Annual report 2014-15
Find out about the work we did in 2014-15.
2014-15 was the first full year for Healthwatch Coventry and much work was done in establishing ways for patients and the public to get information and help from Healthwatch, and to share experiences, feedback and views on their local NHS and social care services.
- John Mason, Healthwatch Coventry Chair
Highlights of our year are:
- Healthwatch Information Access Points enabled 423 carers, people using NHS services, older people and other members of the community to get answers to questions about NHS and social care and share their experiences.
- The hospital Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) has moved back to the reception area of the hospital, and the staff team has been expanded following Healthwatch recommendations about making the service more accessible.
- Improvements have been made to the layout of the hospital site to make traffic flow better, addressing recommendations about access to the hospital. Work has also started to add more car parking spaces for visitors.
- 71 local people have been supported to raise their complaints with NHS organisations including people who would not have been able to raise concerns without Healthwatch advocacy support.
- The perspectives of people who have substance misuse issues/mental health issues and voluntary groups who help support them have been made known to planners and commissioners of services.
- Improvements have been made within care homes environments in response to Healthwatch recommendations.
- The commissioning of mental health services has been added to the priorities for local health and wellbeing overseen by the Health and Wellbeing Board and a review has been delegated to the Adult Services Commissioning Board.
- A new contract for patient transport services has been put in place and additional funding has been put into the service by the local Clinical Commissioning Group.
- The voices of people who are disadvantaged and less heard were channelled through Healthwatch Coventry, especially people who are: homeless and vulnerably housed (including those with addiction issues); newly settled Eastern European and Black African communities; and people with learning disabilities.
- The views of local people about the quality of GP services have been presented to managers/planners/GPs as a counter weight to professional perspectives on GP services.
