Even in less crisis-driven times the NHS deals with around 1 million patients every 36 hours, and we are all very much aware of the extra pressures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Very occasionally however, something goes wrong and needs resolving. And it’s dealing with those rare instances that helps maintain the high standards of service within the NHS, which is where NHS Complaints Advocacy can help.
Carers, and those dependent upon them, face many additional difficulties and obstacles during the pandemic. Specialist support organisations across Norfolk have responded to the need as follows. Please help spread the word as appropriate.
It’s now been twelve months since the pandemic hit. As people needed more help and support the local voluntary community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector responded rapidly and in diverse ways. Overnight the creation of hundreds of community responses alongside huge efforts by established organisations to adapt what they do to meet the changing needs of their community. People innovated, people coordinated, but most of all people went above and beyond to help.
This covers a vast range of activity but as examples we estimate:
The Feed is a not-for-profit social enterprise providing catering services, with a very clear mission to prevent poverty, hunger and homelessness in Norwich.
Our National Health Service is still rated best in the developed world for safety, affordability and efficiency, according to the US-based Commonwealth Fund. But very occasionally – and it’s around one-tenth of one per-cent of all patient cases - something goes wrong and need resolving.
At CAN we are helping combat fuel poverty across and beyond Norfolk by running more of our free online energy cost training sessions for VCSE frontline staff and volunteers.
With income under threat from all sides, perhaps it is time to look at all the potential sources of income for charities. So as fundraising income is depressed - in some cases possibly for years - how can VCSE organisations make up for the loss in income?
QEH Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP) is an independent group, supported by Community Action Norfolk, that informs the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH, King's Lynn & Wisbech) and health decision-makers about patients’ experiences of maternity services and how these could be improved.
There are around 3,200 cervical cancer cases in the UK every year. That’s more than eight every day. UK Cervical Cancer – based in Norwich but with links across the world - campaigns to prevent suffering and death from cervical cancer and, in particular, by those who are disadvantaged and deprived.