Agenda item

8.1

The Board received a presentation concerning the Healthwatch Sheffield Annual Report from Sue White, Chief Executive, Voluntary Action Sheffield and acting Chief Officer Healthwatch Sheffield. The Annual Report would be launched on 16 July 2014.

8.2

The presentation outlined the role and reach of Healthwatch Sheffield with regard to engagement, gathering peoples’ views and providing information and advice. Healthwatch also had a role in raising awareness and influencing and improving services. Reports and recommendations had been produced for the CCG Group Select Committee inquiry; concerns over a specialist care provider had led to an escalation of concerns to the Care Quality Commission; and consultation had been undertaken in relation to the Adult Social Care Review.

8.3

Challenges for Healthwatch included resources and capacity and concerned how collectively the organisations represented on the Health and Wellbeing Board could make the most of the various means of listening and involving people.

8.4

Members of the Board commented and raised matters arising from the presentation, as summarised below:-

8.5

The 100,000 people ‘reached’ referred to information on websites, and media including newspapers and radio stations and the figure was an estimate of the number of listeners or readership of a particular publication and included dialogue events.

8.6

Those groups which were considered to be hard to reach were contacted through existing networks of organisations, for example, Sheffield carers’ organisations, the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Network and a community event with members of the Roma community. It was also requested that young persons’ groups including the young carers’ group were included in such activity.

8.7

The former Chief Officer of Healthwatch had left in April 2014 and the organisation was considering whether the post would be replaced or not in the new structure. Interim arrangements were in place. The situation would be kept under review.

8.8

It was recognised that Healthwatch had to continue to be effective and also maintain an independent voice and that it might need support in that regard. This might include learning from elsewhere in the country.

8.9

The health and social care system was undergoing significant change and this also needed to be reflected in the work of Healthwatch, which was listening to people with regard to the effect of decisions relating to change on patients and the public.

8.10

Resolved: that the Board notes the presentation concerning the Healthwatch Annual Report 2013/14.