Nominate a star

On Monday 21st October members of our Engagement Team went along to Dr Stephenson and Partner's surgery in Concord, Washington to present their Reception Team with one of our coveted Star Awards.

During a recent engagement session at the surgery, we received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback about the surgery's Reception Team.

Here is some of the feedback we received; 
"The receptionists here are really lovely.  My son has Autism and one receptionist always helps us to make suitable appointments etc."

"The receptionists are excellent."

June Pace, Practice Manager said;  "Our Reception Team are very patient orientated, nothing is too much trouble.  It makes the effort even more worthwhile to receive thanks and appreciation from the patients they serve.  I speak on behalf of myself and the Partners of the practice, to say, we are proud of the whole practice team, who always aim to give our patients the best service they can.  The Reception Team say thank you to all who gave feedback to Healthwatch. "

Dr Bhate and Partners GP practice based in Riverview Health Centre has been awarded a Healthwatch Sunderland star award to celebrate all the positive feedback we have received about the practice over the past few months. The Engagement Co-ordinator went along to the practice on the 24th January to present the team with the award.

The feedback was gathered by our volunteer Healthwatch Champions and staff while speaking to patients in October 2018, following its merger six months previously. We spoke to 70 plus patients across several dates who were very positive about the reception staff, doctors, nurses and processes at the practice.

Lisa Richardson, Practice Manager and her team were delighted with the Star Award.

The practices GPs said; "We are grateful to our patients for rating us so highly and for being appreciated. We always endeavour to offer the best we can".

Well done to all at the practice!

Marigold Nursing Home was the latest service to receive a Star Award from the Healthwatch team after the positive feedback it received as part of the Care Home Life work.

This work involved the team visiting all care homes across Sunderland, to find out what it is like to live there. This was done by talking to residents, staff and resident’s family and friends.

Of all the care homes the Healthwatch team had visited in it's first year of the work, Marigold received the highest scores, gaining a strongly agree against all 8 indicators.  This was an outstanding achievement from the care home and it's team and was acknowledged with a visit from Healthwatch team to present their Star Award on the 7th of November.

Bijumon Joseph, Manager said;

"We at Marigold Care Home aim to provide outstanding person centred care to our residents. We treat everyone with respect and dignity and strive to provide better quality of care or our residents. We have created a family friendly home and support everyone including resident’s families and friends. Thank you Anna and Wendy for your visit and report about our service.” 

On Tuesday 7^th August the Healthwatch Sunderland Engagement Team re-visited
Archers Park in Farringdon to award Roslyn Wright, Manager and her team with a Star Award.

The award was given to the home after positive feedback was recieved as part of our
Care Home Life work.  This work involved the team visiting all care homes across Sunderland, to find out what it is like to live there. This was done by talking to residents, staff and resident’s family and friends.

On completion of the work, Healthwatch Sunderland wanted to recognise the contribution and celebrate those homes who had gone the extra mile.

This award was extra special for Roslyn who retires from her post at Archers Park after many years as their Manager.  She said; 

"Thank you for your visit and the award received.  This achievement means so much to me and the staff of Archers Park who are so dedicated to their jobs and the care of the residents.  This makes me so proud of the team and to know that they are so appreciated, especially as this is the end of my career."

On Friday 27^th July the Healthwatch Sunderland Engagement Team visited
Elizabeth Fleming Care Home to present the Manager of the home, Lorraine Woods and her team with a Star Award. 

The award was presented to the home after the Healthwatch team received very positive feedback about all 8 indicators during the completion of our Care Home Life work.  This work involved the team visiting all care homes across Sunderland, to find out what it is like to live there. This was done by talking to residents, staff and resident’s family and friends.

On completion of the work, Healthwatch Sunderland wanted to recognise the contribution and celebrate those homes who had gone the extra mile.  Lorraine said; 

“All of the staff at the home and myself were overwhelmed to receive such a prestigious award. It is wonderful to know through the feedback received that we are getting the care we provide right and our residents and families are happy.”

Ryhope Manor Care Home was one of the care homes which we recently awarded a Star Award based on all the positive feedback the Healthwatch team received as part of the Care Home Life work.

This work involved the team visiting all care homes across Sunderland, to find out what it is like to live there. This was done by talking to residents, staff and resident’s family and friends.

On completion of the work, Healthwatch Sunderland wanted to recognise the contribution and celebrate those homes who had gone the extra mile.

On Thursday 12^th July members of the Healthwatch Sunderland Engagement Team visited Ryhope Manor to present the Manager, Ann Schorer and her staff with the award.  They were delighted, Ann said:

“Thank you so much for the award I feel so proud of all my staff as we have come so far with all the hard work we have done to change Ryhope Manor I thank all the families for their lovely kind words but I would like to thank Agnes (home owner), if it was not for her Ryhope Manor would not be the lovely care home it is today.”

The Healthwatch Sunderland Engagement Team went along to
Valley View & The Lodge Care Home on Tuesday 10^th July 2018 to present the Manager, Kim Teasdale and her team with a well-earned Star Award.  The award was given after the positive feedback the Healthwatch team received as part of our Care Home Life work.

This work involved the team visiting all care homes across Sunderland, to find out what it is like to live there. This was done by talking to residents, staff and resident’s family and friends.

On completion of the work, Healthwatch Sunderland wanted to recognise the contribution and celebrate those homes who had gone the extra mile.

Kim Teasdale, Manager said: 

“I would like to thank all who took the time to give positive feedback and recognise the high standards of care provided by the team at Valley View Care Home. Myself and the team are very proud to have received the Healthwatch Sunderland Star Award.”

