This year the spotlight is on equal access to health and care. And on the big changes to how these services are working.

Health and care services are under huge pressure and are working hard to meet the needs of local people.

But we know that older and disabled people, carers and those with limited or no internet access, can find it harder to get the care they need. And people from our poorer communities are dying ten years earlier than their richer neighbours.

Find out how services are changing by working together as part of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System (ICS). And what’s being done to help make care more equal for everyone.

You’ll get an opportunity to share your ideas and experiences and have your say on local services.

Everyone is welcome at our friendly, free in-person event. A light lunch and refreshments will be provided.

The event will be opened by Stewart Francis, Chair of Healthwatch in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Guest speakers confirmed so far

  • Jackie Cook who is blind, is a member of the Sensory Partnership Board and organiser of the Cambridge Guide Dog Forum. She will be sharing her experiences and talking about how services work for people who are blind and visually impaired.
  • Eunice Alhassan is a Healthwatch Community Listener volunteer and parent member of the Peterborough and Hinchingbrooke Maternity Voices Partnership. She’ll be sharing her experience of maternity care and that of others that she listens to through her volunteering roles.
  • Louise Ansari, the new National Director of Healthwatch England, will be talking about how health inequalities are affecting people across the country and what Healthwatch are doing nationally to help the NHS and care services tackle this.
  • John O’Brien, Chair Designate of NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough which is part of the ICS. They will be responsible for planning and paying for health and care services from July. He will be listening to your feedback and sharing the ICS’s plans for the future.

Take part in our workshops

You can choose up to two workshops to have your say, be inspired and get some practical information and advice.

  • Helping people get online – find out what one NHS team are doing together with local charity Cambridge Online to help people get online, so they can stay connected in their community and access services.
  • Worthwhile waiting – hear about Meridian Primary Care Network’s project that helps people waiting for hospital care to stay as well as possible.
  • Your voice in mental health care – learn how local organisations are using your experiences of mental health services to improve care.
  • Getting information in the way you need it – if you have a disability, impairment or sensory loss, then you should get information from the NHS and care organisations in the way that works for you. Find out what local services are doing to meet the Accessible Information Standard.

Tech care break out room – Find out more about the different technology available to help you stay independent in your home for longer.

You can see how different equipment works and book a care assessment from the council.