Front and centre: Our annual report 2023 – 2024
The NHS is facing challenges – and change. The Government have pledged to repair a system the Health Secretary described as “broken” and announced additional investment, as work on a new ten-year plan for health and care services gets underway.
But just as important is the consultation with the public about their views and ideas on what that plan should contain. We have long held the view that if the system is broken, the people it serves are key to solving it, as we’ll show in our annual report.
Healthwatch was established to champion the public voice. Since then, the stories people have shared with us have made real, positive change, and this year has been no different. Read about what we’ve achieved by sharing the public’s views, and the work we’re doing to pave a path forward that puts patients front and centre.
Our work in 2023-24
Last year, over 400,000 people shared their experiences of care with us nationally and locally. In our annual report, we show how stories like these have helped to:
- Influence reform
GPs and dental care are the two issues people talk to us about the most, and the primary care and dental care recovery plans reflect some of the recommendations we’ve made.
Meanwhile, confusing waiting times standards for cancer care have been streamlined after people told us about long waits.
And the NHS approved a plan to improve maternal mental health checks, an issue we’ve done continuous work on since 2019.
- Highlight where change must happen
For the first time, we reported on the state of patients’ experiences across multiple key areas, showing barriers to timely care are impacting nearly every part of the system. We showed there is a serious risk of existing health inequalities becoming wider still, and of a two-tier system where care is available only to those who can afford it.
We also shared research into the impact of delayed care, and the importance of safe hospital discharge. And we launched a major campaign for social care reform, demonstrating the level of unmet need among people for whom this support could be life-changing.
- Show the way forward
In our report, we set out our vision for the NHS in 2030, based on what people have told us about their experiences. It describes an NHS that gives those using it more power – an NHS that’s accessible, affordable, and that puts patients at its heart.
We also share how, with greater resources that ensure every local Healthwatch can reach every part of their community, the Healthwatch network can better support that vision.
The voices driving our work
Throughout our report, you can read just some of the stories that help us understand the struggles people face when it comes to their care, and how things can be better.
Among them is Cindy. When she started experiencing shortness of breath, it took almost three years for her to get on a waiting list to see a specialist. She was then told she’d be waiting for 38 weeks, and when we talked to her, she hadn’t heard anything since.
It’s like beating my head against a rock chasing my GP for updates. It’s just been so long.
Cindy and the many others like her should be able to get the care they need quickly, and the right support while they wait. The NHS must build its culture around the needs and experiences of the people using it. This is essential for safety, equity, and the founding goal of our healthcare system: free, high-quality care for all.
Downloads
Download our annual report
The report is also available in Easy Read and Large Print.
If you need this report in a different format, please email enquiries@healthwatch.co.uk or call 030000 68 3000
