- Presentation by Naveen Judah, Rotherham Healthwatch Chair, and Melanie Hall, Rotherham Healthwatch Manager
Minutes:
Naveen Judah, Chair of Rotherham Healthwatch, and Melanie Hall, Healthwatch Manager, gave the following presentation:-
- Healthwatch was a statutory body introduced by the Health and Social Care Act
- It was the new consumer champion for both health and social care
- Independent, influential and effective
- Gave citizens a stronger voice in influencing and challenging how health and social services were provided in Rotherham
- In part response to a number of reports – Mid-Staffs, Keogh Review, Berwick Report, Winterbourne Review
- NHS – A Call to Action – “This is all about neighbourhoods and communities saying what they need from their NHS; it is about individuals and families saying what they want from their NHS
- Rotherham Healthwatch structured around the 6 Priorities of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy i.e. Prevention and Early Intervention, Expectations and Aspirations, Dependence to Independence, Healthy Lifestyles, Long-term Conditions and Poverty
- Each Director had been allocated 1 Priority – all projects would fall under the 6 Priorities
- Links with CQC, Local Medical, Dental, Optician and Pharmaceutical Committees
- Additional projects would be undertaken as requested by partners or by issues raised through community engagement and the complaint process. Reports would then be submitted to the Healthwatch Board. If the Board agreed, a project and plans would be identified. Findings would be reported back to the Board, partner agencies and the Health and Wellbeing Board
- Healthwatch now occupied offices on High Street – open Monday to Friday 9.30 a.m.-4.30 p.m. and Saturday 10.00 a.m.-12.00 Noon. Its staff included 6 Directors, Manager, two Engagement Officers, Information Officer and Advocate. Volunteers would be relied upon. One of the Directors is a development role for a young person working across all the six priorities.
- Accessibility – looking to have drop in centres at Dinnington and Maltby as well as through social media and working with and through local groups.
- Met with CQC bi-monthly
- 3 issues had been escalated in the last month – 2 relating to health and 1 to Social Care. In the first instance Healthwatch would speak to providers and ask if they were aware of the particular problem in their organisation and give time to undertake remedial action. If an improvement was not made, the issue would be reported to the respective commissioner for further action. Healthwatch Rotherham sat within the Quality Surveillance Group for South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw CCG
- Healthwatch Rotherham’s data was reported to Healthwatch England and had to submit an annual report
- Rotherham was ahead of many others and was already seeing the impact of work that had been undertaken
- The Head and Wellbeing Board had been given the opportunity to submit a 6 month project that Healthwatch Rotherham could lead on. Any suggestions submitted would be considered by the Healthwatch Board
- Healthwatch had the power to enter any organisation unannounced if there were concerns. If the concerns were with regard to a care home it could be referred to the Council as commissioners of that service or referred to the Quality Surveillance Group. If no action was taken, Healthwatch could refer the matter to Healthwatch England who would go to the Secretary of State
- Health was promoted subtly but did not involve health promotions and would direct members of the public to where they could get the relevant information
- Due to the independence of Healthwatch it had not been felt appropriate to have Elected Members on the Board
- Any complaints had to be connected to NHS services
Naveen and Melanie were thanked for their presentation and for their help in publicising the scrutiny review looking at information for carers.
Resolved:- That a progress report be submitted to a future meeting.