In December, we spoke to a woman diagnosed with Alzheimer's and long-term physical health problems, who was seeking information on how to access specialist services from her local Memory Hub. She had previously been discharged back to her GP, and now a year later she felt she needed to be referred again after worsening symptoms.
We sat with her and discussed the available pathways. She ultimately decided to visit her GP with an accompanying family member, who could provide the GP with her own observations. We also made sure that she had the contact number for the Memory Hub, so she could share her concerns with them directly.
We also spoke to a man who was seeking help in understanding the Warm Homes Discount. He had applied, but after receiving letters from the government and council, he did not know what to do next, in part because he spoke English as an additional language.
After reviewing the letters with him, we were able to help explain the jargon and identify the key points. He was reassured that he would receive support prior to the birth of his child, and relieved that no further action was needed. He thanked Healthwatch Gateshead for helping him navigate the system.