Issue - meetings

Chrissy Wright, Operational Commissioner, presented a report setting out the development of Healthwatch Rotherham and the progress achieved to date.

The following points were highlighted:-

-          Healthwatch Rotherham launched on 2^nd October, 2013

-          Website, Twitter and Facebook account developed and a newsletter regularly circulated

-          All staff, Chair and Board Directors appointed with each Director having responsibility to 1 of the 6 Health and Wellbeing Strategy priorities

-          The majority of the first half of the year had been spent establishing the service and awareness raising

-          Continued to pass on concerns raised by members of the public to commissioners and, where appropriate, to CQC, Ofsted, South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Quality Survey Group, Scrutiny, RCCG, NHS England, TRFT and Healthwatch England

The report also set out community engagement and project work planned for the forthcoming 6 months.

Parkwood Healthcare had been awarded the Healthwatch Rotherham contract with the intention that once established, the contract would novate to Healthwatch Rotherham to enable it to operate as an independent social enterprise.  The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing had approved the intention to novate the contract at his meeting on 10^th March, 2014.

Naveen Judah, Chair of Healthwatch Rotherham, reported that Healthwatch Rotherham was being mentioned by Healthwatch England for its good practice and had people from other areas visiting to learn from them.  However, it was becoming a victim of its own success.  As the work spread about its Advocacy Service, the number of people wanting to use the Service was increasing.  Attempts were made to screen the enquiries as to those that could be pointed in the right direction to help themselves and those that the Service would help but the situation would be monitored.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the progress achieved by Healthwatch Rotherham be noted.

(2)  That the decision to novate the contract to Healthwatch Rotherham by September, 2014, be noted.