Championing what matters to you
Sadly, our NHS and care services are still under huge pressure and waiting lists for hospital and community care treatments are growing. We are also continuing to hear about the difficulties people are having booking a GP appointment or finding an NHS dentist.
We know that the poorest members of our community have generally been affected the most, so we work extra hard to listen to and amplify their voices. A record number of people have contacted us this year to share their experiences of care, with almost half (48%) asking for advice from our information service.
"The issues of access to services, hospital waiting times and the scourge of health inequalities have all been made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic. These challenges are likely to remain for some time to come.
It is against this challenging background that I suggest there has never been a more important time for Healthwatch. An organisation that listens to local feedback and makes sure NHS leaders and other decision makers hear your voice and use your feedback to improve care."
Listening to you
We use what you tell us to help influence improvements in health and care services, from better information on GP websites to more support for people at the end of life.
And from helping make NHS 111 services meet the needs of people whose first language isn't English to involving autistic people in shaping future autism services.
Thank you to everyone who has supported our work over the last year. Together we can help services provide the best possible care for local people.
