Healthwatch City of London March 2026 Newsletter
Chat from the Chair
Welcome to our March newsletter, we are hoping the Spring has finally sprung and the cold and wet weather is gone! Sunshine is great for our Vitamin D levels as well as our sense of wellbeing so get out if you can but as we learned last year at one of our patient panels, the sun is strong even when it might not appear to be so stay protected.
We’ve had a busy start to the year hosting two of our ever-popular patient panels, a Board meeting in Public and a well-attended men’s health event at Barts Hospital where we were joined by the Neaman practice. You can read more about takeaways and next steps as a result of our work in this newsletter. You will also be able to see what else is on offer throughout the spring. It’s great to see new faces and our supporters at every event, so please do spread the word about our sessions.
This month we are carrying out our Enter and View visit to the Physiotherapy department at St Leonards hospital. We know that hundreds of you are referred to and use the service every year, so please do give us your feedback. It’s important that we hear what you think of the service so we can help the team at St Leonards respond to your input. By taking our survey, you can make a difference to how services are delivered.
Later in the month the team and Board will be meeting to review the past year and to plan for the coming year 2026/27. If you have any ideas on areas we should focus on, please let us know info@healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk
Finally, we welcome Neherun Ali to the team. Neherun joins us as the Communications and Engagement Officer, a role she job shares with Farheen. She joins us from City Advice, so has a wealth of knowledge of the City and the issues residents face. I know Neherun has reached out to many of you already to introduce herself in her new role. We look forward to working with Neherun.
We are also planning another Health in the City event so look out for more details in future Newsletters.
I look forward to seeing you at one of our events soon.
Gail
Gail Beer, Chair
Have your say on our future
Last year, the government confirmed through the Dash report that Healthwatch England and the wider Healthwatch network will cease to exist in the future. For many, this news raised understandable concerns about what it means for the independent voice of patients and the public in health and care. It marked the end of a national framework that, for over a decade, has helped bring people’s voices into decision-making.
We know both nationally and locally this has raised concerns, but we want to reassure you that Healthwatch City of London is still here for you.
While the national structure may be changing, our purpose remains the same: to champion the voices of local people and ensure they shape health and care decisions in the City of London.
Since Healthwatch City of London began in 2013 and was created as a standalone organisation in 2019, we’ve supported hundreds of residents, provided information & guidance, and carried out research that highlights real experiences across the City and neighbouring boroughs.
As we move into a new chapter, we’ll be re-branding, and we want your help to shape what comes next. Please take a moment to tell us how you see us, what you value, and how we can be more visible and useful to your community.
Our Enter and View at St Leonard’s Physiotherapy Department
As part of our Enter and View programme, we will be visiting the physiotherapy department at St Leonard’s Hospital, the service receives over 600 referrals a year from the Neaman Practice alone and more from the Lawson and Goodman’s Fields Practices which are also used by city residents
Our visit is based on feedback we have received from residents in the City who have accessed the service. If you’ve used these services, we want to hear from you, as your feedback will help us to influence the way the service is delivered.
Helo us to shape this service by giving us your feedback.
Please complete our survey https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/stleonardsphysio/
Patient Panel Series
*NEW EVENT* City of London Police on Right Care Right Person *NEW EVENT*
Tuesday 17th March 10am – 11am, Sir Ralph Perring Centre, Golden Lane Estate, EC1Y 0SH.
Join Healthwatch City of London for our Patient Panel with the City of London Police. The presentation will inform residents about the Right Care Right Person initiative.
The Right Care, Right Person approach assesses if the police are the most appropriate service to respond.
While some mental health related incidents may need the police, other services may be more appropriate for example health and social care staff have the experience and training to provide the relevant physical and mental health support.
The aim of the approach is:
- to get the person or people involved the right help as soon as possible
- to prevent further distress to the person
- to allow the police to focus resources on preventing crime, protecting life and property and keeping public order
The City of London Police run several initiatives that aim to make the City a Safer Place, you can read about them on their website
Join us for all the information you need from PC James Knock of the Adult Intervention & Mental Health Team. Register here
The Shoreditch TrustFriday 24th April 2pm - 3.30pm The Aldgate Centre, Aldgate High Street, EC3N 1AB The Shoreditch Trust design and implement community-based civic, health and wellbeing programmes. Their programme focuses on and serves people experiencing health, social and economic inequality: people with long-term health conditions, including stroke survivors and very isolated older people; young people (11-18) not in education, training or work; women experiencing multiple disadvantages in pregnancy and early parenthood. Note that a free vegetarian meal is available at the Centre before the session between 12 – 2. Register here to learn more about the Trust and join us on 24th April. |
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The Alzheimer's Society
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This session is for those living with Alzheimer’s or Dementia, and for friends or family who support them.
Register here
Our past events
Public Board meeting with Claire Solley, Chair City and Hackney Safeguarding Adults Board
In January we were joined by the Chair of the City and Hackney Safeguarding Adults Board, Claire Solley. Claire gave an overview of the responsibilities of the Board; its’ make up and how it operates across both City and Hackney.
The main objective of the board is to ensure that local safeguarding arrangements are in place and organisations safeguard adults at risk of abuse in City and Hackney. The board has 3 core partners: the local authority, the integrated care board and the police. It also includes many other partners, such as:
- health trusts
- advocacy service
- criminal justice
- fire brigade
- Department of Work and Pensions
- voluntary sector services
- Healthwatch City of London and Healthwatch Hackney
Claire also outlined the new strategic objectives of the Board for 2025 – 2028 which are:
- Making safeguarding everybody's responsibility. So that's residents, staff, volunteers, organisations.
