We know that not everyone likes receiving information the same way. We try to provide information in alternative formats for our population in order to reach the widest audience possible across the Vale of York.

We particularly use our relationship with our Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) networks to help distribute important messages to underrepresented areas of our community.

Videos

We produce a variety of different videos which we publish on Youtube to help provide information about key topics to our population. Our videos can be found on our website here.

Some examples of our work include:

• Norovirus expert advice - what to do if you feel unwell
• Free childcare at 'Women's Health Day' to increase uptake of cervical screening appointments.
• How we are involving carers in developing and improving services and how GP practices are raising awareness of carers.
• ‘Help us help you campaign’ – to give the public advice about common winter ailments
• ‘Healthy hearts campaign’ – highlighting risk of stroke and heart attack among people considered most at risk  

Leaflets and hand-outs

We produce a number A6 cards on key topics such as 111, healthy hearts – tackling heart disease and self-care advice. These are handed out at events, through the Citizens Advice Bureau and through our partners and community hubs.
 

Easyread documents

We create a number of documents in Easyread and will always produce them upon request. A few recent examples are shown below:

• Changes to repeat prescriptions : Easyread leaflet about repeat prescriptions - August 2019
• An Easyread invite to our wheelchair user forum - 5 November 2019
• We worked with York People First to produce an Easy Read Version of a survey, which was distributed via their networks and GP surgeries.
• Poster for an event about a review of ADHD and Autism Services
• Presentation about health checks – presented to York Parent Carers Forum

We've produced EasyRead information for patients to take to their GP for their annual healthcheck below:

• EasyRead body map and pain score
• EasyRead invite letter
• More information about our work with the learning disability community.

Summary documents

We provide a summary document following a Governing Body session. Our Clinical Chair and GP members share their thoughts on the meeting and the discussions that took place.

We a also created a short version of the 2018-19 engagement annual report to give out to our networks and communities. 

Stakeholder newsletter

To help keep people up to date with information about the Vale of York we produce and circulate a monthly newsletter. This contains information about health news, events and how people can get involved and have their say. To join our mailing list click here.

Using community groups and their networks

We work very closely with our community networks and regularly publish articles in the Healthwatch York Magazine. Click on the links to find out more.

• Autumn 2019: An update about the new online emotional and wellbeing advice service for 11-18 year olds.
• Spring 2019: A day in the life of our Head of Engagement Victoria Binks and the NHS Long Term Plan
• Autumn 2018: Information on the Help us Help you campaign and the Flu Vaccination: (Page 11)
• Spring 2018: Information explaining integrated care systems (Page 5-6) and on the CCG NHS70 campaign and pledges(Page 7-9)

We could not engage with and care for our residents without the continued support of our community and voluntary sector partners who have supported the most vulnerable members of our population. We have a huge list of stakeholders and organisations that we work with and use to disseminate messages throughout their networks in a format that is appropriate for their members. 

We also work closely with carers groups to deliver workshops, gather feedback and provide information in suitable formats.  Click here to find out how we involve carers in our work. You can also view a video of a carer who  talks about  how the CCG is involving carers in developing and improving services

Social media

We use social media platforms to deliver updates on local health services as well as public health messaging.

Our Twitter account is very active and consistently delivers over 100,000 impressions every month. We are also on Instagram, where we post pictures of many of our public engagement events. 

Face-to-face events and meetings

We regularly attend and are involved in local meetings and events with stakeholders, the public and our partners.

In addition we hold a number of public facing events and drop in sessions where we welcome our local community to come along and have their say, find out about updates and plans and meet our commissioning team. These range from market stands and stalls in libraries or in the council foyer to taking a bus out into the community.

View our events and meetings page to see previous and upcoming events

Healthwatch forums

We regularly attend and present at the York and North Yorkshire Healthwatch Assembly:

• October 2019: Head of Engagement, Victoria Binks, gave an update on how the views of the Healthwatch Assembly had shaped the CCG’s engagement principles and strategy. Feedback was also provided about action that had been taken from a recent Healthwatch report into the experiences of the LGBT community in accessing healthcare. 
• July 2019: The CCG helped to facilitate table top discussions about the local response to the Long Term Plan.
• January 2019: Victoria Binks, Head of Engagement for the CCG gave an update about how our conversations with our community have influenced our priorities for 2019-20. She also asked for feedback on the CCG's engagement principles to inform the new Communications and Engagement Strategy for 2019-22. 
• January 2018, April 2018, October 2018 Dr Kev Smith, Executive Director for Primary Care and Population Health gave an update about how feedback from our community has influenced our priorities and commissioning intentions and how we are performing against our priorities. Our nurses gave updates about reducing pressure ulcers in care homes and working with patients with learning disabilities to break down barriers to care.

Press and media

Our communications and media relations team work closely with local journalists to ensure that key messages reach our residents. Our clinical colleagues and executive team are regularly asked for comment, as well as being recorded for local TV and radio channels.

• Free childcare for GP surgery women's health day (That's York TV, 21 January 2020)
• CCG launches When Should I Worry campaign (That's York TV, 7 November 2019)
• Stay away from hospital if you have flu or norovirus says NHS (Minster FM, 22 Oct 2019)
• New group giving voice to maternity services in York (York Press, 26 Oct 2019) and (That's York TV, 6 November 2019)

Campaigns

We run a number of public facing health campaigns throughout the year and use a range of methods of communication. For more information you can view our campaigns here.

Audio CD

We provide audio CD to those who request it. One of our members who is part of our virtual network and sits on the wheelchair and community equipment forum receives information via audio CD.

Textphone service

We promote the 18001 NHS 111 text phone service.

Foreign Language

To request any documents in a different language or format please contact us:

• Tel: 01904 555 870
• Email: voyccg.engagement@nhs.net