We work with a number of voluntary sector organisations and local area coordinators across York for both interest specific and more generic projects. Below are just a few examples of the organisations we work with to make sure that we are listening to the views of a diverse section of our community.

Age UK – York and North Yorkshire

During 2019 we joined up with Age UK to help improve understanding and communication about the continuing healthcare process. We organised a meeting with nurses and Age UK to myth bust and help increase knowledge of how to apply for care packages. In Selby, we worked with Age UK and the Public Health team to facilitate an event about ‘age friendly communities’.

Alzheimers Society

We teamed up with the Alzheimers Society to support our GPs to runs dementia clinics at a range of surgeries across York. The clinic is aimed at those patients, who are worried about their memory, those with a dementia diagnosis and at the carers of both these groups. Patients do not need to be registered at the practice to use this service.

Dementia Forward

We are working with Dementia Forward to raise awareness of the support available to people who have dementia in the rural areas in the north of our patch. Through patient stories and feedback, we want to understand the stigma around the condition and offer advice around the support that is available for patients and their carers.

Healthwatch

We work closely with colleagues at Healthwatch York, North Yorkshire and East Riding to seek the views of patients, carers and service users. We hold a stall with Healthwatch York and East Riding in the foyer of West Offices, York, YO1 6GA on the second Monday of the month 10.30-11.30am. We also work jointly on recommendations form  reports about the experiences of our local population - such as barriers to accessing healthcare for LGBT+ people and the inequalities faced by refugees in accessing healthcare. Find out more about our work with Healthwatch.

Selby AVS and Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles

Within the Selby Town Primary Care Network, there are a number of projects, working with the local organisations to raise awareness of social prescribing.

York LGBT forum and MESMAC

As part of our work with York LGBT forum, Healthwatch and MESMAC Yorkshire we are working hard to raise awareness of the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people the Vale of York.

In 2019 we adopted the rainbow badge and hosted training sessions on LGBT+ awareness for staff, clinicians and voluntary sector colleges. Find our more about how we working together to be more inclusive.

York Carers Centre – young and adult carers

We regularly sit on the Mental Health carer forum and Carers Advisory Group, to help understand the needs of the caring community. We support York Carers’ centre to deliver training to GPs and health colleagues to raise awareness of the support available. York Cares centre spoke at our AGM about the joint working that we carry out. We are now applying to become a Carer Friendly Employer and have been working with the Carers Centre to achieve the accreditation. Find out more about our work with carers.

York Parent Carer Forum

As part of our work reviewing the ADHD and Autism pathway we have regular meetings with the York Parent Carers Forum to gather first hand user experience of the difficulties that people face. Jointly with the Local Authority and the local mental health trust, we help to co-produce communication tools and review the pathway.

York CVS

York CVS is a great ally and helps provide the social prescribing service for the city. Their connection with thousands of volunteers is pivotal in helping us understand the needs of the community.

York Explore libraries

We work closely with our libraries to help promote wellbeing services. We attend groups, hold stalls and stands to speak to members of the public and use the network to help promote health and wellbeing messages.

We recently invited our library colleagues to attend an event with 275 GPs and nurses to network and share information about creative arts projects and sessions available in the community to help patients by way of non-medical interventions.