Healthwatch network championing what matters to you
Since COVID-19 struck, the work of the Healthwatch network to support and listen to local people became more crucial than ever. An extraordinary and productive year when reflecting on last year, it is satisfying to recognise how much our network of Local Healthwatchs has achieved despite the pandemic. Our staff have been wonderfully flexible, diverting their energy to projects that helped our partners in health and social care respond to the needs of local people, despite the restrictions.
Together we’re making a real difference to people’s lives! Read the annual report to find out the impact our work has had on communities across England and what the future looks like for us.
“We should all be grateful to the staff and volunteers in the Healthwatch network who have done so much to make a difference to the lives of their communities.” – Sir Robert Francis
Ten differences we've made
1. From running advice lines to delivering medicines, our 3,700 volunteers helped combat COVID-19 across England.
2. Thanks to your feedback, we quickly alerted regulators about care homes using ‘Do not attempt to resuscitate’ forms without consent.
3. Fifty-four thousand people came forward in response to our campaign, which aimed to get the public talking about health and care issues they faced so services could be alerted.
4. With online appointments becoming the norm, we use your stories to develop advice that helps more professionals and patients get the most out of digital consultations.
5. When the public was worried about how the NHS would use their GP data, we helped prevent issues by advising the NHS to be more transparent and give people more time to opt-out.
6. Teaming up with the British Red Cross, we called for improvements to make leaving the hospital safer during the pandemic. The harrowing stories that people shared with us about being discharged with little or no support led to new Government guidance to ensure this does not happen again.
7. We urged the Government to act after reporting a 452% increase in people struggling to see an NHS dentist. Although reform takes time, the Government asked dental practices to maintain accurate information online in response to our recommendations.
8. With the COVID-19 vaccination programme starting, we talked to different communities to understand their concerns and the steps the NHS can take to improve people's confidence in public health communications.
9. Within weeks of the launch of NHS 111 First, which allowed people to book A&E appointments, we provided rapid feedback to help identify teething issues and the need for greater public awareness.
10. When the public struggled to see their GP face-to-face, we asked the NHS to confirm this right for all patients.
The network of ECS Healthwatch’s which includes Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Halton, Warrington, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell, Leicester, and Leicestershire, all contributed to the national report by Healthwatch England.