Following a successful bid, the charity has secured a long-term contract with South Tyneside Council to continue delivering statutory advocacy services while also taking on responsibility for Independent NHS Complaints Advocacy and general advocacy support across the borough.

As the main provider of advocacy in South Tyneside, Your Voice Counts aims to make it easier for professionals and local people to access the support they need.

The team can provide information, advice and support on all aspects of advocacy and offers a straightforward referral process for:

• Statutory advocacy – including Care Act, Independent Mental Capacity and Independent Mental Health Act advocacy, a Relevant Person’s Representative service and Independent NHS Complaints advocacy
• General advocacy – for people who need help to be heard but don’t meet the criteria for a statutory service.

Anyone currently receiving NHS complaints advocacy support will be automatically transferred to the Your Voice Counts service.

Referral forms, service details and self-help tools are available online at yvc.org.uk/advocacy.  For advice about advocacy, support with referrals or to discuss whether someone may need an advocate, you can also contact the team directly on 0191 478 6472 or mail@yvc.org.uk.

Among those being invited to take part are families being offered maternity care at South Tyneside District Hospital and Sunderland Royal Hospital.

They are among more than 40 NHS hospitals so far which have agreed to take part in the Generation Study. It is being led by Genomics England in partnership with NHS England.

The world-leading research aims to screen 100,000 newborns in England, offering them whole genome sequencing. This will use blood samples usually taken from their umbilical cord shortly after birth.

The study will identify rare conditions such as Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) in babies sooner. This is a rare inherited disorder which affects the brain. It causes a progressive loss of physical and, later, mental skills.

The checks could help hundreds to benefit from earlier diagnosis and treatment. This could slow the progression of rare conditions and even extend their lives.

The research will help support the NHS 10 Year Health Plan’s shift from sickness to prevention. The other two moves are from analogue to digital and hospital to community.

Research Midwife Lucy Rowland, part of the team at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’re really excited to be part of this study as a Trust. Research is an important way we can help families in the future get the support and treatment they need.

“Families are approached in hospital during their pregnancy. Patients are offered an information leaflet and given the opportunity to ask questions. They can also access further information through the Generation Study website or scanning a QR code.

“If a condition is suspected, the appropriate treatment can be started promptly as early intervention is key. It will be interesting to see this study develop.”

Rachel Nicholson, one of the consultants on the maternity team, added: “We will be with parents every step of the way with this study.

“While we want as many people as possible to sign up to help build the biggest picture we can of genetic conditions, we want to stress there is no pressure to get involved. Everyone knows what is right for them and their family.

“Research is a key part of our work as a Trust and this study can make a difference there and then, but also for so many more people in the future.”

The Generation Study has been set up following consultation with the public, parents and families affected by rare conditions. Healthcare professionals, policy makers and scientists have also been involved.

Expectant parents will be told about the study during pregnancy. If they are interested, a research midwife will then talk to them in detail. This will help them decide if they wish to take part.

Shortly after birth, a doctor, nurse or midwife will confirm with parents they are still happy for their baby to be tested. A blood sample will be taken and sent to a laboratory sequencing. If a baby is identified as having a treatable childhood condition, families and carers will be provided with further NHS testing to confirm a diagnosis. They will also get ongoing support and treatment from the NHS.

The study will also consult a range of groups to look at the possible risks and benefits of keeping a baby’s genome over their lifetime. This could help predict, diagnose and treat future illnesses.

More details about the study can be found through this page: Generation Study

Photo: Angela Lightfoot, Generation Study Regional Results Co-ordinator, Lucy Rowland, Research Midwife, Folasade Olufemi -Ajayi, Research Assistant Practitioner and Amy Clarkson, Generation Study Results Coordinator.

Source: https://www.stsft.nhs.uk/news/latest-news/families-offered-test-their-newborn-part-national-study-more-200-rare-genetic-conditions

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) has launched ‘Connect’, a new safe online space where people can get actively involved in shaping the future of local NHS services.

The trust runs district nursing and a range of other community healthcare services across South Tyneside, Sunderland and parts of Gateshead. It has NHS facilities in Jarrow, Houghton, Washington and Durham. It also runs services from South Tyneside District Hospital and Sunderland Royal Hospital as well as Sunderland Eye Infirmary and St Benedict’s Hospice.

