Annual Report 2019/20

Healthwatch Wandsworth report on their key achievements in 2019/20:

• Improved mental health services and influence on future provision, including research into Recovery Cafés and Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs). Findings were used by NHS commissioners to shape future mental health support, while the Mental Health Trust reviewed issues such as care planning, discharge arrangements, continuity of care and involvement of carers. 
• Secured improvements to hospital discharge and rehabilitation services, following Enter and View work at:
  • St George's Hospital Discharge Lounge.
  • The Maximising Independence Team providing rehabilitation at home. Recommendations were accepted and informed action plans to improve discharge processes, communication between services, patient information and coordinated care. 
• Championed better coordination between health and care services, particularly for older and vulnerable residents, highlighting the importance of joined-up care, clearer communication and better support after hospital discharge. 
• Shaped local and regional NHS planning, contributing to:
  • The NHS Long Term Plan engagement programme.
  • The Wandsworth Health and Care Plan.
  • Discussions on cardiovascular care and wider service transformation. Healthwatch ensured patient experiences directly informed decision-makers' plans. 
• Improved access to information and support, including:
  • Launching a new website.
  • Expanding information and signposting services.
  • Introducing Refernet to improve referrals between organisations.
  • Supporting over 165 residents seeking advice, a 60% increase on the previous year. 
• Focused on reducing health inequalities, holding public discussions on how information and health campaigns can better reach underserved communities and working with public health teams to improve engagement. 
• Supported vulnerable groups and amplified seldom-heard voices, including work with:
  • People experiencing mental health difficulties.
  • Young people.
  • Prisoners and their families at HMP Wandsworth.
  • Adults with disabilities through accessible information and Easy Read materials. 
• Responded rapidly to the emerging Covid-19 pandemic, adapting engagement methods, increasing communications activity, providing information about accessing services during lockdown, and beginning work to understand residents' experiences of the crisis.