We're all ears

10,000 Hull residents are urged to take part in the city's biggest ever health survey which is launched this month

NHS Hull (formerly Hull Teaching Primary Care Trust) has recently begun a city-wide consultation exercise called 'NHS Hull: We're All Ears'.
It is the biggest ever consultation to look into health and health services in the city, and NHS Hull is keen for local people to play their part and have their say.
"The aim is to talk directly to Hull residents about the quality of their own health and the healthcare services available to them," says Julie Walsh, project manager for We're All Ears.
"We want all sections of the community to get involved and let us know the state of their own health, what they think of local services, where they think the problem areas are and also what they think we do well.
"But we'll also be looking to the future, asking people how they want healthcare services to develop over the next 30 years, and how NHS Hull can make sure those services meet the needs of our local community."
The first stage of the consultation took place in the autumn, with a telephone survey of more than 1,500 people living across north, east and west Hull.
Each person was asked questions about their health and well-being and their aspirations for their own health in the future.
Based on the findings of the phone survey, a range of public consultation meetings were then held across Hull – including some with particularly hard to reach and seldom-heard groups, such as young people, black and ethnic minority representatives, disabled people, and migrant workers – to explore the results in more detail and check the accuracy of the findings.
This was supplemented by another consultation event to seek the views of the voluntary and community sectors working in Hull.
Now, 'We're All Ears' is about to move into its second stage. From this month, around 10,000 residents are expected to take part in face-to-face surveys, representing around one in ten of the city's households.

Striving for excellence

"We are striving for excellent health care services in Hull and this is the biggest opportunity that Hull residents have to shape how their health services are developed and improved in the coming years," says Christopher Long, the chief executive of NHS Hull.
"Over the next few months we need to work with the people of Hull to find out what they expect of health services in the city.
We recognise that what people expect of NHS Hull might be different to what we think is needed. This consultation provides a chance for this to change.
"During this consultation, we're keen to work in two areas.
The first is understanding what people's desires are for health services.
The second is about how we can work with our residents, our families, our schools and our communities to make sure that the people of Hull have the best start in life and stay healthy through your lives.
"NHS Hull wants to shape services that respond to local needs and desires.
This consultation aims to achieve this but we need to know what people want if we are going to get it right.
To make this happen, it's essential that we hear from as many people as possible, so if you get the chance to attend an event, complete the online survey or to take part in a face to face interview, please do."
Hull-based social and market research company Information by Design (IByD) is leading the consultation on behalf of NHS Hull.
"We are delighted to be working in partnership with NHS Hull on this important consultation exercise," says Dr Steve Wisher, managing director of IByD.
"Our commitment to the city and the aspirations of local people are at the heart of this major consultation."

What's happened so far?

Stage one of 'We're All Ears' confirmed the findings from previous consultations that people wanted flexible opening hours at GP surgeries and easier access to sources of help for mental health problems.
In response, NHS Hull is already:

• working with GP practices to provide more choice for patients. More than half of all practices in Hull now provide appointments in the evenings and/or on Saturday mornings.
• over the coming year, another five new practices and a GP-led health centre will open. All the new GP practices will offer extended opening hours, and the health centre will open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year
• NHS Hull will also ensure that hundreds of local people, can, over the next two years, find more help for mental health issues such as depression and anxiety via their local GP surgeries.

How to get involved with this consultation

A website has been launched which contains more details, an online opportunity to complete the survey, and a short film about We're All Ears – visit www.nhshullears.net
If you would like to talk to someone about the consultation call Julie Walsh on (01482) 344818.

How to become a member of NHS Hull

If you have a particular interest in health and you want to play a part in shaping your health care, you are invited to become members of NHS Hull.
Membership is free, open to anyone aged 14 or over, and it's up to you to decide how much involvement you want.
To become a member, or for more information, please call (01482) 344739 or e-mail membership@hullpct.nhs.uk