Agenda item

The Board considered the Healthwatch Sheffield Annual Report 2014/15, which was presented by the Chair of Healthwatch Sheffield, Maggie Campbell.

The Healthwatch Sheffield Annual Report provided an overview of the work andstatutory activities completed by Healthwatch Sheffield during 2014/15 and demonstrated the use and role of citizens’ voice in influencing and improving health and social care services. It included information about obtaining the views of ‘hidden voices’ -  people who were generally not able to access those making decisions or delivering services; Young Healthwatch; the Virtual Advisory Network; volunteers, information and advice provided; and written reports.

Members of the Board commented upon the Annual Report and asked questions, as follows:

The issue of how the Health and Wellbeing Board and Healthwatch might work together more effectively could be considered by a dedicated small group.

The health and social care organisations represented on the Board may be able to assist with the delivery of enter and view visits to health and social care providers.

Engagement was an ongoing challenge and Healthwatch Sheffield might help to provide a way of improving engagement and access to patient groups and networks. Staff and commissioners in health and social care might also not be aware of the existence and role of Healthwatch and the Board could help in this regard.

The contribution of Healthwatch Sheffield to work on the engagement of children and young people was recognised, albeit within relatively small but well managed resources. Volunteers with Healthwatch, for example community researchers, did have opportunities for development and people studying towards a Masters in Public Health worked with Healthwatch. Volunteers were from a variety of backgrounds and a substantial proportion were young people aged between 18 and 24.

Resolved: That the Board:

1.    recognises and endorses the value of the work of Healthwatch Sheffield in using citizens’ voices to improve health and care services; and

2.    considers how best it can utilise the voices of citizens in its programme of work for the forthcoming year and work better with Healthwatch Sheffield at a future Strategy Meeting.