On 19th July 2018 our Engagement team visited the Phoenix Unit at Sunderland Royal Hospital to present the staff team with a Healthwatch nominate a Star Award.  The Phoenix Unit is the Trust’s Chemotherapy, Haematology and Infusion Day Unit, and we have recently received some amazing feedback from those who have used its services.  On behalf of the patients we have spoken to over the past few months the Engagement team issued the award in recognition of the fantastic work the team are doing.

Feedback received included:

“Phoenix Unit provided me with excellent care.  I’ve had cancer twice and each time I cannot fault any aspect of my care – Wonderful”.

“They work so hard and look after you really well, they were lovely. A 5 star service”.

“From start to finish they have been good.  The girls (staff) are great”.

Villette Surgery has been awarded a Healthwatch Sunderland star award to celebrate all the positive feedback we have received about the practice over the past months.  The Engagement Co-ordinator went along to Villette Surgery on 16^th May to present the team with the award.  

The feedback was gathered by our Volunteer Healthwatch Champions while speaking to Sunderland residents about the health and care services they receive.  We followed this up with a more focused piece of work and visited Villette Surgery in March 2018 where we spoke to patients who were very positive about the reception staff, doctors, nurses and processes at the practice.

Jackie Padget, Practice Manager and her team were delighted with the Star Award. 

Jackie said;  “Thank you to all of our patients that took the time to give positive feedback about their experience with the surgery.  The comments received are very much appreciated; it is always nice for the staff to receive positive feedback as they work very hard to ensure our patients receive the best service. The award will be displayed very proudly in our waiting area.  Thank you.”

Well done and thank you Villette Road Surgery!

Happy House Surgery has been awarded a Healthwatch Sunderland star award to celebrate the fabulous feedback we have received about the practice over the past months.  Members of our Engagement Team went along to Happy House Surgery on Monday 23th April to present the team with the award. 

The feedback was gathered by our Volunteer Healthwatch Champions while they attended local community venues and health centres across the city, speaking to Sunderland residents about the health and care services they receive.  We followed this up with a more focused piece of work and visited the Happy House Surgery in March 2018 where we spoke to patients who were very positive about the reception staff, doctors, nurses and processes at the practice.

Steven Harder, Practice Manager and his team were delighted to receive a Star Award.  Steven said;

“It has been a difficult year for the NHS as a whole and the Practice has felt its share of the pressure so it is a real boost to us to be awarded the Healthwatch Sunderland certificate, particularly as it come from those patients who have taken the trouble to make contact with Healthwatch to comment on the positive experiences they have had with the surgery.”

Well done and thank you Happy House Surgery!

The feedback we receive for St Benedict's Hospice, which is based in Ryhope is continually positive. 

The people of Sunderland nominated the hospice for a Star Award, for their professional, supportive and caring staff, fabulous premises and good treatment. 

If you would like to nominate a health or social care worker, team or service for a Star Award click here!

We received this nomination for Star Service from Sunderland People First for the work the unit do to support people with learning disabilities or autism.

So what was the reason for the nomination? Andy from Sunderland People First said "The support offered includes arranging pre-visits, making changes to the environment and coordinating multiple procedures to avoid repeat visits. The team have provided examples of individualised support which has enabled patients who find accessing hospital difficult, to undergo procedures.

The person-centred planning and the way that the team adjust services around individual needs is an example of exceptional practice and should be shared with other areas."

Read what Sunderland People First found out when they visited the unit here.

Jo West, Nurse Practitioner at Wearside Medical Practice has been awarded a Healthwatch Sunderland Star Award for all the positive feedback we have received from her patients!

Feedback included:

"Very professional and helpful always has time for you."
"Excellent, nothing is too much trouble, puts you at ease, heart of gold."

On 26th May the Broadway Medical Practice on Springwell Road was awarded with a Star Service Award. Over the last few months we have received great feedback about the practice, doctors and staff.

Here are some of the comments we received:

"The GP is very good at listening and making you feel less anxious".
"Excellent service, lovely staff, helpful".
"All staff and doctors, such a friendly, efficient practice"
"Excellent reception staff and good doctors"
"Very high standard set by all staff"

Healthwatch Sunderland awarded the Paediatric team at Sunderland Royal Hospital our Star Service Award for the continuing positive feedback we collated on their services and staff over a period of several months. 

Some of the feedback included: 

"The consultant was fantastic, all staff we came into contact with at the centre were fantastic, friendly and patient and I cannot praise them enough."

"Helpful & nicest people, doctor is so down to earth, helpful, doctor is an outstanding person & it is a great pleasure."

"Care was really good, All the nurses and doctors were very friendly, they had already read the notes and our history of treatment."

Fulwell Medical Group have been awarded Healthwatch Sunderland star organisation.

After received eight months of continuous good feedback from it's patients, the medical group were awarded with a Healthwatch Sunderland star in recognition of their great work.

Staff were delighted with the award and will be proudly displaying it within their patient area.

Sunderland Eye Infirmary have been awarded Healthwatch Sunderland star organisation following all the positive feedback from the public and amazing work they carry out.

The feedback was collected through online and postal surveys and telephone calls into Healthwatch Sunderland alongside data collected from Patient Opinion, NHS Choices, Google Reviews, CQC Inspection Report and the Friends and Family Test.

Sunderland Eye Infirmary provides a whole range of ophthalmic services for the population of Sunderland and the immediate surrounding area and is also a sub regional centre, servicing the population of the North East of England.