Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough project receives national award for improving care
The annual awards recognise outstanding examples of local people's opinions being used to make valuable changes to health and care support.
In the running against 16 other shortlisted projects delivered by Healthwatch across England, our team were commended for working to deliver a Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller cultural awareness programme.
The programme was provided to more than 400 colleagues working in the local Integrated Care System (ICS), along with the rollout of an extensive community engagement plan, to tackle the health inequalities experienced by these communities.
Over the past two and half years, Project Manager Sarah Beckett has led the Reaching Communities Lottery-funded project aimed at improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities for Gypsy Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. This involved consistent community engagement and a series of cultural awareness workshops.
Healthcare professionals who received the Healthwatch training have fed back that it has helped them communicate more effectively with members of the GRT communities and develop their working practices.
Commenting on the award, Louise Ansari, Chief Executive of Healthwatch England said:
"The team should feel really proud. Our awards recognise outstanding work that makes a real difference to local people, and the competition this year from across England was very high.
"Being recognised is also a testament to all the local people who were prepared to speak up and the health professionals who listened. It just shows what can be achieved when we work together to improve care."
Stewart Francis, Chair of Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, added: "We are all delighted to have received national recognition for our work in shining a light on the health inequalities faced by this community and working with others to ensure these are addressed. There are already signs that this work has made a real difference.”
