Together we can make care better

I have always passionately believed that people who provide NHS and social care services only make the best decisions if they listen to the people they care for.

It's therefore a real privilege to be part of Healthwatch —a movement of dedicated staff and volunteers who ensure people’s views are used to make a genuine difference.

Challenges we face

The need for the public to have a strong health and social care champion like Healthwatch has never been greater.

The NHS and social care system, which we value and rely on, faces enormous challenges. Millions of people are currently on NHS waiting lists for vital surgery and treatment . Waiting times at A&E departments have risen. And seeing essential community services, such as a GP or dentist, has become more challenging for many people.

There is a similar picture in social care, with almost 400,000 people waiting for an adult social care needs assessment. More than one in ten people have also been waiting over six months, making daily life an increasing struggle and exposing them to unmanaged but avoidable risks, such as falls.

Add to this widening health inequalities, NHS finance and workforce challenges and a social care system in need of vital reform, and it is no wonder that both the public and professionals we hear from are worried.

Resolving these problems, restoring confidence and building the health and care system we all want will not be easy.

And this is where Healthwatch can play a vital role.

A trusted partner

Healthwatch was established nearly ten years ago and in that time we have raised the voices of people who use health and social care in planning and delivering effective services.

Last year alone, the Healthwatch network supported over two million people to share their experiences of care or access the advice they need. This reach provides unrivalled insight.

Information enables policymakers to put themselves in people’s shoes, to understand their reality and the issues that need tackling to improve care.

We are an independent partner that works proactively with people to find solutions that improve care quality and safety.

Making your voice count

Our annual report is a reminder of the positive steps that happen when people speak up and health and care policymakers listen. It also highlights the importance of including everyone in the conversation about better care.

Sometimes, it’s about bringing big issues to the attention of those in power. For example, our work advocating for fairer NHS dentistry has highlighted that people on low incomes are increasingly struggling to afford NHS dental charges and are avoiding treatment.

On other occasions, the patient voice helps identify areas of care that need to be reviewed. For example, people have had to turn down faster care because they couldn’t afford to travel to hospitals further away. Thanks to NHS England taking our recommendation on board, 6,700 people have already been offered support to get care away from their usual hospital. This opportunity is usually limited to people who can afford the cost of travel and accommodation.

Looking ahead

The times we live in are uncertain. The health and care system we value faces enormous challenges. But, as the public health and care champion, we want to play our part.

We will do this in three ways.

1. We’ll continue to support those who face the most significant health inequalities to speak up about their care;
2. We'll focus on the areas where people tell us they face the most acute challenges accessing care or their needs are underserved; and
3. As the NHS reorganises itself into Integrated Care Systems, we’ll work to ensure that patients have a strong voice in the plans to help services rebuild and recover.

However, our staff and volunteers’ passion, skills and dedication will only take us so far.

The Healthwatch network’s funding has not kept pace with the increased demand for our service and evidence. In fact, it has fallen in real terms by half in the ten years since our foundation.

If we are to play our part fully, the work to engage and represent the views of local communities in finding solutions must be adequately funded.

Our annual report highlights the ever-growing number of positive changes achieved when people speak up about their care and services listen.

If there is one message I could leave you with, it is that this must not stop—quite the contrary. We need to double our efforts so that together we can make care better.