1. Children and young people – reducing self-harm - January 2018 - now (ongoing engagement)
Children and young people living in Kingston have high rates of self harm. We spoke to 56 children and young people, 109 parents and carers and 19 teachers in Kingston about what we could do to reduce self-harm.
Parents told us
“We are desperate for help and we don’t know where to go”
We did
We are developing an online list of services which shows the support available in our Borough.
Children and Young people told us
“Groups are great because they help you feel more accepted and less likely to take frustrations about loneliness out on yourself” "You can focus on friendships within activities."
We did
We are developing a whole school approach which provides support to children outside of a medical environment.
Teachers told us
“A lot of teachers are really lacking confidence when it comes to addressing or talking about mental health issues with children and young people. Improving their awareness and confidence (as well as their own wellbeing.”
We did
We are working closely with schools to develop a whole school approach and to deliver mental health and wellbeing training to teachers and other staff.
What we heard very clearly was that, whatever improvements are made, children and young people, their parents and carers and teachers need to be further involved.
2. Parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) living in Kingston – Autumn 2018
You said
“We’d like to be more involved in service change for our children”
We did
Working with and a local SEND charity, we have set up a parents co-production and information group to help us shape our services so they work for people living in the borough.
3. Choosing Wisely - Spring-Summer 2017
The CCG has a substantial financial challenge and we have a duty to spent our funding wisely. We asked local people, patients, carers, local groups and organisations for their views on the proposals.
We asked:
Should we change the criteria for IVF and specialist services?
You said
"This will impact more on some people that on others and will create health inequalities."
We did:
We decided not to change the criteria for IVF.
We are doing:
We continue to work with the assisted conception unit to monitor clinical outcomes for women using their services.
We asked:
Should we support patients to lose weight and give up smoking before funding surgery?
You said:
"It is against the principles of the NHS to place restrictions on who can access it based on lifestyle choices. While support should be offered to help people stop smoking, weight is more complex. People with Type 1 diabetes and low thyroid function, for instance, will be discriminated against."
We did:
Based on your feedback we decided not to make losing weight and stopping smoking a requirement of surgery. We have reviews our guidance to GPs to support patients to be in the best possible health before surgery.
We are doing:
We continue in our efforts to work with partners to help people in Kingston stop smoking and to live healthy, active lifestyles.
We asked:
Should we stop prescribing self-care medications, gluten free foods, baby milk and specialist infant formula, and vitamin D?
You said:
There could be a longer term impact on both parents and the NHS if people are not able to access appropriate diet and supplementation. Milk protein allergies are very complex and this could impact on some people in Kingston more than others.
We did:
We decided to continue prescribing baby milk and specialist infant formula and recognised that some of our healthcare professionals needed further training.
We are doing:
We are developing improved guidelines and education for GPs and other healthcare professionals to advise when prescribing formula is suitable or not.
Earlier feedback and response
Proposals for changes to St George’s Mental Health Trust facilities were put forward for consultation in December 2014
You said:
We did:
Improving ophthalmology (eye) services in Kingston (April 2015)
You said:
We did:
Empowering people with long term health conditions (LTC)
You said:
We did: