Consultation opens into shaping Healthwatch Shropshire

A consultation has been launched to gather feedback and opinions on Healthwatch Shropshire, which aims to provide a voice for patients and carers across the county.

The service was launched in 2013 and its contract will expire in March next year.

Now, Shropshire Council wants to find out what people think of the service as it decides how best to deliver it from 2018.

Professor Rod Thomson, Shropshire Council’s director of public health, said: “We have found working with Healthwatch Shropshire to be a very important part of shaping our commissioning and delivery of services over the last number of years.

“As part of recommissioning Healthwatch Shropshire, people are being asked their views on their experiences and understanding of the service. The contract for this service will expire in March 2018 and commissioners are seeking to engage with people to understand how this service should be shaped for the future.

“We urge people to contact Healthwatch Shropshire if they are concerned about a health and social care service, but also to help us now as we set the specification for how Healthwatch is delivered from 2018.”

The health watchdog currently gathers experiences and opinions from patients, carers, service users and the wider public about services, including hospitals, GPs, mental health services, community health services, pharmacists, opticians, residential care and home care services.

It then works with these organisations, making sure those views are used to improve services.

The organisation also provides information and signposting services to support people in making choices about health and social care services and how to access them.

It also has a statutory authority to carry out "Enter and View" visits to locations where health and social care services are being delivered, observe what is happening, and report on its findings.

It is one of 148 local Healthwatches in England and supported by Healthwatch England.

To give feedback as part of the consultation, complete a survey at new.shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved/shaping-the-future-of-healthwatch-in-shropshire/.

Deadline for submissions is Friday 30 June 2017.

To contact Healthwatch Shropshire about local services, call (01743) 237884, email enquiries@healthwatchshropshire.co.uk or visit www.healthwatchshropshire.co.uk.