Free NHS and social care marketplace celebrates the power of community
Local people joined our Board members, governors and clinical staff at a community services marketplace to find out about services which can help keep them safe and well at home.
The free health and social care drop-in event was the hub of our combined annual members' and general meeting.
Delivered by East Kent Health and Care Partnership (EKHCP) at Age UK Ashford, the collaboration signposted people to local NHS providers, as well as housing, council and voluntary sector organisations.
Guests were able to chat with experts about specialist services such as health visiting, falls prevention, urgent and respiratory care and immunisation. Ashford Citizen's Advice, Carer's Support East Kent, Age UK Ashford and Shepway Food Bank also took part in the event.
KCHFT Chief Executive Mairead McCormick speaks at the meeting
KCHFT Chief Executive Mairead McCormick said: “Everyone deserves the same chance to lead a healthy life for longer.
“As the government unveils plans to increase the delivery of care in local communities, starting our annual meeting with a marketplace event for community providers was the perfect opportunity to meet the people who matter most; those who use our services now, have done in the past, or who will in the future.
“By joining forces with our partners we were able to provide a place for networking and collaboration that will strengthen all of us.”
John Sutton, from Folkestone, talks about community services
“Talking face-to-face about things that matter the most to us is important for everyone”, said volunteer driver John Sutton, 75, who accompanied a lady with complex medical conditions, to both the marketplace and meeting.
“As a volunteer, I meet a lot of elderly and unwell people who are fed up with ‘speaking’ to an automated telephone message. It’s heartwarming to see people finding out about services that can benefit their health and wellbeing, in person.”
Local resident Michelle Bonney finds out about One You Kent
Local resident Michelle Bonney caught up with the One You Kent team, who run healthy lifestyle programmes, for some advice on stopping smoking.
Michelle, who was born with a congenital heart defect and has had 13 pacemakers fitted over the course of her life, said: “I know I should stop smoking but I’m not ready to right now.
“I did learn a lot speaking to the team here and it’s good to know I can use their services for free in the future.”
Jemma Fisk, Senior Project Support for EKHCP said: “We were delighted to team up with the local organisations we work with year-round to connect people to care providers closer to home.
“There was a real buzz at the marketplace; visitors, past and present patients, families and carers saw first-hand how our joined-up working empowers them to access the support and resources needed for a wide range of health and social needs.”
Age UK Ashford Chief Officer Cleo Smith said: “Our centre was the perfect venue to host an event celebrating the power of community.
“We look after some of the most vulnerable people in society and we are based in one of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the county. I am thrilled that local people had the opportunity to come along and find out about all the community services available to them.”
After the marketplace, the KCHFT team delivered its general meeting, focusing on the power of community and demonstrating how the trust has made a difference to people in Kent, Medway, East Sussex and London during the past year.
