Annual Report 2014/15

Healthwatch Sheffield report on its achievements in 2014/15.  It:

• Expanded engagement across Sheffield, speaking to 2,289 people at community events, attending 51 festivals, roadshows and outreach sessions, conducting surveys and consultations on issues including end-of-life care, oral health, primary care, health inequalities and mental health.
• Established and developed Young Healthwatch, engaging young people in shaping local services, identifying priorities on mental health, health inequalities and substance misuse, and influencing national debate on child and adolescent mental health services through parliamentary engagement.
• Strengthened service monitoring through Enter and View activity, carrying out visits to care homes and healthy living pharmacies, making recommendations on dignity, dementia and oral health, and raising concerns that led to action by the Care Quality Commission.
• Published a major report on non-emergency patient transport services, gathering patient experiences and making recommendations that prompted commissioners and providers to explore improvements to communication, waiting times and transport coordination. 
• Influenced local health and care strategy through leadership roles in the Health and Wellbeing Board, the Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat, the Mental Health Strategy refresh, the Health Inequalities Plan and service commissioning processes. 
• Amplified the views of seldom-heard communities, including children and young people, carers, disabled people, Black and minority ethnic communities, homeless people and people with learning disabilities, leading to action on issues such as access to dental care, optical services and mental health support.