.
It is working in partnership with PIF member Asthma + Lung UK and Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland.
The network will form part of the Scottish Government’s Long Term Effects of COVID-19 Strategic Framework.
A launch event will be held on 10 August. Click on the link below to find out more and sign up.
Making numbers make sense in health information
In this blog, Helen Osborne shares her top tips for making numbers make sense in health information.
She groups her advice into three different categories of number – quantity, time and risk.
Still time to enter Self Care Innovation Awards
There is still time to get your Self Care Innovation Award application in before the deadline of July 31.
The Self Care Forum is inviting applications of good practice and innovations in self care, personalised care and social prescribing that have made a difference to the lives of individuals, groups, or organisations.
The awards are open to everyone, including public, private and charity sector organisations.
Survey: NIHR Evidence users
NIHR is conducting research to help it understand who uses the NIHR Evidence website and how it can be improved.
The survey should take around two minutes to complete. Click on the link below to take part.
Fracture Liaison Service petition
PIF member the Royal Osteoporosis Society is running a petition calling on the Government to ensure equal access to osteoporosis treatment and care in England and Wales.
The petition is part of a national campaign calling for 100% Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) coverage in England and Wales.
It follows an All Party-Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Osteoporosis and Bone Health's Inquiry report which found only half of Trusts in England provide an FLS (51%).
This leaves around 90,000 people without the vital treatment and care they need.
In comparison, FLS coverage is 100% in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Changing lives, changing places, changing systems
In this blog National Voices chief executive Charlotte Augst and NHS England director of personalised care James Sanderson share reflections on the new National Voices report into social prescribing.
Changing lives, changing places, changing systems: Making progress on social prescribing sets out an agenda for action to ensure NHS England’s investment in social prescribing delivers change for people, places and systems.
Winners of Digital Health Awards 2022 revealed
The winners of the Digital Health Awards 2022 were announced last week as part of Digital Health’s Summer Schools event.
Special congratulations to the following winners from PIF members:
- CNIO of the Year – Prof Louise Hicks, CNIO, Barts Health NHS Trust
- Future Digital Leader of the Year – Sarah Hart, urology specialty doctor, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust