Listening to you during Coronavirus

Wednesday 16 September 2020

From Facetime chats with friends to family Zoom parties, we’ve all had to change the way we keep in touch since Coronavirus came along.

Now your local clinical commissioning group – the body that plans and commissions most of the local healthcare services we all rely on in Newcastle and Gateshead – is following suit.

Listening to patients is at the heart of our work. We know that a strong patient voice helps us to make better decisions and improve local NHS services.

Over the summer, we asked people to share their views on how we should listen to your views in the current situation. We’d like to say thank you to everyone who responded.

We put forward four options for ways to hold events and listen to views from local people and communities during the pandemic. By far the most popular choice was online live events – so we’re kicking things off with an online event on 5 October where anyone can attend, find out more about how we hope to involve people in our work, and have your say.

Find out how to take part on our Events page.

The four options we suggested were:

Online LIVE – using a computer, tablet or smart phone to join a meeting/forum or event, hearing from and speaking to people live. This would require you to have an internet connection and computer, tablet or smart phone.

Online CATCH‐UP – using a computer, tablet or smart phone to access a pre‐recorded event, similar to catch-up TV but with the chance to add comments or email us with your thoughts. We’d then respond within an agreed timeframe.

Non‐digital – either using a phone to dial into a live meeting/forum or event, or receiving information through the post – like presentations or newsletters, with an opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions.

Face‐to‐face – if it is possible later in the year to meet (with social distancing in place for your safety).

Online LIVE was clear favourite, chosen by 59% of respondents. Face‐to face came second with 27%. The least popular option was a non‐digital approach. 

To find out more about our involvement work, why not visit the Get Involved section!