Network of ECS Healthwatch supported over 27,500 people during COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

While we have had to scale back on our face-to-face engagement due to the pandemic, we have continued to be as busy as ever, gathering feedback by phone, email and online. And while some projects had to be postponed, our focus shifted to the response to Covid-19. Finding out what people thought of information, health and care services, and community support enabled us to share regular insights with providers and commissioners across, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Halton, Warrington, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell, Leicester, and Leicestershire. It is that time of year again where we collate the great work that has been done in an annual Healthwatch report and take stock of the amazing work the staff and volunteers have achieved.

Highlights from our year - how we have engaged and supported people in 2020-21.

Reaching out

  • We heard from just over 27,571 people this year about their experiences of health and social care, across our 9 local Healthwatch network.

Responding to the pandemic

  • We engaged with and supported 13, 140 people during the COVID-19 pandemic this year, via our social media platforms, online meetings, websites, dedicated Service Feedback Centres, daily incoming calls, and emails.

Making a difference to care

  • We published 57 reports across our 9 local Healthwatch network, about the improvements people would like to see to health and social care services – from this we made 272 recommendations for improvement, based on people's experiences of health and social care.

The work of Healthwatch did not stop during the pandemic as we continued to engage with the public about their experiences of health and social care services and highlight the feedback at all levels, including with commissioners, Public Health and NHS Trusts. We have engaged with many different communities and seldom heard groups during the year, including the D/deaf and hard of hearing, LGBT+ (Lesbian Gay, Bisexual and Trans), the homeless, and a wide range of ethnicities.

We achieved great success in all our projects, for example our Healthwatch Warrington team’s work around “reach and impact for the Covid 19 vaccination programme” - with their feedback report and communications, they were able to obtain over 3, 000 responses from the people of Warrington regarding their vaccination experiences.

Elizabeth Learoyd, Managing Director of ECS said: “The team has adapted to the new ways of working since the lockdown was announced in March and we are excited about continuing to help local people have their say on health and social care services in new and innovative ways. The Healthwatch teams and volunteers have supported our communities with food parcels, prescription collection and marshalling at the vaccination centres. We have hosted several online engagement events to hear about patient experiences, offer support and stay connected with our communities.  Furthermore, we all want to applaud all staff in the NHS and the wider care sector who have worked so tirelessly during this crisis. However, we are all aware that even in if we transition to Covid-free living the future looks challenging with the knowledge of growing operation waiting lists and a concern about the number of serious health conditions going undiagnosed.”

The reports are now published on our various local Healthwatch website and will be shared with local and national stakeholders including Healthwatch England and the Care Quality Commission.

Reports can be downloaded through the links below:

ECS