The trust’s new online community, ‘Connect’, gives people the chance to have their say through short polls, surveys and discussions about things that matter to them. They can share their experiences, add ideas and suggest how to improve care.

People who sign up to become members of Connect can give their views on any proposed improvements, plans and campaigns, with their views shared with the local NHS teams in charge of developing those projects.

Connect is free to join and open to anyone who lives in South Tyneside, Sunderland, and other parts of the region if they access the Trust’s services.

Liz Dawson, the trust’s Director of Communications and Involvement, said: “There is so much commentary and feedback about the NHS online every day and we wanted to give people an easy way to connect with us, directly, as their local NHS Trust.

“Our new Connect online community gives people a safe, welcoming and constructive space to get involved, give their views but also know that we will listen and act upon what they say. It will make it easy to share feedback with us and ask us any questions.

“We want local people to become much more involved in how we develop and run our services here at the Trust. We know that we don’t always get things right and the more we can hear about real life experiences, the more we can do to improve.”

Over the autumn months, the Trust will also be starting a programme of work to reach out into local communities across South Tyneside, Sunderland and other parts of the region, to make sure it hears from people from all areas and backgrounds.

Working with patient groups, voluntary and community sector organisations and other health and care partners, STSFT is putting patient and public involvement at the forefront of its future vision for excellence.

Kelly Craggs, Head of Quality and Patient Experience, added: “Having regular insights and perspectives from a patient and carer point of view is essential so that we can continuously adapt, evolve and improve our services.

“Connect is a fantastic new online tool but we know that not everyone has access to the internet or may not feel confident using technology.

“That’s why we have lots of other ways to feedback to us too. From face-to-face patient groups, discussions and surveys, to talking to people in our hospital wards and departments about their experience, our aim is create as full a picture of feedback as possible.”

For more information about ‘Connect’ and to sign up to be part of the new online community, visit: Join our Online Community

In exchange for their time and views, members are entered into a monthly prize draw supported by partners Sunderland Bid and Explain, which hosts the platform.

The online community is a pilot funded through the STS Charity to further improve how the Trust involves patients and local people in developing its services.

Liz Dawson, the trust’s Director of Communications and Involvement, with the new online Connect service on screen.

Source: https://www.stsft.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/share-your-feedback/join-our-online-community

The Connected Health and Leisure Event is being held next Friday, September 26 from 1pm to 4pm.

The full timetable of events is listed below:

Education Talks (Haven Point, Wouldhave Room)

South Tyneside Council Leisure Services Exercise Taster Classes (Haven Point, Studio 2)

These classes are suitable for people with medical conditions, joint pain and low levels of fitness.

Places must be booked in advance for the Education Talks and Taster Classes.

FOR BOOKINGS OR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

• Paul Tompkinson: Tompkinson@southtyneside.gov.uk
• Christine Winch: Winch@southtyneside.gov.uk; 07901 560300

Download the event flyer here.

Between September 2024 and June 2025, there were 4,906 calls made to Martha’s Rule helplines to escalate concerns about care – leading to 241 potentially life-saving interventions being triggered.

The positive results from the first year have led the NHS to expand its use to an additional 67 sites – meaning all 210 acute inpatient sites in England will offer the service.

Martha Mills died in 2021 aged 13 after developing sepsis in hospital, where she had been admitted with a pancreatic injury after falling off her bike.

Martha’s family’s concerns about her deteriorating condition were not responded to, and in 2023 a coroner ruled that Martha would probably have survived had she been moved to intensive care earlier.

In May 2024, NHS England announced the rollout of Martha’s Rule across 143 pilot sites following the campaigning of Martha Mills’ parents, Merope and Paul.

The new data published by the NHS shows almost three quarters (71.9%) of calls have been from families seeking help, with 720 calls leading to changes in care. This could include patients receiving a new medication such as an antibiotic.

Almost 800 (794) calls led to clinical concerns such as medication or investigation delays being addressed. A further 1,030 calls helped to resolve communication and discharge planning issues.

Martha’s Rule is a major patient safety initiative in hospitals encouraging patients, families and carers to speak to the care team if they notice changes in someone’s condition.

It also provides them with a way to seek an urgent review if their or their loved one’s condition deteriorates – and are concerned this is not being responded to.

Staff can themselves ask for a review from a different team if they are concerned the appropriate action is not being taken.

The NHS has rolled out consistent branding and materials, including posters around hospitals, to ensure the programme is easy to understand for patients and their families.

Full evaluation of the programme is ongoing and will help inform proposals to expand to other settings.

Merope Mills and Paul Laity, Martha’s parents, said: “It would be Martha’s 18th birthday today, another milestone she has missed as a result of the poor care and hospital errors that led to her unnecessary death.

“We feel her absence every day, but at least Martha’s Rule is already preventing many families from experiencing something similar.

“The figures prove that lives are saved when patients and families are given power to act on their suspicions when they feel doctors might have got it wrong and their voice isn’t being heard.

“We are pleased to know more hospitals are taking up Martha’s Rule and look forward to a time when every patient in the UK knows about the initiative and has easy access to it”.

Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS National Medical Director, said: “There is no shadow of a doubt that Martha’s Rule is having a transformative impact on the way hospitals are able to work with patients and families to address deterioration or concerns about care.

“There have now been almost 5,000 calls made to the hotlines, with hundreds of potentially life-saving interventions triggered, which is why we are now expanding Martha’s Rule to all acute hospitals in England.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank Merope and Paul who have campaigned tirelessly on this issue and continue to work with us to ensure Martha’s Rule is at the centre of our efforts to boost patient safety and quality of care.

“I also want to thank clinical staff up and down the country who have swiftly implemented this potentially lifesaving intervention and ensured it’s success”.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: “No family should ever have to go through what Merope and Paul endured when they lost Martha, but her parents’ tireless campaigning has created a lasting legacy that is already having a potentially lifesaving impact across England.

“Martha’s Rule puts patients and families at the heart of their care. By rolling this out to every acute hospital in England, we’re delivering on our promise through our Plan for Change to rebuild trust in the NHS and put patient safety first.

“With hundreds of potentially life-saving interventions and changes in care triggered so far, Martha’s Rule is about ensuring that patients and their families have their voices heard when it is needed most.

“This is exactly the kind of reform our health service needs – listening to patients, learning from tragedy, and taking action to prevent it happening again. Martha’s memory will live on through every life this rule helps to save”.

The Patient Safety Commissioner, Professor Henrietta Hughes, said: “I am delighted to see that Martha’s Rule has now been rolled out across all acute trusts so even more patients can benefit from potentially lifesaving treatment.  Martha’s Rule is transforming healthcare culture and shows the benefits of working in partnership with patients”.

Dr Ronny Cheung, Consultant General Paediatrician at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, said: “Martha’s Rule brings the voice of patients and families right to the heart of care, and that’s something I really value as a clinician.

“Families often know their loved ones better than anyone – they can spot when something isn’t right in ways that even experienced doctors might miss.

“I’ve had Martha’s Rule invoked under my care, and while it can feel challenging initially, it’s ultimately about creating a culture where everyone – patients, families and staff – has a voice to raise concerns.

“This can only make the care we provide better and safer for everyone”.

Rachel Power, Chief Executive, at the Patients Association said: “The rollout of Martha’s Rule to every acute hospital in England gives patients and their families a voice at critical moments, can lead to life-saving action, and is a landmark moment for patient safety.

“Behind the nearly 5,000 calls made in the last year are patients and families who were deeply concerned, worried that something wasn’t right and potentially unsure if they would be listened to.

“When people feel confident to speak up, and know their concerns will be acted on, the NHS becomes safer, more compassionate, and more responsive. This is patient power in action”.

Chief Executive of NHS Providers, Daniel Elkeles, said: “Martha’s Rule has had a great galvanising effect on the NHS in adopting these changes so quickly, with more patients set to benefit as the scheme is rolled out to all hospitals.

“It is a testament to the dedication of Martha Mills’ parents that the initiative has been adopted with such positive results for patient safety and the quality of care. Credit too to frontline staff who have adapted to make it work so well”.

Dr Ben Richardson, Paediatric Consultant and Yorkshire and Humber Clinical Lead for the regional Martha’s Rule pilot, said: “Working as part of a local, regional and national team, it’s been amazing to see that in such a short space of time, how so many healthcare professionals have moved from apprehension about how to widely implement Martha’s Rule to being thoroughly invested in the culture change that underpins its success.

“We all realise it’s not just about being able to tick a box for each component of Martha’s Rule, but to really think deeply about how to advocate for the patients their family’s and the voice that is seldom heard”.

Source: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2025/09/marthas-rule-rolled-out-to-all-acute-hospitals/

That is the finding of a Healthwatch South Tyneside report, following a survey of pharmacy patients, pharmacies and GP practices.

The Pharmacy First service, launched in January 2024, enables patients to be referred into community pharmacy for a minor illness or an urgent repeat medicine supply.

It enables community pharmacies to complete episodes of care for the following seven common conditions following defined clinical pathways:

• Acute otitis media – one to 17 years
• Impetigo – one year and over
• Infected insect bites – one year and over
• Shingles – 18 years and over
• Sinusitis – 12 years and over
• Sore throat – five years and over
• Uncomplicated urinary tract infections – women 16 to 64 years

Healthwatch surveyed patients who have used the Pharmacy First service to find out what they knew about the service and their experiences, and had 166 responses.

We also heard from six pharmacies and three GP surgeries about their experiences using Pharmacy First, collaborating with the ‘A Better You’ network and South Tyneside’s Local Pharmacy Network.

The survey responses from patients, pharmacies and GP practices would indicate that the introduction of the Pharmacy First service has been received positively.

There was a reasonable recognition rate with two-thirds of patients surveyed saying they had heard of Pharmacy First, of whom 57% said they knew what the service was about. But awareness would improve if Pharmacy First was advertised more via the local media and social media and signposted by other health and social care services.

82.7% of respondents who had used Pharmacy First rated the service as either ‘excellent’, ‘very good’ or ‘good’ and 71% said they found using Pharmacy First easier than using the GP, with pharmacy staff praised for taking their time to listen and explain things clearly.

However, some survey responses indicated gaps in communication between patients, pharmacies and GP practices, meaning that there is sometimes inconsistency in the care that patients receive.

Pharmacies said they wanted increased promotion and scope in terms of the range of conditions included, while the GP practices who took part in the survey were equally supportive of Pharmacy First but some believed there is not a consistent level of service across pharmacies in the borough.

Across all three surveys, one common theme was that patients sometimes struggle to gain clarity on what is being offered to them by their pharmacy. Clearer communication is needed, led by the NHS nationally and regionally.

More clarity on what pharmacies across South Tyneside can offer would help address the perception of some patients that their GP is the only person qualified to see them.

The following recommendations have been sent to service commissioners at North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board:

• Pharmacy First should be advertised more widely, particularly in the local media and social media and by other public services. These advertisements should provide clarity on what conditions are covered by Pharmacy First.
• GP practices and pharmacies must communicate clearly with patients on what conditions are covered by Pharmacy First and in which circumstances they will need to book a GP appointment.
• Pharmacies should ensure all staff have the appropriate training and support they need to deliver a consistently high quality of care.
• All pharmacies should continue to consider how they can make their buildings more accessible for those who have disabilities.
• Pharmacies who deliver Pharmacy First should consider implementing a patient feedback process, so users can offer feedback direct to their local pharmacy.

Dave Carter, Chair of Gateshead & South Tyneside LPC, said: “The LPC is delighted with this report. We are pleased that the public experience of Pharmacy First is positive. Pharmacy First is a fantastic service, allowing community pharmacists to give patients expert advice and treatment for many conditions quickly without them having to visit their GP. We hope with more publicity more members of the public will access the service; taking even more pressure off hard pressed GP surgeries.”

Pharmacy First was identified as one of four priority areas in our Operational Plan 2024-26. To read the full report visit: https://www.healthwatchsouthtyneside.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Pharmacy-First-with-LPC-response-August-2025.pdf