- Embed the views and experiences of residents, people who draw on care and support, and carers in everything we do
- Gain assurance that multi agency systems are safe and reflect the 6 principles of adult safeguarding and Making Safeguarding Personal
- A culture of continuous learning and development
- Strengthen our use of data and insight to underpin CSAB activity and key priorities
- Building Effective Multi-Agency Partnerships
If you are concerned about someone in the City here are some useful contact details:
- Community safety – call 020 7332 3808 or email safercity@cityoflondon.gov.uk
- Domestic Abuse Intervention Service (Victim Support) – call 0808 2000 247 or the support line 0808 168 9111
- Adult Social Care – call 020 7332 1224 (020 8356 2300 out of hours) or email adultsduty@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Remember safeguarding is everyone business and if are worried about someone do contact the numbers above. All calls are confidential and will be dealt with by the appropriate agency.
Adult Community Rehabilitation Team City and Hackney Patient Panel
In January we held a Patient Panel with the Adult Community Rehabilitation Team (ACRT) based at the Homerton Hospital. This is a team that residents know little about until you need them! So please do tell your friends and family. The team are based at Homerton Hospital but also carry out home visits and run local clinics.
ACRT is a community-based service that aims at improving the health, wellbeing, and independence of adults living in the community who have physical or neurological disabilities. They provide care and support to manage long-term health conditions and help users make informed decisions about their health. The team work closely with GPs, nurses, and other services to prevent hospital admissions and help people maintain their health, confidence, and quality of life.
The ACRT team consists of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, neuro and clinical psychologists, neuro navigators, dieticians, rehab support workers, and a team of administrators. The service follows a multidisciplinary approach and signpost patients to the appropriate professional.
You will need to be referred to the service by a medical professional, unless you are already known to the team. For more information you can call them on 020 7683 4489/4382 or email huh-tr.acrt@nhs.net
The team also manage the Wheelchair service for residents. The service specialises in postural and mobility assessments, and they provide a range of equipment for children and adults with long-term or permanent need for a wheelchair.
You can read more about the team and the Patient Panel on our website
Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) Patient Panel
Held at the Golden Lane Community Centre in February this Patient Panel with Kate Angus from the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) gave us an insight into the work RNID will be undertaking within the City.
Kate, who is relatively new in post, is now providing a service in the City including advice on how to use and clean your NHS hearing aids as well free battery check free hearing checks and information on hearing loss and tinnitus.
We learnt that you could get a free initial hearing assessment with RNID which will help signpost you to the right place for further assessment should you need it. Kate also reminded us that the NHS does provide free hearing aids.
You can see Kate at the Golden Lane Community Centre on the following dates between 1.30 – 3.30 (no appointment needed, just drop in)
18th March
22nd April
20th May
24th June
Or you can contact Kate direct on 07483941961 or email Kate.angus@rnid.org.uk
Tell your friends and family about this great new service for City residents.
Men’s Health Matters Event
Hosted at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in February, over 30 people attended this event on men’s health and gave our attendees the chance to hear from Dr Samantha Strumier, Lead Uro- Oncology CNS and Advanced Practice Nurse at St Bartholomew’s Hospital on Prostate Cancer Awareness and David Curran, Director of nursing at St Bartholomew’s Hospital on services provided at the hospital. Dr Chor form the Neaman Practice joined us and talked about services available for men in the City including those provided by the Neaman Practice. It was great to hear about so many established and new services available for men in the City.
The event was supported by stalls from the Proper Blokes Club, RNID, Shoreditch Trust and City Dudes.
We will be producing an information leaflet which will be published shortly that highlights the main points from the event and listing the services available.
Elsewhere in Health and Social Care
Become a Member of Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is very keen to increase the membership and hear more voices from the residents across City and Hackney.
As a member you can provide a voice on how the Homerton is managed, and influence future plans and the development of services. You will be encouraged to take part in surveys and consultations. Members elect local Governors, who hold the Homerton’s Non-Executive Directors to account on behalf of the members and you can also stand for election as a Governor.
Meetings are held quarterly and take place 5:30-7pm and take place in the Education Centre at Homerton Hospital.
For more information, please visit the members page on their website members | Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Health Navigator (HN) - Helping You Stay Well
Clinical coaching is a programme commissioned by NHS North East London. It’s run by the NHS alongside two trusted partners: Health Navigator and UCLPartners. The programme launched in City of London in July 2025.
information below from the NH team
They use data to find people who might need extra help with their health. If that’s you, they’ll offer you a free health coach. You might get a letter or a call from someone from Health Navigator, on behalf of the NHS. They want to help you stay healthy and out of hospital. If you say yes, you will have a dedicated coach to listen to you and your needs. Your coach is a trained health expert.
They will:
- Talk with you about your health
- Help you follow your care plan
- Support you to look after yourself
- Help you get the right care when you need it
This help is free and it’s here to make things easier for you. You can change your mind at any time. If you have questions about the coaching, visit HN’s Clinical Coaching website or the sharing of data, visit HN's Data Leaflet or get in touch directly: admins@hn-company.co.uk
