12.05.2025
NHS top doctor issues call for Spring COVID-19 vaccinations
New research by Healthwatch England (HWE) has found trauma can be a major barrier to seeking medical care.
People who have experienced a traumatic event can be reluctant to engage with health and care services, seek medical attention when they get unwell, and avoid vital check-ups.
Key findings
According to a nationally representative poll of 3,571 adults living in England, nearly a fifth, 18%, of respondents who have experienced trauma said they ‘very often’ or ‘fairly often’ avoid services because of their trauma. This figure is much higher for autistic people and people who have Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)/Attention deficit disorder (ADD): 41% and 37%, respectively.
People who have experienced trauma don’t feel comfortable disclosing the information to medical professionals:
- Over a third, 37%, of respondents who have experienced trauma, have never told a medical professional about it.
- Over a third, 35%, of those who have told a medical professional about their trauma found it uncomfortable.
- The main barrier to disclosing experiences of trauma was people not feeling comfortable talking about it to a medical professional.
- However, other issues are also apparent, such as a lack of confidence in explaining trauma, a lack of confidence in medical professionals handling it sensitively, and previous negative experiences of disclosing trauma.
Trauma is widespread
The UK Trauma Council defines trauma as: ‘the way that some distressing events are so extreme or intense that they overwhelm a person’s ability to cope, resulting in lasting negative impact’. A traumatic event can include being in an accident, experiencing an act of violence, and seeing someone die.
The HWE research provides further evidence that trauma is widespread. More than half, 55%, of respondents chose the statement “I have experienced trauma in the past”, and nearly one in 12, eight per cent, chose “I’m currently experiencing trauma.”
According to our estimates, this equates to about 25 million and 3.7 million adults living in England, respectively.
Women, autistic people and those who have ADHD were more likely to experience trauma. Around two-thirds, 67%, of female respondents said they had experienced a traumatic event, compared to 51% of male respondents.
The need for trauma cards
We have called for tangible solutions to help people who have experienced trauma engage with healthcare, including piloting trauma cards.
Our research follows a pilot project run by Healthwatch Essex in 2022, which made trauma cards available to local people to use during their NHS appointments. The pocket-sized card explains that the holder has experience of trauma and links to further resources to help provide sensitive, appropriate care.
The pilot was hugely successful, showing that a simple intervention can make it easier for people who have been through trauma to get the care they need.
Our polls shows that of the estimated 3.7 million people currently experiencing trauma, 43% would be likely to use a trauma card. Of the estimated 25 million people who have experienced trauma in the past, around one in three (30%) would be likely to use a trauma card. This equates to about 1.6 million people and 7.4 million people, respectively.
Laura’s story: “The trauma card has empowered me.”
Laura (not real name), 60, from Tendering, has suffered from anxiety about NHS appointments that involve personal examination due to non-recent trauma of sexual violence. This has led her to either cancelling, missing or leaving NHS appointments, including a cervical cancer screening. However, when she does attend a medical appointment, certain sounds and sights trigger memories, affecting her behaviour and relationship with healthcare staff.
She said: “I don’t take in information and will ask for information to be written or in leaflet forms to support this.”
Laura recently used the trauma cards developed by Healthwatch Essex for her personal examination. “The procedure was made easier by presenting the trauma card, and it made me feel more relaxed. It empowered me. This gives me hope that I will have a good experience again,” she said.
Healthwatch England’s call to action
HWE Chief Executive Louise Ansari said: “A traumatic event can lead to long-lasting health issues affecting a person’s quality of life. Our findings paint a very worrying picture, with one in five people avoiding healthcare because of their trauma.
“When people avoid healthcare, their condition can deteriorate, and their illness can last longer. But for vulnerable people, including those who have trauma, avoiding healthcare can lead to even greater impacts.
“The pilot project in Essex has shown trauma cards can improve experiences for people using health and care services, empowering them and facilitating communication with healthcare staff. With training and better awareness, trauma cards can become a helpful tool for both the patient and medical staff.
“We are calling for NHS England to support a national evaluative pilot of a trauma card initiative. People across England should be able to order a trauma card and have it delivered to them for free, along with an information sheet that clearly explains how and when they can use it. In the long term, and subject to the pilot results, a digital trauma card could be added the NHS App or smartphone wallets.”
Methodology
Estimated population figures calculated by Healthwatch England using the ONS figure for the adult population of England of 45,691,677. As this is a representative poll of adults in England, we can extrapolate population figures from the percentages.
About the poll
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. The total sample size was 3571 England adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 3 – 4 October 2024. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all England adults (aged 18+).
The public meeting, arranged by Healthwatch South Tyneside in response to queries raised by service users at its AGM last year, was held on Tuesday February 18 at the Learning Lounge at Hebburn Central.
The first guest speaker Anna Hargrave, Divisional Director of the Division of Community Services, provided an overview of the Urgent Care in the Community service.
Her presentation covered Urgent Community Response, Virtual Wards (Hospital @ Home), Fast Track Palliative Care, Fast Track Discharge to Assess and the new Care Co-ordination Hub launching in April.
David Newell, Directorate Manager, introduced a presentation on mental health services by Clinical Team Managers Karen Kinghorn and Paula Wake, and Clinical Lead Lisa Mundell. It included how to access support through the Healthy Minds Team, Getting Help Children and Young People’s Mental Health team and through Adult Talking Therapies.
Nicola Price, Practice and Assurance Manager at South Tyneside Council, then shared an update on the support available through adult social services, including short-term and long-term care, assistive technology, transport and personal assistants.
Each presentation was followed by a Q&A session, giving members of the public an opportunity to ask questions.
Chair of Healthwatch South Tyneside, John Lowther, (pictured) said: “It was fantastic to see such a strong turnout from both the people of South Tyneside and borough healthcare professionals.
“It was a valuable opportunity for residents and healthcare professionals to collaborate, network and work together to improve and learn from health and social care services across South Tyneside.
“I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to all three of our guest speakers for their insightful and informative presentations. We are grateful to everyone who attended and contributed to the discussion, an excellent way to engage service users to provide the valuable feedback which influences the design of future services.”
Members of the public who attended left feedback which Healthwatch will use to help plan similar future events.
“It was a good event, with lots of information. I thought the three presentations re mental health just repeated themselves and why can’t there be just one telephone number to contact the service instead of different number, like the care in the community. Lots of information to take in. It was hard to stay focused so would suggest not as many speaker’s next time. Nice, comfortable venue with plenty of free parking spaces.”
“I attended a South Tyneside Healthwatch public meeting as a member of the public, and it was incredibly insightful. It was particularly pertinent to my current personal situation, as I was able to learn about various services that I wasn’t previously aware of. The event provided a great opportunity to highlight services that could be of real benefit to me and my family. One of the clinicians even took the time to speak with me personally after the presentation, which was a valuable opportunity. Their advice and the additional signposts they provided will help me better support my daughter moving forward.”
“The Healthwatch public meeting provided some high quality information on services and projects local to the area. People’s issues were listened to with respect and taken on board by the speakers. The venue was fine for the event with good access. The only minor change I would suggest would be to have probably one less speaker to retain public concentration throughout. I look forward to more events in the future very well organised by the team much appreciated.”
“I loved all the presentations, they all gave out so much information and were very clear and informative. Your hospitality was amazing.”
“Your Voice Counts are excellent in putting information in an Easy Read format. They do this for many voluntary and statutory organisations. I would encourage you to connect with the group.”
The presentations can be downloaded via the following links:
The appeal follows new research, which found that nine in ten people (87%) in England want to see improvements in health and social care services.
A third of people think about their health every single day, yet one in five (19%) say they don’t have enough time to report on their health and social care experiences. The average person estimates that it takes almost nine minutes to give feedback when, in reality, it can take as little as three minutes.
The campaign aims to make more people aware of how they can give feedback and highlight the spare moments in people’s days that they could use to do this – for example whilst waiting for the kettle to boil or waiting for a train or bus.
The poll reveals that the average person spends nearly two hours a day scrolling on their phone – doubling to nearly four hours for those under the age of 24, highlighting that many people have more opportunities to feedback than they think. The research also found that 53% of people would like to use their free time more productively, with two in five (42%) feeling guilty about not completing more small tasks.
Sharing feedback on health and social care is one such small task that can make a big difference. Public feedback can play a vital role in helping health and social care services identify ways to make support better – for example making GP services more accessible, or ensuring clinics have the right equipment available for individual needs. However, only a minority of people have provided feedback to care services.
Support Share for Better Care Week
To help improve health and social care across England, Dr Ranj, CQC and Healthwatch England have launched Share for Better Care Week to encourage everyone to spare as little as three minutes to share their care experiences.
Dr. Ranj Singh said: “Health is the foundation of our lives. However, this survey shows that while a third of us think about our health daily, few provide the essential feedback on the healthcare we receive. As a doctor, this feedback is indispensable, it reveals patient experiences, pinpoints areas for improvement, and, ultimately, enhances the quality of care. In my role I’ve heard so many patient stories, whether it is positive experience or constructive feedback. Sharing that feedback is what will make a real difference.”
James Bullion, interim Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care said: “People’s feedback is essential to our regulation of health and adult social care services. Our campaign wants to celebrate the great care being provided by staff across England, as well as encourage people to share feedback about their experiences – good and bad.
“CQC and Healthwatch have a shared ambition alongside health and social care providers and the community and voluntary sector, to support people to give feedback about their care experiences, so these experiences can be used to both celebrate great care, and drive improvements where needed.”
Feedback plays a vital role in helping health and social care services identify both good and bad care but there are currently many missed opportunities. The research further revealed that nearly half of adults (42%) regret not sharing feedback on care, and a staggering 40% don’t know that they can give feedback or how to do so.
Louise Ansari, our Chief Executive said: “Whether positive or negative, big or small, your feedback helps health and care services understand what works well and what needs improvement.
“So if you have a moment today, whether you’re scrolling on your phone, making a cup of tea or waiting for the bus, please share feedback on the NHS or social care services you use.
“Speaking up about your care doesn’t take long but can make a real difference to you and your community.”
Take three minutes to share your experiences
NHS and social care staff are doing everything they can to keep us well during these challenging times, but there might be things that can be improved for you and your loved ones, both in the area you live in and across the country.
We’re looking for participants to take part in research on NHS healthcare travel costs.
Are you?
- Over the age of 18?
- Live in South Tyneside or Sunderland area?
If so, we would like to talk to you about NHS healthcare travel costs.
What does it involve?
- You will be asked to attend a 1 hour focus group. You can do this in person or online.
- You will receive a £25 gift voucher for completing the research.
- Your identity will be kept private. You can stop being involved at any time.
Interested in taking part?
Sunderland University will be carrying out the research. Please contact them using the following details:
Phone – 07444 226 397
Email – health.literacy@sunderland.ac.uk
The drug, fenfluramine, was funded for NHS patients in England from Thursday February 20, after the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended it for seizures associated with Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (LGS) in people aged 2 years and over.
It is the first non-cannabis based treatment approved for this form of epilepsy.
LGS is a rare, lifelong, and treatment-resistant form of epilepsy that causes frequent, unpredictable, and debilitating seizures. In severe cases, children may experience multiple seizures throughout the day, significantly impacting their quality of life. These seizures often lead to cognitive issues, difficulties with mobility, and an increased risk of injury due to sudden loss of muscle control.
Fenfluramine is an oral liquid medicine taken daily, with the dose tailored to each patient based on their weight. It works by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain, which helps to reduce seizure activity.
Professor Stephen Powis, National Medical Director for NHS England said: “For children and families living with Lennox–Gastaut syndrome, every day can be challenging, facing unpredictable and life-limiting seizures, and this new treatment option on the NHS will now offer new hope, giving many the chance for greater stability and a better quality of life.
“To have a proven, evidence-based new medicine that can be taken at home to help control and reduce their child’s seizures, and for example lower the risk of them experiencing injuries and needing to go to hospital, is fantastic news for hundreds of families.
“Fenfluramine will offer a vital alternative for those who can’t tolerate existing cannabis-based treatment and the fast-tracking of this treatment to be available from today is another example of the NHS’s commitment to ensuring access to the best therapies that deliver real benefits to patients as well as value for the taxpayer.”
Around 60,000 children in England are living with epilepsy and it is estimated that between 1 and 2% of those have Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Previously, the only treatment recommended by NICE for LGS was cannabidiol (Epidyolex®) with clobazam, which was approved in 2019.
LGS is highly resistant to many anti-epileptic drugs, making seizure control extremely challenging — fenfluramine now provides a crucial new option for patients who have not responded to existing treatments or for people who cannot take clobazam, due to its side effects, which can include excessive drowsiness, sedation, irritability, and dependence with long-term use.
Clinical trials have demonstrated that fenfluramine can reduce the frequency of drop seizures – which cause a loss of consciousness and muscle control – by 26.5% on average, more than three times the reduction seen in the placebo arm. More than a quarter (25.3%) of patients experienced a 50% or greater reduction in drop seizure frequency, compared to just 10.3% in the placebo group.
Clinical evidence suggests that fenfluramine not only reduces seizure frequency but also significantly reduces the risk of hospitalisation and needing emergency care.
Michael and Paul Atwal-Brice have 2 older boys with severe epilepsy. One – Levi – suffers from LGS. Michael said: “This is really positive news for families like ours. Levi suffers from extremely serious seizures, and having to use a cocktail of drugs to treat them has been really difficult. The side-effects have been impossible to manage as it’s hard to know which medication is causing them. Fenfluramine is potentially life-changing for Levi and our family.”
Lisa Suchet is a mum and carer of her 10-year-old son, who lives LGS. She said: “It’s wonderful news that NICE has approved Fenfluramine for patients with Lennox Gastaut syndrome.
“My son has suffered with seizures since he was 5 weeks of age, including drop seizures which are the most devastating. They occur without warning, cause immediate collapse and the risk of head injury is high due to the sudden fall. There are so few effective drugs for seizure control. Many don’t work for all patients; many have debilitating side effects or interactions with other meds a patient might have to take.
