Agenda item

An introduction into Healthwatch and an update of the work undertaken recently and plans for the upcoming year. Some exploration of where HWB can support and where engagement may be valuable in terms of the HWB strategy.

Gemma Barrow (Healthwatch Manager for Healthwatch Leicester and Healthwatch Leicestershire) presented on the work undertaken recently and the plans for the upcoming year.

It was noted that:

•           Healthwatch Leicester (now sitting within VAL) is the City’s provider of this national programme providing a local health and social care champion. Details of the vision, mission and values were shown on the slides (also in the agenda pack).

•           Healthwatch is an independent statutory body. There are four staff per Healthwatch on average, totalling 595 full time equivalent staff across the UK. This encompasses 3700 volunteers.

•           Functions are carried out via:-

o          Public engagement and community outreach.

o          Local volunteers are trained to visit selected settings as part of the “Enter and View” programme. Reports are written and intelligence/recommendations are shared across the health and social care system.

o          The team work closely with partners (LCC, LPT etc) and the Care Quality Commission.

o          Healthwatch has a seat at Strategic Boards to advocate and influence.

•           In 2023 over 30,000 people in LLR were supported to either access advice/information – or to have a say on their care.

•           In the last year, LLR residents are reporting the following issues:-

o          Accessing primary care services (and particularly NHS dentistry)

o          Waiting times for mental health services

o          Accessing services for the aging population

o          The cost-of-living impacts

o          Language barriers – particularly in understanding health information

·         Some examples of pieces of work in the last year were noted as:-

o          Vaccine uptake work

o          Work around access to dentistry and sharing intelligence data (including commissioner meetings and input into the Oral Health Joint Strategic Needs Assessment).

o          Dementia Survey (350 people responded) and input into the Council’s Dementia Strategy.

o          Presence at train stations for World Mental Health Day (600 engagements made) as part of the “R U ok?” campaign.

o          Engagement with the City and County hotels used to house asylum seekers – with subsequent reports available to view on the Healthwatch website. This was done in conjunction with LPT and City’s Public Health team.

o          Awareness raising of Lipoedema.

o          Profile raising via local radio broadcasts and leaflets/posters.

o          A visit and re-visit to the Accident & Emergency Department.

•           Plans for the coming year were noted as:-

o          Access and communication explorations with identified groups

o          Supported Living engagement

o          Continuing the Enter & View programme for Care Homes and GP practices – but including more Mental Health Units and Community Diagnostic Centres.

o          Network session and the Summer and Winter Tours (with a bigger focus on engaging with businesses).

Comments and questions from the Board:-

-           The Member representing Adult Social Care thanked the Presenting Officer for Healthwatch’s valuable insights that were incorporated into the Dementia Strategy refresh. She was also keen to link with Healthwatch when they undertake the engagement around Supported Living.

-           The Chair noted that the names of the hotels housing asylum seekers had not been made public by LCC in case this made the residents vulnerable - and asked that these be removed from the reports on the Healthwatch website. The Presenting Officer noted that the provider had been asked to comment and approve the reports before being published – but was happy to review the content of the reports.

-           Members asked whether Healthwatch are linking in with the correct leads within the ICB around the dentistry work. The Presenting officer responded that all correct links are in place.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the Board thanked Officers for the report and asked that comments from the meeting are taken into account.

2.         That links between Healthwatch and Adult Social Care will be part of the upcoming Supported Living work.

3.         That the Presenting Officer will remove the names of the City hotels in the Asylum Seeker engagement reports (currently on the Healthwatch website).