“That there is another option now available, which has shown effective results and minimal side effects is a huge comfort. It is essentially providing a chance of seizure freedom, which is essentially another chance at life really; for the patient and the family or carers who are impacted so significantly by this awful disease.”
Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: “The often distressing and life-limiting nature of this very difficult to control epilepsy means that any new treatment options are particularly welcome.
“In recommending fenfluramine the independent committee took into account the rarity and severity of Lennox Gastaut syndrome, the significant impact it has on the quality of life of people with the condition and their families and carers, and the high need for effective treatments, particularly for people who aren’t able to take cannabidiol with clobazam.”
NHS England is using its Innovative Medicines Fund to fast-track the treatment to eligible patients through an interim arrangement that will be three months faster.
This is the second indication that the NHS will offer the drug for, having commissioned fenfluramine for treating seizures caused by another rare form of epilepsy known as Dravet syndrome since 2022.
While Lennox–Gastaut syndrome most commonly develops between the ages of three and five years, today’s approval will provide access to all clinically eligible patients aged two years and over, including adult patients, with most children and young people with LGS continuing to have seizures into adult life.
Fenfluramine is manufactured by UCB Pharma, a Belgium-based pharmaceutical company and one of the UK’s largest life sciences investors.
Nadeem Aurangzeb, Head of Rare & Epilepsy, UCB UK & Ireland, said: “LGS is a rare and severe form of epilepsy which significantly impacts the quality of life of those living with it as well as those living with and caring for them. We are delighted that eligible patients in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are now able to access this treatment.”
This is the latest innovative treatment to be offered by the NHS. In January, the NHS announced a deal to offer curative sickle cell gene therapy, Casgevy®, which is being made in the UK, and follows a deal in December for the eye cancer drug tebantafusp, developed by the Oxford-based company Immunocore.
This is a global programme which recognises nursing and midwifery excellence. It aims to create a positive work environment for nursing and midwifery staff, improving their job satisfaction and retention rates.
The Pathway programme focusses on transformational leadership, quality, safety, professional development and staff wellbeing. The programme also supports the shared governance through collective leadership model.
It is delivered by the American Nurses Credentialing Centre (ANCC).
The Trust has now become the eighth NHS Trust in England and the first in the North East to gain Pathway to Excellence designation.
It has also broken ground by being the biggest nursing and midwifery workforce to achieve designation so far.
It is the only Trust in England to include midwives and to involve all nurses and midwives from both hospital and community services.
Members of the West – South Tyneside Integrated Community Nursing Teams with their survey station.
The Trust started its preparation for designation in 2019, but then faced the global Covid-19 pandemic, but re-launched work on the programme in 2022.
Following news of the designation, the Trust has received congratulations from David Purdue, Regional Chief Nurse for NHS England in the North East and North Yorkshire, and Duncan Burton, Chief Nursing Officer for England.
Melanie Johnson is Executive Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals.
She said: “We are delighted to have achieved this international accreditation.
“Achieving designation is testament to our incredible teams who have embraced the concept of collective leadership and the standards set out by the ANCC.
“This is reflected in the excellent standard of care they give to our patients, day in, day out.
“The accreditation highlights the positive environment of our organisation, as well as our commitment to the Trust’s vision to deliver ‘Excellence in all that we do.”
Sharon McDowell, Assistant Director of Nursing (Collective Leadership) led the Trust’s work on the submission.
She said: “The Pathway to Excellence® programme highlights best practice that can be shared far and wide.
“The programme also helps us to identify any improvements needed so we can continue to strive for the best experience possible for both our staff and patients.”
The ANCC sets out the Pathway as a commitment to creating a healthy work environment, where nurses and midwives feel empowered and have a voice in both policy and practice.
Successful accreditation is based on written evidence to meet the six pathway standards.
The Trust was then required to validate the evidence through a survey which looked at:
- professional development
- shared decision making
- leadership
- safety
- quality
- wellbeing
The accreditation looked for a response rate of 60%, with the Trust hitting a response rate of 75% and excelling in the number of positive responses received.
The ANCC congratulated STSFT on the achievement of their high scores in the validation survey.
For more information on the Pathway to Excellence programme visit https://www.nursingworld.org/pathway
Latest news
06.05.2025
Have you had anallergic reaction to food you’ve eaten?
06.05.2025
Tell us what you think about your local pharmacy
06.05.2025
GP surgery refurbs to enable over eight million more appointments
30.04.2025
Plan ahead for double bank holiday call as NHS prepares for long weekends
28.04.2025
Men’s Health Strategy for England – share your views
Quick online NHS services
Have your say
Let us know about your recent experience of health and social care services.
Let us know